Where to buy game keys and gift cards: a comparison
We compare 10 game key stores on what matters if you want no surprises: where the keys come from, extra fees in the cart, refunds and payment. No invented scores, no prices that expire tomorrow.
In short: for minimum risk buy from an official reseller (Fanatical, Green Man Gaming, Humble Bundle and GOG.com). Marketplaces (Eneba, Kinguin, G2A and Gamivo) often have lower prices, but keys come from third-party sellers — read the refund policy before revealing the key.
The comparison at a glance
| Store | Type | Extra fees | Key refunds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fanatical Official site | Official reseller | No service fee or optional subscription found in its terms. | Self-service refund from 20 minutes to 14 days if the key wasn't revealed; after reveal, only for technical faults. |
| Green Man Gaming Official site | Official reseller | No service fee found in its terms. | Case by case within 7 days, only if the key wasn't shown to you and the game isn't activated. |
| Humble Bundle Official site | Official reseller | No service fee found; Humble Choice is a separate, optional subscription. | Generally 2 weeks; never after 60 days; revealing keys can affect eligibility. |
| GOG.com Official site | Official reseller | No service fee. | 30-day money-back guarantee (stated on gog.com). |
| Instant Gaming Official site | Mixed | not clearly published | Right of withdrawal is lost once the code is used; refund within 14 days when eligible. |
| Loaded (formerly CDKeys) Official site | Mixed | not clearly published | Within 7 days, only if the key wasn't revealed or redeemed. |
| Eneba Official site | Marketplace (third-party sellers) | Service fee shown at checkout (amount varies). | Within 14 days, only if you haven't viewed the key or it is invalid/already used. |
| Kinguin Official site | Marketplace (third-party sellers) | Service fee at purchase (amount varies); “Kinguin Buyer Protection” is a separate, non-refundable fee. | Refunds possible up to 60 days after the transaction, to Kinguin balance or the original method. |
| G2A Official site | Marketplace (third-party sellers) | Optional paid “G2A Plus” subscription. | Depends on each seller's own policy. |
| Gamivo Official site | Marketplace (third-party sellers) | Service fee; optional “GAMIVO SMART” subscription EUR 2.99/month in the EU (EUR 0.99 first month) + fee + taxes. | Only if the key wasn't displayed. |
Each store in detail
Fanatical Official reseller
- Company: Focus Multimedia Ltd, United Kingdom (no. 2408658)
- Key source: States 1,900+ official publishers; member of UKIE (the UK games industry body).
- Extra fees: No service fee or optional subscription found in its terms.
- Refunds: Self-service refund from 20 minutes to 14 days if the key wasn't revealed; after reveal, only for technical faults.
- Payment: PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, Google Pay, Apple Pay; prices in EUR.
- Worth knowing: Known for bundles and Mystery bundles.
Sources: www.fanatical.com · support.fanatical.com
Green Man Gaming Official reseller
- Company: Green Man Gaming Limited, England & Wales (no. 05271628), London
- Key source: States every key comes directly from publishers; 1,300+ publisher contracts.
- Extra fees: No service fee found in its terms.
- Refunds: Case by case within 7 days, only if the key wasn't shown to you and the game isn't activated.
- Payment: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, PayPal, Apple Pay, Klarna and more; 18 currencies.
Sources: www.greenmangaming.com · www.greenmangaming.com
Humble Bundle Official reseller
- Company: Humble Bundle, Inc. (a Ziff Davis company)
- Key source: Official store, bundles and the Humble Choice subscription; over USD 276M given to charity since 2010.
- Extra fees: No service fee found; Humble Choice is a separate, optional subscription.
- Refunds: Generally 2 weeks; never after 60 days; revealing keys can affect eligibility.
- Payment: Card (Stripe), PayPal; no prepaid cards.
Sources: promo.humblebundle.com · support.humblebundle.com · support.humblebundle.com
GOG.com Official reseller
- Company: GOG sp. z o.o. (Poland)
- Key source: Official store: sells games directly, DRM-free (not keys from third-party sellers).
- Extra fees: No service fee.
- Refunds: 30-day money-back guarantee (stated on gog.com).
- Payment: not clearly published
Sources: www.gog.com · support.gog.com
Instant Gaming Mixed
- Company: Aliasing DMCC, Dubai (UAE); refunds handled by Transactial Limited, Ireland
- Key source: Sells from its own stock (not an open marketplace); where keys come from isn't clearly published.
- Extra fees: not clearly published
- Refunds: Right of withdrawal is lost once the code is used; refund within 14 days when eligible.
- Payment: not clearly published
- Gift cards: Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo cards in several regions (e.g. Steam EUR 30).
Sources: www.instant-gaming.com · www.instant-gaming.com
Loaded (formerly CDKeys) Mixed
- Company: not clearly published (cdkeys.com now redirects to loaded.com)
- Key source: Sells from its own stock; its help centre says keys come from authorised distributors, but outside reviews call it grey-market. We couldn't confirm.
- Extra fees: not clearly published
- Refunds: Within 7 days, only if the key wasn't revealed or redeemed.
- Payment: not clearly published
Sources: support.loaded.com · support.loaded.com
Eneba Marketplace (third-party sellers)
- Company: JSC “Helis play”, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Key source: Marketplace: keys are listed by verified third-party sellers.
- Extra fees: Service fee shown at checkout (amount varies).
- Refunds: Within 14 days, only if you haven't viewed the key or it is invalid/already used.
- Payment: not clearly published
- Gift cards: Sells gift cards; Romania-region availability not confirmed.
Sources: www.eneba.com · www.eneba.com · www.eneba.com
Kinguin Marketplace (third-party sellers)
- Company: Kinguin Digital Limited, Hong Kong
- Key source: Marketplace: third-party sellers.
- Extra fees: Service fee at purchase (amount varies); “Kinguin Buyer Protection” is a separate, non-refundable fee.
- Refunds: Refunds possible up to 60 days after the transaction, to Kinguin balance or the original method.
- Payment: PayPal, card, bank transfer, Klarna (depends on billing country).
- Worth knowing: 2015: Ubisoft deactivated Far Cry 4 keys originally bought with stolen cards and resold on marketplaces including Kinguin.
Sources: static.kinguin.net · support.kinguin.net · gameinformer.com
G2A Marketplace (third-party sellers)
- Company: G2A.COM Limited (Hong Kong) and other group entities
- Key source: Marketplace: third-party sellers.
- Extra fees: Optional paid “G2A Plus” subscription.
- Refunds: Depends on each seller's own policy.
- Payment: not clearly published
- Gift cards: Yes — including PlayStation Network cards for Romania (RON 100 and 200).
- Worth knowing: 2019: offered developers 10× the value of keys proven sold illegally; one studio (Factorio) received USD 39,600 for 198 keys.
Sources: www.g2a.com · supporthub.g2a.com · www.g2a.com · gamespot.com
Gamivo Marketplace (third-party sellers)
- Company: GAMIVO.com Limited, Malta (C 90983)
- Key source: Marketplace: third-party merchants.
- Extra fees: Service fee; optional “GAMIVO SMART” subscription EUR 2.99/month in the EU (EUR 0.99 first month) + fee + taxes.
- Refunds: Only if the key wasn't displayed.
- Payment: Via PayPal, HiPay and Nuvei.
Sources: www.gamivo.com · www.gamivo.com · www.gamivo.com
Guides
Official reseller vs marketplace: where game keys come fromWhich game key stores get keys directly from publishers and which are marketplaces with third-party sellers. Risks, examples and how to choose.Extra fees on game keys: service fees and optional subscriptionsWhich service fees and optional subscriptions Eneba, Kinguin, G2A, Gamivo and others add at checkout. The cart total matters, not the list price.Game key refunds: each store's policyRefund policies for game keys at Fanatical, Green Man Gaming, Humble, GOG, Eneba, Kinguin, G2A, Gamivo and others, from their official terms.Game key regions: Global, EU or country — what works whereWhat Global, EU or country-specific keys mean, what works on a European account and which currency Steam uses.How to buy game keys safely: 8 checks before you payA checklist before buying a game key: store type, region, fees in the cart, refunds, the seller and payment.Eneba vs G2A: store type, fees and refundsEneba or G2A? Store type, company, extra fees, refunds and payment, from official terms checked on 2 October 2026.Eneba vs Kinguin: store type, fees and refundsEneba or Kinguin? Store type, company, extra fees, refunds and payment, from official terms checked on 2 October 2026.Kinguin vs G2A: store type, fees and refundsKinguin or G2A? Store type, company, extra fees, refunds and payment, from official terms checked on 2 October 2026.Instant Gaming vs Eneba: store type, fees and refundsInstant Gaming or Eneba? Store type, company, extra fees, refunds and payment, from official terms checked on 2 October 2026.Fanatical vs Green Man Gaming: store type, fees and refundsFanatical or Green Man Gaming? Store type, company, extra fees, refunds and payment, from official terms checked on 2 October 2026.Humble Bundle vs Fanatical: store type, fees and refundsHumble Bundle or Fanatical? Store type, company, extra fees, refunds and payment, from official terms checked on 2 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which game key stores are official?
Of those we compare, these state they get keys directly from publishers: Fanatical, Green Man Gaming, Humble Bundle and GOG.com. Checked on 2 October 2026.
Is it legal to buy keys on Eneba, Kinguin or G2A?
Buying a key for personal use is generally not illegal in the EU. These are marketplaces with third-party sellers: you carry the risk of a revoked key, so the refund policy matters.
Do you earn money from links?
Some links may become affiliate links and will be labelled “affiliate link”. You don't pay more, and the table information doesn't depend on it.