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How much does iRacing cost? What do you need to play the Sim?

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If you’re into sim racing, you’ve probably already heard of iRacing. It’s by far one of the best racing sims available at the moment with an enormous collection of cars and tracks. iRacing also has one of the best online communities in sim racing.

Players are divided into license classes on the basis of their safety rating, and splits are determined depending upon players’ iRating. This way the game ensures fair competition.

However, all this does not come cheap. As good as iRacing is, it can be quite expensive and complicated to run. In this article, we’re breaking down the cost of playing iRacing.

Note that all prices mentioned in the article are in USD. Depending upon where you live, you might have different prices in your local currency. We’re also assuming you have a PC powerful enough to run iRacing. 

Updated: How much does iRacing cost? Is it a viable proposition? 

How much does iRacing rig cost?

Before you get started with iRacing, you’re going to need a proper wheel setup to play the sim. Now you can play it on a keyboard or gamepad if you wanted to, but you’ll only be ruining your and other people’s experiences. 

Also keep in mind that every mistake is heavily punished in iRacing, therefore having the correct control options is important.

How much does iRacing cost? What do you need to play the Sim?

One of the best entry-level wheels you can pick up is the Logitech G29, G920 which are available starting US$300 or the Thrustmaster T150  or the T300 which would also be available around $350-400. 

You can get wheels for much cheaper as well, but we don’t recommend going below the G29. If you’re looking for a bit of a mid-range option, you can also get the T300 Pro from Thrustmaster that comes in around $450-500 and comes with a better pedal set.

If you’ve got more cash, you could go all-in with a direct drive wheel from the likes of Fanatec which would set you back over $1000.

Also read: Logitech G29 vs Thrustmaster Ferrari Red Legend Edition

How much does iRacing subscription cost?

Unlike most games, iRacing comes at a subscription instead of a one-time purchase. You can get the game through iRacing’s website or Steam. New members get a hefty discount on most days. 

At the time of writing, there’s a 40% discount going on the official iRacing site. If you were to get a subscription, it would set you back about $7.80 for a month, $19.80 for three months, $66 for a year or $119.40 for two years. Compare that to the regular price of $13, $33, $110 and $199, respectively, and you’ve got yourself a great deal.

How much does iRacing cost? What do you need to play the Sim?

If you’re looking for the most value, we recommend getting a two-year plan, especially if it’s as heavily discounted. Of course, you can try out the game for a month and then get a longer plan but you will be missing out on the discount.  

If you’re looking to buy iRacing from Steam, you have the choice between a monthly, six-month and annual plan which will cost you $9.99, $39.99 and $74.99, respectively. 

However, do keep in mind that pricing at Steam can change drastically during its numerous sales.

Also read: How to use your phone as a dashboard for iRacing?

How much do iRacing tracks and cars cost?

When you get an iRacing membership, you get 16 cars and 22 tracks. However, as you make your way up the ranks you’ll realise that you’re going to have to spend money on more cars and tracks as the more advanced leagues don’t use the free content.

It’s not an absolute requirement though. You can totally get away with not buying anything else other than the membership (I have). However, if you’re looking to make the most out of the sim, you’re going to have to spend a bit extra.

How much does iRacing cost? What do you need to play the Sim?

This content is a one-time purchase and stays with you as long as your membership does. The cars cost $11.95 and the tracks either $11.95 or $14.95. Some legacy cars and tracks, which were previously included with the membership now come for an extra $2.95 and $4.95, respectively. 

There’s also a bulk discount that gets you 10% off when you buy three or more cars or tracks and 15% off when you buy six or more cars or tracks. If you purchase 40 or more cars or tracks, you get a 40% discount on all purchases and if you own everything, you’ll be able to avail a 30% discount on all new releases.

What’s the total cost to play iRacing?

So if you were to go for the very basic setup, it would cost you $300 for the Logitech G29 and $9.99 for a month of the iRacing Steam membership, making the total cost  $309.99 for the first month.

From then on, it’s all about what subscription package you have. We’ve been using the monthly package but the annual or the two-year packages will get you the best deals. 

ItemCost
Wheel – G29$300
iRacing subscription (Steam)$9.99
Total cost to play iRacing for the first month$309.99

Also read: iRacing vs Assetto Corsa vs DiRT Rally 2.0

Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah is a Computer Science graduate who writes/edits/shoots/codes all things cybersecurity, gaming, and tech hardware. When he's not, he streams himself racing virtual cars. He's been writing and reporting on tech and cybersecurity with websites like Candid.Technology and MakeUseOf since 2018. You can contact him here: yadullahabidi@pm.me.

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