Comparison with Other Software
This section provides a comparison between Playnite and other popular game library management software that also unify your gaming library, such as GOG Galaxy, Heroic Games Launcher, and LaunchBox. The table below highlights key features, including library integration, emulation support, metadata handling, and customization options. By reviewing this comparison, you can get a clear understanding of how Playnite compares against other options and choose the software that best fits your needs.
The best choice ultimately depends on your individual needs and priorities. Consider factors like the games you play, desired level of customization and features, and preferred platform compatibility when making your decision.
| Feature | Playnite | GOG Galaxy | Heroic Games Launcher | LaunchBox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Library Unifier | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fullscreen Mode | Yes | Not available. | Not available. | Yes (Premium Feature) |
| Does it require original launchers? | Mixed. While all the built-in library plugins require the original launchers to be installed to work, as well as most created by the community for services that have one, a limited number of plugins do not require them, like the GOG OSS library integration for GOG, Legendary library integration for Epic, or Nile (Amazon) library integration for Amazon Games. | Yes | No. Works as a full replacement for the 3 supported libraries: Amazon, Epic, and GOG. | Yes |
| Library Management | Excellent. Highly customizable with extensive filtering and sorting options. Supports saving filtering and sorting options in Filter Presets, allowing users to save and quickly apply specific filtering and sorting configurations. 1 | Good. Limited but solid filtering and sorting options. It also supports creating Bookmarks, which function the same way as Filter Presets in Playnite. | Limited. Supports basic filters such as installed state, Platforms, Favorites, Storefront and Custom Categories. Doesn't support grouping and only supports sorting by name and Installation status. | Excellent. Powerful organization with custom fields and metadata. Supports filtering and grouping by metadata fields. |
| Library integrations support | Extensive. Supports a wide range of libraries and platforms via built-in and community plugins, with a total of 44 of them available. Note: Only some library plugins fully replace their respective service clients. 1 | Good. 20 library integration plugins are available 1. However, many of them no longer work and are not actively developed and maintained. Forks and solutions that fix some of them are available 2. | Limited. Supports 3: Amazon, Epic, and GOG. | Limited. Supports 4: EA, Epic, GOG and Steam. |
| Metadata download support | Extensive. Many plugins to obtain metadata from 29 different sources. 1 | Limited to a dedicated GOG database, which uses IGDB as source. | Limited. Relies on available data from stores and platforms. | Good. Uses its own LaunchboxDB to obtain metadata, as well as EmuMovies to obtain media, which is good for most games. Some plugins can obtain metadata and apply it to games, but they are not integrated in a seamless way into the software. |
| Generic Plugins | Excellent. Wide range of plugins for various functionalities. The extensive collection of plugins covers various use cases, making it a versatile tool for customization. 1 | Not available. | Not available. | Excellent. Extensive plugin support with a focus on emulation and retro gaming 1 |
| Emulation Support | Good. Provides robust support for various emulators, offering pre-configured settings for nearly all popular emulators. It also allows for manual configuration of any emulator that supports command-line launching. 1 | Not available. GOG Galaxy is not designed with emulation in mind but the community has created a limited number of library integrations to use specific emulators. These integrations are constrained by the limitations of the GOG plugins API system. | Not available. | Excellent. Designed with emulation in mind, offering seamless integration and configuration and a wide array of features focused on emulation. |
| Software maintenance | Active. Regularly updated with bug fixes, new features and improvements. | Minor updates for bug fixes, small features and compatibility. Active development of library integration features has ceased. | Active. Actively developed with frequent updates and bug fixes. | Active. Regularly updated with new features and improvements. |
| Community Plugins Maintenance | Active. Large and active community contributing to plugin development and maintenance. | Limited. GOG no longer maintains plugins, community maintenance is minimal. | Not available. | Active. Large and active community contributing to plugin development and maintenance. |
| Themes Support | Excellent. Highly customizable themes and UI for Desktop and Fullscreen Mode, with visual and layout changes. 1 | Not available. | Basic. Customization options are limited to changing colors. | Excellent. Highly customizable themes and UI for Desktop and Fullscreen Mode, with visual and layout changes. |
| Unique Features | Client closing after game exit if library plugin supports it, Keyboard launcher 1, Extensive API for plugin development. Scripting support to execute various tasks in various events 2. | Unlike other software, GOG Galaxy stores the user library in the cloud, allowing it to be synced and accessed across multiple devices. | Allows to play games using Wine or Proton on Linux and Crossover macOS. Additionally it is possible to auto install tools like DXVK, VKD3D, FSR and also to run WineCFG, Winetricks and Run EXE. Fully replaces the clients used by the supported storefronts. | Highly detailed metadata and media support, with support for custom fields. BigBox mode custom themes can have notable visual and layout changes. |
| Supported Platforms | Windows. | Windows, Mac OS. | Windows, Linux, Mac OS. | Windows. |
| Pricing | Free | Free | Free | Freemium. The desktop mode is available for free, but some advanced features are locked behind the premium version. The BigBox mode (fullscreen, TV-friendly interface) is exclusively available in the premium version. |
| Technologies | Written in C# using the .NET Framework, and utilizes WPF for the user interface. | Unknown. Python used for library integrations. | Written in TypeScript and CSS, utilizing Electron for the user interface. | Written in C#, and utilizes WinForms for the user interface. |
| Useful Notes | Open-source, highly customizable and with strong community support. Offers a extensive feature set that provides great flexibility but new users may experience a slight learning curve. | Official client for GOG, integrates with other platforms. Library integration features is no longer a focus. GOG Galaxy is heavily dependant on IGDB for metadata and various features. If a game isn't listed in IGDB, this can lead to issues such as the game not being imported or missing metadata, making it unidentifiable in the library. | Open-source with Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, Linux, macOS). Focuses on ease of use, compatibility and replacing store clients. | Primarily focused on emulation and retro gaming, powerful metadata features and BigBox mode themes support. Additional features require Premium version. |
Updated: 2024/12/19