Can You Play Animal Crossing Online for Free? Your Questions Answered

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Multiplayer, Nintendo Switch Online subscription & more!
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There's no question about how fun Animal Crossing is sometimes, no matter what your favorite thing to do in-game is! You've probably heard that the online features cost money, though, and are wondering if you really have to pay. Or, maybe you don’t have a Switch right now and want to know if you can play Animal Crossing in your browser. Since we know it's easier to earn Bells than real-life money, we've gathered the answers to your questions about playing Animal Crossing online for free!

Can I play Animal Crossing online without a subscription?

You can’t play Animal Crossing: New Horizons online without a subscription. If you want to play the game with long-distance friends, you must have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, which costs $3.99 a month.

Question 1 of 5:

Can I play Animal Crossing: New Horizons online for free?

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  1. How.com.vn English: Laptop showing Animal Crossing : New Horizons being played by two players - Jane Smith and Mark Robinson.
    No, but most gameplay features don't cost money. If you want to play Animal Crossing: New Horizons with long-distance friends or family, exchange custom designs with other players, or explore their Dream Worlds, you’ll need to pay for a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. You don't need to pay money just to play the game or install updates, though.[1]
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Question 2 of 5:

Can I play ACNH with friends for free?

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  1. How.com.vn English: Yes, you can play multiplayer if you’re all in the same physical location.
    On Animal Crossing: New Horizons, there are two multiplayer modes for players without an online subscription: Party Play and Local Multiplayer. Neither of these require Nintendo Switch Online, and they both support up to four players at once.[2]
    • Party Play is for players who play Animal Crossing on the same Switch. You’ll need your own controllers, but you can play split-screen with each other. (It’s a good option for family members.)
    • Local Multiplayer is for players who all have Animal Crossing on their own individual Switch. You’ll need to be in the same room to play together, but you don’t need to share controllers or screens.
Question 3 of 5:

How much is a Nintendo Switch Online subscription?

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  1. How.com.vn English: A one-person subscription is between 4 and 13 US dollars a month.
    Nintendo Switch Online lets you play quite a few games online, including Animal Crossing—but it does cost money. A one-month subscription is $3.99 USD a month ($47.88 per year); a three-month subscription is $7.99 a month ($31.96 a year); and a one-year subscription is $19.99 per year.[3]
    • The subscription will automatically renew itself by default. If you don’t want to renew your subscription, you’ll need to cancel automatic renewal through your Nintendo eShop account.
    • If you use your Switch regularly and would play online often, it’s cheapest to get the yearlong membership. If you don’t play for weeks or months at a time, though, the one- or three-month membership (without automatic renewal) might make more sense.
    • You can also get a weeklong free trial, but you can only use it once.
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Question 4 of 5:

Can I play Animal Crossing on PC or Mac?

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  1. How.com.vn English: No; there are no Animal Crossing computer games.
    Unfortunately, Animal Crossing doesn’t have an official computer or browser edition. Some people have created third-party emulators, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll work properly or be free of viruses.[4]
Question 5 of 5:

Are there Animal Crossing games with free online features?

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  1. How.com.vn English: Yes!
    Don’t despair if you can’t get a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. The mobile version of Animal Crossing, called Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, can be played online for free; all it needs is internet. If your friends have the game on their phones, too, you can add each other and play together.[5]
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  • Question
    Can you play Animal Crossing on a computer for free?
    How.com.vn English: Ruby
    Ruby
    Top Answerer
    No. The only Animal Crossing game you can play for free is Pocket Camp, which is available as a mobile app. There are optional real-money purchases, but they aren't necessary for the game.
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      About This Article

      How.com.vn English: Aly Rusciano
      Co-authored by:
      How.com.vn Staff Writer
      This article was co-authored by How.com.vn staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Aly Rusciano is a Creative Writer based outside of Nashville, Tennessee. She has over ten years of experience in creative, academic, and professional writing. Aly’s writing has been nationally recognized in the Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle and featured in Blue Marble Review, The Sunshine Review, PopMatters, and Cathartic Literary Magazine. She graduated from The University of Tennessee at Martin with a BA in English, focusing in Creative Writing and minoring in Theatre. This article has been viewed 46,256 times.
      1 votes - 100%
      Co-authors: 9
      Updated: March 20, 2024
      Views: 46,256
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 46,256 times.

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