Best Game Launcher Software in 2026
Updated
Choosing a game launcher starts with how you want to organize, update and play your PC games. Compare automatic updates and cloud saves, controller support and remote play, along with whether a launcher supports mods or combines libraries from multiple stores. Desktop platforms, free plans and starting prices can help you narrow the options. Entries are ranked, with Steam, LaunchBox and Epic Games Launcher among the names near the top; Minecraft Launcher and Heroic Games Launcher are also included. Check the features that match your collection and preferred way to play, then compare how each option handles them.
24ranked
17free plans on this page
$3.33/molowest paid tier
9 Oct 2026last checked
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Minecraft Launcher iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free Automatic updates: Yes
- 2 Epic Games Launcher iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free Desktop platforms: Windows, macOSAutomatic updates: Yes
- 3 LaunchBox Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free
- 4 Steam iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free
- 5 Xbox Cloud Gaming iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0
- 6 Prism Launcher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4Free Automatic updates: Yes
- 7 itch app No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free
- 8 Gameforge Client No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free
- 9 GDLauncher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free Automatic updates: Yes
- 10 GameHub Backlog No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1Free
- 11 GOG Galaxy No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1Free
- 12 Heroic Games Launcher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1Free
- 13 Jagex Launcher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1Free
- 14 Lutris No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1Free
- 15 Minigalaxy No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1Free Desktop platforms: LinuxMulti-store library: NoAutomatic updates: Yes
- 16 Nexon Launcher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1Free
- 17 Playnite No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1Free
- 18 Wargaming.net Game Center No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1Free
- 19 EA app No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7$3.33/mo
- 20 Faugus Launcher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7 Desktop platforms: LinuxMulti-store library: Yes
- 21 GameVault No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6€4.16/mo Desktop platforms: Windows, Linux, macOSMulti-store library: No
- 22 Infrared No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6
- 23 Paradox Launcher No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6
- 24 Ubisoft Connect No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3$7.99/mo
Compare all 24 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Desktop platforms | Multi-store library |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minecraft Launcher | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 2 | Epic Games Launcher | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Windows, macOS | ||
| 3 | LaunchBox | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 4 | Steam | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 5 | Xbox Cloud Gaming | 7.0 | No | Yes | 13.99 /mo | |||
| 6 | Prism Launcher | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 7 | itch app | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 8 | Gameforge Client | 6.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 9 | GDLauncher | 6.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 10 | GameHub Backlog | 6.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 11 | GOG Galaxy | 6.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 12 | Heroic Games Launcher | 6.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 13 | Jagex Launcher | 6.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 14 | Lutris | 6.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 15 | Minigalaxy | 6.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Linux | No | |
| 16 | Nexon Launcher | 6.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 17 | Playnite | 6.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 18 | Wargaming.net Game Center | 6.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 19 | EA app | 5.7 | $3.33/mo | Yes | 5.99 /mo | |||
| 20 | Faugus Launcher | 5.7 | Yes | Linux | Yes | |||
| 21 | GameVault | 5.6 | €4.16/mo | Yes | Windows, Linux, macOS | No | ||
| 22 | Infrared | 5.6 | ||||||
| 23 | Paradox Launcher | 5.6 | Yes | |||||
| 24 | Ubisoft Connect | 5.3 | $7.99/mo | Yes | 7.99 /mo |
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