Best steam alternatives for Australian PC gamers in 2026

The best Steam alternatives for Australian PC gamers are Epic Games Store, GOG Galaxy, Itch.io, the EA App, Ubisoft Connect, Battle.net, the Microsoft Store/Xbox App, Humble Bundle, and Green Man Gaming. Each platform serves a different need: Epic hands out free games weekly, GOG gives you true ownership with no DRM, and Game Pass delivers hundreds of titles for a monthly subscription. All of these platforms accept Australian payment methods, though a handful carry region locks on specific titles.

Here is a quick snapshot of what each platform brings:

Social features vary widely across these platforms. Epic, Battle.net, and the Xbox App maintain active friends and party systems, while Itch.io and Humble Bundle are closer to storefronts with minimal community tools.

1. Epic Games Store regularly gives out free games

Epic’s single biggest draw is its weekly free games programme, which has handed out titles like GTA V, Control, and Borderlands 3 at no cost. The library includes AAA exclusives such as Alan Wake 2, Fortnite, and Rocket League. For Australian gamers, the store accepts credit cards, PayPal, and local payment options, and pricing appears in AUD.

The trade-off is a smaller overall catalogue compared to Steam, and the mod ecosystem is thin. But if you play the long game and claim free titles consistently, the value adds up fast. The Heroic Games Launcher lets you manage your Epic library alongside GOG and Amazon in a single open-source client, which is handy if you spread purchases across stores.

Pro Tip: Set a weekly reminder to claim Epic’s free game and gradually build a substantial library without spending money.

Overhead view of laptop and gaming accessories

2. GOG Galaxy is the best pick if you want to truly own your games

GOG’s entire identity is built around DRM-free ownership. Buy a game, download it, and it is yours permanently, even if GOG shut down tomorrow. The catalogue leans heavily on classic PC titles and indie games, with standouts like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3 sitting alongside older gems from the 1990s and 2000s that are impossible to find elsewhere.

The GOG Galaxy client also pulls in libraries from other platforms, so you can see your Epic, Steam, and Battle.net games in one place without switching apps. Sales are frequent and deep, and Australian users can pay in AUD. The AAA selection is narrower than Steam, but for anyone who values ownership over catalogue size, GOG is the clearest choice.

Woman browsing GOG Galaxy library on tablet

3. Itch.io is where indie games get weird (in the best way)

Itch.io operates differently from every other platform on this list. There is no gatekeeper approving what gets published, which means you find experimental, strange, and genuinely original games that would never make it onto Steam. The pay-what-you-want model means you can pay $0 for many titles or choose to support a developer directly.

Itch.io also runs bundle sales that pack dozens of games together for a few dollars, often with proceeds going to charity or social causes. For Australian gamers, the platform accepts PayPal and most major cards. If you play primarily mainstream titles, Itch.io will feel sparse. But if you want something no one else has played, it is the right place to look.

4. Other notable platforms worth knowing about

EA App and Origin

Origin is effectively retired, replaced by the EA App as EA’s primary PC client. The EA App carries all of EA’s exclusive titles, including the FIFA/FC series, Battlefield, and Mass Effect, and integrates EA Play, a subscription that unlocks a rotating game library plus early access to new releases. DRM is required, and the platform is Windows-only. Australian users can subscribe to EA Play in AUD.

Ubisoft Connect

Ubisoft Connect (formerly Uplay) is the home for Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six Siege, and every other Ubisoft franchise. Beyond the storefront, it offers friends lists, chat, in-game overlays, and community events. DRM is mandatory, and the library is limited to Ubisoft titles, but the social layer is more developed than most publisher-specific platforms. A Ubisoft+ subscription adds access to a broader catalogue.

Battle.net

Battle.net is Blizzard’s platform and the only place to play World of Warcraft, Diablo IV, Overwatch 2, and Hearthstone. It supports Windows and macOS, includes friends lists and group chat, and has cloud saves for Blizzard titles. Discounts are rare, and the library is small, but if you play Blizzard games, there is no alternative.

Microsoft Store and Xbox App

The Xbox App is the strongest subscription play on PC. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundles hundreds of games, cloud gaming via Xbox Cloud Gaming, and day-one access to all Microsoft first-party releases. Crossplay between PC and Xbox consoles works well for titles like Halo Infinite and Sea of Thieves. Mod support is weaker than Steam, but the sheer volume of games available through Game Pass makes it hard to ignore for value-focused Australian gamers.

Humble Bundle and Green Man Gaming

Humble Bundle sells curated game bundles at prices you choose, with a portion going to charity. It offers Steam keys alongside DRM-free downloads, and the Humble Choice subscription delivers a monthly selection of games. Green Man Gaming operates as a key reseller, consistently undercutting standard storefront prices on Steam, Epic, and other platform keys. Neither has a native launcher or social features, but both are legitimate and widely used by Australian gamers hunting for deals.

Plarium Play

Plarium Play is a launcher for free-to-play titles like RAID: Shadow Legends. The library is small and focused on Plarium’s own games, with microtransactions throughout. It suits players who want casual strategy games without paying upfront, but it is not a general-purpose Steam replacement.

Key takeaways

The best Steam alternative depends on what you actually want: free games, true ownership, subscription value, or publisher exclusives.

Point Details
DRM-free ownership GOG Galaxy is the only major platform where every purchase is permanently yours with no account lock.
Best free game value Epic Games Store gives away free titles weekly, building a large library at no cost over time.
Subscription value Xbox Game Pass delivers the strongest catalogue per dollar for Australian PC gamers.
Indie and experimental games Itch.io hosts pay-what-you-want titles unavailable anywhere else, including Windows, macOS, and Linux builds.
Publisher exclusives EA App, Ubisoft Connect, and Battle.net each lock their catalogues to a single launcher with no cross-platform option.

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