Is Apex Legends free? Yes — Apex Legends is completely free to play. You can download the full battle royale and jump into matches without paying a cent, on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by EA, the game makes its money from optional cosmetics rather than an upfront purchase. This guide covers exactly what you get for free, where to download it, and what the optional purchases actually are.
Below is a section-by-section breakdown so you know precisely what "free" means here, what (if anything) you might choose to spend money on, and the simple checklist for getting started.
The quick answer
Apex Legends costs $0 to download and play. There is no box price, no subscription, and no mandatory purchase. You only ever pay if you want optional extras like character skins, the premium Battle Pass, or the in-game currency called Apex Coins. None of those affect gameplay or give a competitive advantage — it is purely cosmetic monetisation.
Is Apex Legends free? Everything you need to know
The short answer: yes, it is free to play
Apex Legends launched as a free-to-play title in February 2019 and has stayed that way ever since. It is a squad-based hero battle royale shooter where teams of three drop onto a map, loot, and fight to be the last squad standing. You download the full game, play every map and mode, and compete in ranked matches without spending money. The only revenue comes from optional cosmetics and extras.
Where to download Apex Legends for free
You can grab Apex Legends free on every major platform. On PC, download it through Steam or the EA app — both are free clients. On consoles, find it in the PlayStation Store (PS4 and PS5), the Microsoft Store on Xbox (Xbox One and Series X|S), and the Nintendo eShop on Switch. Search for "Apex Legends," select it, and choose Download — the price will simply show as Free.
What is free vs. what costs money
Everything that matters to gameplay is free. The full battle royale, a roster of starter Legends, all maps, all weapons, every game mode, ranked play, and cross-play with friends are included at no cost, and you receive all gameplay updates and seasonal map changes for free too. The optional spending is limited to cosmetic items — character and weapon skins, the premium Battle Pass, Apex Coins (the premium currency), and additional Legends, which can also be unlocked for free by playing. Crucially, purchases are cosmetic only and never sell power.
Legends, currency, and the in-game store
You start with a set of free Legends, and more characters can be added to your roster in two ways. You can earn Legend Tokens simply by playing matches and use them to unlock additional Legends at no cash cost, or you can buy them instantly with Apex Coins, the optional paid currency. The in-game store sells cosmetics like skins, banners, and finishers, but you never have to spend real money — the game is designed so a patient free player can earn Legends and many cosmetics through play.
What you need to play for free
Getting started is quick. You will need a free EA account, a download client (Steam or the EA app on PC, or your console's built-in store), roughly 50–75 GB of free disk space, and a stable internet connection since Apex is an online multiplayer game. From there your total cost to start is $0.00 — the Battle Pass and skins are entirely optional and you can ignore them indefinitely.
Tips for free players
- Play to unlock Legends. Save your Legend Tokens for the characters you most want to add to your roster instead of spending real money.
- The premium Battle Pass is optional. There is a free reward track each season, so you can earn cosmetics without buying the premium tier.
- Apex Coins are never required. Treat them as a convenience, not a necessity — everything that affects gameplay is already free.
- Use cross-play. Apex supports cross-platform play, so you can squad up with friends regardless of which free version they downloaded.
Troubleshooting
The store is showing a price instead of Free
Make sure you selected the base Apex Legends game rather than a paid cosmetic bundle, a Legend pack, or an edition that includes content packs. The standalone game itself is always free.
I can't find Apex Legends on my platform's store
Search the exact name "Apex Legends" in your platform's store (Steam, the EA app, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, or Nintendo eShop). It is available free on all of them.
Do I need EA Play or a subscription?
No. Apex Legends is free to play on its own. EA Play is a separate optional subscription service and is not required to download or play Apex.
Frequently asked questions
Is Apex Legends free to play?
Yes. Apex Legends is completely free to download and play on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, with no purchase or subscription required.
Is Apex Legends free on PC?
Yes. On PC you can download Apex Legends for free through Steam or the EA app, both of which are free clients.
Is Apex Legends pay-to-win?
No. Everything you can buy is cosmetic — skins, the Battle Pass, and currency. Purchases do not give any gameplay or competitive advantage.
Do you have to pay for Legends in Apex?
No. You start with several free Legends and can unlock more by earning Legend Tokens through play, or you can choose to buy them with Apex Coins.
How much disk space does Apex Legends need?
Plan for roughly 50–75 GB of free storage, depending on your platform and installed updates.
Final thoughts
So, is Apex Legends free? Absolutely — it is one of the most generous free-to-play shooters around. You get the entire battle royale, a roster of Legends, every map and mode, and ranked play without paying anything, and the only purchases are optional cosmetics that never affect the game. All you need is a free account and a download to get started. For full details and to download the game, visit the official Apex Legends website.
