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Steam vs Epic Games Store: PC game libraries and stores?

By Official AppDuo editorial team · Updated

Steam logoSteam7.2/10Free · FreeEpic Games Store logoEpic Games Store6.5/10Free · Free

Quick verdict

Steam vs Epic Games Store: PC game libraries and stores.

Steam: PC gamers who want a huge catalogue, sales and a community.

Epic Games Store: PC players who like claiming regular free games to grow a library.

Choose for your main task, existing devices and plan limits; the overall score cannot replace your requirements.

Head-to-head

Steam leads on 4, Epic Games Store on 2, 3 even

FeatureSteamEpic Games Store
Access in Vietnam[9],[10]Some services blocked since May 2024; since Oct 2026 users report failing downloads, updates, cloud sync and loginsAppDuo found no public information about blocks in Vietnam
→ In Vietnam, Steam carries real access risk for downloads and updates, varying by ISP.
Free games to keep[1],[17]Free to install, pay per game; some games are free to playRegular giveaways: 100 games given away in 2025, 662 million copies claimed
→ Anyone wanting to build a library without spending gets a clear benefit from Epic's giveaways.
Catalogue size[1],[16]Nearly 30,000 games per its About pageOver 6,000 games
→ Those wanting the widest choice will find far more titles on Steam.
Refund policy[4],[13]Games refundable within 14 days with under 2 hours played; unused Wallet funds within 14 days; VAC ban removes refund rightEligible PC/Mac games within 14 days, under 2 hours; mobile within 2 hours; gifts non-refundable
→ Both give the same 14-day, 2-hour window for PC games, so this rarely decides the choice.
Pricing currency[5]Vietnamese dong listed among live currenciesListed currency: USD; AppDuo found no public information on VND support
→ Steam lists many local currencies, including the Vietnamese dong, making costs easier to judge for buyers outside the US.
Linux support[1],[21]Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux; Steam Deck supportLinux launcher only in public preview since 14 Oct 2026
→ Linux users who need a stable client are better served by Steam.
User ratings[6],[8],[19]Companion app: 1.8/5 (1,121, VN App Store), 2.6/5 (1,085,097, VN Google Play)Trustpilot 1.3/5 (7,486 reviews); Epic Games app 3.1/5 (1,080, US App Store)
→ Both rate poorly across different sources, so ratings don't clearly separate them.
Community and integrations[1],[16]Steam Workshop, Steam Chat, Game Hubs, Broadcasts, controller supportFortnite and Epic Authenticator; achievements, cloud saves, Epic Rewards
→ Players who value mods, chat and a large community get more tools on Steam.
Privacy[3],[12],[20]No data sale; Privacy Dashboard; transactions kept up to 10 years; developers see player dataNo sale or targeted ads; restricted child accounts; $275 million FTC penalty in 2022 over children's data
→ Each has its own strengths and drawbacks, so weigh them against your own concerns.

Choose Steam if…

  • PC gamers who want a huge catalogue, sales and a community
  • Users with reliable Steam access who like a 14-day refund window on purchases

Choose Epic Games Store if…

  • PC players who like claiming regular free games to grow a library
  • Players of Fortnite, Rocket League or Fall Guys who already have an Epic account
  • Buyers after titles that launch as Epic exclusives or with Epic-only offers

How the products differ

Steam: Steam offers a large PC game catalogue, a big community and plenty of tooling, free to install with a clear refund policy. In Vietnam, however, some Steam services have been blocked since May 2024 and, since early October 2026, users there report failing downloads, updates and cloud saves, so access in that country depends heavily on the ISP.

Epic Games Store: Epic Games Store suits PC players who want a second store next to Steam, especially those who like free giveaways and a 14-day refund window. The trade-off: Trustpilot reviewers rate it 1.3/5, citing a slow launcher, login errors and automated support, and Epic's rebuilt launcher has only been in public preview since October 2026.

Choose around your use case

Steam: Fits PC gamers who want a huge catalogue, sales and a community; Users with reliable Steam access who like a 14-day refund window on purchases. Strengths: Free to install; pay only per game, in local currencies from Valve's live list (the Vietnamese dong among them); Clear refund policy: 14 days and under 2 hours of play.

Epic Games Store: Fits PC players who like claiming regular free games to grow a library; Players of Fortnite, Rocket League or Fall Guys who already have an Epic account. Strengths: No subscription fee; in 2025 Epic gave away 100 games and players claimed 662 million copies; Eligible PC and Mac games can be refunded within 14 days with under 2 hours of play.

Costs and limits to check

Steam: Free according to the researched profile; no paid plan is recorded. Trade-off: Blocked in Vietnam since May 2024; since Oct 2026 users report failing downloads, updates, cloud sync and logins.

Epic Games Store: Free according to the researched profile; no paid plan is recorded. Trade-off: Trustpilot gives only 1.3/5 from 7,486 reviews (the profile is unclaimed), mostly about the launcher, logins, downloads and support. Prices retain the currency and billing units recorded in the source profiles; no currency conversion or plan equivalence is assumed. Check official prices, limits and terms before payment.

When to consider another option

Steam is not aimed at: People in Vietnam who need dependable downloads and updates without dealing with access blocks; Players who mainly use a phone and not a PC.

Consider alternatives to Epic Games Store if you are: People who need a light, reliable launcher and fast human support; Linux users who need a stable client: the Linux launcher has only been a preview since October 2026. Read these limitations alongside the feature table before deciding; a single strength cannot compensate for a missing requirement.

Frequently asked questions

Should I choose Steam or Epic Games Store?

Steam vs Epic Games Store: PC game libraries and stores. Steam: PC gamers who want a huge catalogue, sales and a community. Epic Games Store: PC players who like claiming regular free games to grow a library. Choose for your main task, existing devices and plan limits; the overall score cannot replace your requirements.

Does a higher score always mean a better fit?

No. Overall scores are editorial judgements across several criteria. Your task, allowance and existing ecosystem may matter more; the table separates those differences so you can decide.

Where do prices and limits come from?

From each product’s researched profile, with source links and check dates in the review. This comparison reuses that evidence; its compilation date does not mean every price was rechecked that day.

Sources

Numbers in the table refer to these sources, read on the dates shown.

  1. 1.About Steam · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  2. 2.Steam store (language selector) · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  3. 3.Steam Privacy Policy · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  4. 4.Steam refund policy · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  5. 5.Steamworks: supported currencies · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  6. 6.App Store listing: Steam Mobile (Vietnam) · store · Nov 10, 2026
  7. 7.iTunes Lookup API: Steam Mobile (Vietnam) · store · Nov 10, 2026
  8. 8.Google Play listing: Steam (Vietnam) · store · Nov 10, 2026
  9. 9.VnExpress (2024-06-01): Steam blocked in Vietnam · press · Nov 10, 2026
  10. 10.Inven Global (2026-10-03): Steam effectively blocked in Vietnam · press · Nov 10, 2026
  11. 11.Wikipedia: Steam (service) · Community-reported · Nov 10, 2026
  12. 12.Epic Games Privacy Policy (last updated 2026-04-22) · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  13. 13.Epic Games Store Refund Policy · Vendor-provided · Nov 10, 2026
  14. 14.App Store listing: Epic Games app (United States) · store · Nov 10, 2026
  15. 15.iTunes Search API (rating, version, screenshots, languages) · store · Nov 10, 2026
  16. 16.Wikipedia: Epic Games Store (timeline, figures, launcher preview) · Community-reported · Nov 10, 2026
  17. 17.Wccftech: Epic Games Store 2025 year in review · press · Nov 10, 2026
  18. 18.Tom's Hardware: Epic unveils Launcher V2 · press · Nov 10, 2026
  19. 19.Trustpilot: epicgames.com · review-site · Nov 10, 2026
  20. 20.FTC press release: Epic Games settlement (2022-12-19) · press · Nov 10, 2026
  21. 21.GamingOnLinux: Epic Games Launcher preview on Linux (October 2026) · press · Nov 10, 2026

Prepared by the AppDuo Editorial Team from the sources cited in this article. AI assists with organising and cross-checking data; editorial responsibility remains with AppDuo.

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