World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that has been attracting gamers for over 16 years. WoW has a large and loyal player base, and new players are constantly joining the ranks.
One of the most common questions that new players ask is, “How much does it cost to play World of Warcraft?” The answer to this question can be a bit complicated, as there are several factors to consider.
In this article, we’ll explore all possible expenses that you can have.
Here’s a quick summary of the expenses that you should expect:
Base version of the game:
- Starter Pack: free (up to 20 level).
- WoW Dragonflight: from $29.99.
Monthly subscription fee: $12.99-$14.99 per month.
New Expansions when released:
- The War Within:
- Base Edition: $49.99.
- Heroic Edition: $69.99.
- Epic Edition: $89.99.
In-game shop spending (optionally):
- Character Boost: from $60.
- Mounts: from $15.
- Pets: from $10.
- Transmogs: from $8.
Boosting Services (optionally):
- Raiding: from $11 per run.
- Mythic Plus: from $6 per run.
- PvP: from $6 per 100 rating.
- Gold: from $6 per 500k.
Free Alternative: private servers.
What do you need to buy to start playing WoW?
To begin your adventure in World of Warcraft, the good news is that you can start playing without making any initial purchases. WoW offers a free-to-play experience up to level 20, allowing new players to explore the game’s rich world and mechanics at no cost.
- You can start your free trial here: https://us.shop.battle.net/en-us/product/world-of-warcraft-free-trial
- You can download World of Warcraft: https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/start
This free trial offers a glimpse into the Azeroth’s mechanics, and storylines, allowing new players to experience the beginning stages of adventure and character development before deciding on an entire commitment.
WoW Subscription Cost
Once you’ve decided to explore the WoW universe deeper, the next step is to buy a subscription.
It costs $12.99-$14.99 per month.
This subscription is your gateway to everything WoW has to offer, including leveling characters beyond level 20 and accessing a vast amount of content up to the latest expansion.
Active WoW Subscription is also the only requirement to get access to the official servers of the following games:
- WoW Classic;
- Cataclysm Classic;
- Classic Season of Discovery;
- WoW Classic Hardcore.
| Subscription Option | Price per Month | WoW Access | Classic Access | Exclusive Mounts & Pets | Trader’s Tender | Special Notes |
| 12-Month Offer | $12.99 | ✔️ | ✔️ |
|
500 | Reduced rate, most benefits |
| 6-Month Offer | $12.99 | ✔️ | ✔️ |
|
✖️ | Includes dynamic flight mount |
| 3-Month Subscription | $13.99 | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | Higher monthly cost, full access |
| 1-Month Subscription | $14.99 | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | Standard rate, basic access |
All options include access to the latest WoW and Classic content, along with the Auspicious Arborwyrm mount with a dynamic flight feature. Longer-term subscriptions provide additional exclusive mounts and in-game currency benefits.
How Much is World of Warcraft Retail?
While the subscription unlocks the bulk of the content, the most current expansion (also known as WoW Retail), which introduces the latest zones, quests, and features, requires a separate purchase.
For instance, if you want to explore the locations (including new raids, dungeons, and top-level PvP content) introduced in the Dragonflight DLC, you’ll need to buy it in addition to maintaining your subscription.
Where to buy World of Warcraft?
We recommend to buy WoW on specialized platforms like G2A. Prices there are often lower than in the original battle.net store, and you can still purchase Epic and Heroic editions of Dragonflight there which allows you to get the following benefits:
- Level 60 character boost,
- Tangled Dreamweaver mount,
- Murkastrasza Pet,
- Timewalker’s Hearthstone Effect,
- Diadem of the Spell-Keeper Head-slot Transmog,
- Wings of Awakening Back-slot Transmog,
- 30 Days of Game Time.
| Edition | Region | Price |
| Dragonflight (NA) | NORTH AMERICA | $28.95 |
| Dragonflight (EU) | EUROPE | $37.45 |
| Dragonflight Epic Edition (NA) | NORTH AMERICA | $51.03 |
| Dragonflight Heroic Edition (NA) | NORTH AMERICA | $31.39 |
Blizzard sells World of Warcraft Dragonflight for $29 in their official store.
When a new World of Warcraft expansion is released, it brings a fresh wave of content, including new storylines, zones, quests, dungeons, and sometimes, new character classes or races.
The War Within is the next expansion that will be published (the release date is the end of August 2024), so when the time comes, you will need to buy it as well. Here are the prices for this DLC if you buy it at battle.net:
- Base Edition: $49.99.
- Heroic Edition: $69.99.
- Epic Edition: $89.99.
Possible Additional Purchases While Playing WoW
While playing World of Warcraft, besides the subscription and expansions, you might consider purchasing additional in-game items and services to enhance your gaming experience:
- WoW Gold: Essential for in-game transactions like repairing gear or buying items from the auction house. While you can earn gold through gameplay, you can also purchase it from third-party sites like Gamingcy, starting at around $6 for 500k. Alternatively, Blizzard offers WoW Tokens, which you can buy for real money (around $20) and sell in the in-game Auction House for gold.
- Blizzard Shop Goods and Services:
- Character Boost: Skip the leveling process with a Character Boost (approximately $60), instantly elevating a character to the max level.
- Character Customization: Change your character’s name ($25), transfer them to another server ($25), switch their race ($25), or even change their faction ($30).
- Toys and Transmogs: These cosmetics start at about $5 for toys and $8 for transmogs, allowing you to customize your character’s appearance or entertain with playful in-game items.
- Mounts: Ranging from $15 and up, mounts are both functional and cosmetic, providing faster travel and unique styles.
- WoW Boosting Services: For those looking to progress faster or with more ease:
- Raid Boosts: A Normal+Heroic raid bundle to access the latest PvE content can cost from $21 at Gamingcy.
- Mythic Plus Runs: Gear up by completing higher-difficulty dungeons, with runs starting at about $6 each.
- PvP Assistance: Improve your 2v2/3v3/Solo Shuffle/RBG ratings with help starting from $6 per 100 rating points.
Purchasing these services can save time and enhance enjoyment but choose reputable providers to ensure account safety.
Quick Summary
To calculate the potential costs of playing World of Warcraft, let’s consider the basic expenses and optional additional purchases one might make throughout a gaming year:
Basic Expenses
- Base Game: Free starter version up to level 20.
- Current Expansion: $29.99 (one-time purchase for the latest expansion like Dragonflight).
- Subscription Fee: $12.99 to $14.99 monthly. For a year, this would range from $155.88 to $179.88.
- New Expansion: Assuming one new expansion per year, prices range from:
- Base Edition: $49.99.
- Heroic Edition: $69.99.
- Epic Edition: $89.99.
Optional Additional Purchases
- In-Game Shop Spending:
- Character Boost: Starting at $60.
- Mounts: Starting at $15.
- Pets: Starting at $10.
- Transmogs: Starting at $8.
- WoW Boosting Services (from third-party providers):
- Raiding: Starting at $21 per run.
- Mythic Plus Dungeons: Starting at $6 per run.
- PvP Ratings: Starting at $6 per 100 rating.
- WoW Gold: Starting at $6 per 500k (Gamingcy) or WoW Tokens for $20 (Blizzard).
- Private Servers: Free to play but not officially supported and can vary greatly.
Annual Summary
- Low-End Estimate: Basic subscription ($155.88) + current expansion ($29.99) + new expansion base edition ($49.99) = $235.86.
- High-End Estimate: Includes max subscription cost ($179.88), new expansion epic edition ($89.99), and additional costs for mounts, pets, boosts, and more, which can easily add several hundred dollars depending on the frequency of purchase and services used.
Potential Total Range for One Year of Play
- Without Optional Purchases: $235.86 to $269.86.
- With Optional Purchases: The total could exceed $1,000+ if frequently buying boosts, mounts, pets, and other services throughout the year.
Keep in mind that these costs can vary based on individual playstyle, frequency of purchases, and any special deals or bundles that Blizzard may offer. Additionally, prices may differ for players in various regions due to exchange rates and local pricing strategies.
