Alternatives to Steam
Valve's PC gaming platform and client for buying, installing and playing games, with community features. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Steam
Valve's PC gaming platform and client for buying, installing and playing games, with community features.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Steam.
Epic Games Store
Epic's game storefront known for weekly free games and exclusive titles.
Epic Games Store offers weekly free games and exclusive titles, but it runs only on Windows and macOS and has a smaller catalog with fewer social features.
GOG Galaxy
DRM-free games store and unified library that also pulls in other platforms.
GOG Galaxy sells DRM-free games that run without a launcher once downloaded and can unify other libraries, but it is Windows and macOS only with a smaller catalog.
itch
The desktop app for itch.io, which installs, updates and launches the indie games you bought or downloaded free.
The itch app is free, MIT licensed and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, but it only covers itch.io games and purchases still happen on the website.
Heroic Games Launcher
An open-source launcher for Epic, GOG and Amazon Prime games, on Linux, Windows, macOS and the Steam Deck.
Heroic Games Launcher is open source under GPL-3.0 and plays Epic, GOG and Amazon Prime libraries on Linux, Windows and macOS, but it has no store of its own.
EA app
EA's official game launcher and library, replacing Origin on Windows and macOS.
EA app runs on Windows and macOS but only sells and launches EA's own catalog, so it replaces Steam only for EA titles.
Ubisoft Connect
Ubisoft's official launcher and player services hub for its game catalog.
Ubisoft Connect is Windows only and limited to Ubisoft's catalog, adding cross-progression and rewards across owned Ubisoft games instead of a general store.
Battle.net
Blizzard's launcher for World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and other titles.
Battle.net covers only Blizzard titles such as World of Warcraft, Overwatch and Diablo, and runs on Windows and macOS without Linux or mobile clients.
Xbox app
Microsoft's Windows app for installing and launching PC Game Pass and Xbox games on PC.
Xbox app is Microsoft's Windows launcher centred on PC Game Pass, requiring a Microsoft account, with many titles tied to a paid subscription.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Steam as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Rockstar Games Launcher
Rockstar Games' official Windows launcher for installing and running its PC games.
Steam is a general store and client on Windows, macOS, Linux and mobile that sells many publishers' games, adding Workshop and community features, but requires a Steam account.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Playnite
A Windows game library manager that pulls Steam, Epic, GOG, Battle.net, Ubisoft and emulated games into one interface.
SteamOS
Valve's Linux-based gaming operating system for the Steam Deck and other supported devices.
GeForce NOW
NVIDIA's cloud gaming service that streams your existing game library to weaker hardware.
Lutris
A Linux gaming platform that installs the right emulator, Wine build or engine for each game and launches them from one place.
ChimeraOS
A Linux operating system that turns a PC into a controller-driven, console-style gaming machine.
LaunchBox
Windows game launcher and database with a couch-friendly Big Box mode.
