When comparing itch.io vs Google Play Store, the Slant community recommends itch.io for most people. In the question“What are the best Android game stores?” itch.io is ranked 5th while Google Play Store is ranked 9th. The most important reason people chose itch.io is:
Everyone is free to use itch.io for the distrubution of their game, free or paid.
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 Most variety
Google Play Store is an incredibly large app store and the largest on Android.
Pro Default store for the majority of Android devices around the world
The Google Play Store is of course the default store on all Android devices that have Google Play Services.
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 doesnt support parallel download
it download one by one instead of simulatenously
Con Zero quality control
There is absolutely no quality control on the Play Store whatsoever. AAA publishers constantly get away with purchasing five star reviews from click farm businesses while at the same time game spammers get away with flagging legit games that they have stolen code from and published as a clone.
Con Search isn't good
For what is the worlds leading search engine provider, Google offers a extremely poor user experience with the search functions on the Play Store. It is often easier to find a title by searching on Google rather than using the in built search on the Play Store.