Verified access answer
Path of Exile 1 is free to play. Path of Exile 2 is still sold as Early Access on its official site as of August 11, 2026; Grinding Gear Games states that buying a supporter pack grants access. Do not use 'Path of Exile is free' as evidence that Path of Exile 2 costs nothing today.
Start with Path of Exile 1 when budget is the priority or when you want the mature endgame and years of accumulated systems. Choose Path of Exile 2 Early Access when its slower combat, newer campaign and active-development state are the specific attraction, and you accept paying to test a game that is not yet at full release.
Path of Exile 1 vs Path of Exile 2
| Question | Path of Exile 1 | Path of Exile 2 Early Access |
|---|---|---|
| Access today | Free to play | Paid Early Access through an eligible purchase/supporter pack |
| Development state | Established live game with seasonal leagues | Active Early Access with systems and balance still changing |
| Combat feel | Faster, denser and built around mature build acceleration | More deliberate movement, dodge and encounter reading |
| Content maturity | Large campaign and endgame history | New campaign and evolving endgame |
| Best for | Budget-first theorycrafters who accept complexity | Players who want the newer combat model and accept change |
| Main caution | Overwhelming legacy systems | Early Access price and instability |
The games share the same studio and action-RPG DNA, but they are separate products with separate progression. Treating Path of Exile 2 as a graphical update creates the wrong expectation about pace, access and build learning.
Which game is actually free?
Path of Exile 1 can be downloaded without an entry fee from the official client or Steam. Optional purchases include cosmetics and account conveniences such as stash tabs. The game is playable without buying a campaign or expansion, but serious long-term trading and inventory management can make selected stash features valuable.
Path of Exile 2's official Early Access page currently says access is available through a supporter-pack purchase. Regional price, taxes and pack contents can differ, so this article does not freeze a dollar amount. Open the official access page immediately before buying and verify that the selected product explicitly grants Early Access.
Combat and difficulty
Path of Exile 1 rewards planning a build that eventually clears large groups at speed. Its difficulty often lives in knowledge: damage layers, defenses, crafting, league mechanics and the consequences of passive-tree choices. The action can become extremely fast after a build comes together.
Path of Exile 2 puts more visible weight on movement, attack commitment and boss patterns. That can feel clearer to an action-game player, but 'slower' does not mean easier. Early Access balance can change the value of skills and items, so a build guide tied to one patch should not be treated as permanent advice.
Campaign, endgame and resets
Path of Exile 1 is the mature choice when the volume of available systems is the selling point. Seasonal leagues provide fresh economies, while permanent modes preserve characters under the game's current migration rules. New players should learn the campaign and one simple build before studying every league mechanic.
Path of Exile 2's official Early Access page describes an evolving campaign, character classes, skill system and endgame. Early Access means features may be incomplete, replaced or rebalanced. Buy for the game that exists now, not for an assumed full-release date or a feature promised by a third-party summary.
Build complexity
| Learning task | Path of Exile 1 | Path of Exile 2 approach |
|---|---|---|
| First character | Use a current beginner build if respec anxiety matters | Expect active balance changes and verify the guide's patch |
| Skills | Gems plus support and item-link knowledge | A redesigned gem system with its own constraints |
| Defenses | Multiple layers and many historical mechanics | Still demands layered defenses, with newer presentation |
| Economy | Mature trade language and seasonal market | Evolving Early Access market and item values |
| Guide freshness | League number must match | Patch and Early Access version must match |
A good beginner guide explains why a choice works. Avoid copying a passive tree or item list whose patch is unclear. Both games punish stale build advice, and Path of Exile 2 changes faster because it is still in Early Access.
Monetisation and stash tabs
Neither comparison is improved by pretending convenience has no value. Path of Exile 1 is free to enter, while stash tabs can materially improve organisation and trade for a committed player. Delay that decision until you understand which currencies and items you actually keep.
For Path of Exile 2, separate the purchase that grants current Early Access from points or cosmetics included in the pack. Compare pack contents on the official page, then value access first. Do not buy a larger pack because the included points make the total look efficient before you know whether the combat fits.
A practical decision path
| Your situation | Start here | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| You want to spend $0 | Path of Exile 1 | The full entry path is free today |
| You have never played a complex ARPG | Path of Exile 1 with a beginner build | No purchase risk while testing the studio's design |
| You specifically prefer deliberate combat | Path of Exile 2 Early Access | Its combat direction is the reason to pay |
| You dislike unfinished systems | Path of Exile 1 | Early Access is an explicit mismatch |
| Your friends already chose one version | That same version | Characters and progression are separate |
Fit: both games suit players who enjoy repeated character planning, loot evaluation and seasonal learning. Not a fit: skip both if you want a short fixed campaign, easy respec experimentation with no research, or offline play.
FAQ
Will Path of Exile 2 be free at full release?
Grinding Gear Games has historically described Path of Exile 2 as moving to free-to-play at full release, but the actionable fact today is that the official site still sells Early Access. Do not plan a purchase around an unconfirmed release date.
Do purchases and characters carry between the games?
They are separate games with separate characters and progression. Check Grinding Gear Games' current account and microtransaction guidance for any eligible shared purchases; never assume every item transfers.
Is Path of Exile 1 obsolete?
No. It remains a distinct live game with a mature content base. A newer sequel does not erase the value of the free original, especially for a player who wants its faster endgame and established systems.
Final recommendation
Play Path of Exile 1 first unless you can name the Path of Exile 2 feature that justifies paying for Early Access. The original is the financially safer complexity test. Buy Path of Exile 2 only for its current combat and current content, with the expectation that an Early Access game will change.
