Steam vs Discover

Steam9.4Visit Discover8.4Visit

Higher score Steam #1 in App Store 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Steam

vs

Discover #7 in App Store 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit KDE

• Steam fits best

  PC game publishers seeking a broad storefront

• Discover fits best

  Linux users installing software from configured sources

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Side by side

Feature	Steam 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Discover 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	8.4
Ranking	#1 in App Store	#7 in App Store
Best for	PC game publishers seeking a broad storefront	Linux users installing software from configured sources
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop, Mobile	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Linux
Features Steam 0/5 · Discover 0/5
App review	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
In-app payments	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Subscriptions	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
App analytics	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Web distribution	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms	Not checked yet	Linux
Our review
Pros	Broad storefront and library across Windows, macOS, Linux, and SteamOS Workshop, community hubs, reviews, broadcasting, and discovery tools Cloud saves, offline mode, controller support, and remote library management	Browse software from configured sources, including distribution repositories Install applications and manage installed software and updates Supports sources beyond distribution repositories, including Flatpak
Cons	Individual games and other content may require separate purchases Cloud saves depend on support from each individual game Offline play is available only for supported installed games	Linux-only availability limits use across desktop platforms Depends on configured software sources for what users can browse Not designed as a developer-facing app publishing store
Our verdict	Steam is Valve’s digital game distribution and PC gaming platform, built around a storefront and library for purchasing, downloading, updating, and launching games. It suits PC game publishers seeking a broad storefront and players who… Read the review →	Discover gives Linux desktop users a graphical way to browse and install applications from configured software sources, then manage installed software and updates. It is part of the KDE software ecosystem, with its tagline positioning it… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Steam — where it wins

  • Broad storefront and library across Windows, macOS, Linux, and SteamOS
  • Workshop, community hubs, reviews, broadcasting, and discovery tools
  • Cloud saves, offline mode, controller support, and remote library management

  Where it doesn't

  • Individual games and other content may require separate purchases
  • Cloud saves depend on support from each individual game
  • Offline play is available only for supported installed games

• Discover — where it wins

  • Browse software from configured sources, including distribution repositories
  • Install applications and manage installed software and updates
  • Supports sources beyond distribution repositories, including Flatpak

  Where it doesn't

  • Linux-only availability limits use across desktop platforms
  • Depends on configured software sources for what users can browse
  • Not designed as a developer-facing app publishing store

• Steam9.4/10 · Free plan

  A free, broad game storefront with library, community, Workshop, and cloud tools.

  Visit SteamFull verdict →
• Discover8.4/10 · Free plan

  A Linux desktop app center for browsing sources, installing apps, and managing updates.

  Visit KDEFull verdict →