When comparing itch.io vs TIGSource, the Slant community recommends TIGSource for most people. In the question“What are the best ways to promote an indie game?” TIGSource is ranked 5th while itch.io is ranked 6th. The most important reason people chose TIGSource is:
Spontaneous endorsements from bloggers, reviewers and other developers can generate as much or more interest as any direct effort on your part. TIGSource is positioned as a community for indie developers, making it one of the best places to catch the eye of your peers.
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 Great for networking with other indie devs and reviewers
Spontaneous endorsements from bloggers, reviewers and other developers can generate as much or more interest as any direct effort on your part. TIGSource is positioned as a community for indie developers, making it one of the best places to catch the eye of your peers.
Pro TIGSource staff might take interest and feature your game
The contributing editors of TIGSource are free to indulge their personal gaming interests, and frequently promote titles that they feel stand out in some way.
Pro You can engage the community
The TIGSource forums have a lively community of indie game fans and other developers with over 20,000 members. The best way to build support for your game and company is to embrace the community and hear their input.
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 Limited control over presentation
TIGSource Forums are designed to support a community of developers, not as an ideal marketing platform. Like most forums, you can start new topics and have limited control over the formatting of your own posts only.