Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

itch.io VS Roblox

Compare itch.io VS Roblox and see what are their differences

itch.io logo itch.io

An online game marketplace and community.

Roblox logo Roblox

Reimagining the way people come together.
  • itch.io Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-22
  • Roblox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-21

itch.io features and specs

  • Indie Focus
    Itch.io is heavily focused on indie games, providing a platform for lesser-known developers to showcase their projects without being overshadowed by big studios.
  • Revenue Split
    Developers can set their own revenue split with itch.io. The default is 10%, which is much lower than the industry standard of 30%.
  • Customization
    Developers have a high degree of control over their game's page, including design and layout, which allows for better branding and differentiation.
  • Community Features
    The platform includes forums, comment sections, and devlogs that encourage community interaction and feedback.
  • Alternative Payment Options
    Itch.io supports pay-what-you-want pricing models, bundles, and donations, giving developers and consumers flexible transactional options.
  • Open Publishing
    Anyone can publish their games without going through any approval process, making it easy and quick to get products to market.

Possible disadvantages of itch.io

  • Limited Visibility
    Since the platform is popular among indie developers, it can be challenging for individual games to gain visibility without additional marketing efforts.
  • Lesser Known
    Compared to platforms like Steam, itch.io has a smaller user base, which can limit the potential audience for games.
  • Quality Control
    The open publishing model means there is less quality control, which can result in a marketplace cluttered with lower-quality games.
  • Feature Set
    Itch.io may lack some of the advanced features and tools that bigger platforms offer, such as more robust analytics, achievements, or broader multiplayer support.
  • Payment Processing
    Developers are responsible for handling their own payment processing, which can be a hassle compared to other platforms that handle this aspect for you.

Roblox features and specs

  • Creative Platform
    Roblox provides a vast platform for creativity, allowing users to design and build their own games and virtual worlds using the Roblox Studio development tool.
  • Educational Value
    Many educators use Roblox as a tool to teach coding, game design, and digital literacy, offering a hands-on learning experience for students.
  • Community and Social Interaction
    Roblox fosters a large and active community where users can interact, collaborate on projects, and play games together, enhancing social skills and teamwork.
  • Revenue Opportunities
    Developers on Roblox have the opportunity to monetize their games through in-game purchases and Roblox’s virtual currency, Robux, providing financial incentives for creative work.
  • Cross-Platform Accessibility
    Roblox is available on multiple platforms including PC, mobile devices, and consoles, allowing users to play and create on their preferred device.

Possible disadvantages of Roblox

  • Privacy and Safety Concerns
    As a social platform aimed at children and teenagers, Roblox faces issues related to privacy and safety, with potential risks of exposure to inappropriate content and interactions with strangers.
  • In-Game Purchases
    Roblox’s heavy reliance on in-game purchases can lead to significant spending, especially among younger users who may not fully understand the value of money, potentially causing financial issues for parents.
  • High-Quality Game Development Barriers
    While Roblox offers robust tools, creating high-quality and successful games often requires advanced skills in coding, design, and marketing, which can be a barrier for beginners.
  • Addictive Nature
    The immersive and engaging nature of Roblox can lead to addictive behavior, where users, especially children, may spend excessive amounts of time on the platform, impacting their activities and responsibilities.
  • Content Quality Control
    Given the user-generated nature of Roblox games, the quality and polish of the games can vary widely, with many games lacking professional standards and containing bugs or incomplete features.

Analysis of Roblox

Overall verdict

  • Roblox can be a great platform for those interested in game development and social gaming experiences. However, it's essential to monitor its use, especially by younger audiences, due to some concerns about online interactions and content appropriateness. Overall, Roblox is generally considered a positive and innovative platform when used responsibly.

Why this product is good

  • Roblox is a popular online platform that allows users to create and play games created by other users. It's built around a community-focused model which encourages creativity, collaboration, and social interaction. The platform provides tools for aspiring game developers to design and share interactive experiences. Its appeal lies in its vast array of user-generated content, ranging from simple obstacle courses to detailed role-playing games.

Recommended for

  • Aspiring game developers looking to learn and practice game creation.
  • Individuals who enjoy social gaming and community-driven content.
  • Kids and teenagers interested in creative expression and interactive play, with parental guidance.

itch.io videos

What is… ITCH.IO & GAMEJOLT?! - Softlocked

More videos:

  • Review - Top 10 FREE Games on Itch.io
  • Review - ITCH.IO FREE Games Jampack Review!!! [23 reviews]

Roblox videos

the DUMBEST roblox reviews i have EVER seen

More videos:

  • Review - Roblox - A Tasteful Review (The Worst Game Ever)
  • Review - Is Roblox Safe for Kids? - A Quick Parent's Guide To Roblox - Game Playing and Creation Platform
  • Review - ITS A GAME ROBLOX CALLED HIDE AND SEEK EXTREME
  • Review - EPIC MINIGAMES! Roblox

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to itch.io and Roblox)
Games
79 79%
21% 21
Online Games
100 100%
0% 0
Block-building Games
0 0%
100% 100
Comparison
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare itch.io and Roblox

itch.io Reviews

The best Steam alternatives for PC gamers
The independent PC gaming platform, equivalent to the eccentric bric-a-brac shop selling obscurities from stuffed animals to crystal skulls. Itch.io is exclusively committed to indie games, and there’s a good chance that some of your favourite indie titles on Steam actually started life on Itch.io before growing to become fully-fledged commercial products. This makes it one...
The 7 Best Steam Alternatives
Itch.io has a strange name but a great premise: a place for independent PC game developers to sell their work with a pay-what-you-want model. Some games come with minimum prices, but you can pay more than this amount to help support the creators. Many free games are also available, which you can pay nothing or as much as you want for. Itch.io does offer some indie titles you...
10 Alternatives to Steam for Buying Cheap PC Games
Itch.io is all about the indies. Though most of the games offered on the site and download client are free (thanks to a mobile-style open submission policy), developers can add a price to their games, and many popular independent developers now use Itch.io as a primary distribution platform. There are zero games to be had from major publishers, but anyone who appreciates a...

Roblox Reviews

Roblox hits 100 million monthly active users
“We started Roblox over a decade ago with a vision to bring people from all over the world together through play,” founder and CEO David Baszucki said of the big new round number. “Roblox began with just 100 players and a handful of creators who inspired one another, unlocking this groundswell of creativity, collaboration, and imagination that continues to grow.”
Source: techcrunch.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, itch.io seems to be a lot more popular than Roblox. While we know about 7502 links to itch.io, we've tracked only 221 mentions of Roblox. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

itch.io mentions (7502)

  • Proper setup for a MiniScript GitHub repo
    In many of my projects, I also have some local files that I use to pack up and deliver the project to itch.io. I want to ignore most of the tools related to that as well, so my .gitignore will also contain:. - Source: dev.to / 7 days ago
  • Itch.io: "This is not a joke, Funko just called my mom"
    Brandshield has been deleting and rewriting their non-statement deflecting responsibility repeatedly while hiding all the comments calling out their cascade of BS. Here is their current statement blaming iwantmyname and link to the hidden replies: > We want to address recent reports surrounding a website takedown. > BrandShield serves as a trusted partner to many brands. Our AI-driven platform detects potential... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Itch.io: "This is not a joke, Funko just called my mom"
    Funko's statement: >At Funko, we hold a deep respect and appreciation for indie games, indie gamers, and indie developers. We’re fans of fans, and we love the creativity and passion that define the indie gaming community. >Recently, one of our brand protection partners identified a page on http://itch.io imitating the Funko Fusion development website. A takedown request was issued to address this specific page.... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Ask HN: Platform for 11 year old to create video games?
    As several people has pointed out here, don't focus on programming. That can kill the urge to make games pretty quick. And an important thing often overlooked, is prototyping. Whatever kind of game you are making, find a way to make a fast mockup using paper or whatever - and test it. That being said, you should take a look at simple game engines like; Twine, GDevelop, TyranoBuilder and PICO-8. Remember; the... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Featured Mod of the Month: Phil Ashby
    Publishing on platforms like itch.io are a great way to get feedback (but see comments about comments earlier!) and to see if an idea is worth pursuing. Self-published mini-games are also a good way to scratch that gamedev itch when it isn't your day job too - I should push a couple myself actually! - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
View more

Roblox mentions (221)

  • Important announcement
    Https://roblox.com largest 2023 revival 1 billion users. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Can anyone help
    Roblox.com. Just log in to your account and take it from there. You can do it on both mobile and desktop! Source: over 1 year ago
  • Is this link a scam?
    Long press the link if its not a roblox.com is probably a phishing link. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Is this fake
    If it's roblox.com, then safe, otherwise not. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Is this link fake
    Yes, a real link will look like https://roblox.com/ then a bunch of other stuff, as long as that part is the same as I said then you should be fine to click on them. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing itch.io and Roblox, you can also consider the following products

GOG.com - DRM-free game store, selling both new and old titles. No clients required.

Minecraft - A block-building game that allows you to create and explore entire worlds from scratch.

ARPAY - AR-PAY.com, All-in-one Retail and Payments. You can access your favorite internet services: online games, e-wallets, console games, online shopping cards, and many more!

Terraria - Dig, Fight, Build! The very world is at your fingertips as you fight for survival, fortune, and glory.

Instant Gaming - Instant-Gaming.com - All your favourites games for Steam, Origin, Battle.net, Uplay and Indie games up to 70% off! Digital games, Instant delivery 24/7!

Minetest - Minetest is a near-infinite-world block sandbox game and a game engine, inspired by InfiniMiner...