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Why Are CD Keys Cheaper Than Steam? Where the Discount Comes From

Keys sold outside Steam are often cheaper for ordinary reasons. Developers use Steam keys to sell their games on other stores, publishers sell keys in bulk to wholesalers, and sellers buy during promotions and bundles. Some cheap keys carry more risk: their source can be unknown, and Valve lets developers ban keys that were stolen or bought fraudulently. Also, the listed price is not always what you pay, because some stores add fees at checkout. AskLoot shows prices with known fees added.

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Who creates Steam keys and why they are sold outside Steam

Steam keys are single use codes that add a product license to a Steam account. Valve describes them as a free service that helps developers sell their games on other stores and at retail (Steamworks, Steam Keys).

Valve also sets rules for this. It asks developers not to give Steam customers a worse deal than Steam key buyers. It says running a discount for keys on other stores at different times is fine, as long as the developer plans to give Steam customers a comparable offer within a reasonable time (Steamworks). That is one reason a key can be cheaper somewhere else for a while.

Ordinary reasons a key can be cheaper

These are the stores' own explanations, so read them as such.

  • Bulk wholesale buying. G2A says publishers sell keys in bulk at a discount to wholesalers, retailers and resellers, who then sell below the standard retail price and still make a profit (G2A, How we operate).
  • Promotions and bundles. G2A says sellers often buy keys during promotional events, seasonal sales or as part of discounted bundles (G2A).
  • Competition between sellers. Eneba says prices can be lower because multiple sellers can list offers on the same marketplace, and that prices vary by seller, stock, region, product type, promotion and availability (Eneba, Is Eneba Legit?).
  • Region. Eneba lists region as one of the factors behind price differences (Eneba). A key meant for another region may not work on your account, so read our guide on region locked Steam keys.

Reasons that carry more risk

  • Unknown source. GG.deals, a price comparison site, says that for keyshops the key does not come directly from the publisher and its source is unknown, so there is no full guarantee it will work or activate in your region (GG.deals, Keyshops risks).
  • Fraudulently obtained keys. GG.deals says marketplaces find it hard to fully prevent dishonest sellers, and that a key not obtained legitimately may later be removed from your library (GG.deals).
  • Developers can ban keys. Valve's documentation says developers may ban keys that were stolen or purchased fraudulently. It also tells developers they should never ban keys that were legitimately sold to customers (Steamworks).

None of this means cheap keys are stolen in general. It means the source matters, and you often cannot see it. Marketplaces describe their own controls: Eneba says sellers complete verification and are expected to source products from official distributors (Eneba). Those are the store's claims about its own process.

The listed price vs the price at checkout

The price on a product page is not always final. GG.deals labels several stores, including Eneba, as adding an obligatory payment fee at checkout, and says the amount can depend on your payment method and location (GG.deals). It also lists stores that add EU VAT at checkout for EU buyers.

AskLoot shows prices with known fees added, so you can see more of the cost before you click through. Always check the final price at the store before you pay.

Is Steam sometimes cheaper?

Yes, it can be, for example during Steam's own sales. Valve's rules also ask developers to give Steam customers a comparable offer to key buyers (Steamworks). So before you buy a key, check the game's Steam store page directly. AskLoot does not show an official store price yet; we plan to add one.

Sources (checked 15 Oct 2026)

FAQ

Are cheap CD keys stolen?

There is no blanket answer. Many come from wholesale buying, promotions and bundles. Some have an unknown source, and Valve lets developers ban keys that were stolen or bought fraudulently. Check the seller, the region and the refund rules.

Do developers get paid when I buy a key?

Views differ. GG.deals says developers do not make money when you buy from a keyshop, but they probably already benefited from the original sale (GG.deals). Store channels that buy keys from publishers pay at that earlier point, as G2A describes (G2A).

Why is the checkout price higher than the listed price?

Some stores add a payment fee or VAT at checkout (GG.deals). AskLoot shows prices with known fees added, but always check the final price at the store.

Is Steam ever cheaper than keyshops?

Yes, it can be, for example during Steam's own sales. Check the Steam store page before you buy.

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