Playnite alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Playnite: windows only, and store clients still need to be installed to download and launch games. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Playnite, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. GOG Galaxy currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Steam	Free	No	Windows, macOS, Linux +2	5 of 5	57.2

1. SteamTop pick
Best for: PC gamers who want the widest catalogue, frequent sales and their friends in one place
FreeWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
57.2
score / 100
Why switch from Playnite
Its Big Picture mode can launch non-Steam games added as shortcuts, if most of your library is on Steam already.
Pros
Largest PC game catalogue, with frequent deep sales
Proton lets many Windows games run on Linux and Steam Deck
Workshop makes installing mods for supported games easy
Cloud saves, achievements and friends built in
Cons
Most games are tied to the Steam client by DRM
The client is heavy and keeps background services running
You buy licences, not DRM-free copies like on GOG
Visit Steam Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.369
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Steam a good Playnite alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Mobile app
iOS and Android
Checked Oct 25, 2026store.steampowered.com(opens source in a new tab)
Mods
Steam Workshop, ~1,000 supported games
Checked Oct 25, 2026store.steampowered.com(opens source in a new tab)
Chat
Text and voice
Checked Oct 25, 2026store.steampowered.com(opens source in a new tab)
Payment options
100+ methods, 35+ currencies
Checked Oct 25, 2026store.steampowered.com(opens source in a new tab)
Languages
28
Checked Oct 25, 2026store.steampowered.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Playnite alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Playnite alternative for most people

GOG Galaxy

GOG's own client also merges libraries from other stores, and runs on Mac as well as Windows.

Best Playnite alternative for a free option

Heroic Games Launcher

Open-source launcher for Epic, GOG and Amazon games that also runs on Linux and the Steam Deck.

Best Playnite alternative for open source

Lutris

Linux counterpart that manages Steam, Epic, GOG and emulated games in one place.

Best Playnite alternative for Mac

Steam

Its Big Picture mode can launch non-Steam games added as shortcuts, if most of your library is on Steam already.

Best Playnite alternative for Windows

GOG Galaxy

GOG's own client also merges libraries from other stores, and runs on Mac as well as Windows.

Best Playnite alternative for Linux

Heroic Games Launcher

Open-source launcher for Epic, GOG and Amazon games that also runs on Linux and the Steam Deck.

Best Playnite alternative for iPhone and Android

Steam

Its Big Picture mode can launch non-Steam games added as shortcuts, if most of your library is on Steam already.

Playnite alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Playnite?

GOG Galaxy ranks first right now. GOG's own client also merges libraries from other stores, and runs on Mac as well as Windows. Heroic Games Launcher and Lutris follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Playnite?

Yes. GOG Galaxy (free), Heroic Games Launcher (open source), Lutris (open source) and Steam (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Playnite?

Yes: Heroic Games Launcher and Lutris.

Which Playnite alternatives work on Linux?

Heroic Games Launcher, Lutris and Steam run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Playnite?

The complaints we hear most: windows only; store clients still need to be installed to download and launch games; library integrations rely on add-ons that can break when stores change.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Playnite, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.