The definitive comparison

GOG
VS STEAM

Both sell the same games at similar prices. Only one lets you truly own them. Here's the full breakdown.

✓ Recommended

GOG

DRM-free, standalone installer, no launcher required. You own the file. Play offline forever. Works if GOG shuts down. This is what buying a game should mean.

  • ✓ No launcher required to play
  • ✓ Offline play — always, permanently
  • ✓ Download a backup installer
  • ✓ Games can't be revoked
  • ✓ Works in 20+ years
  • ✓ No DRM performance overhead
Buy on GOG →

⚠ DRM-locked

STEAM

Largest storefront, best social features, huge catalog. But: most games require Steam to run. You own a license, not a file. Valve can suspend accounts.

  • ✗ Steam launcher required
  • ✗ Offline mode has limitations
  • ✗ No backup installer
  • ✗ Publisher can delist your game
  • — Best-in-class social features
  • — Largest game library

FULL
COMPARISON

Category
GOG
Steam
Ownership model
File ownership — installer is yours
License — Valve can revoke
Launcher required
Never
Always
Offline play
Permanent, unrestricted
Limited; Steam must have been online recently
Backup installer
Yes — download & keep forever
No
Game catalog size
6,000+ titles
50,000+ titles
Pricing
Same as Steam, frequent sales
Same as GOG, frequent sales
Free classic games
Yes — many GOG freebies
Very few
DRM policy
100% DRM-free guaranteed
Most games have Steam DRM
Works if store closes
Yes — installer already on your drive
No — requires Steam servers
Publisher can delist
Can't take back what you have
Yes — affects your library
Performance impact
None — no background DRM process
Possible with Denuvo titles
Social features
Basic — friends, achievements
Best-in-class — groups, reviews, chat
Workshop / mods
Limited
Extensive Steam Workshop
Linux support
Yes
Yes (Steam Deck optimized)
Refund policy
Money-back guarantee on most titles
2hr / 14 day refund window

WHEN TO
USE WHICH.

Buy on GOG when…

  • ✓It's a single-player game you want to keep forever
  • ✓It's a classic from the 90s or 2000s
  • ✓You travel and need offline access
  • ✓You care about game preservation
  • ✓You're worried about publisher behavior
  • ✓You want the fastest, cleanest launch (no launcher overhead)
  • ✓You want to back up your library to an external drive
Browse GOG →

Steam still makes sense when…

  • —The game isn't available on GOG
  • —You need Steam Workshop mods
  • —You play multiplayer games where friends use Steam
  • —You own a Steam Deck with Proton compatibility
  • —The game requires always-online anyway (MMO, etc.)

Note: if a game is available on both, GOG is almost always the better buy for single-player titles.

THE VERDICT:
BUY ON GOG.

For any game available on both platforms — especially single-player titles — GOG gives you actual ownership for the same price. There's no reason not to.

Browse DRM-Free Games on GOG → What is DRM?