How to Download and Play The Sims 4 for Free (2023)

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The Sims 4 has become free to play! With millions of players and a vibrant community, The Sims 4 is an excellent game to build houses and even build your own virtual society.

If you're itching to get into the game, but don't want to shell out dollars for it, now's your chance. Here's how you can download The Sims 4 for free, no matter what gaming platform you're on.

How to Get The Sims 4 on Windows

EA Games first released The Sims 4 for Windows. The game launched in both disc and digital-only formats in 2014. However, many things have changed since then. To get The Sims 4, you must download the game using either Steam or the EA app.

Steam

How to Download and Play The Sims 4 for Free (1)
(Video) How to Download The Sims 4 on PC & Laptop for FREE - 100% Legal

Steam is one of the many apps and websites you can download games from. Consequently, it just makes sense for EA to make its games available there. Here's how you can get The Sims 4 on Steam.

  1. Launch the Steam app, type The Sims 4 on the search bar, and select the first result.
    How to Download and Play The Sims 4 for Free (2)
  2. On The Sims 4 page, click on Play Game. This will launch a new installation window.
  3. Follow through with the installation process. Once this completes, you can now start playing The Sims 4.

Aside from The Sims 4, you can also find several other fantastic titles on Steam. As long as you know how to find the best games Steam can offer, you won't ever be bored again. But if you don't have the app yet, here's how you can install Steam on your PC.

EA App

How to Download and Play The Sims 4 for Free (3)

If you're a fan of EA Games, you can download the EA app instead of Steam. You can also go this route if you're subscribed to Xbox Game Pass for PC or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, as it's included in the subscription—here's how to use the EA Play subscription on the EA app with Xbox Game Pass.

(Video) Sims 4 | Free Download Guide | Now Free to Play | Official Guide

But even if you don't have an Xbox subscription, you can still enjoy The Sims 4 via the EA App. Just follow these steps:

  1. Launch the EA app. On the search bar near the top of the window, type The Sims 4 and press enter.
    How to Download and Play The Sims 4 for Free (4)
  2. Click The Sims 4 result, then press the Download button.
  3. Once the download and installation are complete, press the Play button on The Sims 4 page.

With that, you can start enjoying The Sims 4 on your Windows PC through Steam or the EA app. But if you're on a Mac, don't fret. You can still play The Sims 4, but you have to use another EA service.

How to Get The Sims 4 on Mac

One quarter of a year after the original launch of The Sims 4, EA made the game available on macOS. Unfortunately, the game doesn't have a macOS version on Steam—and the EA app isn't available on Macs.

So, to get The Sims 4 on your Apple computer, you have to use Origin instead.

(Video) How To Download The Sims 4 Free | Free To Play On PC

  1. Download and install the Origin app on your Mac. Don't forget to give the app all the necessary authorizations after you open it for the first time.
  2. After logging in, click on the Search bar and type The Sims 4. Click the proper search result.
  3. On The Sims 4 page, click Add to Library. In the Added to your library window, click on Download with Origin.
  4. Once the download completes, go to My Game Library and click on The Sims 4. In the window that appears, click on Play.
    How to Download and Play The Sims 4 for Free (5)

With that, you can now enjoy making Sims and giving them their lives on your Mac for free.

How to Download and Play The Sims 4 on Xbox Series X|S

Although The Sims 4 is not available on the Xbox app on Windows PCs, you can find it on the Xbox console itself. Here's how to install The Sims 4 on your Xbox.

(Video) How To Download and Install Sims 4 For Free - Full Guide

  1. Go to the Store on your Xbox's home screen, and click Search.
  2. Type The Sims 4; you should see it on the Suggested results tab above your text entry.
  3. Select The Sims 4 game and press A on your Xbox controller.
  4. Choose Install on The Sims 4 page.
  5. Once the installation is complete, click on the Xbox button on your controller, and you should see the game listed under My games & apps.
  6. Click on the game, and you should be able to start playing The Sims 4 for free on your Xbox.

With that, you can start designing homes and building Sim families on your Xbox.

How to Download and Play The Sims 4 on PlayStation 5

If you've managed to get your hands on Sony's ninth-gen console, you could also get The Sims 4 for free. Here's how to get it on your PS5 console.

  1. On the PlayStation 5 home screen, navigate to the PlayStation Store.
  2. In the PlayStation Store, click on the Search Icon, and type The Sims 4.
  3. In the search results, click on The Sims 4 to open the game page.
  4. Once you're on the game page, choose Download.
  5. Once the download completes, you can start playing The Sims 4 from your library.

With that, you can start playing The Sims 4 on your PlayStation 5. Build the houses you want and make your Sims do things you can only imagine in real life right on your PS5 console.

Enjoy The Sims 4 for Free

The Sims 4 is an exciting and enjoyable game that allows players to exercise their creativity. And now that it's free-to-play, more people can jump into the fun. So, whether you're a PC enthusiast, a Mac devotee, an Xbox gamer, or a PlayStation fan, you can get The Sims 4 and be a part of SimNation.

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FAQs

Can I download Sims 4 for free? ›

Go to the Sims 4 store page to download the game for free.

Can I play Sims 4 on PC for free? ›

Sims 4 is now available as a free download on PC, PlayStation and Xbox game consoles. As EA announced in September, starting Oct. 18, 2022, new players can download Sims 4 for free. The life simulation game is available for PC via the EA app or Origin, on Mac via Origin, Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

Is The Sims 4 free forever? ›

The Sims 4 will be free-to-play permanently on PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X.

Why is Sims 4 free on Steam? ›

T he Sims 4 was made free to download from October 18, 2022. As part of a special live event to celebrate the change, EA Games also announced more about what's in the works and the future of The Sims, such as the upcoming game Project Rene. That game is still some way off, however.

How much does Sims 4 cost to download? ›

Tell your stories your way while developing relationships, pursuing careers and life aspirations, and immersing yourself in this extraordinary game, where the possibilities are endless. Download for free — The base game of The Sims™ 4 is free to download.

How much does it cost to download Sims 4 on computer? ›

Open your launcher and download for free!

Is Sims 4 still free on Origin 2022? ›

The Sims 4 will go free-to-play on 18th October 2022, EA has confirmed.

Is The Sims 5 coming out? ›

Excitingly, EA has confirmed Sims 5 (codenamed 'Project Rene') and the next generation that will follow on from the base game of The Sims 4.

Will The Sims 5 ever come out? ›

After plenty of rumours and speculation, The Sims 5 is official. It is being developed under the codename "Project Rene" and is still some way off from release, but the team behind it confirmed some details during The Sims Summit streamed online on 18 October 2022.

When did Sims 4 become free? ›

Should a new Sims player enjoy the base game, it's more than likely they'll want to fork out for an expansion or two – or three or four, depending on their proclivities and budget. If you've yet to jump into The Sims 4, keep an eye out on 18 October 2022, when the base game becomes free to download for all new players.

How much does Sims 4 cost on Origin? ›

FREE The Sims 4 on Steam and Origin - download and start playing now! The iconic life simulator is now free to play for everyone!

Should I download Sims 4 on Steam or Origin? ›

Actually I'd say getting it on Origin/EA App is better. The Steam version requires Origin anyway, furthermore the EA App is incompatible to Sims on Steam and using the Steam version of any EA game will prevent you from using the EA app if you care for that (EA App replaces Origin while Steam requires Origin).

Why is The Sims $5? ›

The Sims announced the discounted price for The Sims 4 earlier this week, taking to Twitter to reveal that its spring sale has started "a little earlier this year." Many believe the low price points are in response to the coronavirus outbreak, which is of course leaving us all cooped up at home.

Is the Sims still $5? ›

Whether you pick it up on Amazon or on EA's own digital storefront, Origin, the price remains the same $5. It's part of EA's annual spring sale, which the publisher is starting a little early this year due to the worldwide pandemic.

Is Sims 4 free on Epic Games? ›

The Sims 4 is free to download! Unleash your imagination and create a unique world of Sims that's an expression of you.

Can you install Sims 4 on a laptop? ›

What platform is The Sims 4 available on? The Sims 4 is now playable on PC, Mac Xbox One and Playstation 4!

Can you download Sims 4 on any laptop? ›

The Sims 4 is available for PC, Mac, as well as consoles like PlayStation 4, 5, and Xbox. In order to install The Sims 4 on a PC or Mac, you need to download the EA app on a PC or Origin app on Mac. You can also download the game from The PlayStation Store or the Microsoft Store on Xbox.

How long is The Sims 4 free trial? ›

You can now download The Sims 4 to your Origin Game Library and get 48 hours of Simming.

Can you play Sims 4 forever? ›

Whether on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC or Mac, you can play without restrictions and forever; and if you decide to add experiences, you can purchase the rest of the expansions and additional content.

Is Sims 4 online free? ›

Beginning on October 18, 2022, The Sims™ 4 base game will be available to all new players to download for free* on PC via EA app or Origin™, Mac® via Origin, Steam®, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One systems.

Does The Sims 4 expire? ›

Re: Will my Sims 4 game ever expire? if you bought the game (and didn't get it through Origin Access or Origin Access Premiere), the game will not expire. It's yours to keep.

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