When comparing itch.io vs GOG, the Slant community recommends GOG for most people. In the question“What are the best online stores to purchase PC games cheaply?” GOG is ranked 2nd while itch.io is ranked 6th. The most important reason people chose GOG is:
GOG refuses digital rights management on principle.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Everyone can release a game on itch.io
Everyone is free to use itch.io for the distrubution of their game, free or paid.
Pro No accounts required for buyers
It allows linking an itch.io page where the customer can just click to buy.
Pro Allows sellers to set their own revenue share
Makes it one of the best places to support your favorite creators as there is no limit as to what you want to set for the platform fee since it can be set all the way down to 0% or set as high as 100%. It is up to the developer to pick what they would like.
Pro Pay-what-you-want model with optional enforced minimums
Users can pay any amount they want to for a game, down to a minimum specified by the uploader. The minimum can be zero. A user can go back and pay more later if they want.
Pro Mostly self-service
Change prices or the design of your page at will. No need to give lead time if you want to offer a sale.
Pro Best discoverability out there
It's where unknown indies find and buy games from other unknown indies.
Pro Cross-platform desktop client
Desktop client available for downloading games and auto-updating.
Pro Offer preorders
You can start selling your game before it's finished.
Pro DRM free as a rule
GOG refuses digital rights management on principle.
Pro Seasonal sales
gog features summer and winter sales every year and offer quite a lot of games at lower than retail prices.
Pro Client is completely optional
You can either download games directly from the site or use their Steam-like client, GOG Galaxy.
Pro Occasional free games
Every so often, GOG will have a game listed as free to add to your account.
Pro Money back regional pricing
GOG may charge more in some regions as publishers request so. But in those cases they give the extra cash back as credits for buying another game.
For example, the lowest price for the game is U$20 in US, but if in your region it costs U$30 they will give you U$10 back as credits for your next purchase.
Pro Money-back guarantee
If GOG can't help you fix a game, you're free to refund it within a month of purchase.
Pro Excellent support
Support is handled by an in-house team working for the company, and staff are knowledgable about their platform and games.
Pro Good puzzle games
You can find puzzle games like Superliminal and the Myst Series on this website.
Cons
Con No DRM Service and itch customers can just share your games and apps
They say they do, but you actually need a server to achieve it. They make things over complicated on purpose, because they hate DRM in nature. That's why they cannot be a popular game platform. They don't protect indie developer's game at all.
Con Very very indie
If production values and braod appeal are a thing you cherish, pass your way. Curation standards aren't mainstream at all there.
Con No quality control
You can upload and release almost anything in any state on itch.io
Con Linux games distributed as installation scripts
Installation scripts have a lot of bugs and dependencies. Packing games in archives would be better. Extracting archives from installation scripts is possible, but difficult.
Con Many games only for windows when they also have a native Linux version
The Linux library on Steam is far bigger than in GoG, many titles have its Linux version both in Steam and its respective web page, but GoG only lets buy the Windows version.
Con No Linux client (yet)
They say it's coming. And meanwhile you can still install Linux compatible games directly.
Con Limited, often dated, library selection
Con No compatible support with (Steam) achievements
Steam has achievements that many appreciate. Unfortunately, those same achievements are not available when you buy the GOG version of the same game.