The best itch.io alternative for a finished web game is Mayavoo, a free site where people play browser games from independent creators with nothing to install and no account. If your game is HTML5 and you mainly want players to find it and start it in one click, Mayavoo is the place to put it next.
itch.io remains a strong store, and for some projects it is still the right home. This guide covers what changes when you move a browser game, how the upload works, and where each site fits.
Why look for an itch.io alternative
itch.io is built to host and sell almost anything: desktop downloads, tools, comics, assets and browser games side by side. Its creator FAQ says you can upload any kind of project for any platform. That breadth is useful, but a small web game can get lost among downloads, and players who only want to click and play have to check whether a page runs in the browser at all.
Mayavoo does one thing. Every game on it runs in the browser, so a visitor never meets an installer, a launcher or a file to unzip.
Mayavoo and itch.io side by side
| What you care about | Mayavoo | itch.io |
|---|---|---|
| What it hosts | Finished web games only | Games, tools, assets and more, any platform |
| How players play | In the browser, no account needed | In the browser or by downloading files |
| Cost | Free to use | Free to use, with an optional revenue share on sales |
| Desktop app | Not needed | Optional itch app for Windows, macOS and Linux |
| Upload options | Creator studio or the creator API | Web upload or the butler command-line tool |
| Selling and pay what you want | Not offered | Yes, with a minimum price you choose |
How publishing works on Mayavoo
Creators upload finished web games from the creator studio and get a public game page plus a profile for their work. The build is a production ZIP with an index.html file, your HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and an assets folder, using relative URLs.
You fill in the listing the way players will read it: title, short and long description, instructions, category, the devices it supports, a cover and screenshots. After you submit the build, Mayavoo processes the files and a reviewer approves publication. Later versions go to the same game and start a new review.
If you prefer scripts, the Mayavoo creator API lets build tools and AI agents create drafts, upload files and submit versions with a key from your account.
What players get
Players open a game page, read the controls and supported devices, and press play. Signing in with Google or GitHub is only needed to like games or comment. Games run in a sandboxed frame that keeps them away from the player's Mayavoo account. A short Google ad may show before a game starts and when the player leaves, and none while they play.
When itch.io is the better pick
Stay on itch.io if you want to sell your game, offer pay what you want, or ship downloadable builds for Windows, macOS or Linux. Its storefront tools, download keys, sales and game jams are built for that, and Mayavoo does not offer them. If you already have an audience there, there is no need to leave. Many creators keep an itch.io page for downloads and add their browser version to Mayavoo for players who just want to click and play.
Getting started
- Build a production version of your web game and zip the output folder.
- Sign in to mayavoo.com, complete your creator profile and open the creator studio.
- Add the listing text, cover and screenshots, then submit the build for review.