Best Places to Publish a Web Game in 2026
Last updated: June 2026.
You finished a web game. Now what? Where you publish it shapes how many people play it, whether you earn anything, and how much control you keep. The platforms range from instant-and-free self-publishing to curated portals with millions of players and a tougher bar. Here's the 2026 rundown, with the trade-offs that actually matter.
The comparison
| Platform | Reach | Revenue model | Approval | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| itch.io | Large (indie) | You set the cut (default 90% you / 10% itch); paid, donations, free | Instant, no gate | Indie, paid/PWYW, jam games |
| Newgrounds | Medium, community | Ad rev-share to creators | Portal voting | Free browser games, art/animation crowd |
| CrazyGames | ~35M MAU | Ad rev-share (% not public) | QA + review | Action/arcade/casual, big audience |
| Poki | ~100M MAU | 100% if you bring players / 50% if Poki does | Rigorous, playtested | Polished, optimized casual games |
| GameJolt | Community | Marketplace cut capped at 10% | Instant | Building a fanbase, low-fee sales |
| gd.games (GDevelop) | Community | Session-based ad earnings | Private then public | GDevelop users, free hosting |
| Armor Games | Smaller | Upfront sponsorship/licensing fee | Email pitch, curated | Polished games wanting a paycheck |
| GameDistribution / GameMonetize | Network reach | Rev-share (33% / 45%+) | Dashboard + review | Passive syndication for casual games |
A note on the big two portals: Poki and CrazyGames have the biggest audiences but the highest bars and mandatory SDKs. itch.io has the most freedom and the best revenue split but you bring your own traffic. Skip Kongregate, which stopped accepting new games in 2020 and is now an archive.
Self-publish first: itch.io
For most indies, itch.io is the default starting point. You upload an HTML5 build (a ZIP with index.html), it embeds in an iframe, and you're live in minutes with no approval gate. You set the revenue split (the default gives you 90%), and you can charge, take donations, or go free. The catch is that itch doesn't bring much sustained traffic on its own; you drive players to it. That's covered in our how to get more plays on itch.io guide, and the basics in the itch.io launch guide.
The big portals: CrazyGames and Poki
If you want a built-in audience of tens of millions, the casual portals are where it is, but they're selective.
- CrazyGames (~35M monthly users) accepts HTML5/WebGL games. A basic listing needs little, but a full launch with monetization requires their SDK and passing QA, including working with ad blockers and landing straight into gameplay. Payouts start at €100.
- Poki (~100M monthly users) is the most rigorous: a multi-stage pipeline with playtesting, judging games on quality, player fit, and technical soundness. Its SDK is mandatory, and the revenue deal hinges on who brings the player (100% when you do, 50% when Poki does).
These suit polished, highly optimized casual games, and going through their process is real work.
Community platforms: Newgrounds, GameJolt, gd.games
- Newgrounds is community-first, with a portal-voting system and ad revenue sharing. Great for free browser games and the art/animation crowd.
- GameJolt caps its marketplace cut at 10% and is built around following and fanbase-building.
- gd.games gives GDevelop users free hosting with session-based ad earnings and one-click publishing from the editor.
Distribution networks: GameDistribution, GameMonetize
These syndicate one HTML5 upload across many partner sites for passive reach, in exchange for a bigger cut and a mandatory SDK. GameDistribution takes a larger share; GameMonetize offers a higher split and fast, low-threshold payouts. Good for casual, puzzle, and .io games where volume matters more than the split.
Don't forget self-hosting
An HTML5 game is just static files, so you can host it free on GitHub Pages, Cloudflare Pages, Netlify, or Vercel, on your own domain, taking no revenue cut and keeping full control of SEO and analytics. The downside is zero built-in audience. A common approach: self-host the canonical version for your own brand and SEO, and also publish on itch.io and a portal or two for reach. If your game was built in a creator like Cinevva, you can also share it instantly by link and submit it to the showcase.
How to choose
Match the platform to your goal. Want maximum freedom and the best split? itch.io plus self-hosting. Want the biggest audience and you've got a polished casual game? Poki or CrazyGames. Want an upfront payment for a finished quality game? Pitch Armor Games. Want passive syndicated reach? A distribution network. Most indies publish in several places at once: itch.io as home base, a portal for reach, and their own link for control.
Common Questions
Where should I publish my HTML5 game?
Start with itch.io: it's instant, free, gives you the best revenue split, and lets you charge or go free. For a bigger audience, submit polished casual games to CrazyGames or Poki (both have selective reviews and mandatory SDKs). Most developers publish in multiple places: itch.io plus a portal plus their own self-hosted link.
Which web game platform pays the most?
It depends on traffic and model. itch.io gives the best split (you keep 90%+ by default) but you bring the audience. Poki and CrazyGames have huge built-in audiences but share ad revenue on their terms. Armor Games pays an upfront sponsorship fee for quality games. There's no single best; high split with low traffic can earn less than a smaller split with millions of players.
Do I need an SDK to publish a web game?
On itch.io, Newgrounds, and GameJolt, no, you just upload. On the big portals (Poki, CrazyGames) and distribution networks (GameDistribution, GameMonetize), an SDK is required for monetization and full launch. The SDK handles ads and platform features. Factor that integration work in when choosing where to publish.
Can I publish the same web game on multiple platforms?
Usually yes, unless you agree to an exclusive deal (Poki's higher revenue share, for example, can require web exclusivity). Self-hosting plus itch.io plus a non-exclusive portal is a common combination. Read each platform's terms, since exclusivity and revenue share are often linked.
Related
- How to Launch Your Game on itch.io — the step-by-step
- How to Get More Plays on itch.io — driving traffic once you're live
- How to Promote an Indie Game With No Budget — marketing on $0
- Steam Next Fest Strategy — if you also go to Steam
- Best Web Game Engines for 2026 — building the game first