Steam Free to Keep promotions: when Valve agrees, and what they cost you
30 Oct 2026 · 5 min read
A Free to Keep promotion lets players claim your game for free, for a limited time, and keep it. Valve agrees to one only when it fits the game, and its own doc spends as much time on the catches as on the setup. This guide covers when it makes sense, the timing rules, how it is set up and what it costs you, from Valve's Free to Keep doc, checked 30 Oct 2026.
Free to Keep, Free Weekend or Free to Play
| Type | What players get | How long it is free |
|---|---|---|
| Free to Keep | Permanent license | For a limited time |
| Free Weekend | Temporary license | For the event only |
| Free to Play | Permanently free to get | Always |
A Free Weekend lets people play the full game for a few days and then takes it away. A Free to Keep is closer to a giveaway or a 100% discount: the license stays.
When Valve says it can work
Not for a quiet multiplayer game. Valve says a Free to Keep is generally not an effective way to raise player counts or visibility. Most players who claim the free license never play the game, and some who load it up will not stay.
What it costs you
| What | During a Free to Keep |
|---|---|
| Reviews | Readable by everyone, marked as a free license, not counted in the review score |
| Trading cards | Do not drop for players who own the game through the Free to Keep package |
| Wishlisters | Not notified |
| Store promotion | None by default, apart from your own store page |
| Future sales | Everyone who claims it can no longer buy it |
Valve adds that a giveaway can hurt how players see the game's value over the long term, and that being free does not by itself create demand. More on how scores are counted is in Steam user reviews, and on card drops in Steam trading cards.
Valve's alternative: a deep discount
In Valve's experience a discount, possibly a very deep one, is often the better choice, because it:
The rules every discount has to follow are in Steam discount rules.
Sources: Free to Keep. Checked 30 Oct 2026. Valve updates these pages; the Steamworks docs always win.
Timing
How it works and the setup
During the promotion a free package replaces the standard paid package on your base game's store page. It uses the same App ID and depots as the base game and shows how much time is left to claim it. When the period ends, Steam removes it automatically.
Where a broadcast fits
Valve does not promote a Free to Keep anywhere on the store by default, apart from your own store page, so that page is where players meet the offer. A store page broadcast shows the game moving there. Loopcast keeps one running from an uploaded video, billed per minute on air. You can try it free for 7 days, no card needed.
FAQ
What is a Free to Keep promotion on Steam?
A time-limited promotion in which players permanently get a license for your game for free, like a giveaway or a 100% discount. It is not a Free to Play game, which is always free, and not a Free Weekend, which only grants a temporary license.
How long does a Steam Free to Keep have to run?
At least 24 hours, so players in every time zone get the same chance. Valve generally recommends keeping it under two weeks.
Can I set up a Free to Keep myself in Steamworks?
No. It is not self-service. You contact Valve with the details and timing at least one month ahead, and the request can be turned down if the game is not a good fit.
Do Free to Keep reviews count toward my review score?
No. Those players can leave a review that others can read, but it is marked as a free license and does not factor into the review score.
Are my wishlisters told about a Free to Keep?
No. By default it is not promoted anywhere on the store except your own store page, and wishlisters are not notified.