Where we list / Listing guides
How to upload and sell your game on itch.io
Create a free itch.io account, open your dashboard, click Create new game, fill in the page, upload your files and set visibility to Public. itch.io is free to use and takes a revenue share you choose yourself (10% by default). A new seller's first project waits in a review queue, usually a few business days, before it shows in browse and search.
Checked on itch.io's own pages on 2026-11-12.
| Cost | Free to use. Open Revenue Sharing lets you set itch.io's cut anywhere from 0% to 100%, default 10%. Payment processor fees (about 2.9% + $0.30 for PayPal and Stripe) are passed to you. In the Collected by itch.io mode there is a one-time $3.00 tax identity verification fee. |
|---|---|
| Who can submit | Anyone with a free itch.io account. Paid sales need a payment option chosen in Seller settings; payouts in the collected mode need a completed tax interview. |
| Review | A new seller's first project is queued for review, usually within a few business days, before it is indexed. Established sellers are indexed immediately. Payout requests are staff reviewed, at least 7 days and typically 10 to 14 days. |
| Fits | Indie games (downloadable or HTML5), game assets, tabletop games, comics, books, soundtracks, tools and physical games. |
| Time needed | 1 to 2 hours for the first page if builds and images are ready; first indexing can take a few business days. |
Before you start
- A free itch.io account.
- A cover image at a 315:250 ratio, at least 315x250 pixels; 630x500 is recommended.
- 3 to 5 screenshots (itch.io strongly recommends screenshots, even for browser games).
- Your build or files, tagged by platform; new accounts have an upload size limit that support can raise.
- A short description, a full description and up to 10 relevant tags.
- A decision on whether you used generative AI, for the AI Disclosure section.
- A payment mode choice (direct to you or collected by itch.io) and, for payouts, your tax ID.
How to list on itch.io, step by step
Create the project page
Open your dashboard from the top bar and click Create new game. Enter the title; the page URL is generated from it and you can shorten it.
Classify the project
Choose the classification (game, tabletop, comic, book, soundtrack, assets or other) and the kind of project, such as downloadable or HTML. Only select platforms you have tested and that the project runs on directly.
Upload files
Add your files directly, from Dropbox or as links, and tag each with its platform. Upload to itch.io itself rather than pointing to Steam keys or other stores, which the quality guidelines discourage.
Add images and descriptions
Upload the cover image and screenshots, write the short description and the full description, and pick a genre and up to 10 tags. Do not use your name or project name as a tag.
Set pricing and disclose AI
Choose No payments, $0 or Donate, or Paid with a minimum price. Fill in the AI Disclosure section if you used generative AI; this is strictly enforced for assets, soundtracks, comics, books and physical games.
Configure payments
In User settings, Seller settings, pick your payment mode and set the revenue share. In the collected mode, complete the tax interview before your first payout.
Publish as Public
New pages are private by default. Switch visibility to Public only when everything is ready, because a page enters the Most Recent list once and cannot move back to the top.
Check indexing
Search for your full title after an hour or so. If you are a new seller, wait for the review queue; wait at least a day before contacting support, and never delete and recreate the page to force indexing.
What the itch.io form asks for
| Field | Limit | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Title | – | Use a distinctive title; generic or very short titles are hard to find even when indexed. |
| Project URL | – | Shorten it to something easy to share before you publish. |
| Short description or tagline | – | This shows in browse listings, so state the genre and hook in one line. |
| Classification | – | Pick the true type; mismatched classifications can be treated as spam. |
| Kind of project | – | Choose HTML for browser-playable builds so players can run it in the page. |
| Pricing | No payments, $0 or Donate, Paid | Paid sets a minimum, and buyers can still pay more than it. |
| Uploads | About 10 files per page suggested; size limit raised on request | Tag each file with the right platform so the download button picks the correct build. |
| Description | – | Explain controls, content warnings and what is included in each file. |
| Genre | – | Pick the closest single genre; extra detail goes in tags. |
| Tags | Up to 10 | Prefer suggested tags and avoid synonyms of tags you already used. |
| AI Disclosure | – | Disclose generative AI use; game logic like pathfinding or procedural levels does not count. |
| Cover image | 315:250 ratio, min 315x250, 630x500 recommended | No explicit images and no seizure-inducing animation in covers. |
| Screenshots | 3 to 5 recommended | Show real gameplay, not concept art of features that do not exist. |
| Visibility & access | Draft, Restricted, Public | Only Public pages are eligible for browse and search. |
Why submissions get rejected
- No cover image, no files and no playable build, or placeholder content (not indexed).
- Spammy metadata: selecting every platform, language or classification, or tags unrelated to the project.
- Duplicate pages, minor-change reskins, or recreating a page to get back on the Most Recent list.
- Mass-produced or mostly AI-generated pages with little human input, or missing AI disclosure.
- Misleading screenshots or claims, impersonating other creators, or using other products' assets.
- Adult content that is not labeled, explicit cover images, or shock content.
- Malware, adware, obtrusive ads or third-party login walls used to collect data.
- Gambling-like monetization, paid buy-in contests and investment or pyramid schemes.
Tips that make a difference
- Publish once, when ready: the first publish is your only slot on the Most Recent list.
- A project should not be on sale permanently, and raising the price before a sale to fake a discount breaks the guidelines.
- Post your release only in the Release announcements board; self-promotion elsewhere may be locked or moved.
- In the collected mode, revenue becomes available 7 days after purchase and the minimum payout is $5.
- Without a tax ID in the tax interview, a default 30% withholding applies even if a treaty would lower it.
- Use the butler command-line tool to push builds; it makes updates faster and keeps version history.
Example: what JustLaunched prepared
These are the texts Pushify prepared for JustLaunched, a real brand, before listing it on sites like itch.io. See the full sample report ›
| Name | JustLaunched |
|---|---|
| Tagline | Launch board for founders and early adopters |
| Short description | JustLaunched is a free launch board where founders introduce new products and early adopters try them first, ask questions and share feedback. |
| Tags | product launch, launch platform, startup discovery, indie makers, early adopters, beta testers, launch deals, product hunt alternative, saas, startups |
Questions people ask
Is itch.io free to upload games?
Yes. Creating an account and publishing pages is free, and itch.io never places ads on creator pages. You only share revenue on sales, at a rate you choose.
How much does itch.io take from sales?
You set itch.io's share yourself with Open Revenue Sharing, from 0% to 100%, and the default is 10%. Payment processor fees are passed to you separately.
Why is my itch.io game not showing in search?
Check that it is Public, has a cover image and real files or a playable build. New sellers' first projects wait in a review queue, usually a few business days, and spam flags can also hold a page back.
How long do itch.io payouts take?
In the collected mode, payout requests are reviewed by staff, which takes at least 7 days and typically 10 to 14 days. First-time sellers may wait longer.
Do I have to disclose AI on itch.io?
Yes, use the AI Disclosure section on the edit page if you used generative AI for text, images or music. Enforcement is strict for assets, soundtracks, comics, books and physical games.
Sources
The itch.io pages this guide was checked against.