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Steam Direct vs. itch.io at a glance
| Factor | Steam Direct | itch.io |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront platform cost | $100 USD per new app; nonrefundable, but recoupable after the product reaches at least $1,000 in adjusted gross revenue from Steam Store or in-app purchases. | No upfront platform charge to create a project page and upload files, according to itch.io’s Creator FAQ. |
| Platform revenue share | Calculated using the revenue-share terms in the developer’s Steam Distribution Agreement; the public FAQ does not establish one rate for every partner. | Creator chooses the platform share, from 0% to 100%; payment processor fees are additional. |
| Payment and tax administration | Requires bank and tax details during onboarding. Valve says it collects and remits applicable sales taxes in covered jurisdictions; developers retain their own tax obligations. | Choose between “Direct to you,” where the creator handles VAT, and “Collected by itch.io,” where itch.io is merchant of record and handles VAT collection and remittance. |
| Publishing setup | Steamworks partner onboarding, digital paperwork, app fee, bank and tax setup, and identity verification. | Hosted project page and file uploads, with creator-selected pricing and payment mode. |
| Sales and discovery evidence | The cited official documentation does not establish comparative sales or discovery results. | Creator tools report page views, downloads, and purchases; the cited documentation does not establish comparative sales or discovery results. |
How the costs and payouts compare
Steam Direct: an app fee, then agreement-based revenue calculation
Valve’s Steamworks documentation lists a $100 USD Steam Direct fee for each new app, excluding Steam Wallet payment. The fee is not refundable. Valve says it is recouped in a payment after the product has at least $1,000 in adjusted gross revenue from Steam Store or in-app purchases. The fee can be withheld in cases involving charged-back, refunded, or fraudulent deposits. See Steam Direct Fee.
Steam calculates creator payments from net revenue after applicable adjustments, including taxes, returns, and chargebacks, then applies the revenue-share percentage in the Steam Distribution Agreement and any applicable withholding. The public tax FAQ does not specify a single share for every partner; use your executed agreement and account reporting rather than assuming a universal percentage. See Steam’s Taxes FAQ.
itch.io: creator-selected share plus payment processing
itch.io lets creators choose the platform’s share of sales. Its payment guide describes a 10% default in an example, but the setting can be changed; it is not a required rate. Payment processor fees are separate and can vary by provider, region, account, currency, and transaction. Since processors commonly charge a fixed component as well as a percentage, that fixed charge can matter more on low-priced purchases. Check the current provider terms and your own transaction mix when setting a price. See itch.io’s payment guide.
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Creators can offer a project for free or set a minimum price, including zero. The Creator FAQ says project pages and file uploads can be started without an upfront platform charge. See itch.io’s Creator FAQ.
Who handles payments and VAT on itch.io?
itch.io offers two payment modes. They differ in who receives buyer payments, who acts as merchant of record, and who is responsible for VAT administration.
- Direct to you: Connect PayPal or Stripe and receive transactions through those providers. You are the merchant of record and responsible for VAT collection and remittance. itch.io describes an optional feature for automatic VAT collection.
- Collected by itch.io: itch.io is the merchant of record, collects payments, and handles VAT collection and remittance. You request a payout later. This option has eligibility and review conditions; the guide describes a minimum balance and a seven-day transaction waiting period, with reviews taking at least seven days and typically 10–14 days.
Because payment rules and payout conditions can change, check the current payment guide before choosing a mode. Tax obligations depend on your circumstances and location; consult a tax professional for advice about your business.
What publishing workflow fits your team?
Steam Direct
Steam’s process is structured around Steamworks partner setup. Valve describes digital paperwork, payment of the app fee, bank and tax information, and identity verification. This involves more formal setup than simply making a hosted project page, but the documentation alone does not establish that it is harder for every team. Review the Steam Direct documentation and make sure the person handling release administration can complete the partner requirements.
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itch.io’s creator workflow centers on a hosted project page and uploaded files. You can choose the project’s price and platform share, and select a payment mode. Its Creator FAQ also says the platform reports project usage such as page views, downloads, and purchases. This can provide signals about activity on your own page, but it does not demonstrate how your game would perform on another store.
Discovery is not a platform guarantee
The official documentation reviewed here does not provide comparable sales, conversion, audience-size, or discovery data for Steam and itch.io. That absence is not proof that the services perform equally; it means the available evidence does not support a universal sales winner. Consider where your likely players already are and what evidence you have from your own community, playtests, mailing list, or prior releases. Your game’s page, launch preparation, community-building, and marketing capacity also matter.
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How to choose
- Choose itch.io as a starting point if avoiding an upfront platform fee, controlling the platform share, or using a hosted downloadable project page is important. Decide whether you want to manage direct provider payments and VAT or use itch.io’s collected-payout model.
- Choose Steam Direct if you are prepared for Steamworks onboarding and can budget the $100 USD fee per app. Confirm the revenue-share and payment terms in your own agreement and plan for your bank, tax, and identity details.
- Compare expected proceeds, not just percentages. Include platform share, payment-processing charges, refunds, chargebacks, taxes, withholding, and the Steam fee or recoupment condition where relevant. The exact result depends on your price, transaction sizes, contract, payment mode, and jurisdiction.
- Base audience decisions on your evidence. Neither platform’s cited documentation guarantees discovery or sales. Use what you know about your players and the marketing work you can sustain.
Can you publish on both?
The official pages cited above do not establish whether simultaneous distribution is permitted in every case or under every applicable term. Do not assume exclusivity or universal permission from the platform comparison alone. Check the current terms for both services and any agreements connected to your game before planning a multi-platform release.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
