Steam vs Epic Games: Features, Prices, Cloud Saves & Ownership

Steam and Epic Games Store are the two biggest PC game storefronts, but they differ significantly in features, pricing, cloud save handling, and how game ownership actually works. Steam offers a mature, feature-rich platform with robust cloud saves and a massive library, while Epic focuses on aggressive free games, exclusive deals, and a simpler, more curated storefront. Below, we break down the key differences to help you decide which one fits your gaming habits.

Background: How the Two Stores Grew

Steam launched in 2003 as Valve’s way to update Counter-Strike, but it quickly became the dominant PC gaming platform. Over two decades, it added community features, user reviews, workshops, remote play, and a massive sales culture. By 2025, Steam has over 100 million monthly active users and tens of thousands of games.

The Epic Games Store launched in December 2018 as a direct competitor, using the success of Fortnite and Unreal Engine to push into the market. Epic’s strategy was to offer developers a more favorable revenue split (88/12 vs. Steam’s 70/30) and to secure timed exclusives. It also started a weekly free games program that has given away hundreds of titles, attracting millions of users.

Features: What You Get Out of the Box

Steam is a full-featured platform. It includes:

• User reviews and community hubs
• Steam Workshop for mods
• Remote Play Together (share your screen with friends)
• Big Picture Mode for controllers and TV
• Steam Link for streaming to mobile devices
• Family Sharing (allow others to play your library)
• Steam Deck integration
• Built-in screenshot, video capture, and streaming

Epic Games Store is more minimal. It launched with only a storefront and a library. Over time, Epic added:

• Basic cloud saves (now supported for most games)
• Achievements (but only for a limited number of titles)
• Mod support (via a separate integration, not a unified workshop)
• Epic Online Services (for crossplay and backend services)
• Rocket League and Fall Guys became free-to-play and exclusive to Epic

Epic still lacks user reviews, a robust community hub, and a built-in mod browser. It also has a less polished mobile app and no equivalent to Steam’s Remote Play Together.

Prices and Sales: Who’s Cheaper?

Both stores run major seasonal sales (Summer, Winter, etc.) with deep discounts. However, there are structural differences:

• Steam’s sale discounts are often slightly deeper on older titles, and it has a “Daily Dealâ€� and “Hidden Gemâ€� system.
• Epic’s sales include a $10-off coupon for any game over $14.99 during major sales, which can make new releases cheaper than on Steam.
• Epic gives away free games every Thursday. Over 300 titles have been offered since 2018, including AAA games like Grand Theft Auto V, Civilization VI, and Control.
• Steam also gives away free games occasionally, but not on a weekly schedule.

Regional pricing varies, but both stores adjust prices based on country. Epic’s coupons and free games often make it the cheaper option if you’re willing to wait for sales. However, Steam’s regional pricing is often more consistent, and some regions get better prices on Steam.

Cloud Saves: How They Differ and Why It Matters

Steam Cloud is a mature system. It automatically syncs save files, settings, and even screenshots to the cloud. It’s enabled by default for most games, and you can see which files are synced via the game’s properties. If you lose your PC, you can reinstall and your saves are restored. Steam also supports cloud saves for non-Steam games added to your library, though that’s a manual setup.

Epic’s cloud saves are less consistent. They were added in 2021, but not every game supports them. When they do, they work similarly, but there’s no user-visible indicator of what’s being synced. If a game doesn’t support Epic cloud saves, you must manually back up your save files. This is a common complaint among Epic users who switch PCs.

For games that support both, the cloud save implementations are usually separate, so you can’t transfer saves between Steam and Epic versions of the same game without manual file copying.

Game Ownership: What You Actually Buy

On both stores, you do not own the game in a traditional sense. You purchase a license to play the game, which can be revoked if the store shuts down or if the publisher/developer removes it. This is true for all digital storefronts.

Steam’s license is tied to your Steam account. You can install games on multiple PCs, but you can only play on one at a time (unless you use Family Sharing). Steam also offers offline mode, but it requires you to have logged in online at least once.

Epic’s license is tied to your Epic account. You can install on multiple PCs, but there’s no offline mode for most games—you must be online to launch and play. Epic’s refund policy is more generous: you can refund any game within 14 days of purchase and under 2 hours of playtime, even if it’s a pre-order. Steam’s refund policy is the same, but it doesn’t apply to pre-orders that are more than 14 days old.

One key difference: Epic does not allow you to gift games to friends in all regions, and it doesn’t have a trading card or marketplace system like Steam. Steam’s trading cards can be sold for store credit, which effectively lowers the cost of games over time.

Common Problems and How to Choose

Common Steam issues: slow download speeds, large client updates, and the occasional “Steam is already running� error. Fixes include clearing download cache, changing download region, and restarting the client.

Common Epic issues: missing cloud saves, login failures, and the client not recognizing installed games. Fixes include verifying game files, logging out and back in, and manually setting the install path.

How to choose:

• If you want a complete platform with community, mods, and reliable cloud saves, choose Steam.
• If you want free games and deep discounts via coupons, choose Epic.
• If you play on Steam Deck, Steam is the only option (though you can install Epic via Heroic Launcher).
• If you care about achievements and playtime tracking, Steam is far superior.
• If you want to support developers, Epic’s 88/12 split gives more money to devs, but that doesn’t directly affect you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play Steam games on Epic?

No. Games are tied to the store you bought them from. You can’t launch a Steam game through Epic, and vice versa. Some games support crossplay, but that’s separate from the storefront.

If Epic gives away a game, do I keep it forever?

Yes, as long as you claim it during the free period, it’s yours to keep forever. You can play it anytime, even if it’s no longer free.

Which store has better refunds?

Both have the same basic policy: refund within 14 days of purchase and under 2 hours of playtime. However, Epic automatically approves refunds for any game that meets these criteria, while Steam’s refunds can be denied if you abuse the system (e.g., refunding many games in a short period).

Are cloud saves on Epic reliable?

They are improving, but not as reliable as Steam’s. Some games still don’t support Epic cloud saves, and there’s no way to manually trigger a sync. If you play on multiple PCs, always check if the game supports it.

Can I transfer my Steam library to Epic?

No. You cannot transfer games between stores. You would have to repurchase them on the other platform. Some games offer cross-buy (e.g., if you buy on one platform, you get it on the other), but that’s rare and decided by the developer.

Is Epic Games Store a security risk?

No. Epic is a legitimate company, and the store is safe to use. However, like any online service, you should use two-factor authentication to protect your account. There have been no major security breaches of the store itself, but phishing scams exist.

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