The Epic Games Launcher is the free official client for the Epic Games Store, Epic Games' digital storefront for PC games. Beyond purchasing and installing games, it is best known for its rotating weekly free game giveaways, and it also serves as the distribution and version-management tool for Unreal Engine, making it relevant to game developers as well as players. It is required to install and play Fortnite and any other Epic Games Store title on PC.
Epic Games Launcher vs Steam
Steam remains the largest PC game store, but the Epic Games Launcher has carved out its own audience through aggressive weekly free games and, for developers, its 88/12 revenue split that is more favorable to publishers than Steam's standard cut. Feature-wise, Epic's launcher has historically lagged Steam in areas like a built-in user review system and community features such as forums or a marketplace for user-generated content, though it continues to add features like cloud saves and achievements over time.
Epic Games Launcher Features
- Epic Games Store Access — browse, buy and install PC games from Epic's digital storefront.
- Free Weekly Games — claim a rotating selection of free games added to your library each week.
- Fortnite Integration — install and launch Fortnite directly through the launcher.
- Cloud Saves — sync save data across PCs for supported titles.
- Achievements — track in-game achievements for supported games.
- Unreal Engine Management — download, install and manage multiple Unreal Engine versions.
- Store Discounts and Sales — access seasonal sales and store-wide discount events.
How to Install the Epic Games Launcher on Windows and macOS
- Open the official download page using the button on this page, which links to epicgames.com.
- Download the launcher installer for Windows or macOS.
- Run the installer and follow the setup prompts to completion.
- Sign in with an existing Epic Games account or create a free one.
- Browse the Store or your Library to claim the current free game or install a purchased title.
Is Epic Games Launcher really free?
Free. The Epic Games Launcher itself has no cost to download or use; you only pay for the individual games you choose to buy, aside from the free weekly titles.
How to download Epic Games Launcher safely
Use the request button on this page and we will email you the current link for epicgames.com — the publisher's own website — so you receive the authentic build. We do not host, mirror, patch or repackage this software in any way.
Avoid third-party "download manager" sites offering Epic Games Launcher. They commonly wrap the genuine installer in their own bundler, which is how adware and browser hijackers get onto a machine that the user believed was clean.
Alternatives to Epic Games Launcher
Other free utilities software worth comparing before you decide:
Steam
The largest PC game store and launcher, free to use.
GOG Galaxy
A free game launcher that can unify libraries from multiple stores.
Battle.net
Blizzard's free game launcher for its own PC titles.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Epic Games Launcher free?
Yes, downloading and using the launcher is completely free; only the games you purchase cost money, apart from the free weekly titles.
How do the free weekly games work?
Epic rotates a new selection of free PC games into the store roughly every week; claiming one during its free period adds it to your library permanently.
Do I need the Epic Games Launcher to play Fortnite on PC?
Yes, Fortnite on PC is installed and launched through the Epic Games Launcher.
Is the Epic Games Launcher available on macOS?
Yes, Epic offers a native macOS build of the launcher alongside the Windows version.
Can I manage Unreal Engine installs through the Epic Games Launcher?
Yes, the launcher includes an Unreal Engine tab for downloading and managing multiple engine versions, useful for developers.
Tell us what went wrong — a person reads every message and replies. Corrections to this page are treated as priority fixes.
People also search for
The terms visitors use to find this page. Each one lands here because it describes the same program.
Searches from India
Epic Games Launcher is identical worldwide — these are search phrasings, not different downloads. Every one of them gets the same official build from epicgames.com.
