Can You Play Animal Crossing: New Horizons Online for Free?

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: February 6, 2023

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!

Question 1 of 5:

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

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?

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]
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- 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?

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]
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- 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.

Question 4 of 5:

Can I play Animal Crossing on PC or Mac?

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]
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Question 5 of 5:

Are there Animal Crossing games with free online features?

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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