What you pay for a Final Fantasy XIV subscription
Final Fantasy XIV charges a monthly subscription to play the game after you buy the base edition. The subscription cost depends on which plan you choose: the Starter plan, the Standard plan, or the Complete plan. Each tier unlocks different features and character limits.
You can also pay for a subscription in longer chunks — three months, six months, or twelve months at once — which usually costs less per month than paying monthly. The exact dollar amount varies by region and currency, and the company adjusts prices periodically, so you should check the official Mog Station (the account management site) for current rates in your area.
A free trial exists that lets you play the base game without paying, but it has restrictions on character creation, gil (in-game currency) limits, and social features. The trial never expires, though you cannot progress past a certain point in the story.
Key Takeaways
- Three subscription tiers exist — Starter, Standard, and Complete — each with different character slots and housing access, priced differently by region.
- You can pay monthly or commit to three, six, or twelve months upfront, with longer commitments usually costing less per month.
- The free trial lets you play the base game indefinitely but blocks you from certain story content, character creation options, and social features.
- Your subscription covers access to all expansions released so far once you own them, not just the base game.
Starter plan: one character, limited housing
The Starter plan is the lowest-cost subscription tier. It gives you one playable character per data center (the servers are grouped into data centers by region). You can create characters on multiple data centers if you want, but only one per data center.
Starter plan subscribers cannot own a house or apartment in the game's housing districts. You can join a Free Company (the game's guild system) and participate in most group content, but you cannot create a Free Company yourself. You also cannot use the retainer system to its full capacity — retainers are NPCs that hold items and sell things on the market board for you, and Starter subscribers get fewer retainers and less storage space.
The Starter plan is meant for players who want to try the game seriously but do not need multiple characters or housing yet. If you upgrade to a higher tier later, you keep everything you earned on your character.
Standard plan: eight characters, personal housing
The Standard plan costs more than Starter but gives you eight character slots per data center instead of one. This matters if you want to play different classes or jobs without deleting a character, or if you want to experience the story from different perspectives.
Standard subscribers can purchase a house or apartment in the game's housing districts, though houses are limited and often unavailable. You can also create and lead a Free Company, and you get more retainers and storage space than Starter subscribers. Most players who plan to stay in the game long-term choose Standard.
Complete plan: unlimited characters, all housing types
The Complete plan is the highest tier and includes everything in Standard plus unlimited character slots per data center. You can also own a Free Company house (the largest housing type), whereas Standard subscribers can only own personal houses or apartments.
Complete is mainly for players who want to run multiple characters seriously, manage a large Free Company, or straightforward want every feature unlocked. The price difference between Standard and Complete is significant, so most players do not need it unless they are very active in the game's community or roleplay scene.
What your subscription covers and what it does not
Your subscription covers access to the game client, all expansions you own, and the servers themselves. Once you buy an expansion (Heavensward, Stormblood, Shadowbringers, Endwalker, or Dawntrail), your subscription lets you play that content. You do not pay per expansion after you own it.
Your subscription does not cover cosmetic items, battle pass-style seasonal rewards, or the in-game cash shop. Those cost extra gil (earned in-game) or Mog Station crystals (bought with real money). The game does not force you to buy these — they are purely optional and do not affect gameplay power.
If your subscription lapses, you cannot log in, but your character and items stay on the server. You can resubscribe at any time and pick up where you left off. The company does not delete inactive accounts.
How to set up and manage your subscription
You manage your subscription through Mog Station, the official account website. You create a Square Enix account, link it to your Final Fantasy XIV license (which you get when you buy the base game), and then add a payment method.
You can change your subscription tier, pause it, or cancel it anytime through Mog Station. If you cancel, your subscription runs until the end of the current billing period — it does not cut off when ready. You can also set up auto-renewal or turn it off so you have to manually renew each month.
Payment methods vary by region but typically include credit cards, PayPal, and regional payment systems. Some regions also allow subscription codes that you can buy from retailers instead of entering a card number.
Free trial limits and when to upgrade
The free trial lets you play through the entire base game story and reach level 60 in any job. You can join Free Companies, run dungeons with other players, and experience most of the game's core systems. The trial has no time limit.
The trial blocks you from: owning a house or apartment, creating a Free Company, using the market board to sell items (you can buy), trading with other players, using the retainer system, and accessing any expansion content. You also cannot have more than one million gil at a time.
You should upgrade to a paid subscription when you finish the base game story and want to play Heavensward (the first expansion), or when you want to own housing, create a Free Company, or play multiple characters. If you are still in the base game and happy with one character, the trial is fine indefinitely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play Final Fantasy XIV without paying anything?
Yes. The free trial covers the entire base game and never expires. You cannot access expansions or own housing, but you can reach level 60 and experience the main story. Many players stay on the trial for months.
What happens if I cancel my subscription?
Your subscription runs until the end of the current billing period, then stops. Your character and items remain on the server. You can resubscribe anytime and log back in with everything intact.
Do I have to buy each expansion separately?
Yes. The base game, Heavensward, Stormblood, Shadowbringers, Endwalker, and Dawntrail are separate purchases. Once you own an expansion, your subscription covers access to it. The subscription itself does not include expansions.
Can I change my subscription tier mid-month?
Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade through Mog Station anytime. If you upgrade, you pay the difference for the remainder of the month. If you downgrade, the change takes effect at the next billing cycle.
Is the subscription the same price everywhere?
No. Prices vary by region and currency. Check Mog Station for the exact cost in your area. The company also adjusts prices occasionally, so the amount you pay may change over time.