Instead of Steam
Steam alternatives
Steam brings a large game catalog together with tools for discovery, play, and community. It says its catalog has nearly 30,000 games, while hubs, reviews, achievements, and recommendations help users find titles. Friends and groups can chat by text or voice, broadcast gameplay, and share mods or cosmetics through Workshop for nearly 1,000 supported games. Steam is free to use and its mobile app adds shopping, account protection, news, and community features across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows. Game and content prices vary.
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OBS Studio
by OBS StudioFree plan LinuxMacWindowsFree, open-source recording and live streaming — OBS Studio focuses on video recording and live streaming, rather than Steam’s game catalog, discovery, and community.
Free plan Visit site - 2
SteelSeries Moments
by SteelSeries MomentsFree plan WindowsWindows gameplay capture with hotkey or AI clipping — SteelSeries Moments captures Windows gameplay by hotkey or AI clipping, while Steam centers on games and community.
Free plan Visit site - 3
Outplayed
Free plan WindowsWindows clips with webcam overlay and no watermark — Outplayed adds replay, webcam overlays, and watermark-free video, while Steam offers a game catalog and community tools.
Free plan Visit site - 4
NVIDIA ShadowPlay
by NVIDIA ShadowPlayFree plan WindowsWindows capture at up to 8K — NVIDIA ShadowPlay focuses on Windows gameplay capture, including 8K resolution, rather than Steam’s storefront and community.
Free plan Visit site - 5
Medal
by MedalFree plan AndroidiPhoneWindowsGameplay clips across desktop and mobile — Medal combines gameplay capture with Windows, iOS, and Android support, unlike Steam’s broader game and community focus.
Free plan · paid from $7.99/user/mo (annual) Visit site - 6
Streamlabs Highlighter
Free plan MacWindowsAutomatically detected stream or gameplay highlights — Streamlabs Highlighter, now G HUB Replay, can detect in-game highlights automatically, unlike Steam’s game-centered features.
Free plan Visit site - 7
Razer Game Clips
by Razer Game ClipsFree plan AndroidAPIiPhone+1Gameplay highlights within Razer Cortex — Razer Game Clips is a gameplay recording feature built into Razer Cortex, rather than a game storefront like Steam.
Free plan Visit site - 8
RomM
Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5 - 9
ES-DE Frontend
Free plan Open source AndroidLinuxMac+1 - 10
Attract-Mode
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2 - 11
OpenEmu
Free plan Open source Mac - 12
Albion Online Launcher
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+4 - 13
RetroArch
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3 - 14
Minecraft Launcher
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+2 - 15
GameEx
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+1 - 16
Pegasus Frontend
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+1 - 17
Yamata Launcher
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+1 - 18
Battle.net
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+2 - 19
Prism Launcher
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 20
itch app
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 21
Epic Games Launcher
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+1 - 22
Gaseous
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWeb+1 - 23
Bezel
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 24
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Heroic Games Launcher
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 26
RetroFE
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 27
GOG Galaxy
Free plan APIExtensionMac+1 - 28
Rocksmith+
Free plan AndroidiPhoneWindows - 29
LaunchBox
Free plan AndroidAPIWindows - 30
Phoenix
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 31
GameIndex
Free plan LinuxWindows
The trade-offs are worth weighing before switching: Steam content is licensed rather than sold, and use may require an account, the client, and an internet connection. Users under 13 cannot become subscribers. Most options here are capture tools, not substitutes for Steam’s store, catalog, or community features. Choose based on whether you need recording or replay, automatic clipping, live streaming, or mobile access, and check that the supported operating system fits your setup.