If you’ve scrolled through your console or PC game library looking for a new casual or competitive game to sink hours into, you’ve almost certainly stumbled across Apex Legends at some point. Before you hit download, you’ve probably wondered does Apex Legends cost money, especially since so many modern battle royales hide core content behind paywalls. I’ve been playing Apex consistently since its 2019 launch, have grinded to Master rank on both free and paid accounts, and have tested every type of in-game purchase available, so I can break down exactly what you’ll get for free, what costs extra, and what’s actually worth spending your cash on.
Does Apex Legends Cost Money to Download and Play Core Content?
The short answer here is no, Apex Legends is 100% free to download and play on every platform it’s available on, including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile. You don’t need to pay a subscription fee to access the base game, and you won’t hit a paywall that stops you from playing core game modes after a certain number of matches. You never have to spend real money to win matches or climb ranked ladders, as no paid content gives players a competitive edge over free users.
All standard game modes, including battle royale, ranked play, Mixtape, Control, and limited-time event modes, are available for every player for free. All new maps released with each season are also accessible to everyone immediately, with no extra purchase required. Even new legends added each season can be unlocked for free using Legend Tokens, an in-game currency you earn just by leveling up your account. The only time you’ll pay for a new legend is if you want to unlock it instantly, instead of grinding for a few days to earn enough tokens.
What Paid Content Is Available in Apex Legends?
While core gameplay is entirely free, Respawn Entertainment does offer optional paid content for players who want to customize their experience or unlock convenience items. None of these items impact gameplay balance, so you won’t be at a disadvantage if you choose not to buy any of them. The full list of paid content you’ll find in the in-game store includes:
- Battle Passes: Released at the start of every new season, premium battle passes cost 950 Apex Coins (roughly $9.99) and unlock exclusive skins, emotes, banner frames, Apex Coins, and other rewards as you complete daily and weekly challenges. If you reach max level on a premium pass, you’ll earn enough Apex Coins to buy the next season’s pass for free, with no extra spending needed.
- Cosmetic Skins: Legend skins, weapon skins, charm attachments, and banner cosmetics are available for individual purchase in the rotating store. All are purely visual, with no stat boosts or gameplay benefits attached.
- Limited-Time Event Bundles: Themed bundles released alongside holiday or lore events usually include matching skins for a specific legend and weapon, plus emotes and banner items. These are priced between $10 and $30 depending on how much content is included.
- Apex Coin Bundles: The premium in-game currency, Apex Coins can be purchased in bundles starting at $4.99 for 1000 coins, and are used to buy all other paid content in the store.
- Legend Unlock Bundles for players who don’t want to grind for Legend Tokens can purchase instant access to new or existing legends for roughly $7.99 each.
I’ve bought my fair share of these items over the years, from seasonal battle passes to limited edition skins for my main legend Wraith, and I’ve never once felt like my purchases made me better at the game. All paid content is entirely optional and does not impact gameplay balance, so you can skip every store item and still have just as much fun playing.
Which Apex Legends Purchases Are Actually Worth Your Money?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the constant stream of new skins and bundles in the Apex store, but not all purchases deliver the same value for your cash. From my years of playing and testing different purchases, I’ve narrowed down which items are worth splurging on, and which you should skip entirely.
Premium battle passes are easily the best value for money by a long shot, if you play at least 2-3 hours a week during a season. For less than $10, you’ll get dozens of skins, emotes, and enough Apex Coins to cover the next season’s pass if you hit max level. I’ve only had to buy one battle pass out of the last 8 seasons, because I earned enough coins from previous passes to cover the rest. If you main a specific legend that you play 80% of the time, a well-designed skin for them is also worth the cost if you’ll see it every time you queue up for a match.
On the other hand, limited-time event bundles are almost never worth the cost unless you want at least 3 of the items included. Most bundles are packed with filler items like banner frames or charms you’ll never use, so you end up paying a premium for one skin you actually want. Never buy Apex Packs if you’re looking for a specific item, as the drop rate for legendary items is less than 1%, and you’ll almost always spend far more money on packs than you would buying the item directly when it rotates into the store.
How to Avoid Overspending on Apex Legends
It’s incredibly easy to get sucked into FOMO (fear of missing out) when limited-time skins pop up in the store for 48 hours only, but there are simple rules you can follow to keep your spending under control without missing out on the content you actually want.
First, set a strict monthly budget for in-game purchases and stick to it. I personally limit my Apex spending to $10 a month, which covers a battle pass every other season if I don’t earn enough coins from the previous one, and leaves a little extra for a skin I really love once in a while. Second, wait 24 hours before buying any limited-time item. Most of the time, the initial excitement of seeing a new skin will fade after a day, and you’ll realize you don’t actually care about it enough to spend your money.
You should also take advantage of free rewards from subscription services you already pay for, like Twitch Prime or PlayStation Plus, which regularly give out free Apex skins, packs, and small amounts of Apex Coins at no extra cost. Never spend money you can’t afford to lose on cosmetic game content, no matter how cool a skin looks. It’s not worth going over budget for an item you’ll probably stop caring about in a few months when the next season drops with new skins.
At the end of the day, the answer to does Apex Legends cost money depends entirely on how you want to play. You can grind to Apex Predator rank, play every limited-time event, and unlock every legend in the game without spending a single cent if you don’t want to. If you do decide to spend money, stick to high-value purchases like battle passes and skins for your main legends, and avoid impulse buys that you’ll regret a week later. You can get hundreds of hours of entertainment from Apex without spending a penny, so don’t let pressure to buy fancy skins ruin the fun of the game for you.