For PC games, Epic Games Store and Steam have similar headline refund limits: eligible purchases generally need to be requested within 14 days and have less than two hours of play or runtime. Neither store guarantees cloud saves for every game. The practical differences are in refund eligibility and request paths, while cloud-save support and sync behavior depend on each game.
At a glance
| What you’re comparing | Epic Games Store | Steam |
|---|---|---|
| Standard PC refund rule | Within 14 days (or 14 days after release for pre-purchases), under two hours of runtime, and the product must be marked refundable or self-refundable. See Epic’s US English refund policy. | Generally within 14 days of purchase and under two hours of playtime. The threshold includes online, offline, and shared-library play. See Steam’s refund FAQ. |
| Where to request | Self-refundable purchases can be handled from account Transactions; other refundable purchases go through Player Support. | Submit a request through Steam Support. Requests outside the standard rule may still be reviewed. |
| Cloud-save coverage | Only games that support Cloud Saves. Check the library filter or the game’s store-page feature tags. | Games can use Steam Cloud for saves and other user-specific data. Check the game’s store listing for support. |
| Cloud-conflict recovery | Epic provides conflict guidance for specific situations; the right file depends on the scenario. | Sync can fail or an older file can be uploaded. Steam Support says it cannot recover lost saves or resolve cloud conflicts. |
How refunds compare
Epic Games Store
Epic’s policy covers purchases made through Epic checkout on PC, Mac, and mobile. For PC and Mac purchases, the product must be labelled “refundable” or “self-refundable,” the request must fall within 14 days of purchase (or 14 days after release for a pre-purchase), and recorded runtime must be less than two hours. Mobile products with either refundable label have a two-hour window from purchase.
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The label determines the route: use the account’s Transactions page for a self-refund, or contact Player Support for another refundable purchase. Items marked non-refundable—including many consumables, subscriptions, gifts, and virtual-currency purchases—generally are not eligible under Epic’s policy. Purchases made through another store follow that store’s rules, and statutory rights may also apply. Check the full Epic refund policy for the terms that apply to your purchase.
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Steam’s general rule is a refund request within 14 days of purchase and less than two hours of playtime. Steam counts online, offline, and shared-library play. Requests outside those limits can still be submitted, but Steam says it will review them rather than promising approval. The standard rule should not be treated as a guarantee for every DLC or in-game purchase; check the relevant terms and request details in Steam’s Common Refund Questions.
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What to check before you buy
- On Epic, confirm the product’s refundable label and note whether its stated window is measured from purchase or, for a PC/Mac pre-purchase, release.
- On either store, keep your purchase date and playtime in mind; the headline time limits do not make every item eligible.
- If a game goes on sale shortly after an Epic purchase, Epic says you may refund and repurchase it if it remains within the 14-day and under-two-hour limits. Epic says this is not refund abuse; see its sale-price guidance.
- If you bought through a different storefront or payment channel, check that point of purchase’s refund rules.
Cloud saves: support is game-specific on both stores
Epic Games Store
Epic Cloud Saves automatically store save files online so supported games can use the same saves across devices. Support is not universal. In the Epic launcher, filter your Library for Cloud Saves, or check the game’s Features tags on its store page. Epic explains both methods in its cloud-save support guide.
Steam
Steam Cloud can store game saves, settings, profile stats, and other user-specific data, but each game’s implementation is configured at the game level and synchronization can be disabled for a particular title. Look for Steam Cloud support on the game’s store listing. Valve’s Steamworks documentation explains how developers configure it.
Neither store’s cloud feature means every game is covered or that every sync issue will be recoverable. Do not assume that a save from one device is safely uploaded until synchronization has completed.
What to do when saves conflict or go missing
Epic Games Store
Epic notes that conflicts can occur after Cloud Save is disabled and later re-enabled. For the specific offline-sync problem covered in its help article, Epic instructs players to choose the file marked “NEWER.” That advice applies to the described situation, not every conflict: compare timestamps and consider which device has the progress you need before choosing. See Epic’s cloud-saving troubleshooting guide.
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Steam
Steam warns that a recent save may be absent if synchronization failed or an older version was uploaded. Steam Support explicitly says it cannot recover lost save data or resolve cloud conflicts. If practical, make a separate copy of local save files before troubleshooting, and compare local and cloud timestamps before choosing or overwriting a version. The limits and sync warnings are in Steam’s Cloud support page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which store should you choose?
For the two concerns covered here, neither store is an automatic winner. Steam’s general title-refund rule and Epic’s eligible PC/Mac refund thresholds share the same 14-day and under-two-hour headline, but Epic makes the product’s refundable label central to eligibility. Cloud saves depend on the individual game on both platforms, so check the specific listing before buying rather than assuming one store covers more games.
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Epic’s FAQ lists PC, Mac, and Android worldwide, and iPhone/iPad in the EU, subject to availability and individual product compatibility. That is an Epic availability snapshot, not a like-for-like platform comparison with Steam; check the product page for compatibility. See the Epic Games Store FAQ.
Quick Recap
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