Steam vs Epic Games Store: Which Is Better?

Steam and the Epic Games Store are the two largest PC game stores, and the better one depends on library size, store features, free-game offers, and developer revenue terms. Valve launched Steam in 2003 and built the largest PC catalog, while Epic Games launched the Epic Games Store in 2018 with a smaller curated library and a free game every week. Both are platform clients called game launchers that buy, install, update, and run a PC library.

What Are Steam and the Epic Games Store?

Steam is Valve’s PC game store and client launched in 2003; the Epic Games Store is Epic Games’ PC store launched in 2018. Both sell and run games through a desktop app, but differ in catalog size, features, and revenue terms:

• Steam: the largest PC store , a vast catalog, a deep community ecosystem, and a client that installs, updates, and launches games.
• Epic Games Store: a curated PC store with a smaller catalog, a weekly free game, and a developer revenue split more generous than Steam’s.
• Both: require a client app to buy, download, and launch games, and apply digital rights management to most titles.

Best for: Steam suits players who value choice and community; Epic suits players who want freebies and developers who want a bigger cut.

Which Store Has the Larger Game Library?

Steam has the far larger library , roughly 117,000+ titles to the Epic Games Store’s ~4,000 , because Steam Direct lets almost any developer publish. Library size and exclusivity decide where a specific game is available:

• Steam’s catalog: ~117,000+ titles via open Steam Direct submission , major releases, indies, and early-access projects.
• Epic’s catalog: ~4,000 titles, curated , Epic reviews submissions rather than opening the store to everyone.
• Exclusives, mostly past: Epic funded timed exclusives heavily from 2019-2023 (Borderlands 3, Metro Exodus, Alan Wake 2); that push has largely wound down, and most new games now launch day-one on Steam, Epic, and GOG.

Best for: if you want the widest selection or a back-catalog title, Steam almost always carries it; check Epic only for the rare remaining timed exclusive.

What Features Do Steam and Epic Offer?

Steam offers far more store features , the Workshop, user reviews, a community market, cloud saves, family sharing, and a 14-day refund policy , while the Epic Games Store keeps a leaner set. Features shape how you discover, manage, and share games:

• Steam Workshop: hosts user-made mods and content you download straight into supported games , Epic has no equivalent.
• Steam reviews: a user rating on every store page, summarized as positive/negative percentages; Epic’s review system is thinner and newer.
• Cloud saves: both stores sync progress across devices and restore saves after a reinstall.
• Steam refunds: returns within 14 days and under 2 hours of playtime, per Valve’s policy.
• Epic features: cloud saves, achievements, a cart/wishlist, and mod support on select titles, with a smaller community layer than Steam. Streamers pair either store with capture software, which the guide to streaming games on Twitch covers.

Which Store Gives Away More Free Games?

The Epic Games Store gives away far more , a free game (sometimes two) every Thursday that you keep forever , while Steam relies on free-to-play titles and periodic free weekends. The programs differ in frequency and ownership:

• Epic weekly free games: one or more titles each Thursday (8 AM PST) that you keep permanently after claiming, including past major releases (June 2026 included RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 and Voidwrought).
• Steam free-to-play: permanently free titles such as Dota 2 and Team Fortress 2, funded by in-game purchases.
• Steam free weekends: try paid games at no cost for a limited window, after which they return to the purchase price.

Best for: a player who claims every Epic weekly title builds a large owned library at $0 over time; Steam’s free model centers on free-to-play and trials, not permanent giveaways.

How Does Developer Revenue Share Compare?

The Epic Games Store takes a flat 12% (developers keep 88%), while Steam takes a tiered 30% / 25% / 20% , so Epic pays more on most sales. The split decides how much a developer earns per sale:

• Epic’s cut: a flat 12%, leaving developers 88% of revenue; since June 1, 2025, Epic also takes 0% (100% to the developer) on the first $1M net per title each year.
• Steam’s cut: 30% on the first $10M, 25% on $10M-$50M, and 20% above $50M (developers keep 70% / 75% / 80%); as of June 2025 Steam also lets devs keep 100% of their first $1M per year.
• Engine royalty waiver: games built in Unreal Engine pay no separate engine royalty when sold on the Epic Games Store.

Best for: smaller studios maximizing take-home favor Epic’s 12% (or 0% under $1M); large studios benefit from Steam’s tier drops, and most still ship on Steam for its reach.

Which Store Has the Better User Experience?

Steam offers the more mature experience , a faster, feature-rich client and broader hardware support , while the Epic Games Store runs a simpler interface that has improved since launch. User experience covers the client, discovery, and reliability:

• Steam’s client: a shopping cart, wishlists, friends, a community hub, and detailed library management built over two decades.
• Epic’s client: a lighter, store-first interface with fewer community tools , some players prefer it for speed.
• Steam hardware: the Steam Deck handheld, Big Picture mode for TVs, and Remote Play broaden how you access the library.

Best for: players who want depth, discovery, and handheld play choose Steam; those who want a minimal launcher prefer Epic. Either client benefits from the guide to optimizing Windows for gaming for steadier performance.

How Do Steam and Epic Handle Account Security?

Steam secures accounts through Steam Guard two-factor authentication and a mobile authenticator; the Epic Games Store supports two-factor via an authenticator app, email, or SMS. Account security protects a library of purchased games:

• Steam Guard: requires a one-time code from the Steam mobile app or email at each new sign-in, blocking password theft.
• Steam Mobile Authenticator: generates rotating codes and confirms market trades and logins from the Steam mobile app.
• Epic 2FA: supports an authenticator app, email codes, or SMS, and Epic has required it to claim certain free games , which raises adoption.

Best for: both stores tie a large library to one account, so enable two-factor on either; Steam’s authenticator additionally secures community-market trades.

Which Store Performs Better on Different Operating Systems?

Steam supports Windows, macOS, and Linux natively and runs on the Steam Deck through Proton, while the Epic Games Store targets Windows first with thinner support elsewhere. OS support decides where each store runs:

• Steam on Windows: the full catalog and client, with the widest game and driver compatibility of any platform.
• Steam on Linux / Steam Deck: runs through Valve’s Proton compatibility layer, with per-game Deck Verified ratings; Valve’s sustained Proton investment keeps expanding what runs.
• Epic on Windows: the primary platform , the Epic client and most of its catalog target Windows first, with limited native support elsewhere.

Best for: Linux and handheld players find Steam far more compatible; on Windows, both stores work, so the choice comes down to library, free games, and features.

Steam vs Epic Games Store Comparison Table

The table below compares Steam and the Epic Games Store across library size, features, free games, revenue share, and user experience, summarizing the choice between the two PC game stores.

Last Thoughts on Steam vs Epic Games Store

Steam and the Epic Games Store both distribute PC games, yet each leads in a different area. Steam offers the largest library, the deepest features, and the most mature client across Windows, macOS, Linux, and the Steam Deck, while the Epic Games Store offers a free game most weeks and a developer revenue share (12%) that favors creators.

The better store depends on whether you want the widest catalog, collect free titles, or publish a game , and many players use both. Continue with the overview of game launchers, the explanation of game engines, or the software applications guide that links the full software cluster.

Key Takeaways:

• Steam holds the far larger library (~117,000+ titles via open Steam Direct submission) against Epic’s smaller curated catalog (~4,000 titles).
• Steam owns the feature depth: Workshop mods, user reviews, community market, cloud saves, family sharing, and the 14-day refund policy.
• Epic gives away a free game (sometimes two) every Thursday that you keep permanently, while Steam sticks to free-to-play titles and free weekends.
• Epic pays developers more: a flat 12% cut (88% to the developer) versus Steam’s tiered 30% / 25% / 20%; since June 2025 both let small devs keep 100% of the first $1M.
• Epic’s timed exclusives drove its early growth (2019-2023) but have largely wound down, with most new PC games now launching day-one on Steam, Epic, and GOG.
• Steam runs almost anywhere (Windows, macOS, Linux, Steam Deck via Proton); Epic targets Windows first with thinner support elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)