Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. Guides

How to play The Sims 4 for free

Sam Hill
By

The Sims 4 is now completely free on most platforms. You can play the base version of the iconic life simulator on PC (via the EA app, Origin, and Steam), PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Develporer EA recently revealed that the next Sims title is in development, although it's still a few years away from being released.

“This is the future of The Sims, built on a foundation of charming Sims, powerful tools, and meaningful stories,” VP of Franchise Creative for The Sims Lyndsay Pearson said of the in-development game. “This future requires us to stay true to what The Sims has always been while pushing to evolve how those Sims think and behave, to push tools even further when creating and customizing, and to explore innovative ways to not only tell stories but to collaborate on those stories or creations with your closest friends across your favorite devices.”

Until then, you can play The Sims 4 all you want. EA promises to continue supporting the game and says, “Our team is more dedicated than ever to developing new and meaningful The Sims 4 experiences for our players and we will continue to develop and release packs, kits, and Sims Delivery Express drops into the foreseeable future.”

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

10 minutes

What You Need

  • EA account

  • PC, Mac, Playstation, or Xbox

Further reading

A crowd of Sims attends an in-game musical festival.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to play The Sims 4 for free on PC or Mac

The Sims 4 is always going to be best played on a computer (you just can't beat keyboard and mouse). The game is available on both PC and Mac. The process on each platform will look a tad different, but it's pretty similar.

Step 1: Go to the EA website to download and install the EA app (if you're on PC) or Origin (if you're on Mac), or on Steam.

Step 2: Log in to or create a new EA account through the platform of your choice. There are a few ways to sign-up through another account like Google, Facebook, or Steam to save time.

EA App sign-in screen on PC
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Related

Step 3: Search for The Sims 4 using the search bar, click on the title, and then click the Download button.

Sims 4 in the EA app.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 4: Choose where you'd like to install the game on your device. Unless you have custom folders, you can just click Next down at the bottom of this screen.

Sims 4 installation on PC.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 5: Once the game is installed, you'll be able to launch in using whatever platform you downloaded it through.

A group of Sims has fun at a bach party.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to play The Sims 4 for free on a console

Downloading and installing The Sims 4 on the console is simple on Xbox and Playstation.

All you have to do is find The Sims 4 in the store on your console and press Download. The game is completely free now, so it will install immediately and be ready to play without any charges to your account.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Sam Hill
Sam Hill
Gaming Guides Editor
Sam Hill is a journalist and the gaming guides editor at Digital Trends. He's also written tech guides for Input and has…
The most common PSVR 2 problems and how to fix them
A PSVR2 headset on a sky-blue background.

The hype around PSVR 2 has largely died off just a year after its launch, though there's no denying it’s a cool piece of tech. Making big strides from the original PSVR, the latest headset from Sony offers better graphics, improved tracking capabilities, and introduced the world to the sleek new Sense controllers, which make it easier than ever to interact with your virtual world.

But, like all new pieces of tech, PSVR 2 isn't without its issues. From faulty Sense controllers to blurry images, here's a look at the most common PSVR 2 issues and how to fix them. Many of these steps will also work with PSVR, though note the menu navigation might be slightly different.
Your Sense controller isn't working properly

Read more
How to increase fps and smooth gameplay on your PC
Graphics card in the Alienware Aurora R16.

Modern PC gaming is a true sky-is-the-limit world that never rests. New gaming hardware and accessories (and games!) are being released all the time, but one thing you definitely don’t want to ignore are your drivers and gameplay settings. Believe it or not, one adjustment to something as innocuous-sounding as “frame rate” could make all the difference the next time you fire up Call of Duty.

Read more
Sims 4 cheats: all cheat codes for PC, Xbox, PS4, PS5, and more
A shot of Sims dressed in Western-style clothing, performing a line dance. One Sim in a red shirt is sitting down at a piano, playing music.

The Sims 4 is proving to be quite the popular life simulator, and a great addition to the long-running Sims series. But when you’re always running out of money, or can’t get that item you’ve been dying to utilize, inputting a cheat code or two can make things a little easier, and much more fun (especially if you’ve been struggling). Fortunately, EA — the game’s developer — realizes how fun using cheat codes can be, and has triumphantly stood behind these Sims 4 modifications. 

Whether you’re playing the game on a PC, PlayStation 5, or other console, we’ve rounded up all the cheats you’ll need to know for The Sims 4. We’ll be sure to update this post as new codes are added. 
How to enable cheats in The Sims 4

Read more