Is ESEA Pay to Play? A Thorough Breakdown of ESEA‘s Offerings for CS:GO Players
Hey there! As a long-time CS:GO player and data analyst, I‘ve used various third-party matchmaking services over the years. In this post, I‘ll provide an in-depth look at ESEA – one of the most popular options for competitive play. My goal is to give you all the details you need to decide if ESEA is right for your needs. Let‘s dive in!
What is ESEA and Why Does it Matter?
Founded way back in 2003, ESEA (E-Sports Entertainment Association) is one of the oldest esports companies still operating today. While they host leagues and ladders across various titles, ESEA is best known for their CS:GO offering.
The ESEA League stands as one of the largest and most prestigious open CS:GO tournaments worldwide. Every season they hand out over $230,000 in prize money, spread across divisions in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and more.
Beyond tournaments, ESEA also provides matchmaking pugs (pick-up games) through their proprietary anti-cheat client. This client uses cutting edge tech to protect matches from cheaters and hackers.
In the CS scene, ESEA‘s leagues and pug system are seen as a step up from regular Valve matchmaking. The level of competition is higher and there are cash prizes on the line!
Breaking Down ESEA‘s Membership Options
Now, here‘s the catch – ESEA is not free to use. You have to purchase an account subscription to access their services:
ESEA Premium
- Price: $9.95 per month or $24.95 for 3 months
- Features: Access to ESEA matchmaking pugs and ranking system
ESEA League Pass
- Price: $14.95 per month or $29.95 for 3 months
- Features: Includes Premium + eligibility for all ESEA leagues and tournaments
There are also 6 month and 12 month subscription options available. Bottom line, you need Premium at minimum to use ESEA‘s matchmaking and client. League Pass is required if you want to compete in leagues.
Do you need BOTH Premium and League Fees?
Yes, unfortunately there are two separate payments required:
- Premium or League Pass membership
- League fee for the division you are playing in
Current league fees are:
- ESL Challenger: $39.95
- Advanced: $29.95
So for a player in Advanced division, the total cost would be $29.95 (League Pass) + $29.95 (Advanced fee) = $59.90 for 3 months access.
| Division | League Fee |
|---|---|
| ESL Challenger | $39.95 |
| Advanced | $29.95 |
Step-by-Step Guide to Signing Up for Leagues
Don‘t worry, signing up and paying fees is straightforward when you know the steps:
- Purchase Premium or League Pass membership
- Go to ESEA League Registration Page
- Select the division you want to play in
- Provide payment for league fee to complete registration
Payments are made conveniently online through ESEA‘s payment system. Paid league fees are non-refundable, so make sure you can commit before signing up!
If you ever accidentally pay twice or have duplicate charges, ESEA support can refund the extra payment. Just open a support ticket.
Can You Use ESEA 100% Free?
Unfortunately, there is no way to access ESEA‘s matchmaking or leagues for free. You need an active paid membership subscription (Premium or League Pass).
ESEA does have one free tier called "Insider" but this only provides access to news, rankings and stats. Insider members cannot actually play on any ESEA game servers.
So in summary – no, you cannot use the ESEA client or play matches without paying for Premium or League Pass. Free alternative services like Faceit are better if you don‘t want to pay.
How Does ESEA Stack Up Against Faceit and Others?
ESEA isn‘t the only game in town when it comes to third party CS:GO matchmaking. Let‘s see how it compares to some alternatives:
Popularity and Player Base
Faceit has the largest player base of any third party service, in large part because it‘s free to play. ESEA‘s paywall means their community is smaller. However, ESEA still maintains active leagues and pug servers, especially in North America and Europe.
If you want the absolute biggest matchmaking pool, Faceit is better. But ESEA has enough players for quality games.
Anti-Cheat and Cheater Prevention
Both ESEA and Faceit invest heavily in anti-cheat technology. However, the consensus seems to be that ESEA‘s AC is stronger overall.
The ESEA client runs at kernel level on your computer, giving it more ability to detect injected cheats or manipulation. Players feel ESEA matches have significantly fewer cheaters compared to Faceit and matchmaking.
Matchmaking Quality
Due to its smaller player base and pay wall, the average skill level on ESEA is higher than Faceit. Players take matches more seriously since they paid to play.
Don‘t get me wrong – Faceit has amazing players too. But ESEA is more likely to guarantee solid teammates and opponents each game.
Leagues, Tournaments and Prizes
ESEA‘s leagues are larger in scope and more prestigious than Faceit‘s smaller tournaments. Well over $200,000 in prize money is distributed each season across divisions.
If you want to compete in a serious team environment, ESEA is the clear choice. Faceit has cups and ladders but nothing close to ESEA leagues.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of ESEA
As with any service, there are both benefits and drawbacks to using ESEA:
ESEA Pros
- Very effective anti-cheat technology reducing hackers/cheaters
- Higher average skill level compared to free alternatives
- Large open leagues with prize pools to compete in
- Established reputation and history in CS:GO esports
- Detailed player statistics and analysis
ESEA Cons
- Paywall restricts access unlike free options like Faceit
- Smaller player base than some competitors
- Some negative sentiment still from bitcoin mining incident (see below)
- Can be a toxic environment at times
Overall, I think ESEA is worth it if you‘re a highly competitive player who wants to play in organized team leagues. Casual players or those watching their budget are probably better off with Faceit or matchmaking.
The ESEA Bitcoin Mining Controversy
Now I do have to mention the ESEA bitcoin mining scandal from 2013. It was discovered that ESEA was using customer‘s computers to mine bitcoins without consent through their client. They mined over $3,700 worth of bitcoin before getting caught.
While claimed to be an April Fool‘s joke gone wrong, this breach of trust damaged their reputation significantly. However, after apologies and accountability, ESEA has largely recovered from the incident.
I recommend closing the client when you‘re not using it just to be safe. This controversy does still get brought up but doesn‘t seem to be an ongoing issue.
ESEA Merging with FACEIT – What Does It Mean?
Late last year, ESEA‘s parent company ESL Gaming merged with FACEIT under the new parent company Savvy Gaming Group. So far both brands continue to operate independently, but the merger allows them to combine technology.
Anti-cheat development seems to be a key focus of this new megapower in competitive gaming. It‘s expected that FACEIT and ESEA leagues may eventually merge or consolidate as well.
For now the two services remain separate, but this partnership means exciting things for the future of both platforms!
Playing ESEA with VAC or Game Bans
Since ESEA servers have VAC enabled, accounts with VAC bans cannot play on ESEA. Game bans will also prohibit you from competing in ESEA leagues or pugs.
Unlike Faceit which allows banned accounts in some cases, ESEA has a zero tolerance policy. Don‘t risk a ban unless you plan to say goodbye to ESEA!
Comparing FACEIT and MM Ranks
If you‘re new to FACEIT, their levels can be confusing compared to matchmaking ranks. Here is an approximate conversion:
- Silver 1 to Gold Nova 2 = FACEIT Levels 1-3
- MG1 to MGE = Levels 4-6
- DMG to LEM = Levels 7-9
- Supreme to Global Elite = Level 10
So a Level 7 FACEIT player is likely around DMG to LEM in Valve competitive. Level 10 players are highly skilled, similar to top tier matchmaking ranks.
Getting Started with ESEA
If you decide to give ESEA a shot, here are some tips:
- Go to ESEA.net and create an account
- Purchase a Premium or League Pass subscription
- Download and install the ESEA client on PC
- Disable client when not using to avoid potential mining
- Find the ‘Gift Subscription‘ option to purchase for friends
- Manage your gifted subs under Account Settings
I‘d recommend starting with 1 month Premium to test it out. Make sure to verify ESEA is right for you before purchasing longer terms.
The Bottom Line – Is ESEA Worth It for You?
So in summary, while ESEA costs money, it provides a highly competitive environment for serious CS:GO players. The anti-cheat technology is excellent, reducing shady business you find in regular matchmaking.
The leagues and prize pools take the game to the next level. If you have the cash to spend and want to play at a higher tier, ESEA is an amazing service.
But more casual players may be better off saving their money and using Faceit or matchmaking instead. Evaluate your own needs and budget to decide if ESEA aligns with your goals.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to help new players understand the complex CS:GO landscape. Whether you choose ESEA or not, I wish you the best on your road to CS excellence!