Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Kinguin VS itch.io

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

Kinguin logo Kinguin

Marketplace to buy/sell game keys for a myriad of platforms including: Battle.

itch.io logo itch.io

An online game marketplace and community.
  • Kinguin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-07-16
  • itch.io Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-22

Kinguin features and specs

  • Wide Selection of Products
    Kinguin offers a wide variety of digital game keys, software, and other virtual goods, making it a one-stop shop for a diverse range of digital needs.
  • Competitive Pricing
    The platform often features competitive prices and discounts, which can be significantly lower than those found on official stores or other marketplaces.
  • User Reviews and Ratings
    User reviews and ratings for sellers and products help buyers make informed decisions and increase transparency.
  • 24/7 Customer Support
    Kinguin provides round-the-clock customer support to address issues and answer questions, enhancing the overall user experience.
  • Kinguin Buyer Protection
    The platform offers a Buyer Protection program to safeguard purchases, providing an additional layer of security for buyers.

Possible disadvantages of Kinguin

  • Risk of Unauthorized or Invalid Keys
    There is a risk of purchasing unauthorized or invalid keys, as some sellers on the marketplace may not be reliable or legitimate.
  • Variable Seller Reliability
    Since Kinguin is a marketplace with multiple sellers, the reliability and quality of service can vary greatly between different vendors.
  • Potential Region Restrictions
    Some digital keys may have region restrictions, meaning they can only be activated in certain geographical areas, which can be inconvenient for buyers.
  • Complicated Refund Process
    The refund process can be complicated and time-consuming, especially if there are disputes between buyers and sellers.
  • Additional Fees
    There may be additional fees, such as those for Buyer Protection, that can increase the overall cost of a purchase.

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.

Analysis of Kinguin

Overall verdict

  • Kinguin is a popular online marketplace for digital game keys, offering a wide range of games at competitive prices. Its reputation varies, with many users finding great deals while others caution about potential risks associated with third-party sellers.

Why this product is good

  • Kinguin appeals to customers due to its affordability and broad selection of game keys. It operates much like a marketplace, allowing various sellers to offer game keys. This model can lead to significant savings but also poses risks regarding the legitimacy and reliability of some sellers.

Recommended for

  • Gamers looking for discounted prices on popular and indie games.
  • Users who are comfortable navigating third-party marketplaces.
  • Buyers who are willing to research sellers and read reviews to ensure a safe purchase.

Kinguin videos

First Time Buyer Review Kinguin

More videos:

  • Review - Yes, Kinguin is Legit

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]

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Kinguin and itch.io)
Games
20 20%
80% 80
Action
100 100%
0% 0
Online Games
0 0%
100% 100
Online Shopping
38 38%
62% 62

User comments

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Reviews

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

Kinguin Reviews

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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...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, itch.io seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 7502 times since March 2021. 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.

Kinguin mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Kinguin yet. Tracking of Kinguin recommendations started around Mar 2021.

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 / 6 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 / 8 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
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What are some alternatives?

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

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!

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

G2A - Enjoy the vast offer of Steam, Origin, Uplay, Battle.net, GOG, PSN and XBOX CD-Keys at the most attractive prices on the market. Don’t overpay – buy cheap on G2A.COM!

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!

Green Man Gaming - A digital distributor for video games.

OpenGameArt.org - A site dedicated to sharing artwork & other assets for game development.