Steam vs Epic Games Store: Free Games, Refunds, Features
Pick Steam if you want the bigger set of community features (Workshop mods, reviews, Steam Deck support) and a store that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. Pick the Epic Games Store if you want to build a library cheaply from its weekly free game, or you want a PC store that also runs on Android phones.
You do not have to choose just one: you can keep a library on each. The real question is usually which store to buy from when a game is on both, and that comes down to free games, refunds, features and devices.
Steam vs Epic Games Store at a glance
| Steam | Epic Games Store | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Pay per game | Pay per game |
| Free games | A Free to Play category | A new free game each week, yours to keep once claimed |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux (SteamOS), Steam Deck; companion app on iOS and Android | PC, Mac and Android worldwide; iPhone and iPad in the EU only |
| Open source | Not listed as open source | Not listed as open source |
| Refunds | Within 14 days and under 2 hours of play, for any reason | Within 14 days and under 2 hours of play, for products marked refundable |
| Mods | Steam Workshop, for nearly 1,000 supported games | No equivalent listed |
| Best for | Community, mods, Linux and Steam Deck | Free games, mobile, Epic exclusives |
Which has better free games, Steam or Epic?
Epic. The Epic Games Store FAQ says it offers "a new free game available each week," and once you claim a game it "remains in your library to play," even after the offer ends.
We checked Epic's free-game listing on 6 November 2026. That week's giveaway was Flotsam, normally $24.99, free until 12 November 2026 at 16:00 UTC. The next game lined up was Knightica, normally $14.99, free from 12 to 19 November.
Steam takes a different approach: a Free to Play category of games that cost nothing to download, rather than a weekly paid game given away.
Which has the better refund policy?
They share the same basic rule, but Steam's is simpler. Both stores refund games bought within 14 days if you have played for less than 2 hours.
- Steam: refunds "for any reason" within that window. DLC follows the same 14-day, 2-hour rule, and bundles qualify if the combined playtime is under 2 hours.
- Epic: only products marked "refundable" or "self-refundable" qualify. Paid games usually are, but subscriptions, in-app purchases, virtual currency and gifts are usually not. For pre-purchases, the 14 days start from release.
Which has more features?
Steam. Its about page lists text and voice chat with friends, community hubs for every game, live broadcasting of your gameplay, reviews, achievements, controller support for PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo pads, and the Steam Workshop, where players share mods and cosmetics for nearly 1,000 supported games. The client is available in 28 languages and the store takes more than 100 payment methods in over 35 currencies.
Epic has wishlists, achievements and store-wide sales, plus Epic Rewards, a program that gives you back a percentage of what you spend. Enrolment is automatic. Epic also asks developers that their multiplayer games support crossplay across all PC stores, which is meant to keep players on different stores able to play together.
Which works on more devices?
It depends on the device. Valve says Steam supports Windows, macOS and Linux (SteamOS), and Valve makes the Steam Deck handheld. There is also a Steam mobile app for iOS and Android.
Epic's store works on PC and Mac and is also available as a game store on Android worldwide. On iPhone and iPad it is available in the European Union only, and needs iOS 17.6 or iPadOS 18 or later. Epic does not list Linux.
Why are some games only on Epic?
Epic pays for exclusivity. Its FAQ says it gives developers financial support for development and marketing in exchange for releasing on Epic only, and it pays creators 88% of revenue from their games. If a game you want is an Epic exclusive, that decides the question for you.
Epic's reach is not small either. Its developer page says the store reaches over 295 million Epic users in 187 countries, supports regional pricing, and takes more than 80 payment methods in 43 regional currencies.
Comparing other PC stores and launchers too? See our list of Steam alternatives.
Which should you choose?
- You want free games without paying anything: Epic, and claim the weekly game.
- You play on Linux or a Steam Deck: Steam.
- You love mods: Steam, for the Workshop.
- You want a game store on your Android phone: Epic.
- A game is on both: buy where your friends and the rest of your library are, or where the price is lower that week.
FAQ
Are Epic's free games really free to keep?
Yes. Epic says a claimed free game stays in your library even after the giveaway ends.
Can I get a refund on Steam after 2 hours of play?
Steam's standard refund offer covers games played for less than two hours within two weeks of purchase.
Does the Epic Games Store work on Linux?
Epic lists PC, Mac, Android and, in the EU, iPhone and iPad. Linux is not on that list. Steam supports Linux through SteamOS.
Can I play multiplayer with friends who bought the game on the other store?
For games on the Epic store, usually yes: Epic requires multiplayer games to support crossplay across all PC stores.