Steam Free Weekend vs Free-to-Keep Giveaway: What's the Difference?
Learn which Steam offer expires, which one stays in your Library, and what to do before the promotion ends.
A Steam Free Weekend lets you play a game temporarily at no charge, but you must buy it to continue after the event. A Free-to-Keep giveaway gives you a permanent license if you claim the game before the deadline. The key question is whether the offer promises temporary access or lasting ownership.
Valve's Steamworks documentation describes Free-to-Keep as a limited-time, 100%-off promotion for the full game.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on September 09, 2026.
What happens when each promotion ends?
After a Free Weekend, Steam may leave the game visible in your Library. However, Valve says your available action is limited to uninstalling it unless you purchase the full version. A Free-to-Keep claim works differently.
Once you add the game to your account during the promotion, you retain its license after the claim window closes. Downloading alone is not the deciding factor. The promotion type determines whether your access expires.
How can you identify the offer?
Look closely at the wording on the game's Steam store page. "Play for free" or "Free Weekend" signals temporary access, while "Free to Keep" means you can claim a lasting license. The store mechanics also differ.
According to Valve's Free Weekend documentation, the temporary free package appears alongside the normal paid package. During Free-to-Keep promotions, the free offer temporarily replaces the standard paid package. Use this quick check:
- Free Weekend: play before the event ends; purchase afterward to continue.
- Free-to-Keep: claim before the deadline; keep the license afterward.
- Unclear wording: verify the offer type on the game's Steam page before relying on lasting access.
Do both offers include the complete game?
A Free Weekend usually provides access to the game, but the publisher can restrict selected modes or ranked matchmaking through Steam's Free-Weekend API. Treat it as a trial even when most content is available. Valve's Free-to-Keep guidance requires the whole game to be offered in its standard format.
That requirement concerns the base game being given away; it does not establish that separately offered extras are included.
Deadlines and the safest action
Steam says Free Weekends typically run from Thursday at 10 a.m. Pacific through Monday at 10 a.m. Pacific.
Free-to-Keep promotions must last at least 24 hours and are generally recommended to run for less than two weeks. Neither promotion necessarily receives prominent Steam-wide placement. Valve says they normally appear on the game's own store page, while Free-to-Keep offers have no dedicated browsing destination and do not notify wishlisters.
If you want a Free-to-Keep title, claim it before the displayed deadline rather than merely planning to download it later. For a Free Weekend, use the available time to evaluate the game and expect to pay if you want continued access.