League of Legends is free to download and play — you never need to spend a single dollar to install the game, create an account, or jump into a match. Riot Games has offered the PC title as a free-to-play experience since its launch in 2009, and that hasn't changed. What does exist behind a paywall are optional cosmetics like champion skins and emotes, but none of them affect how the game actually plays.
The short answer is straightforward, but the full picture involves a few moving parts: how champions are unlocked, what Riot Points actually buy, and whether paying gives any edge in ranked play. This article walks through each piece clearly so you know exactly what you're getting into before you press that download button.
What you need to know up front
- The base game is completely free — no subscription, no one-time purchase.
- Champions (playable characters) can be earned for free through in-game currency or by playing the weekly free rotation.
- Cosmetics (skins, emotes, chromas) cost real money through Riot Points (RP), but they are entirely optional.
- League of Legends is not pay-to-win — spending money gives you looks, not power.
- The mobile version, Wild Rift, follows the same model and is free on iOS and Android.
The complete breakdown
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Section 1: The Base Game Is 100% Free to Download
You can download the League of Legends client directly from the official League of Legends website at no cost. No credit card is required at signup, and there is no trial period that expires. The full game — all game modes, ranked queues, tutorials, and the practice tool — is available to every player from the moment they create an account. Riot Games earns revenue through optional in-game purchases, not by charging for access.
The League of Legends client is a free download for Windows and macOS — no purchase required. -
Section 2: Cosmetics Cost Real Money — Paid with Riot Points
The part of League of Legends that isn't free is the cosmetic shop. Riot Points (RP) are a premium currency purchased with real money and used to buy champion skins, emotes, ward skins, chromas (color recolors), and profile icons. Skin prices generally range from around 390 RP for basic variants up to 3250 RP or more for legendary and ultimate tiers. Prestige skins have their own seasonal pricing. None of these items change a champion's abilities, damage numbers, or any stat — they are purely visual upgrades that let you personalize how your champion looks and sounds during a match.
Base skins are free; optional cosmetic upgrades range from a few hundred to several thousand RP. -
Section 3: Champions Can Be Unlocked for Free with Blue Essence
Champions are the biggest potential cost question in League of Legends, and the good news is that you never have to pay real money for them. Every week Riot rotates a selection of roughly 15 champions that all players can use for free, regardless of account level. Beyond the rotation, you earn Blue Essence (BE) — the free in-game currency — by playing matches, leveling up your account, and disenchanting champion shards from level-up capsules. Most champions cost between 450 and 6300 BE, and the newest ones drop in price after a few months. You can also spend Riot Points (~585 RP per champion at the lower end, more for newer releases) to unlock any champion immediately if you'd rather skip the grind.
Champions unlock for free through Blue Essence earned in matches, or instantly with Riot Points. -
Section 4: Is League of Legends Pay-to-Win?
No — League of Legends is not pay-to-win, and this is one of the more firmly held design principles at Riot Games. Everything a paying player owns that a free player does not is purely cosmetic: a skin changes how a champion looks and sounds, but it does not affect damage, range, cooldowns, movement speed, or any other stat. Ranked queues place all players on equal mechanical footing, so a player using a default "grey screen" free-rotation champion can beat — and regularly does beat — someone using a thousand-dollar skin collection. The only genuine advantage money can accelerate is champion access, since buying more champions with RP gives you a wider pool to choose from in champion select, but free players reach the same depth over time through Blue Essence.
Money buys cosmetics only — stats, abilities, and ranked performance are the same for every player. -
Section 5: Wild Rift (Mobile) Is Also Free to Play
If you prefer playing on a phone or tablet, League of Legends: Wild Rift is the official mobile adaptation and it is completely free to download from the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android). Wild Rift uses a separate champion roster and has its own in-game currency called Wild Cores for cosmetics, but the monetization philosophy is the same — you pay for looks, not power. The game is optimized for touch controls, supports controllers, and features shorter matches (roughly 15–20 minutes) compared to the PC version.
Wild Rift is a free download on iOS and Android with the same free-to-play model as the PC game.
Tips for new free players
- Play the free rotation. The weekly roster typically includes beginner-friendly champions. It's the fastest way to find which roles and playstyles you enjoy before spending any Blue Essence.
- Complete missions and events. Riot regularly runs free event tracks that award Blue Essence, champion shards, and even cosmetics without any purchase required.
- Focus on a small champion pool. Rather than trying to unlock every champion, picking two or three to master leads to faster skill improvement and more efficient BE spending.
- Check the client's free loot. New accounts often receive starter packs and champion capsules as welcome gifts that give you several champions at no cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is League of Legends free on PC and Mac?
Yes. The full League of Legends game is free to download and play on both Windows and macOS. You create a free Riot Games account, download the client, and start playing immediately — no payment is ever required to access the game.
Do you have to pay for champions in League of Legends?
No. Champions can be unlocked for free using Blue Essence, which is earned simply by playing matches and leveling up your account. You can also play any champion for free during the weekly rotation. Paying with Riot Points is an optional shortcut, not a requirement.
What do Riot Points actually buy?
Riot Points buy cosmetic items: champion skins, emotes, chromas, ward skins, profile icons, and certain event pass upgrades. They can also be used to unlock champions faster. None of these purchases affect gameplay stats or give any competitive advantage.
How much does it cost to unlock all champions in League of Legends?
If you were to buy every champion with Riot Points, the total would run into hundreds of dollars, but this is never necessary. Most dedicated players unlock the majority of the roster over months of free play using Blue Essence. Some champions are available for as little as 450 BE, which can be earned in just a few sessions.
Is Wild Rift free on mobile?
Yes. League of Legends: Wild Rift is a free download on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. It uses its own currency (Wild Cores) for cosmetics, but the core game, champions, and all ranked modes are free to access.
The bottom line
League of Legends is genuinely free in the most meaningful sense — you can download it today, play every game mode, climb the ranked ladder, and enjoy hundreds of hours of gameplay without spending a cent. Cosmetics are the one place Riot monetizes the experience, and they are strictly optional. Whether you eventually choose to buy a skin you love or play entirely for free, the game itself never locks content behind a paywall. For more details on the client and current features, visit the official League of Legends site.
