Which version is better: Steam or standalone?

I want to start playing Path of Exile 1. Can you tell me which version is better to choose: Steam or directly from the original website?

Both are great. Do you want to hide from your Steam friends as you spend an embarrassing amount of hours in PoE? Grab the Standalone :)

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jack_aubrey#0655 wrote:

Both are great.

Thanks :)
If I choose the steam version, will I need to log in to my PoE account?
If I install the steam version, but then decide to install standalone (for example on another computer), will the progress between these versions be synchronized?

I think u have to sync ur Account once with ur Steam account (here on the homepage).
After that it doesn't matter which game client u're using, it's always on the same account.

I personally use the standalone since steam used to mess with the game performance a lot years ago.

Thanks for the answers! I have installed the steam version so far.

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Sogolon#3230 wrote:

I personally use the standalone since steam used to mess with the game performance a lot years ago.

Both the Steam client and the standalone client are functionally equivalent, with the key differences lying in login authentication and patch delivery. In fact, the Steam client offers certain advantages, as it includes features like integrated Steam authentication, whereas Path of Exile (Standalone) still lacks two-factor authentication, even in 2025. Additionally, while the Steam overlay previously caused a slight performance hit on lower-end systems, this issue has been addressed and is no longer a concern.