How much can you play for free?
What Can You Do for Free?
At a glance
You can play the core game for free: levels 1–80, the core personal story, and eight professions other than revenant. Mounts, gliding, and expansion stories are paid features. There is no subscription fee.
What can a free account do?
✓ Available for free
✓
Level from 1 to 80
✓
Complete the core personal story
✓
Play eight core professions (revenant requires Heart of Thorns, Path of Fire, or End of Dragons)
✓
Choose from all five races
✓
Explore the core game’s open-world PvE maps
✓
Join dynamic events and world bosses
✓
Play custom and unranked sPvP matches (ranked play unlocks at PvP rank 20)
✓
Use the Trading Post with restrictions
✓
Create two characters
★ Features included with different paid purchases
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Permanent raptor access after buying a released expansion and reaching level 10. Raptor masteries require Path of Fire.
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Unlock gliding and train its masteries with Heart of Thorns
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Play revenant with Heart of Thorns, Path of Fire, or End of Dragons
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Elite specializations, depending on the expansion
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Expansion story maps
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Living World Seasons 2–4 and The Icebrood Saga (purchased separately)
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Increase the base number of character slots to five
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Increase the base number of bag slots per character to five
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Guild bank access (up to a five-day wait after adding an expansion; an authenticator app is required for withdrawals)
Free account restrictions
Free accounts have restrictions intended to limit bots and spam. You can still enjoy the game, but check these limits before planning a purchase or a group activity.
Level requirements
Some areas unlock as you level
You cannot leave starter maps before level 10. Lion’s Arch unlocks at level 35, and WvW at level 60.
Chat restrictions
You cannot send map chat messages
You can use local chat. You can whisper mutual friends freely. Other recipients must be on the same map, and you can start a conversation with a new person once every 30 seconds.
Mail restrictions
Text mail to mutual friends only · no outgoing items or gold
You can send text mail only to players who are mutual friends. You cannot send gold or items, but you can receive them.
Trading Post restrictions
Only selected items can be traded · five-day wait after adding an expansion
Free accounts can buy and sell only approved items on the Trading Post. For example, you can trade logs and ore, but not the planks and ingots made from them. Only some crafted equipment is available, so you cannot buy every piece of gear you might want. Restricted items show a padlock. You also cannot exchange gold for gems. The free-account Trading Post restrictions are lifted five days after an expansion is applied to your account.
Mount trial
Try the raptor for 10 hours of play
At level 10, a free account can try the raptor mount for 10 hours of in-game time. Access ends when the trial expires. Buying an expansion unlocks it permanently.
LFG restrictions
Looking For Group unlocks at level 30
On a free account, a character at level 30 can open Y → Looking For Group to view group listings.
When should I consider buying?
Good reasons to buy
- You reached level 80 and have a new goal
- You want to use a mount
- You want to try an elite specialization
- You have played for dozens of hours and want to keep going
Reasons to take your time
- You do not need an expansion while leveling
- There is no subscription, so you can return whenever you like
- Sales can reduce the cost substantially
- You do not need every expansion at once
Common mistakes when buying the game
Buying every expansion immediately
You can play all the way to level 80 for free. Try the game first, then buy an expansion if you enjoy it. Waiting for a sale can save a lot.
Expecting a subscription fee
Guild Wars 2 has no subscription fee. Content you buy stays on your account, so taking a break and returning does not require a renewal payment.