When comparing Fanatical (formerly Bundle Stars) vs itch.io, the Slant community recommends Fanatical (formerly Bundle Stars) for most people. In the question“What are the best online stores to purchase PC games cheaply?” Fanatical (formerly Bundle Stars) is ranked 5th while itch.io is ranked 6th. The most important reason people chose Fanatical (formerly Bundle Stars) is:
Like other bundle sites, Fanatical often offers a large variety of bundles for not only games but also popular software and educational media at very low prices.
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Pros
Pro A large variety of bundles
Like other bundle sites, Fanatical often offers a large variety of bundles for not only games but also popular software and educational media at very low prices.
Pro Numerous bundles available at one time
The is a wide selection of bundles available at once, making for a good selection of genres or themes for each bundle. This way you are not limited to one selection of games that might not appeal.
Pro The Store has actual discounts
Unlike a lot of other similar sites, Fanaticals store lists games with quite good discounts. Meanwhile some other bundle sites commonly don't discount more than 5% below Steam prices.
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.
Cons
Con No 1$ tier
Bundles are generally 6 or more bundled games with a total % discount.
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