Is PUBG Free? BATTLEGROUNDS Plus Explained
November 9, 2026 · 6 min read
On this page
- What the free Basic account includes
- What BATTLEGROUNDS Plus adds
- How much BATTLEGROUNDS Plus costs in 2026
- How to upgrade to BATTLEGROUNDS Plus
- How to get BATTLEGROUNDS Plus without spending money
- G-Coin basics
- Plus alone won't get you into Ranked
- If you bought PUBG before it went free
- Is BATTLEGROUNDS Plus worth it?
- Frequently asked questions
- Is PUBG free to play?
- How much is BATTLEGROUNDS Plus?
- Do you need BATTLEGROUNDS Plus to play ranked?
- Can you get BATTLEGROUNDS Plus for free?
- Does BATTLEGROUNDS Plus still give G-Coin?
- Does BATTLEGROUNDS Plus give an advantage in matches?
- I bought PUBG before 2022. Do I have Plus?
Yes, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS is free to play on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It went free-to-play on January 12, 2022, and every new account starts as a free Basic account. The optional upgrade, BATTLEGROUNDS Plus, mainly unlocks Ranked, custom match hosting and a Survival XP boost. Since June 2026 it costs 500 G-Coin, or 20,000 BP that you earn by playing.
Last checked: November 9, 2026.
What the free Basic account includes
KRAFTON describes the Basic account as having access to "most in-game content." In practice, a free account can:
- Play Normal Matches in Solo, Duo and Squad, in third-person (TPP) or first-person (FPP)
- Play on whichever maps are in the current rotation for your region
- Join Arcade modes such as Team Deathmatch
- Practice in the Training Mode (Camp Jackal)
- Earn BP, level up and take part in events
You never have to pay to play the core battle royale. Plus matters only if you want the extra features below.
What BATTLEGROUNDS Plus adds
These are the benefits listed on the official BATTLEGROUNDS Plus page:
| Benefit | What it means |
|---|---|
| Ranked Matchmaking | Lets you queue for Ranked (you also need Survival Mastery level 80) |
| +100% Survival XP boost | Doubles the Survival XP you earn, so you level up faster |
| Create a Custom Match | Host your own private lobbies with your own settings |
| Create a clan | Start a clan and recruit other players |
| Mastery medals | Earn medals such as the Chicken Dinner medal for your profile |
Plus also gives you a few cosmetic items and features:
- Captain's Camo Hat
- Captain's Camo Mask
- Captain's Camo Gloves
- Survivor Base
- Customizable presets
None of these items affect gameplay. Plus doesn't give you stronger weapons or any other combat advantage.
How much BATTLEGROUNDS Plus costs in 2026
The price changed with Update 42.1, which reached PC on June 17, 2026 and consoles on June 25, 2026. Before that, Plus was a cash purchase. Now you pay with in-game currency instead.
| Before Update 42.1 | Since Update 42.1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12.99 cash purchase | 500 G-Coin or 20,000 BP |
| Bonus G-Coin | 1,300 G-Coin included | None |
| Items and benefits | Same as today | Unchanged |
KRAFTON said the goal was to lower the barrier to Ranked by letting players reach Plus through normal play. The trade-off is that the 1,300 bonus G-Coin is gone, so older guides that still mention it are out of date.
The real-money cost of 500 G-Coin depends on which G-Coin pack you buy and on your platform and region, so check the in-game store for your local price.
How to upgrade to BATTLEGROUNDS Plus
- Launch PUBG and stay in the main lobby.
- Select the PLUS Upgrade button in the lobby.
- Choose whether to pay with G-Coin or BP.
- Confirm the purchase. It's a one-time account upgrade, not a subscription.
KRAFTON lists Plus as permanently available, so you don't need to wait for a sale or event to buy it.
How to get BATTLEGROUNDS Plus without spending money
You can unlock Plus with 20,000 BP (Battle Points) instead of G-Coin. BP can't be bought with real money. According to PUBG Support, you earn it through play:
- Winning matches and placing well
- Eliminating players and dealing damage
- Completing missions, including Survivor Pass and Event Pass missions
- BP Boost rewards, which increase the BP you earn after a match
KRAFTON doesn't publish an average BP per match, and your earnings depend on how long you survive and how well you play. So the time it takes to save 20,000 BP varies a lot from player to player. Holding off on spending BP elsewhere until you reach 20,000 is the quickest free route.
G-Coin basics
G-Coin is PUBG's premium currency. If you plan to pay for Plus with G-Coin, these rules from PUBG Support are worth knowing:
- There are three kinds of G-Coin. Paid G-Coin is bought with money. Free G-Coin comes from events, Survivor Pass missions and some packages. Timed Free G-Coin is free G-Coin with an expiry date.
- They're spent in a fixed order. Timed Free G-Coin goes first (soonest expiry first), then Paid G-Coin, then Free G-Coin.
- Refund windows are short. An item bought with G-Coin can be refunded within 14 days if you haven't used it. A G-Coin purchase itself can be canceled within 7 days if the G-Coin is unspent. Free G-Coin can't be canceled.
To request either, submit a ticket to PUBG Support under Purchases / Refunds.
Plus alone won't get you into Ranked
Buying Plus is only one of the Ranked requirements. You also need:
- Survival Mastery level 80. You earn Survival XP in Normal Matches, and Plus's +100% boost gets you there faster.
- SMS verification in some cases. Depending on your platform and region, you may have to verify your account by text message before you can queue.
- A squad that qualifies. Every member of your party has to meet the requirements before matchmaking will start.
Our PUBG ranked guide explains the tiers, RP and the Ranked map pool.
If you bought PUBG before it went free
Players who bought the game before the free-to-play switch on January 12, 2022 were upgraded to BATTLEGROUNDS Plus automatically. They also received a bonus bundle, the PUBG – Special Commemorative Pack. If you owned the game back then, your account should already have Plus.
Is BATTLEGROUNDS Plus worth it?
It depends on what you play:
- Worth it if you want to play Ranked, host custom matches for friends or a community, or run a clan. Ranked is locked behind Plus, so there's no way around it.
- Not needed if you only play Normal Matches and Arcade. The Basic account already covers those, and Plus gives no combat advantage.
Since Plus can now be earned with BP, many players can skip spending money on it altogether. If you're new, play Normal Matches, learn the maps with our PUBG beginner guide, and save your BP. By the time you're close to Survival Mastery level 80, you may have enough BP to unlock Plus too.
Frequently asked questions
Is PUBG free to play?
Yes. PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS has been free to play since January 12, 2022, on PC and consoles. New players start with a free Basic account that includes most in-game content.
How much is BATTLEGROUNDS Plus?
Since Update 42.1 in June 2026, it costs 500 G-Coin or 20,000 BP. It used to be a $12.99 cash purchase that came with 1,300 bonus G-Coin, but that bonus was removed.
Do you need BATTLEGROUNDS Plus to play ranked?
Yes. Ranked Matchmaking is a Plus benefit. You also need Survival Mastery level 80, and some regions and platforms require SMS verification.
Can you get BATTLEGROUNDS Plus for free?
Yes, you can unlock it with 20,000 BP. BP can't be bought, but you earn it by playing, placing well, getting eliminations and completing missions.
Does BATTLEGROUNDS Plus still give G-Coin?
No. The 1,300 bonus G-Coin was removed from Plus with Update 42.1. The cosmetic items and all other benefits stayed the same.
Does BATTLEGROUNDS Plus give an advantage in matches?
No. Plus adds Ranked access, custom match hosting, clan creation, an XP boost, medals and cosmetics. It doesn't give you better weapons or stats.
I bought PUBG before 2022. Do I have Plus?
Yes. Accounts that bought the game before the free-to-play switch on January 12, 2022 were upgraded to BATTLEGROUNDS Plus automatically, along with a commemorative item pack.
