Is The Sims 4 free?
Yes, the base game is free. The packs, kits, and expansions cost money.
EA made the base game free on October 18, 2022. The official Sims 4 page still says “Play for Free” today. This post explains what “free” includes, what it does not include, and how to start without paying.
What does the free Sims 4 include?
It includes the base game. EA says that additional content needs a separate purchase.
You can make Sims, build houses, and live a long game with them. Steam describes the game as a sandbox where you customize every detail, from the Sims to the homes.
EA announced the free base game for new players. Players who bought the base game before October 18, 2022 received the Desert Luxe Kit as a gift.
What does The Sims 4 cost extra?
Everything beyond the base game costs extra. EA sells it in four forms.
Expansion packs
These are the largest and the most expensive. They add new worlds and new systems. Steam lists them at the highest price of all the content types.
Game packs
These are smaller than expansions. They add one theme. Steam lists them below the price of an expansion pack.
Kits
Kits are the cheapest. They add clothes, furniture, or build items in one style. The EA page names the Mean Girls and Clueless Capsule Kits and the Coach RePurposed Capsule as recent releases.
Stuff packs
EA also sells stuff packs. They add objects and clothes. The EA announcement of October 2022 lists the Toddler Stuff Pack as an example.
Steam shows over 114 content items for the game. We do not print prices, because they change. Open the store page to see the current price of each item.
What did players get when The Sims 4 became free?
Players who owned the game got a gift. Everyone who owned the base game received the Desert Luxe Kit. TheGamer says the kit has indoor and outdoor furniture inspired by the Southwestern desert.
EA Play members received the Get to Work expansion pack. EA Play Pro members received Get to Work and the Toddler Stuff Pack. These gifts came with the change on October 18, 2022.
The change did not remove the old business. EA kept the packs. TheGamer describes kits as themed cosmetic content, and expansions as larger content that adds deeper play, such as High School Years.
Where can you download The Sims 4 for free?
You can download it on PC, Mac, PlayStation, and Xbox. EA’s page lists these stores: the EA app on Windows and Mac, the PlayStation Store, the Xbox Store, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.
You need an EA Account. The Steam page says that the game requires an EA Account linked to Steam, an internet connection, and the EA client software.
Pick the store that you already use.
Does EA Play make The Sims 4 cheaper?
It gives you one pack for a subscription fee. The EA Play Edition includes the Get to Work expansion pack. The EA Play Pro Edition includes Get to Work and the Toddler Stuff Pack. EA announced this in 2022.
Steam also lists EA Play as a subscription, with a monthly and a yearly price. We did not check if the subscription adds more packs today. Read the EA Play page before you pay.
For most players, the free base game is the better start. Buy one pack that you will use. Do not subscribe only for one pack.
How do you play The Sims 4 without spending money?
Download the base game, and ignore the store pages. The game works fully without any pack.
- Install the base game from one store.
- Create an EA Account.
- Play for a week.
- Write down what you miss.
- Buy a pack only for that need.
Step 4 is the important one. A pack list is long, and a player who buys by impulse spends more than a player who buys by need. Wait until the game shows you a gap.
If you lose a Sim and need to fix it, read how to bring a Sim back to life. Some methods need a pack. Others work in the base game.
Are there free games like The Sims 4?
The Sims 4 is the only game on this list with a free base game from a major studio. The others are paid.
| Game | Base cost | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|
| The Sims 4 | Free | Packs and kits |
| inZOI | Paid once, in Early Access | Check the Steam page |
| Paralives | Paid once, in Early Access | None. The studio promises no paid DLC. |
| LifeSim | Free, in the browser | None. No in-app purchases. |
Compare the two paid games in inZOI vs The Sims 4. See the Paralives release date for the third.
Will the free Sims 4 get new content?
EA says yes. In the announcement, EA said that the team would “continue to develop and release packs, kits, and Sims Delivery Express drops into the foreseeable future.”
That sentence is from 2022. It is not a promise with an end date. Check the EA page for the current news before you plan a long game.
The base game itself is free. The new content that EA describes is mostly paid content. Plan for this. A player who plays for years will see many new packs, and each pack has its own price.
How do you avoid paying by mistake?
Read the store page before you press the buy button. A free base game and a paid pack can appear on the same page. Steam lists the base game as free, and it lists over 114 content items next to it.
Check the name of each item. The type is part of the name: expansion pack, game pack, stuff pack, or kit. The type tells you the size, and the size tells you the price.
Turn on the purchase protection of your console or your store account. Children who play on a shared device can spend money by mistake. A password for each purchase stops this.
Last, keep your EA Account and your store account in order. The Steam page says that the game needs an EA Account linked to Steam. Use one account for every platform, so your game stays together.
Where does LifeSim fit?
LifeSim is free too, and it has no packs. It is a different game. There is no house to build. You live one life on a real map of Earth and talk to the people you meet.
Play The Sims 4 if you love to build and steer a family. Try LifeSim if you love conversation. The full comparison is in LifeSim vs The Sims.
Questions
Is The Sims 4 free on Steam?
Yes. The Steam page lists the base game as free to play.
Is The Sims 4 free on PlayStation and Xbox?
Yes. The EA announcement lists both consoles.
Is The Sims 4 free forever?
We found no end date. EA says it will release packs and kits for the foreseeable future.
Is there a free trial of the packs?
We found none. EA Play gives some packs to subscribers.