Steam vs Epic vs GOG: which PC store should you actually buy from?

Steam, the Epic Games Store and GOG all sell the same games, but they are far from identical. Here is how the big three stack up — and why the smartest move is to buy whichever is cheapest for each game rather than staying loyal to one.

Steam

The default for a reason: the biggest library, the best community and social features, cloud saves, Workshop mods and frequent, generous sales. If you only ever used one store, it would be this one.

Epic Games Store

Leaner on features, but two things stand out: regular free-game giveaways and periodic store coupons that can undercut everyone on new releases. It is worth an account for the freebies alone.

GOG

GOG's pitch is ownership: every game is DRM-free, meaning the installer is yours to keep forever, no launcher required. It is also the best home for classics and older titles. Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3, both from CD Projekt, are natural fits here.

The bottom line: buy per game, not per store

You do not owe any store loyalty. The same key is often cheaper on one platform than another, and that changes week to week. That is exactly what a price comparison is for: on playze.io each game page lines up Steam, GOG, Epic and the major keyshops with the current price and the lowest price we have tracked, so you always see who is cheapest today. For the full method, read how to never overpay for a PC game.