With so many people playing Fortnite even in 2024, it's easy to get caught up in the hype. But does this really need to cost you money?
Fortnite free vs paid
Free battle royale game. Battle Royale pits the player against 99 other players, in a battle to be the last player standing. It includes Creative Mode, where players design islands, and Royal Party, a fun place to spend time. Paid Fortnite is a team game. The goal is to defend forts from monsters (husks).
Read on to learn more about free and paid Fortnite games and whether or not paying for Fortnite is worth it.
What is the difference between paid and free Fortnite?
Ultimately, Battle Royale is a free-to-play game, while Save the World (an online co-op adventure) is not. You will have to purchase Save the World like any other paid game, even if you have already installed Fortnite.
free
The free-to-play part of Fortnite is the Battle Royale game and all the casual modes that come with it. With Fortnite for free, you'll get:
- Battle Royale (including events): Battle Royale places the player on an island, where they will have to defeat other players (PvP, Player vs Player) to be the last man (or woman) standing
- Creative Mode: Players can build forts and design islands, and then host games for their friends
- Party Royale: A fun-filled island created for players to hang out with their friends, boat racing, dancing, and much more.
- Tournaments: A competitive version of Battle Royale. Players collect points for staying in the top 50, 25, 10 and 5, or for winning a match. Participants move through the levels, until they gain access to live professional tournament matches. Sometimes there are real cash prizes.
- Participate in the World Cup: Like tournaments, the World Cup allows players to compete against the best Fortnite players in the world. The start of the World Cup has a points system similar to regular tournaments.
- Watch: Players can watch matches their friends are playing from within their Fortnite accounts. Useful if you are taking turns playing in duos or teams, and don't want to miss the opportunity.
There are no cosmetics available, such as skins (the avatar or characters you play as, although there is a basic male and female skin) and gliders (parachutes to help you get off the plane; although a basic glider is provided). It's free, but there are occasional special events where you can get items by completing challenges. However, many of them are intended for Battle Pass holders only. The Battle Pass will cost you $7.99.
paid
The paid version of Fortnite is Save the World, a cooperative online PvE (player versus engine; you play against the computer) defense game. It's still fortified, and you can team up with your friends to literally save the world.
Save the World costs $39.99 for the Standard Edition and up to $59.99 for the Deluxe Edition.
Fortnite also offers V-Bucks, a cash shop currency used to purchase the Battle Pass and cosmetic items. Any of the Battle Royale cosmetics can be used in Save the World, with the exception of certain types such as gliders.
Is it worth paying to play Fortnite?
For some, paying for cosmetics isn't worth it, but if you have some spare cash and you really love playing Fortnite, why not? Fortnite: Save the World is an excellent co-op game, and Epic Games holds regular events for it, but it's best to wait until it goes on sale.
What is Fortnite: Save the World?
Save the World is a cooperative tower defense (or fort defense) game. You can explore maps to stock up on supplies and fight mummies (zombie-like creatures) to complete objectives.
As you progress through the game, the maps become more challenging, and new types of objectives are unlocked. You can collect heroes (similar to the skins found in Battle Royale), and there is a crafting component.
Save the World is updated regularly with new items and special events. Once you purchase the game, you will no longer need to spend a dime.
Can you play Fortnite without purchasing anything?
Battle Royale is completely free to play, and you don't need to purchase anything to play it. You'll have the same chances to compete (and possibly win), as everyone else, without spending a dime.
As for Save the World, you will have to purchase it to play it. However, after a one-time purchase of the game, you won't have to pay anything else.
Is Fortnite really free?
Battle Royale is 100% free to play, including Creative Mode and Party Royale.
Save the World costs $39.99, and V-Bucks costs $7.99 for 1,000 V-Bucks. The Battle Pass costs 950 V-Bucks, or $7.99.
What is the price of the paid version of Fortnite?
Save the World is priced at $39.99, and the Battle Pass for Battle Royale will cost you $7.99.
Is Fortnite free on PS5?
Fortnite: Battle Royale's base game is free on PS5, however, you'll need a Playstation Plus subscription to play online multiplayer games. Since both parts of Fortnite are online multiplayer games, Fortnite isn't truly free on PS5.
A basic Playstation Plus subscription costs $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year, but you get two free games per month, which you can keep as long as you have a subscription.
Is Fortnite free to play on PC?
Fortnite: Battle Royale is free on PC, although you'll need a reliable internet connection. Fortnite: Save the World costs $39.99.
Is Fortnite free on Xbox?
Battle Royale is free on Xbox, but you'll need Xbox Game Pass. Xbox game passes cost $9.99 or $14.99 per month. You get access to the Xbox game library, get four free games per month, and get all the games Microsoft distributes on release day.
You can also purchase Xbox Game Passes for PC.
Is Fortnite free on Switch?
Fortnite: Battle Royale is available for free on Nintendo Switch, but you can still purchase V-Bucks and items. The Battle Pass costs $7.99 or 950 V-Bucks.
To play online multiplayer games on Switch, you'll need to add friends to your Switch account, which is free. However, if you prefer to use online matchmaking in Fortnite, you'll need a Nintendo Switch membership.
A Nintendo Switch membership costs $3.99 per month, $7.99 for three months, and $19.99 for a year. You can also purchase a family membership for $34.99 per year. The Family Membership covers up to eight Nintendo Switch accounts.
Fortnite: Save the World is not available for Switch.
Is Fortnite free to play on mobile devices?
Battle Royale is free for mobile phones and tablets, but Save the World is not available. You can still purchase the Battle Pass ($7.99) and other cosmetic items for V-Bucks. We also want to remind you that Fortnite is one of the most hacked games, so you should not forget about cybersecurity. To avoid data leakage and protect yourself from DDoS attacks, it is best to install a VPN on your device.
Final thoughts
One difference between free Fortnite and paid Fortnite is whether or not you want cosmetics and the Battle Pass. However, the centerpiece of paid Fortnite is the co-op adventure game Save the World. If you want to check out Save the World, it'll cost you over $20, even on sale.
If you're not interested in playing Save the World, Fortnite is completely free to play. However, depending on the device you're playing on, you may need to pay for online multiplayer services.
Heavy Fortnite fans will likely find paying for the Battle Pass ($7.99) worth it, but casual players will likely keep their money.
Save the World is a good game, but it can get repetitive, and you'll need friends or online matches to get past the more challenging levels. It is better to buy this on sale. Maybe if you find yourself with some extra money after claiming a sign up bonus at a casino, you can enjoy a paid game of Fortnite.
