The FF14 Free Trial now covers four full games: A Realm Reborn plus the Heavensward, Stormblood and Shadowbringers expansions, up to level 80, with no time limit. Square Enix added Shadowbringers on April 28, 2026 with Patch 7.5. The catches are about other players and money: a 300,000 gil cap, no Market Board, no trading and no PvP.
Key takeaways
- The ffxiv free trial runs to level 80 with no time limit, and it includes Gunbreaker and Dancer.
- Endwalker, Dawntrail and the upcoming Evercold are not included.
- If your gil goes over 300,000, the extra is deleted. Spend it before you reach the cap.
- On PC, pick Steam or the standalone launcher before you make your account. You can’t switch later.
- Evercold (Patch 8.0) is reported for a January 2027 launch window, so there’s no reason to buy the full game early.
Fact-checked
We checked these key facts against the sources named, on November 10, 2026:
- FFXIV launched on Switch 2 on August 4, 2026 (source: rpgsite.net)
- The Switch 2 trial launched on August 4, 2026 (source: gematsu.com)
- There’s a 300,000 gil cap, and the Market Board, trading, retainers and PvP are all blocked (source: support.na.square-enix.com)
- The trial lets you play everything in Final Fantasy XIV Online from A Realm Reborn through the end of Shadowbringers (Patch 5.58) (source: siliconera.com)
- Xbox Series X|S (no Game Pass needed for the trial) When the game came to Xbox in 2024, Square Enix confirmed that the Free Trial doesn’t need a Game Pass plan (source: rpgsite.net)
FFXIV Free Trial in 2026: the short answer
The trial lets you play everything in Final Fantasy XIV Online from A Realm Reborn through the end of Shadowbringers (Patch 5.58). You can reach level 80 on every job those games include, and you can keep playing as long as you like. Nearly all the restrictions affect trading, chat and group features. The story itself is not limited.
The table below shows what changes when you start paying. It was last checked November 10, 2026, while the live game was on Patch 7.56.
| Feature | Free Trial | Full game (subscription) |
|---|---|---|
| Story content | A Realm Reborn to Shadowbringers (Patch 5.58) | Through Dawntrail (Patch 7.56) |
| Level cap | 80 | 100 |
| Time limit | None | Ongoing monthly subscription |
| Playable jobs | Every job up to Shadowbringers, including Gunbreaker and Dancer | Adds Reaper, Sage, Viper, Pictomancer |
| Gil | Capped at 300,000 per character | No cap |
| Market Board, trading, retainers | Blocked | Available |
| PvP | Blocked | Available |
| Parties | Can join, can’t form | Full access |
| Free Company | Can’t join | Full access |
| Chat | Can reply to /tell but not start one; no /shout or /yell | Full access |
| Characters | Up to eight per data center | Standard slots |
What’s included: four games through Shadowbringers
The trial includes the base game and its first three expansions, and every patch through 5.58 comes with them. Siliconera reported that Naoki Yoshida announced the change at the Fan Festival 2026 keynote in Anaheim. Square Enix’s press release for Patch 7.5 “Trail to the Heavens” says the trial includes all content from those four games.
Did you know?
According to Gameluster, trial accounts that already existed got Shadowbringers and the level 80 cap automatically when Patch 7.5 went live on April 28, 2026. Players didn’t have to do anything.
| Expansion | Level range | In trial? | Notable additions |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Realm Reborn | 1-50 | Yes | Base classes and jobs, crafting and gathering, the 2.x story through Patch 2.55 |
| Heavensward | 50-60 | Yes | Dark Knight, Astrologian, Machinist, flying mounts, Ishgard |
| Stormblood | 60-70 | Yes | Samurai, Red Mage, swimming and diving, Ala Mhigo and Doma |
| Shadowbringers | 70-80 | Yes (since Patch 7.5) | Gunbreaker, Dancer, 13 new dungeons, the First |
| Endwalker | 80-90 | No | Reaper, Sage |
| Dawntrail | 90-100 | No | Viper, Pictomancer |
| Evercold (8.0) | 100+ | No | Reported for a January 2027 launch window |
A Realm Reborn (levels 1-50)
A Realm Reborn is where every character starts, and it’s the slowest part of the game. The 2.x patch story that follows level 50 is required before Heavensward. New players often get stuck here and quit, so it helps to know it’s a long setup chapter before the main payoff.
Heavensward (levels 50-60)
Heavensward is where the story improves noticeably. It adds Dark Knight, Astrologian and Machinist, and it introduces flying in the new zones. Most long-time players say this is the point where the game wins them over.
Stormblood (levels 60-70)
This is where the old trial ended until April 2026. Stormblood adds Samurai and Red Mage, and the patch stories that follow lead straight into Shadowbringers. Many older guides and forum threads still describe a level 70 cap. That information is out of date.
Shadowbringers (levels 70-80): Gunbreaker, Dancer, 13 dungeons
Shadowbringers is the main reason to start the trial now. Gameluster reports that it adds the Gunbreaker tank and Dancer ranged job, plus 13 new dungeons. Both jobs start at level 60, so you can unlock them once your character is high enough and level them in the trial.
What’s not included: Endwalker, Dawntrail and Ultimates
Endwalker and Dawntrail are still paid content, according to Siliconera. That means trial accounts can’t play Reaper, Sage, Viper or Pictomancer. Ultimate raids are also out of reach, and so are PvP and anything that needs Market Board access. You can still run the level-capped Savage raids from these expansions through the Duty Finder or a party that invites you.
Free Trial history
| Date | Change | Level cap |
|---|---|---|
| Before Patch 5.3 | Trial covered only part of A Realm Reborn | 35 |
| August 2020 (Patch 5.3) | A Realm Reborn and Heavensward added, no time limit | 60 |
| April 2022 (Patch 6.1) | Stormblood added | 70 |
| March 2024 | Xbox Series X|S launch with a trial that doesn’t need Game Pass | 70 |
| April 28, 2026 (Patch 7.5) | Shadowbringers added; existing accounts updated automatically | 80 |
| August 4, 2026 | Switch 2 version launches with its own eShop trial | 80 |
Every Free Trial restriction, and how much it matters
The restrictions are there to stop spammers and gil sellers, not to keep you out of the story. If you’re playing solo for the story, you’ll barely notice most of them. If you want to join a guild or make money in the game, you’ll run into them quickly.
| Restriction | What’s blocked | Workaround | Impact for a story player |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300,000 gil cap | Any gil above the cap is deleted | Spend it before you reach 300k | Low |
| Market Board | Buying and selling | Buy gear from NPC vendors, or craft it | Medium |
| Trading | Direct trades with other players | None | Low |
| Retainers | Hiring retainers | Keep items in your inventory and the Armoury Chest | Low to medium |
| /tell | You can’t start a private message | You can reply to one you receive | Low |
| /shout, /yell | Area chat | Use /say and party chat | Very low |
| Parties | You can’t form a party | Join when someone invites you | Medium |
| Free Company | You can’t join one | Ask to join after you upgrade | High for social players |
| PvP | All PvP | None | Low |
| Web services | Lodestone, forums and companion app login | None until you upgrade | Very low |
Chat: /tell, /shout, /yell
You can use /say, party chat and replies, but you can’t contact strangers first. That answers a common Reddit question: “I think I read that I can’t chat with people or form parties?” Mostly true, but you can still talk. If a friend sends you a /tell, you can reply as normal.
Did you know?
Community reports on the GameFAQs FFXIV board say trial players can’t start a /tell, but they can reply to one. So a friend who has the full game has to message you first.
Parties, Free Companies and the Novice Network
You can join a party when someone invites you, but you can’t create one. Free Companies, the game’s guilds, don’t accept trial characters at all. That is the biggest social loss. For a lot of players the main thing that makes FFXIV feel like an MMO is a Free Company, with its shared buffs, chests and house.
Veteran's tip
Have a friend or a Novice Network mentor send you party invites. You can’t form a party yourself, but nothing stops you from joining a group someone else creates.
Economy: 300,000 gil cap, no Market Board, no trading, no retainers
Pulse and Icy Veins both list the gil cap, the Market Board block and the trading ban. Trials of Fantasy adds the retainer restriction. Without the Market Board, you get gear from dungeons, quests, vendors and your own crafting. In practice that’s enough, because story gear keeps you at the right item level.
PvP and endgame lockouts
PvP modes are blocked, including Crystalline Conflict and Frontlines. Current endgame starts at level 100 in Dawntrail, which the trial doesn’t include. The highest-level content you can play is Shadowbringers’ level 80 raids, trials and dungeons.
Account and web limits: Lodestone, forums, companion app
Trial accounts can’t log into The Lodestone, the official forums or the companion app. Square Enix limits these so they can’t be used for spam. If you were wondering why the companion app won’t log in on your trial account, this is the reason. It starts working after you upgrade.
Can you play the whole trial solo?
Yes, you can play almost all of the main story alone. The Duty Support system lets you fill main scenario dungeons with NPC party members, so you never need to queue with strangers for them. It’s slower than a human group, but nobody will complain if you don’t know the fight yet.
The parts that still need real players are 8-player trials and 24-player alliance raids. Some story chains require these, and you queue for them through the Duty Finder. Joining a queue is allowed because you aren’t forming the party yourself, so the trial doesn’t block you. Expect longer queues as a DPS than as a tank or healer.
Learn your role with NPCs first
Use Duty Support for your first dungeon as a tank or healer. The NPCs follow the mechanics, so you can learn the pulls without anyone watching.
So, are any dungeons locked if you have no one with you? No. Main story dungeons work with NPCs, and anything else can be run through the Duty Finder. Optional raids are easier with a group of friends, but they aren’t locked.
How to start the Free Trial on every platform
The trial is free on all platforms, but the account you sign up with decides where you can buy the full game later. Make that choice deliberately.
| Platform | Where to get it | Extra subscription after upgrading | Install size | Gotchas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows / Mac (standalone) | Official Free Trial site | FFXIV subscription only | Budget 100GB+ | Full game must be bought from Square Enix or a retail code |
| Steam | Free Trial listing on Steam | FFXIV subscription only | Budget 100GB+ | Locked to Steam purchases; Americas-region SE account required |
| PS4 / PS5 | PlayStation Store | FFXIV subscription (PS Plus not required) | Budget 100GB+ | PS4 and PS5 share one license |
| Xbox Series X|S | Microsoft Store on Xbox | FFXIV subscription plus a qualifying Game Pass plan | Budget 100GB+ | The trial itself doesn’t need Game Pass |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Nintendo eShop on console | Separate Switch 2 subscription paid in FFXIV Coins | About 108GB (trial) | Subscription doesn’t carry over from other platforms |
PC (standalone Windows/Mac launcher)
Quick steps: start the trial on PC
- Create a Square Enix Account set to your real region.
- Register for the Free Trial on the official site.
- Download the launcher and log in with your new account.
- Pick a data center close to you and create your character.
Steam: the Steam-lock warning
The Steam Free Trial is a separate store listing from the full game. When you log in for the first time, your Square Enix Account is linked to Steam permanently. The Steam listing also says this version only works with Americas-region Square Enix accounts.
Heads up
A Square Enix Account linked to Steam must buy the full game on Steam. You can’t move a Steam trial to the standalone version, and you can’t mix the two later.
People often ask whether a Steam trial can be upgraded to the non-Steam version. The answer is no. If you want to buy the game from the Square Enix Store, start the trial with the standalone launcher.
PlayStation 4 and PS5
Download the Free Trial from the PlayStation Store and log in, or create a Square Enix Account when the game asks. FFXIV has never needed PS Plus to play online. Your only ongoing cost after upgrading is the FFXIV subscription.
Xbox Series X|S (no Game Pass needed for the trial)
When the game came to Xbox in 2024, Square Enix confirmed that the Free Trial doesn’t need a Game Pass plan. The full game does. Microsoft has renamed its tiers since then (Core became Essential). Current store listings say you need an Essential, Premium or Ultimate plan in addition to your FFXIV subscription. So you don’t need Game Pass to play FFXIV on Xbox while you’re on the trial, but you will once you upgrade.
Nintendo Switch 2
FFXIV launched on Switch 2 on August 4, 2026. RPG Site reports that the trial is on the console eShop but not on the web storefront. The Switch 2 version has its own subscription, paid with FFXIV Coins. Nintendo Wire reports that if you also subscribe on another platform, the second subscription is 50% off. The free month that came with the Switch 2 launch ended September 7, 2026.
Region: the NA trial needs an American SE account
Trial clients are locked to regions. The North American trial only works with a Square Enix Account set to the Americas. Choose the right region when you create the account, because changing it later is not simple.
Veteran's tip
If you’re in the US, check that your Square Enix Account region says North America before you download anything. The wrong region is the most common reason a new trial login fails.
How big is the download?
Be ready for a very large install. RPG Site reports the Switch 2 trial at about 108GB, and the full game is around 117GB. That difference is small because the trial includes most of the game’s files. PC, PlayStation and Xbox installs are in the same range, and each patch adds more.
Some practical planning advice:
- Install to an SSD if you can. Loading screens and zoning are much faster.
- Leave extra space beyond the base install, because patches download before they install.
- On Switch 2, a microSD Express card or the internal storage are the realistic options for a game this size.
Gil cap survival guide
Any gil you earn above 300,000 is deleted, not saved for later. Trials of Fantasy confirms that gil over the cap is lost unless you spend what you hold first. If you’ve ever asked why your gil disappeared on the trial, that’s almost certainly what happened.
Here’s an example. You’re at 290,000 gil and you finish a story quest that pays 15,000. You end up at 300,000, and the other 5,000 is gone. That gets worse later on, because Shadowbringers quests and the daily roulettes pay out much more than early quests.
How to stay under the cap:
- Buy vendor gear for jobs you plan to level next.
- Spend gil on dyes and on vendor outfits for the glamour system, which unlocks during the story.
- Buy crafting and gathering materials from NPCs to level Disciples of the Hand.
- Buy mounts, minions and housing items sold by vendors for gil.
- Teleport whenever you want. Aetheryte fees are a small, steady way to spend gil.
Spend at 250k
Once you get to about 250,000 gil, start spending it on gear, glamour or crafting materials. That leaves room for a big quest reward without losing any of it.
Upgrading from the trial to the full game
Upgrading keeps every character, level and item you have. You buy the full game, register the code on the Mog Station (or let your platform store handle it), and your account switches from trial to paid.
What you get after upgrading
After upgrading, all trial restrictions are removed. You can use the Market Board, join a Free Company, hire retainers, play PvP and log into The Lodestone. You also gain access to Endwalker and Dawntrail if your edition includes them, along with the four jobs they add.
Which edition to buy
The Complete Edition includes the base game and the paid expansions through Dawntrail, so most trial players should buy that. A cheaper starter edition only makes sense if you want to remove the restrictions now and buy the expansions later. Make sure you buy on the right storefront: a Steam-linked account has to buy on Steam, and console players buy through their console’s store.
Evercold is sold separately.
Should you upgrade before Evercold?
For most new players, no. Play the trial, and upgrade when you reach the end of Shadowbringers or when the restrictions actually bother you.
Run the numbers. A common community estimate puts the free content at around 500 hours if you do side content. The main story alone through Shadowbringers takes most new players hundreds of hours. After that, Endwalker and the Dawntrail patch stories still come before Evercold. A new player starting in November 2026 is unlikely to reach the level 100 story by early 2027. Paying early gets you an unlocked Market Board, not a faster path to the new expansion.
One reader asked: “If I had to pay monthly fees at the rate I’ll be able to play, I wouldn’t touch this at all. Is the trial enough?” For you, yes. With no time limit, you can play a few hours a week for a year and never pay anything.
There is an honest counter-argument. If friends are already in a Free Company and want you to join, upgrade early. The Free Company is the social core of the game, and the trial blocks it completely. The same goes for anyone who wants to craft and sell on the Market Board. Players thinking about Switch 2 face a similar choice: play the trial first, then buy once you know you’ll keep going.
FAQ
How long is the FF14 Free Trial?
There’s no time limit. Your trial account never expires. The limit is on content: level 80 and the end of Shadowbringers.
What are the limitations of the FFXIV Free Trial?
There’s a 300,000 gil cap, and the Market Board, trading, retainers and PvP are all blocked. You also can’t form parties, join Free Companies, start a /tell, or use /shout and /yell. Lodestone, forum and companion app logins are blocked too.
Is there a free version of FF14?
The Free Trial is the free version. It covers A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, Stormblood and Shadowbringers with no time limit, and there’s no separate free-to-play version.
How many GB is the FF14 Free Trial?
On Switch 2 it’s about 108GB, according to RPG Site. Other platforms need a similar amount, so plan for more than 100GB of free space.
What level does the FFXIV Free Trial go to in 2026?
Level 80. It went up from 70 with Patch 7.5 on April 28, 2026. You can level every included job to 80, on up to eight characters per data center.
Does the FFXIV Free Trial include Shadowbringers?
Yes, since April 28, 2026. It includes all Shadowbringers content through Patch 5.58, plus Gunbreaker and Dancer.
Does the FFXIV Free Trial include Endwalker or Dawntrail?
No. Both are still paid. To get them you have to buy the full game, ideally the Complete Edition.
Can you play the FFXIV Free Trial on Xbox without Game Pass?
Yes. The trial doesn’t need any Game Pass plan. The full Xbox game does: you need a qualifying plan (Essential, Premium or Ultimate) on top of the FFXIV subscription.
Is the FFXIV Free Trial on PS5 and Switch 2?
Yes on both. Get it from the PlayStation Store for PS4 and PS5, and from the console eShop on Switch 2. The Switch 2 trial launched on August 4, 2026.
How do I get the FFXIV Free Trial on Steam?
Download it from the Free Trial listing on Steam and log in with an Americas-region Square Enix Account. That links the account to Steam permanently. From then on you’ll have to buy the full game on Steam.
How much will the level 80 cap affect gameplay?
For story players, hardly at all. You get four games’ worth of story at full level. The cap shapes your leveling and content access from the start, and the paid jobs have their own level requirements: Reaper and Sage require level 70, while Viper and Pictomancer require level 80.
