What is itch.io used for?

itch.io is an open marketplace where independent developers upload, sell and distribute games, assets and tools, and players find and download them. It is a good fit for indie developers publishing and selling games, game jam participants sharing prototypes, and players discovering niche and free games.

Is itch.io open source?

No. itch.io is proprietary (closed-source) software and can't be self-hosted. In the Games & Emulation category, open-source options include Sunshine, Proton and RPCS3.

What are some alternatives to itch.io?

itch.io competes with GOG, Epic Games Store and Humble Bundle.

itch.io: features, pricing and alternatives

About itch.io

itch.io is an online marketplace for independent games. Developers can upload their projects and set their own terms, while players browse, download or play in the browser, with many titles free and others sold at a price set by the creator.

Beyond games, the catalog includes game assets, tools, albums and soundtracks, physical games, comics and books, and the site hosts game jams, developer logs, a community and bundles. A desktop app helps players install and manage their games, and developers can push builds using the butler tool, which is integrated with the app.

itch.io is a hosted service where each creator controls pricing, with sales and bundles available. It suits indie developers who want a simple distribution channel and players looking for experimental or niche games.

Key features

Open marketplace for indie games
Browser-playable games
Game jam hosting
Game assets, tools and soundtracks
Desktop app for installing games
Bundles and developer logs

Good fit for

→Indie developers publishing and selling games
→Game jam participants sharing prototypes
→Players discovering niche and free games

Tags: indie-games; game-store; marketplace; game-jams; game-assets; distribution; browser-games

itch.io: questions and answers

What is itch.io used for?: itch.io is an open marketplace where independent developers upload, sell and distribute games, assets and tools, and players find and download them. It is a good fit for indie developers publishing and selling games, game jam participants sharing prototypes, and players discovering niche and free games.
Is itch.io free?: Yes. itch.io has a free plan.
Is itch.io open source?: No. itch.io is proprietary (closed-source) software and can't be self-hosted. In the Games & Emulation category, open-source options include Sunshine, Proton and RPCS3.
What are some alternatives to itch.io?: itch.io competes with GOG, Epic Games Store and Humble Bundle.