Fortnite vs Apex Legends: Which Battle Royale Fits You?

Pick Fortnite if you want variety (building or no-build battle royale, LEGO survival, a music game and over a million player-made games) or you want to play on a phone. Pick Apex Legends if you want a more focused, tactical squad shooter where each character has their own skills and matches are smaller, at 60 players.

Both are free to play, both make money from optional in-game purchases, and both run on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. The difference is what kind of game you want to come back to every night.

Fortnite vs Apex Legends at a glance

What is the main difference between Fortnite and Apex Legends?

Fortnite is a platform full of different games. Apex Legends is one focused battle royale.

Fortnite still has battle royale at its center, where you aim to be "the last player standing." But its Nintendo eShop listing now lists Battle Royale, Fortnite OG, the tactical Reload mode, the music game Fortnite Festival, LEGO Fortnite and community-made games such as deathruns, tycoons, racing and zombie survival, plus tools to build your own. Its PlayStation page counts "over a million creator-made games." Zero Build is battle royale without building, for players who want straight gunfights.

Apex Legends, made by Respawn and published by Electronic Arts, sticks to one idea. EA's page describes "classic 60-person Battle Royale matches," and the PlayStation Store page sums up the goal: "Whether you're in Duos or Trios, the goal is the same: be the last squad left alive." You pick from a roster of Legends, each "with their own set of skills", so team composition matters as much as aim. The current season, per EA's page, is called Cipher.

Which has bigger matches?

Fortnite. We checked both PlayStation Store pages on 6 November 2026: Fortnite listed "99 online players" and Apex Legends listed 60, and both say online play is required. In Apex, those 60 players play in squads, as Duos or Trios.

Which is easier for beginners?

Fortnite gives beginners more ways in. If building feels hard, Zero Build removes it. If you want a break from shooting, LEGO Fortnite and Fortnite Festival need no aim at all. Creator-made games let you practise or just have fun with friends.

Apex is a pure shooter, so there is less to learn about modes but more about movement, positioning and how the Legends' skills work together. It rewards playing with the same squad. Neither game charges anything to try, so the honest answer is to install both and play a few matches.

Can you play on a phone or a Mac?

Fortnite, with conditions. Epic's pages say Fortnite is on Android through the Epic Games Store, and iPhone availability depends on your region. There is no native Mac version; Mac players stream it through GeForce NOW or Amazon Luna. Your progress carries across platforms when you log in with an Epic account.

EA's Apex Legends page lists only PC and consoles: the EA app for Windows, Steam, the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. It does not list a phone or Mac version.

What PC do you need?

Apex lists its needs clearly on Steam: 64-bit Windows 10, at least an AMD FX 4350 or Intel Core i3 6300, 6 GB of RAM, an AMD Radeon HD 7790 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950, DirectX 12 and 75 GB of free space. Plan for that storage. We did not confirm Fortnite's current PC requirements on an official page, so check Epic's site before you install it on an older machine.

Which costs more to play?

Neither costs anything to play. Both sell virtual currency for in-game items. On the PlayStation Store, 800 V-Bucks cost $8.99. Apex Legends uses Apex Coins, and its PlayStation page notes that in-game purchases include random items. You never have to spend to compete in either game.

Which should you choose?

• You want to play on a phone: Fortnite, on Android or on iPhone where your region allows it.
• You don't like building: either, as Fortnite's Zero Build plays without it.
• You want lots of different modes with friends: Fortnite.
• You want a focused team shooter with character abilities: Apex Legends.
• You play with a regular squad of two or three: Apex Legends.
• You want bigger lobbies: Fortnite, with 99 players against Apex's 60.

For more battle royale games, including Call of Duty: Warzone and Fall Guys, see our PUBG alternatives.

FAQ

Are Fortnite and Apex Legends free?

Yes. Both are free to download and play. In-game purchases are optional.

Is Apex Legends on mobile?

Not according to EA's official page, which lists only Windows PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.

How many players are in a Fortnite match?

The PlayStation Store lists Fortnite with 99 online players. Apex Legends matches are 60 players.

Can you play Fortnite without building?

Yes. Zero Build is a battle royale mode with no building, for players who just want to shoot.