Steam alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Steam: most games are tied to the Steam client by DRM, and the client is heavy and keeps background services running. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Steam, 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	itch.io	Free	No	Web, Windows, macOS +1	4 of 4	57.2

1. itch.ioTop pick
Best for: Players hunting for indie, experimental and jam games, and small creators who want an easy place to sell
FreeWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux
57.2
score / 100
Why switch from Steam
DRM-free store packed with indie games, pay-what-you-want pricing and an open-source desktop app.
Pros
Huge range of indie and free games, many playable in the browser
No DRM: files download exactly as the creator uploaded them
Creators choose their price and the store's revenue share
Open-source desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux
Cons
Few big-budget titles
Lightly curated, so quality varies a lot
Fewer social and library features than Steam
Visit itch.io 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 itch.io a good Steam alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
DRM
None
Checked Oct 25, 2026itch.io(opens source in a new tab)
Cost for creators
Free to use
Checked Oct 25, 2026itch.io(opens source in a new tab)
Revenue share
Chosen by the creator
Checked Oct 25, 2026itch.io(opens source in a new tab)
Desktop app license
MIT
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Steam alternative for…

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

Best Steam alternative for most people

GOG Galaxy

Sells DRM-free games you can download and keep, and its optional client can show your Steam library too.

Best Steam alternative for a free option

Heroic Games Launcher

Open-source launcher for your Epic, GOG and Amazon games, popular on Linux and the Steam Deck.

Best Steam alternative for open source

Lutris

Linux game manager that pulls Steam, Epic, GOG and Humble libraries in alongside emulators.

Best Steam alternative for Mac

itch.io

DRM-free store packed with indie games, pay-what-you-want pricing and an open-source desktop app.

Best Steam alternative for Windows

Playnite

Keeps your Steam games in one library alongside Epic, GOG and emulated games, free and open source on Windows.

Best Steam alternative for Linux

Heroic Games Launcher

Open-source launcher for your Epic, GOG and Amazon games, popular on Linux and the Steam Deck.

Best Steam alternative for working in the browser

itch.io

DRM-free store packed with indie games, pay-what-you-want pricing and an open-source desktop app.

Steam alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Steam?

GOG Galaxy ranks first right now. Sells DRM-free games you can download and keep, and its optional client can show your Steam library too. Heroic Games Launcher and Lutris follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Steam?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Steam?

Yes: Heroic Games Launcher, Lutris and Playnite.

Which Steam alternatives work on Linux?

Heroic Games Launcher, Lutris and itch.io run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Steam?

The complaints we hear most: 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.

How is this list ranked?

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