Fortnite costs nothing to download. Epic Games makes money from cosmetic items, such as outfits and emotes, and from passes. The in-game currency is called V-Bucks. The ESRB rating notes In-Game Purchases, so it is worth knowing the rules. All facts below were checked on October 9, 2026 and can change.
Key takeaways
- You can play without paying. Purchases are optional and cosmetic.
- Item Shop purchases can be cancelled within 24 hours if the item is unused.
- Passes, pass levels and gifts are not refundable under Epic's rules.
- Epic's parental controls offer a PIN and limits, but console and phone store payments need separate settings.
What V-Bucks and the Battle Pass are
V-Bucks are the currency used in the Item Shop and for the Battle Pass. The Battle Pass is a seasonal reward track. This season the headline character is Sonic the Hedgehog. Press reported that the Battle Pass price rose from 950 to 1,000 V-Bucks in December 2024. Check the current price in the game before you buy, as we could not confirm it on an Epic page today. Fortnite Crew is a monthly subscription, listed at $11.99 on the Epic store.
Refunds and gifts
| Item | What Epic says |
|---|---|
| Item Shop purchase, within 24 hours | Can be cancelled if you have not used or equipped it. One cancel per item. |
| Item Shop purchase, within 30 days | May use a Return Ticket. Accounts start with 3 and earn 1 per year, up to 3. |
| Passes and pass levels | Not refundable |
| Gifted items | Not refundable |
| Purchases inside creator islands | Not refundable |
Real-money purchases made through a console or phone store go through that platform's refund process.
Spending controls to turn on
- Open the Epic parental controls portal and set up a PIN.
- Turn on the PIN for Epic payments. This does not cover PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, Steam or app store payments, so also set limits on those platforms.
- Check the setting for paid random items, where it is available in your region.
- Know that players who say they are under 13 get a $100 daily limit on Epic payments.
Talk about it
Agree on a budget, or use gift cards with a set amount. Remind teens that nobody needs to buy anything to enjoy the game.
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