How to Never Pay Full Price for Xbox Live Gold

Quick online and ad searches can save you a lot of money

By
Eric Qualls
Eric Qualls
Writer
Former Lifewire writer Eric Qualls has been covering the Xbox line of consoles and Xbox games since August 2004.
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Updated on June 11, 2022
Reviewed by
Jessica Kormos
Jessica Kormos
Reviewed by Jessica Kormos
  • Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years' experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others.
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What to Know

  • Purchase subscription cards and gift cards when they're on sale, and use them to subscribe or renew.
  • Wait for a bundle package that includes the Live Gold service with a product you want to purchase.
  • Take advantage of coupon codes at online retailers, and check local ads for deals.

This article offers several ways to get Xbox Live Gold at a discount. The premium subscription service provides access to advanced multiplayer mode, free games, and big discounts on purchases made in the Xbox Store.

Discounts on Subscription Cards

The easiest way to get Xbox Live Gold at a discount is to keep an eye out for deals on subscription and gift cards at a good price, purchase those, and then use them to subscribe or renew. You can use multiple gift and subscription cards for Xbox Live Gold, and each one can extend a current subscription. Buy a couple of inexpensive cards when you find them at a discount, and you’ll be set for quite a while.

Keep an eye on listings at sites like Amazon, eBay, BestBuy.com, Walmart.com, and other online retailers and you're sure to find Xbox Live Gold subscription cards for less than the full MSRP. A quick search online reveals several subscription card deals at well under the full price.

The Xbox Live Gold membership is available for a monthly fee of $9.99, or a once-yearly fee of $59.99.

Xbox Live Gold Bundled With Games and Products

Xbox Live Gold.
 Microsoft

Another way to get Xbox Live Gold at a discount is to wait for a bundle package that includes the Live Gold service with a product you want to purchase. You might not get a full year of Xbox Live Gold — usually, these bundles come with three-month subscription bonuses — but many retailers bundle Xbox Live Gold subscription cards with games and accessories at a discount.

Retailer Coupons and Promotional Codes

An easy way to save money on Xbox Live Gold is by taking advantage of coupon codes at online retailers. Xbox Live Gold subscriptions almost always count as accessories, and any location that has a sale or coupon code for gaming accessories may stock Xbox Live Gold cards. One year of Xbox Live Gold might be listed for $60 at some retailers, but when you use coupon codes, that price can be reduced substantially.

Check Local Ads and Online Deal Sites

Keep an eye on the Sunday promotional ads from retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Best Buy because you never know when they might include an Xbox Live Gold card with a new game release. Also, make CheapAssGamer.com a regular online stop, because the site is usually the first place users post information on great deals for Xbox Live Gold subscription cards. Slickdeals.net is another website with a broad range of product deals, especially on electronics, gift cards, and subscription cards.

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