Steam
Valve's PC game store, launcher and community platform for buying, installing and playing games.
- Pricing
- Free
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
- Categories
- Games & entertainment
About Steam
Steam is Valve's digital distribution platform and launcher for PC games. The store lists close to 30,000 games (Valve's figure) from AAA to indie, with automatic updates, Early Access titles, user reviews and recommendations. Community features include Steam Chat for text and voice, game hubs, broadcasting gameplay, achievements and the Steam Workshop for player-made mods and cosmetics in supported games. The client supports PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo controllers and 28 languages, and the store accepts 100+ payment methods across 35+ currencies. Developers publish through Steamworks. Steam runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and SteamOS (Steam Deck), with iOS and Android companion apps.
Good for
PC gamers who want one library, launcher and social layer for a very large catalogue, including mods via the Workshop and Linux/Steam Deck play.
Watch out for
Games you buy are tied to your Steam account and most require the client to run. The client is free, but games are sold individually.
Pricing notes
As of October 2026 the Steam client and account are free; games are bought individually at prices set by publishers.
Alternatives to Steam
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IINAOpen sourceFree, open-source media player for macOS built on mpv.Games & entertainment
PlexFreemiumPersonal media server and streaming apps, plus free ad-supported movies, shows and live TV.Games & entertainment
mpvOpen sourceFree, open-source command-line media player with high-quality GPU video output and scripting.Games & entertainment
VLC media playerOpen sourceFree, open-source cross-platform media player from the VideoLAN non-profit.Games & entertainmentDeezerFreemiumMusic streaming service with a free ad-supported tier in some countries plus Premium and Family plans.Games & entertainmentJellyfinOpen sourceFree, open-source, self-hosted media server with official clients for web, desktop, mobile and TVs.Games & entertainment