For those of you who are just starting out in the world of CSGO, the most common question that pops up is “Is CSGO free?“. The more accurate question is Yes. Counter-Strike Global Offensive is a free-to-play game. Anyone can simply download CS:GO from Steam. And immediately start to play.
However, the question “Is CSGO free?” can also be answered another way, as there is a paid version of the game. But don’t worry, this doesn’t mean that the free version is trash.
In fact, you might be surprised by what you’re about to read below.
Is CS GO Free? – The Best Answer
Yes, Counter-Strike Global Offensive is a free first-person shooter game that can be downloaded from the Steam store. However, it also includes something called a Prime Status that you can pay for. Prime players can enjoy plenty of extra perks.
Let’s explore the main differences between the Counter-Strike Global Offensive free and the paid game modes.
CS:GO Free Version
The free Counter-Strike Global Offensive game mode gives you access to every type of matchmaking mode in the game except for Ranked Matchmaking and Wingman mode. Aside from this, you get access to everything else this Steam game has to offer.
In addition, you’ll also be able to play the CSGO battle royale game mode, Danger Zone, with the free version without any issues.
CS:GO Paid Version
Prime status players who pay for this feature will get access to exclusive weekly drops and instant access to Ranked Matchmaking. They will also be able to progress in Competitive Skill Groups, earn XP, and play Wingman whenever they wish.
How to Get CSGO Prime Status?
There are two ways to obtain Prime status in Counter-Strike Global Offensive. The first one is easier and much faster. However, it requires paying for it.
Follow these steps:
- Go through the CSGO free download process on Steam
- Open the CS:GO game page from the Steam store
- Click on “Add to Cart”
- Select “Purchase for myself”
- Proceed to payment
You can also get Prime Status without paying for it. This approach requires leveling up your account to level 21 by playing more games on community servers. This free path will, however, take quite some time.
How to Install CSGO for Free?
Now that you know the answer to the question, “Is CSGO free?“, let’s see how to install it.
You can download CSGO for free by heading over to the Steam store, typing in “CSGO” and clicking on the green button that says “Play Game”.
After this, an installation wizard will pop up. Complete the process and let the game download. Finally, all you have to do is launch the game from Steam and start playing.
⚠ Warning: Don’t download this free-to-play game from any other source other than Steam. There is a good chance you will get a message saying “CSGO download corrupt” and potentially even harm your computer.
How to Start Playing Counter-Strike Global Offensive?
Counter-Strike is extremely simple to start and set up. After you download CSGO, open it and you will see a dashboard that looks something like this: 👇
This button right here is where you can start playing CSGO.
It will show you all the different game modes you are currently able to play. Once you choose one, click on it and hit the green Go button at the bottom-right corner of the screen.
This button will let you find other existing players who are looking for someone to play with.
You can click on it and select which CSGO game mode you want to find a party for. Once you select one, it will go green until it finds new players.
How to Quickly Improve in CSGO?
The best way to improve in the game is by watching other, better Counter-Strike Global Offensive players. The most effective methods for this include:
- watching professional Twitch streamers,
- watching pro CSGO players in big tournaments,
- or watching your own match replays.
After you’ve played a match in CSGO, you will see a green “Download” button in the bottom right corner. This will allow you to download a replay of the match and view every angle to analyze your mistakes.
Sometimes, you may spot an error message saying “Download Incomplete” when trying to watch a replay. There is a simple CSGO download incomplete fix for this, and all it takes is clicking on the Delete button next to it and downloading the replay again.
Is CSGO Free? – Final Verdict
There is no doubt that CS:GO is one of the best free games to play. As you’ve seen here, getting started with CS GO is pretty straightforward. It was developed so that new players will have an easy time getting started and progress further through the ranks.
Hopefully, this guide was able to help you learn how to get started with CSGO. In addition, you can now explain to someone when they ask you, “Is CSGO free?“.
A true gaming enthusiast, especially Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Rust. At SkinsMonkey, he is involved in creating game guides based on his own experience.
