What you pay for a Final Fantasy XIV subscription

Final Fantasy XIV requires a paid subscription to play beyond the free trial. The subscription costs vary depending on which plan you choose and how long you commit to paying upfront. Square Enix, the company that makes the game, offers three subscription tiers: Starter, Standard, and Complete.

The Starter plan is the cheapest option and gives you access to the base game and the first expansion, Heavensward. The Standard plan includes all expansions released up to the current patch cycle. The Complete plan includes everything in Standard plus 30 days of in-game time as a bonus. If you pay monthly, the cost is higher per month than if you pay for three months or longer upfront.

You can also buy game time separately using Mog Station, Square Enix's account management website, without committing to a full subscription tier. This is useful if you want to play occasionally rather than maintain an active subscription year-round.

Key Takeaways

  • Final Fantasy XIV has three subscription tiers (Starter, Standard, and Complete), each with different content access and pricing.
  • Monthly costs are higher than the per-month rate when you pay for longer periods upfront, so committing to three months or a year saves money.
  • You can buy game time in blocks without choosing a subscription tier, which works for players who log in sporadically.
  • The free trial lets you play up to level 60 with some social restrictions, so you can test the game before paying anything.
  • Your subscription renews automatically on the date you set, and you can pause or cancel anytime through Mog Station.

How subscription tiers differ in what you can do

The Starter tier locks you out of some features that higher tiers unlock. You cannot create a Free Company (the game's version of a guild), you cannot use the market board to buy and sell items with other players, and you cannot own a house or apartment. You also cannot join a Free Company that someone else created. These restrictions exist to prevent gold farming and account fraud.

The Standard and Complete tiers remove all of these restrictions. Both give you full access to the market board, Free Company creation and membership, and housing. The only difference between Standard and Complete is that Complete includes 30 days of game time prepaid, so it costs more upfront but gives you a month free if you think of it as a year-long commitment.

All three tiers give you the same character slots (up to eight per data center) and the same access to current raid content and dungeons. The tier you choose affects social and economic gameplay, not combat or story progression.

How to set up and manage your subscription

You set up your subscription through Mog Station, Square Enix's account portal. You log in with your Square Enix account, choose your subscription tier or game time block, and enter a payment method. Square Enix accepts credit cards, PayPal, and in some regions, other local payment options.

Your subscription renews automatically on the same day each month (or every three months, six months, or year, depending on what you chose). You can change your subscription tier or payment frequency anytime through Mog Station, and the change takes effect on your next renewal date. If you want to stop playing, you can cancel your subscription, and it will not renew after your current period ends.

If you buy game time instead of a subscription, you add it to your account in blocks of 30 days. This time does not renew automatically — you buy it again only when you want to play. This method works well if you take long breaks between play sessions.

What happens if your subscription lapses

If your subscription ends and you do not renew it, your characters remain on the server but you cannot log in to play them. Your house or apartment will be reclaimed by the game after a set period of inactivity (usually 45 days), and your Free Company will lose you as a member. Your items and gil (the in-game currency) stay in your inventory and bank, but you cannot access them until you resubscribe.

You can resubscribe at any time and return to your characters exactly as you left them. There is no penalty for taking a break, and you do not lose your progress or items. Many players pause their subscriptions during content droughts or when they want to play other games, then return when new patches release.

Free trial limits and when you need to subscribe

The free trial lets you play through the entire base game and the Heavensward expansion up to level 60 without paying. You can spend dozens of hours in the free trial, complete the main story, and learn whether the game suits you. The trial has restrictions: you cannot join a Free Company, use the market board, own a house, or trade items with other players. You also cannot create a Free Company or use the in-game mail system to send items to other characters.

Once you reach level 60 or complete the Heavensward story, you must buy a subscription to continue. You also need a subscription to access expansions beyond Heavensward (Stormblood, Shadowbringers, Endwalker, and Dawntrail). If you want to use the market board or join a Free Company while still in the base game, you need at least the Starter tier subscription.

Regional pricing and payment methods

Square Enix sets subscription prices in different currencies depending on your region. North American accounts are charged in US dollars, European accounts in euros, and Japanese accounts in yen. The exact amounts vary by region and change occasionally, so check Mog Station for your region's current pricing.

Payment methods available depend on your region and account type. Most regions accept credit cards and PayPal. Some regions also accept local payment methods like Crysta (Square Enix's prepaid currency), which you can buy through retailers or online. Using Crysta is optional but useful if you do not want to use a credit card or if your card is not accepted in your region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play Final Fantasy XIV without a subscription?

Yes, the free trial lets you play through the base game and Heavensward expansion up to level 60 with some social restrictions. Once you finish that content or reach level 60, you need a subscription to continue. The trial has no time limit, so you can play at your own pace.

What is the cheapest way to pay for a subscription?

Paying for a full year upfront costs less per month than paying monthly. The per-month cost drops further if you commit to six months or a year compared to three months. If you play sporadically, buying 30-day game time blocks as needed may be cheaper than maintaining an active subscription.

Do I lose my character if my subscription expires?

No, your character stays on the server permanently. You cannot log in while unsubscribed, but your items, gil, and progress remain. Your house or apartment will be reclaimed after about 45 days of inactivity, but you can resubscribe anytime and return to your character as if you never left.

Can I change my subscription tier mid-month?

Yes, you can change your tier anytime through Mog Station. The change takes effect on your next renewal date, not immediately. If you upgrade to a higher tier, you may receive a prorated credit toward your next bill depending on your region.

What payment methods does Square Enix accept?

Most regions accept credit cards and PayPal. Some regions also accept Crysta, a prepaid currency you can buy through retailers or online. Check Mog Station for the payment methods available in your region.