How do You Get Plants Vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2 for Free?
You cannot get Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2 completely free and keep it forever in a legal way—there's no permanent free giveaway from the publisher. However, there are several legitimate methods to play the game at no cost for a limited time, including free trials, subscription services, and occasional promotions. Below we break down every realistic option so you can enjoy the game without spending anything upfront.
Is Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2 free to play?
No, Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2 is not a free-to-play game. It is a paid title that normally costs around $20–$40 depending on the platform and edition. But that doesn't mean you can never play it for free. Many players use temporary access methods to try the game before buying, and sometimes the game is offered as part of subscription bundles.
If you want to own the game permanently, you'll eventually need to pay. But if you just want to play for a few hours or a week, the methods below will work.
Can I get Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2 for free on PC?
Yes, PC users have the best chance to play for free through electronic arts' subscription service EA Play. When you sign up for a 7-day free trial of EA Play (formerly Origin Access), you get unlimited access to the entire EA library, including Garden Warfare 2, for that week. No credit card is required in some regions, though many trials now ask for one to prevent abuse.
Another rare option is a free weekend event. EA occasionally makes Garden Warfare 2 free to download and play for a weekend on Steam or the EA app. Follow official EA social media or set a Google alert for "Garden Warfare 2 free weekend" to catch these.
Are there any free trial options for consoles?
If you play on PlayStation or Xbox, free trials are available but require a subscription. On PlayStation, you can start a 7-day free trial of PlayStation Plus Premium, which includes Garden Warfare 2 in its game catalog. On Xbox, a 14-day free trial of Game Pass Ultimate (which includes EA Play) gives you access. Both trials let you download and play the full game for the trial period.
Note that these trials usually ask for payment information and auto-renew, so remember to cancel before the trial ends if you don't want to be charged.
How to get free access through EA Play?
EA Play is the most straightforward method. Here's a step-by-step checklist:
- Check if you already have EA Play – It's included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PlayStation Plus Premium.
- Sign up for a new EA Play trial – Visit ea.com/ea-play or use the EA app on PC. Look for the "Start your free trial" button.
- Download the game – Once your trial is active, search for Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2 and install it.
- Play as much as you want during the trial period (usually 7 days).
- Cancel before billing if you don't want to continue with the paid subscription.
If you decide to keep EA Play after the trial, it's a good deal. The monthly fee is low, and you get access to dozens of other games. Some players buy an EA Play membership card from Amazon to gift themselves a longer subscription period.
Looking for an EA Play subscription card? Check options on Amazon: EA Play membership cards.
Does the game ever go free on PlayStation or Xbox?
Occasionally, Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2 has been offered as a free game through PlayStation Plus Monthly Games or Games with Gold on Xbox. However, these promotions are not current. The last time it was free on PS Plus was in early 2019, and on Xbox in 2020.
You can check the current free games each month on both platforms, but as of now, Garden Warfare 2 is not on the list. The only guaranteed "free" access today is through subscription trials as described above.
What about free codes or giveaways?
Free codes for Garden Warfare 2 are extremely rare. Some YouTube channels or gaming websites run contests, but these are not reliable. Avoid websites that promise "free generator codes" – they are scams.
A safer bet is to look for used physical copies at game stores or yard sales. While not free, they can be very cheap (sometimes under $5). Alternatively, you can wait for a big sale on digital stores where the game drops to $4.99–$7.99. That's practically free compared to its original price.
Is it better to buy the game cheap instead?
If you enjoy the free trial and want to keep playing without a monthly subscription, buying the game outright is often smarter. You can find digital codes for Garden Warfare 2 on Amazon or other retailers for as low as $10–$15 during sales. That's a one-time payment, and you own the game forever.
Here's a quick comparison table:
| Method | Cost | Time limit | Best for… |
|---|---|---|---|
| EA Play free trial | $0 | 7 days | Testing the game |
| Game Pass/PS Plus trial | $0 | 7–14 days | Console players |
| Buy used disc | $5–$15 | Permanent | Budget players |
| Buy digital code | $10–$20 | Permanent | Convenience |
For most players, buying a digital code during a sale is the best permanent solution. You can also gift the game via Amazon or other stores if you want to share it.
Search for Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2 digital codes on Amazon: Buy the game here.
Can I play without downloading anything?
No, Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2 is a full download game, not a cloud-streamed title (unless you use Xbox Cloud Gaming with Game Pass Ultimate). Even with cloud streaming, you still need a subscription. There is no browser-based free version.
Are there any legal free alternatives?
The closest legal "free" experience is the original Plants vs Zombies (the tower defense game), which is available for free on mobile devices with ads. But that is a completely different game. If you want the third-person shooter experience, the only free option is the trial or subscription methods above.
What if I just want to play the single-player mode?
Even if you only want the single-player missions and ops mode, you still need to own the game or have a subscription. There is no demo version. The free trial gives you full access to both single-player and multiplayer for the duration.
Will the game ever become free permanently?
It's unlikely that EA will make Garden Warfare 2 free forever, because the game still sells and the company wants to push its EA Play subscription service. However, if you already own an Xbox or PlayStation console, check your game library – you might have claimed it years ago during a past promotion without remembering.
Another angle: if you have EA Play Pro (the higher tier on PC), Garden Warfare 2 is included as part of the library. That's not free, but it's a subscription cost.
Final checklist for playing for free
- ☐ Sign up for an EA Play 7-day free trial (PC or console via Game Pass/PS Plus).
- ☐ If on console, start a Game Pass Ultimate or PS Plus Premium trial.
- ☐ Download and play the full game during the trial window.
- ☐ Set a reminder to cancel before you're charged.
- ☐ Watch for limited-time free weekends (follow @EA on Twitter or enable notifications).
- ☐ Consider buying a cheap used disc or digital code if you decide you want to keep it.
Need a cheap PlayStation or Xbox gift card to buy the game later? Find them on Amazon: PlayStation gift cards or Xbox gift cards.
Getting Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2 for free is possible through trials, but don't expect a permanent free copy. Use the steps above to enjoy the game at no cost for a week, then decide if you want to buy it. Many players find the gameplay addictive enough that they end up purchasing it – and that's fine too. Either way, you get to play without paying today.