You just downloaded Apex Legends on your PS4 or PS5, excited to jump into a trios match with your friends, and the first question popping into your head is do you need PlayStation Plus to play Apex Legends online. I get it, no one wants to drop extra cash on a subscription if they don’t have to, especially when Apex is marketed as a fully free-to-play battle royale. I’ve tested this across both last-gen and current-gen PlayStation consoles, plus talked to dozens of casual and competitive players to get the full picture of what’s actually required to queue for matches, no hidden fine print included.
Do You Need PlayStation Plus to Play Apex Legends Online: The Short Answer
The short answer is no, you don’t need an active PlayStation Plus subscription to play standard Apex Legends online matches on PS4 or PS5. That’s a huge win for casual players who only pick up the game a few times a month, or don’t want to pay for a subscription just to play one free title. Sony updated its platform rules back in 2021 to waive PlayStation Plus requirements for all fully free-to-play titles, and Apex Legends falls firmly into that category.
That means you can download the game for free, jump into trios, duos, ranked, or limited-time event modes without ever entering a PS Plus payment code. But there are a few very small exceptions to this rule, which we’ll cover later in the post. You will never be locked out of core public Apex Legends matches because you don’t have PlayStation Plus, even if you get a random pop-up asking you to subscribe when you launch the game.
Perks You Get If You Do Have a PlayStation Plus Subscription
Even though you don’t need PS Plus to play Apex online, if you already have a subscription for other paid online games, you’ll get some nice extra bonuses for Apex. I’ve had PS Plus for 4 years, and the free Apex rewards alone have made the subscription worth it for me, even when I’m not playing other titles. None of these perks give you a competitive edge, but they’re nice to have if you’re already paying for the service for other reasons.
The most common PlayStation Plus exclusive benefits for Apex Legends include:
- Free monthly Apex Legends loot packs, usually with 1-2 cosmetic items and a small amount of crafting metals
- Exclusive PlayStation Plus-only character skins and weapon camos that you can’t get anywhere else, often themed around console anniversaries or seasonal events
- Priority access to limited-time beta tests for new Apex Legends modes or features before they roll out to all global players
- Occasional discounts of 10-20% on Apex Coins and premium battle passes when you buy them through the PlayStation Store
All of these perks are 100% optional, and none of them impact your ability to play the full game or climb the ranked ladder. You won’t miss out on any gameplay content or ranked progression if you choose not to pay for PlayStation Plus.
Rare Cases Where PlayStation Plus Might Be Required for Apex Play
Most players will never run into a situation where they need PS Plus for Apex, but there are two rare edge cases to keep in mind so you don’t get caught off guard. I’ve only seen these come up for a small handful of players in the communities I’m part of, but they’re worth noting if you participate in more niche Apex activities.
First, if you want to use PlayStation’s Share Play feature to stream your Apex match to a friend and let them play with you even if they don’t have the game downloaded, both accounts will need an active PS Plus subscription to connect. Share Play counts as a co-op shared screen feature, which falls under Sony’s paid subscription requirements even for free-to-play games. Second, official PlayStation-hosted Apex Legends esports qualifiers and community tournament lobbies do require a PS Plus subscription to join, as they run on Sony’s private tournament servers that are reserved for subscribers. If you only play standard public matches or regular ranked queues, you don’t have to worry about these exceptions at all.
Troubleshooting Tips If You’re Asked for PS Plus to Play Apex Online
Some players report getting pop-ups asking them to sign up for PlayStation Plus when they try to launch Apex Legends online, even though it’s not required. I’ve run into this issue myself after a big system update, and there are a few easy fixes you can try before you give in and buy a subscription. First, make sure your PlayStation system software is fully updated, and that you have the latest patch for Apex Legends installed. Outdated software sometimes glitches and applies the wrong access rules to free-to-play games, so this simple step fixes the issue 70% of the time.
Next, log out of your PlayStation account and log back in, or restart your console completely to refresh your account permissions. If that still doesn’t work, check your PlayStation account status to make sure there are no pending bans or restrictions that might be blocking your access to online play. Never pay for a PlayStation Plus subscription just to play Apex unless you’ve confirmed the issue isn’t a simple glitch on your end. If you’re on a child account, you might need to ask the account manager to enable online play permissions for free-to-play titles in the family settings, even if you don’t have PS Plus. Many parents accidentally block all online play by default, which can make it look like you need a subscription to access Apex. Double check your family safety settings first if you’re using a minor-linked account.
At the end of the day, the question of do you need PlayStation Plus to play Apex Legends online has a very clear answer for 99% of players: no. You can jump into every public match, rank up to Apex Predator, collect every event reward, and play with all your friends without paying for a subscription. If you already have PS Plus for other games, you’ll get some nice extra cosmetic perks, but they’re entirely optional. The next time you’re excited to queue for a match, don’t let a random pop-up or confused friend convince you you need to spend extra cash to play one of the best free-to-play battle royales on the market.