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GTA Online
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Grand Theft Auto Online
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Official Trailer
GTA Online is the standalone multiplayer mode of Grand Theft Auto V, where up to 30 players share Los Santos in a persistent open world. Build a criminal empire from nothing, buy businesses, run heists, race supercars, and dominate in PvP combat.
With regular content updates, weekly bonuses, and billions in lifetime revenue, GTA Online is one of the most successful live-service games ever made.
What is the current GTA Online event?
Business Rivalries runs from 3 to 30 September 2026 in four weekly windows, one per business type: Executives, Bikers, Gunrunners, then Nightclub owners. Each week gives away a property and pays GTA$1,000,000 for its weekly challenge, and finishing one challenge before 23 September unlocks a free Penaud La Coureuse with the Hao's Special Works upgrade. This week's free property, bonuses and discount are in our Business Rivalries week-by-week guide, updated every Thursday. Everything else live this week is in our GTA Online weekly update, and each weekly rotation has its own page: the podium car, the Gun Van stock, the Salvage Yard robberies and the Time Trials.
Best Business in GTA Online 2026, the Money Guide
The most profitable businesses in GTA Online in 2026 are the Agency (passive income from security contracts), the Nightclub (combines all business stock into one sale), and the Acid Lab (high payout for minimal effort). For active grinding, the Cayo Perico Heist still offers the best solo money, about $910,000 for the Pink Diamond and $400,000 to $616,000 for the other targets, in roughly 45 minutes. The key is combining passive income from multiple businesses with active heist runs: own a Nightclub linked to your MC businesses, a Bunker, and a Special Cargo warehouse for a well-rounded income stream.
Fastest Cars in GTA Online, Best Vehicles Ranked
The fastest car in GTA Online by measured top speed is the Grotti Cartuccia GT, at 139 mph (223.7 km/h), ahead of the Grotti Veleno GT at 138.75 and the Bravado Banshee GTS at 138. Around a lap the Benefactor BR8 is quickest, at 0:54.555. For combat and freemode the Toreador and the Oppressor Mk II remain the usual picks. Our full vehicle rankings break down every car by top speed, lap time, and combat utility so you can make the right purchase.
Is GTA Online Free to Play?
No, not permanently. GTA Online is included with every copy of GTA V, and on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S it is also sold on its own as GTA Online Standalone, without the story mode. On console you also need PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass to play online. Rockstar regularly opens free trials on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S that need no subscription: from 11 to 17 November 2025, then from 14 to 20 July 2026 with the Kortz Center Heist. After a trial, Rockstar's support page says you need GTA Online Standalone to keep playing, and that GTA+ members can also play it through the GTA+ Games Library. Once you own it, Shark Cards are optional: everything can be earned in game, and our weekly update page lists the current bonuses.
Frequently Asked Questions about GTA Online
What is the best way to make money in GTA Online?
The best money strategy combines the Cayo Perico Heist for active income (its Pink Diamond target pays $910,000 since the 14 July 2026 cut) with passive businesses: a Nightclub linked to MC businesses, a Bunker, and a Special Cargo warehouse. Our best businesses guide compares what each one earns an hour.
What is the fastest car in GTA Online?
By measured top speed the Grotti Cartuccia GT leads, at 139 mph (223.7 km/h), ahead of the Grotti Veleno GT at 138.75. Around a lap the Benefactor BR8 is quickest, at 0:54.555, and with Hao's upgrades the Bravado Banshee GTS reaches 172.5 mph. Our fastest cars page ranks the top fifteen on measured tests.
What should I buy first in GTA Online?
Buy the Kosatka submarine first ($2.2M). It unlocks the Cayo Perico Heist, the best solo money maker. Then buy an Agency for passive income, followed by a Nightclub and MC businesses. Avoid buying supercars, clothes, or weapons until your income is established.
Are Shark Cards worth buying?
Shark Cards give you instant GTA$ but offer poor value compared to earning money through gameplay. Since March 2022 GTA Online is also sold without Story Mode on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S: our GTA Online price comparison compares the key with the official price. The Megalodon Shark Card (8,000,000 GTA$ on PC, 10,000,000 on console, 74.99 EUR on the PlayStation Store and 57.89 EUR as an Xbox code, the cheapest in stock on 13 September 2026) takes about nine Cayo Perico runs to earn. If you value your time, a starter card can help, but our money guides can get you earning fast without spending real money.
Is GTA Online free?
No, not permanently. It comes with GTA V or as GTA Online Standalone on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and consoles also need PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass. Rockstar runs occasional free trials without a subscription, the latest from 14 to 20 July 2026.
Are there cheat codes for GTA Online?
No. GTA V's cheat codes only work in story mode, on PC as on PlayStation and Xbox, and there is no money cheat either. Mods and cheat menus used online can get an account banned. The codes that do work are on our GTA 5 cheat codes page.