Epic Games vs itch.io
Epic Games
Game engine, digital storefront, and publishing platform for developers and gamers.
AAA studios, enterprise game developers, and players seeking flagship commercial titles and cutting-edge development tools
itch.io
Community-driven indie game platform with 2M+ games where creators keep 85-100% of revenue with no submission barriers.
Independent developers, hobbyists, experimental game creators, and players seeking niche, artistic, and experimental indie games
Short Answer
Epic Games is a massive AAA game publisher and storefront with $0 commission on first $1M in sales, while itch.io is an indie-focused platform where creators keep 85-100% of revenue with no minimum earnings threshold. Epic targets blockbuster releases; itch.io enables grassroots game development.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose Epic Games if you want AAA blockbuster titles, the industry-leading Unreal Engine for development, and access to major exclusives with a massive player base. Choose itch.io if you're an indie developer seeking maximum revenue retention with zero barriers to entry, or a player looking for experimental, niche, and diverse indie games from creators worldwide.
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Choose Epic Games if
AAA studios, enterprise game developers, and players seeking flagship commercial titles and cutting-edge development tools
Choose itch.io if
Independent developers, hobbyists, experimental game creators, and players seeking niche, artistic, and experimental indie games
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Key Differences at a Glance
Key Facts & Figures
| Metric | Epic Games | itch.io | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available Games(count) | ~2,500 games | — | — |
| Monthly Peak Concurrent Users(millions) | ~8 million | — | — |
| Developer Revenue Share(percentage) | 88% | — | — |
| Platform Fee Percentage(percentage) | 12% | — | — |
| Free Games Per Month(count) | 4-5 free games weekly | — | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | ~200 million | ~6 million | +3233% |
| Games Available(count) | ~1,000 curated titles | ~2,000,000 games | -100% |
| Creator Commission (0-1M Revenue)(percent) | 0% | 0-30% (creator choice) | — |
| Creator Commission (1M+ Revenue)(percent) | 12% | 0-30% (creator choice) | -20% |
| Minimum Payout Threshold(USD) | $100 | $0 (immediate) | — |
| Unreal Engine Royalty Rate(percent) | 5% (games >$1M) | N/A | — |
| Free Games Offered Per Year(count) | ~50 titles | Variable (community-driven) | — |
| Free Games Per Month(titles) | 8 per month (2 weekly) | — | — |
| DRM-Free Game Catalog(titles) | ~200 DRM-free titles | — | — |
| Classic Games Library(titles) | ~500 legacy titles | — | — |
| Exclusive AAA Titles(titles) | 200+ exclusives (Alan Wake 2, Hades 2) | — | — |
| Developer Revenue Split(developer %) | 88% (12% platform cut) | — | — |
| Unreal Engine Market Share(%) | 31% of professional game dev (2024) | — | — |
| Total Game Catalog Size(titles) | ~2,000 games | — | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost (Base)(USD) | Free (for engine); games $0-$70 | — | — |
| Total Games Available(titles) | 2,000+ | — | — |
| Developer Revenue Share(percent to developer) | 88% | — | — |
| Average AAA Game Purchase Price(USD) | $59.99 | — | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated Jun 2026.
Key Differences
Epic Games
0% commission (first $1M), then 12%
itch.io
0-30% platform fee (creator chooses)🏆
Epic Games
~200 million🏆
itch.io
~6 million
Epic Games
~1,000 premium titles
itch.io
~2 million games🏆
Epic Games
Highly curated, selective publishing
itch.io
Open submissions, minimal curation
Epic Games
$100
itch.io
None ($0.00)🏆
Epic Games
Fortnite, Unreal Engine games, Gears, Borderlands🏆
itch.io
None
Epic Games
Owns Unreal Engine (industry standard)🏆
itch.io
No proprietary engine
Full Comparison
| Attribute |  Epic Games |  itch.io |
|---|---|---|
| Available Games(count) | ~2,500 games | — |
| Monthly Peak Concurrent Users(millions) | ~8 million | — |
| Developer Revenue Share(percentage) | 88% | — |
| Platform Fee Percentage(percentage) | 12% | — |
| Free Games Per Month(count) | 4-5 free games weekly | — |
| Application Memory Usage(relative) | High (reported as resource-intensive) | — |
| Community Features(count) | Basic (forums, messaging) | — |
| Cross-Platform Library Support(status) | Planned for 2026 | — |
| Cloud Gaming Availability(platforms) | Not primary offering | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | ~200 million | ~6 million |
| Games Available(count) | ~1,000 curated titles | ~2,000,000 games |
| Total Games Available(titles) | 2,000+ | — |
| Creator Commission (0-1M Revenue)(percent) | 0% | 0-30% (creator choice) |
| Creator Commission (1M+ Revenue)(percent) | 12% | 0-30% (creator choice) |
| Minimum Payout Threshold(USD) | $100 | $0 (immediate) |
| Unreal Engine Royalty Rate(percent) | 5% (games >$1M) | N/A |
| Unreal Engine Market Share(%) | 31% of professional game dev (2024) | — |
| Unreal Engine Access(cost) | Free with royalty-free license up to $1M revenue | — |
| Free Games Offered Per Year(count) | ~50 titles | Variable (community-driven) |
| Age Rating Support(text) | ESRB/PEGI rated content only | All content including 18+ allowed |
| Free Games Per Month(titles) | 8 per month (2 weekly) | — |
| DRM-Free Game Catalog(titles) | ~200 DRM-free titles | — |
| Offline Play Support | Limited (DRM-dependent) | — |
| Classic Games Library(titles) | ~500 legacy titles | — |
| Total Game Catalog Size(titles) | ~2,000 games | — |
| Exclusive AAA Titles(titles) | 200+ exclusives (Alan Wake 2, Hades 2) | — |
| Developer Revenue Split(developer %) | 88% (12% platform cut) | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost (Base)(USD) | Free (for engine); games $0-$70 | — |
| Average AAA Game Purchase Price(USD) | $59.99 | — |
| Developer Revenue Share(percent to developer) | 88% | — |
| New AAA Releases on Day-One(titles per year) | 0 (must purchase separately) | — |
| Platform Support(platforms) | PC, console, mobile, VR, web | — |
Epic Gamesitch.ioVisual Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes
Pros & Cons
Epic Games
Pros
- Owns Unreal Engine 5 (free with 5% royalty on games >$1M revenue)
- 0% commission on first $1M in sales per creator (industry-leading deal)
- 200+ million monthly active users providing massive audience
- Exclusive AAA titles including Fortnite, Gears of War, and Borderlands franchises
- Aggressive free games program (50+ titles claimed annually by users)
Cons
- Takes 12% commission on revenue above $1M, higher than competitors
- Highly selective curation excludes majority of game submissions
- Controversial exclusivity deals have divided gaming community
itch.io
Pros
- Creator-controlled revenue share: 0-30% platform fee (creator decides)
- Zero minimum payout threshold—earn $0.01 and cash out immediately
- 2 million+ games in catalog, most diverse game collection available
- No submission process or curation required—publish in minutes
- Supports all game genres including adult/18+ content freely
Cons
- Only 6 million monthly active users vs. Epic's 200 million (3% of Epic's reach)
- No discovery algorithm or recommendation system—primarily search/tag based
- Lacks AAA backing, marketing muscle, and exclusive tentpole titles
Frequently Asked Questions
On Epic Games: creators keep 100% of revenue on the first $1 million in sales, then 88% above that (12% commission). On itch.io: creators set their own revenue split, typically keeping 70-100% of revenue by choosing a 0-30% platform fee. For example, an indie game earning $500K keeps all $500K on Epic but could keep $350K-$500K on itch.io depending on their chosen fee.
Resources & Learn More
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