The FFXIV free trial lets you play A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, Stormblood and Shadowbringers up to level 80, with no playtime limit and no purchase required. That is hundreds of hours of story, but social and economy features such as the Market Board, Free Companies and most chat channels stay locked until you buy the full game.

Below we cover what the trial includes, every major restriction, which platforms support it, how to start and the mistakes new players make. All details were checked against Square Enix's official free trial page and terms in October 2026.

Official Final Fantasy XIV screenshot of a party in combat
The Final Fantasy XIV free trial covers the base game and its first three expansions. Image: Square Enix

What the FFXIV free trial includes

Square Enix expanded the trial on April 28, 2026, adding Shadowbringers and raising the cap from 70 to 80. According to the official free trial page, you get:

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  • Story: all content from A Realm Reborn through Shadowbringers, up to patch 5.58.
  • Jobs: every class and job from those expansions, including Gunbreaker, Dancer and the limited job Blue Mage, all playable to level 80.
  • Races: the Shadowbringers update also made female Viera characters available to trial players.
  • Group content: dungeons, trials and raids through the Duty Finder, plus Duty Support, which lets you clear story dungeons with NPC allies.

What it does not include are the Endwalker and Dawntrail expansions, or the upcoming Evercold. Once your jobs hit 80, experience stops, but everything up to that level stays playable.

FFXIV free trial restrictions

The official free trial terms list the limits. These are the ones you will notice most:

  • Gil cap: 300,000 gil per character.
  • Economy: no Market Board, no trading with other players, no retainers and no Moogle delivery letters (messages from the Mog Station and Online Store still arrive).
  • Chat: the shout, yell and tell channels are blocked.
  • Social: you cannot create or join a Free Company, and you can join Linkshells only if invited.
  • Parties: you cannot form a party, but you can join one by invitation or through the Duty Finder.
  • PvP and Ultimates: Crystalline Conflict, Frontline, Rival Wings and Ultimate raids are unavailable.
  • Other: no official forum or Companion app, no Lodestone community features, and up to eight characters per physical data center.

Square Enix says it may change these restrictions at any time, so check the terms page if something does not work as described.

Official Final Fantasy XIV screenshot of an adventurer exploring a city
Free trial players can explore every area up to Shadowbringers, but the Market Board stays locked. Image: Square Enix

How to start the FFXIV free trial

  1. Create a Square Enix account that has never been registered with any version of the game.
  2. Download the trial. The official download page lists Windows, Mac, PS5/PS4 (PlayStation Store) and Xbox Series X|S (Microsoft Store). On Switch 2, the trial is listed in the console's eShop.
  3. Launch the game, choose Square Enix Account Holder, sign in with your trial account and let it patch.
  4. Pick a Preferred World when creating your character to get beginner bonuses such as extra EXP.

Storage is the main thing to plan for. The Windows installer asks for at least 26 GB free before patching, but the fully patched game is much larger; on Switch 2, the trial download is about 108 GB. If you are unsure about your hardware, our guide on how to know if your PC can run a game walks through the official requirements.

Official Final Fantasy XIV screenshot of a dungeon battle
Duty Support lets FFXIV free trial players clear story dungeons with NPC allies. Image: Square Enix

Who the FFXIV free trial is best for

The trial is ideal for story-focused players and anyone curious about MMOs. A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, Stormblood and Shadowbringers are mostly experienced through quests, dungeons and trials, and none of the restrictions block the main story. Duty Support means you can even clear story dungeons alone if you are shy about grouping with strangers.

It is a weaker fit if you mainly want endgame raiding, PvP, crafting for profit or a guild from day one. The Market Board, Free Companies and PvP modes are exactly what the trial locks, so players chasing those activities will hit the wall quickly and should plan on buying the full game. Returning players with an old account also cannot use the trial, since it only works on accounts that have never owned the game.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using an account you already played on. The trial only links to accounts never registered with the game, and buying any version ends trial eligibility on every platform.

Expecting to play with friends easily. Since you cannot form parties or use tells, ask a friend with the full game to invite you, and play on the same data center.

Hoarding gil. You cannot hold more than 300,000, so spend it on gear and upgrades as you go instead of letting it pile up.

Rushing past A Realm Reborn. The early story is slow, but the trial has no time limit, so there is no reason to skip it.

Official Final Fantasy XIV screenshot of a scenic landscape
There is no time limit on the FFXIV free trial, so you can play at your own pace. Image: Square Enix

FFXIV free trial FAQ

Is the FFXIV free trial really unlimited?

Yes. There is no playtime limit; the only cap is level 80 and the content listed above.

Do I keep my character if I buy the game?

Yes. Square Enix says characters and data created in the trial carry over to the full game, which then requires a subscription to keep playing.

Is it worth starting before Evercold?

If you are curious, yes. The FFXIV Evercold release date is February 23, 2027, which leaves time to work through the free story and decide. For the bigger picture on cost and time, read whether Final Fantasy XIV is worth playing in 2026.