Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups
Register | Login
MD

Playnite VS Macro Deck

Compare Playnite VS Macro Deck and see what are their differences

Proton Drive for Business
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage built for teams. Keep all your business data private, fully secure, and under your complete control. No backdoors, no tracking, no compromises. Swiss privacy laws and zero-knowledge encryption protect what matters. featured
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.
Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Videos
  3. ยป Reviews
  4. ยป Alternatives

Playnite logo Playnite

Source code generated using layoutit.com

Macro Deck logo Macro Deck

Use smartphone as macropad for pc
  • Playnite Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-05
  • Macro Deck Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-30

Playnite features and specs

  • Unified Library
    Playnite allows you to consolidate games from different platforms into a single, unified library, making it easier to manage and access your game collection.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, Playnite offers transparency and the ability for community-driven updates and features. Users can contribute to its development.
  • Extensible with Plugins
    Playnite supports various plugins, which can extend its functionality to include additional features such as game tracking, alternative themes, and integrations with other services.
  • Customizable UI
    The user interface in Playnite is highly customizable, allowing users to personalize their game library view according to their preferences.
  • Supports Multiple Game Platforms
    Playnite supports integration with many gaming platforms like Steam, GOG, Epic Games, Origin, and Uplay, providing one-stop access to all your games.
  • Automatic Game Import
    It can automatically import games from numerous platforms and even detect locally installed games, which saves time and effort.

Possible disadvantages of Playnite

  • Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive set of features and customization options, new users might experience a learning curve while getting acquainted with Playnite.
  • Occasional Bugs
    As an open-source project, Playnite might experience occasional bugs and glitches, especially with new updates or changes in supported game platforms.
  • Limited Mobile Support
    Playnite is primarily focused on desktop platforms, and there is limited to no support for mobile devices, which could be a drawback for those looking for cross-platform accessibility.
  • Dependency on Third-Party Plugins
    While plugins add great value, they can also introduce dependency issues. If the plugins are not well-maintained or become incompatible with new versions of Playnite, it can lead to functionality problems.
  • Manual Setup for Some Features
    Certain features or game integrations might require manual setup and configuration, which can be cumbersome for non-tech-savvy users.

Macro Deck features and specs

  • Customizability
    Macro Deck allows users to create and customize their own button layouts and actions, providing a high level of personalization to fit specific user needs and workflows.
  • Cost-effective
    Macro Deck is available for free, making it an attractive option for users who need a powerful macro tool without the expense associated with commercial alternatives.
  • Plugin Support
    The platform supports plugins, enabling the integration of additional features and functionalities that extend the application's capabilities.
  • Cross-platform Compatibility
    Macro Deck can be used on multiple devices including Windows and Android, allowing for flexibility in how users interact with the software.
  • Easy Setup
    The software is relatively simple to set up, making it accessible to users who may not have advanced technical skills.

Possible disadvantages of Macro Deck

  • Limited iOS Support
    Macro Deck does not currently offer native support for iOS devices, which can be a limitation for users heavily reliant on Apple products.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its ease of use, new users might encounter a learning curve while familiarizing themselves with the wide array of functions and customization options.
  • Reliability
    As with many open-source or free applications, users may experience occasional bugs or stability issues that can affect reliability.
  • Community-driven Development
    The development and support of the software rely heavily on the community, which may result in slower updates and less immediate customer support compared to commercial options.

Analysis of Playnite

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Playnite is regarded as a good option for gamers looking to organize their game libraries across different platforms into one cohesive application. Its user-friendly design and customization options make it a strong choice for those who want a unified gaming experience.

Why this product is good

  • Playnite is often praised for its open-source nature, flexibility, and ability to consolidate multiple gaming libraries into a single interface. It supports a wide variety of game platforms, including Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and more. Users appreciate its extensive customization options, various themes, and plugin support which allow them to tailor the experience to their needs. Additionally, Playnite is lightweight, regularly updated, and has an active community that contributes to its ongoing development.

Recommended for

  • Gamers with large libraries across multiple platforms
  • Users who value open-source software and customization
  • Individuals looking for a centralized gaming hub
  • People who want an ad-free and cost-free solution

Playnite videos

+ Add

Checking out the Playnite 5.5 Update and it's damned good

More videos:

  • Review - Is the best Launcher even BETTER? - Playnite 5 Review
  • Review - Playnite games launcher Quick Look and Impressions
  • Demo - Youtube.com

Macro Deck videos

+ Add

Turn your Android phone into an Elgato Stream Deck! - Macro Deck Tutorial

More videos:

  • Review - FREE STREAM DECK ALTERNATIVE for the Elgato Stream Deck! Macro Deck Android App Review 2020

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Playnite and Macro Deck)

Playnite

Macro Deck

Gaming
100 100%
Gaming
0% 0
Entertainment
0 0%
Entertainment
100% 100
Games
100 100%
Games
0% 0
Office & Productivity
0 0%
Office & Productivity
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Playnite and Macro Deck. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Playnite and Macro Deck

Playnite Reviews

Best Free Game Launcher for Windows PC
Presenting you, Playnite, a game launcher, containing a nice set of features. In this, you can scan the games on your device, get a nice combination of features with a user-friendly UI. You will not only get a launcher but also emulators.
Source: www.thewindowsclub.com
Top 6 best launcher games to launch and organize PC games
This is due to the open source of the project. Playnite has many contributions and so it grows quickly. In addition to the launcher, Playnite also supports many emulators, it can handle retro games effectively.
Source: tipsmake.com

Macro Deck Reviews

We have no reviews of Macro Deck yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Playnite seems to be a lot more popular than Macro Deck. While we know about 289 links to Playnite, we've tracked only 9 mentions of Macro Deck. 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.

Playnite mentions (289)

  • Show HN: RomM โ€“ An open-source, self-hosted ROM manager and player
    Ideally you would use both, and the community would build integrations that allow, say, EmuDeck to pull games from the server onto your Steam Deck and sync saves back to the server. I usually play on Windows with Playnite (https://playnite.link/), and the plugin (https://github.com/rommapp/playnite-plugin) allows Playnite to pull and display the list of... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Show HN: A website/app to help manage your game library
    Not sure if related, but I really enjoy Playnite: https://playnite.link/ Being able to manage my directory across Steam/Origin/Epic Games/Ubisoft, Amazon Games, etc. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Microsoft Says Apple's 30% Fee Makes Xbox Cloud Gaming iOS App 'Impossible'
    The surprising thing is that PC is an open platform where people could compete with Steam on even terms if they actually tried. Gamers don't like installing 5 different game launchers and Steam is the oldest one with all their games and is mostly a neutral party. I recently installed Playnite [1], an open source game library manager and its been incredible. It pulls in games from all launchers/sources and gives... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • I wrote an app for myself to filter my library by HLTB
    I've done something similar before with Playnite (an open-source PC game library manager), which has an HLTB plugin. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Tags no longer register and i've finally had it with galaxy 2.0. Any recommended alternatives?
    Playnite: The one with the most features and libraries available via addons and has a lot of options for customization. In my opinion the best one available for this purpose. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Macro Deck mentions (9)

  • Use Surface Pro 4 as Input Switcher
    I've looked at OBS Remote and macrodeck.org, deckboard.app, but these are all for changing scenes on the same device. I'd like something similar to a Crestron switch panel, but on my Surface Pro 4 instead. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Is making the switch from SLOBS to OBS a good idea?
    Also, if you do not have an Elgato Stream Deck, it has way more compatibility with Deckboard and MacroDeck (apps that let you use your phone as a Stream Deck). Source: about 3 years ago
  • Is it possible to use a laptop as a stream deck?
    You can use MacroDeck for that. Works over the network, you'd open it in the browser of your Laptop. Cheers! :). Source: about 3 years ago
  • Just finished my budget stream deck!
    If you'r ein the market for something fully free - as in: No cost and open source - I can also recommend https://macrodeck.org/. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Open source StreamDeck alternative
    I know there are some alternative solutions that works with smartphones such as touch-portal and macrodeck but they have some things that I don't like. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Playnite and Macro Deck, you can also consider the following products

Lutris - Lutris is an open source gaming platform for GNU/Linux.

TouchPortal - Touch Portal is a companion app to control a PC or a Mac by using a deck of buttons to improve the workflow & productivity of game streamers, content creators and professionals.

LaunchBox - LaunchBox is a portable, box-art-based games database and launcher for DOSBox, emulators, arcade cabinets, and PC Games. Download it free!

Deckboard - Deckboard helps you create macros for Windows PC and launch them on your phone.

GOG Galaxy - Truly gamer friendly, DRM-free online gaming platform.

MATRIC - Control PC applications via smarthone/tablet. Especially suitable for space/flightsims.

Loading...