While certain items in Pokemon Go can be obtained by completing a range of different challenges, there’s one currency in-game that’s a little more difficult for trainers to get their hands on. PokeCoins are a scarce commodity that can be used to make purchases in the Pokemon Go Shop.
Though it’s a premium currency, Trainers may not want to part with their real-world money to get it. Fortunately, there is a method of collecting coins that’s completely free of charge. So, let’s take a look at the best way to earn free coins in Pokemon Go regularly, as well as other methods for getting PokeCoins.
How to get free PokeCoins
Taking over gyms
At this point in time, there’s only one way to consistently earn free coins in Pokemon Go and it involves taking over and defending gyms so that they remain in your team’s color.
By doing this, you can earn up to six PokeCoins an hour, although you can only earn a maximum of 50 PokeCoins a day. Follow the steps below to start collecting them:
- Find a gym in your area that’s the same color as your team.
- If a gym isn’t in your team’s color, battle and defeat the Pokemon in it to take over it.
- Once a gym is in your team’s color, place a Pokemon inside it.
- When your Pokemon is defeated your PokeCoins will be delivered automatically.
- Save up and buy your desired item from the shop!
If you repeat this method over multiple days, you could be earning quite a lot of Coins considering 100 PokeCoins costs $0.99 in the Pokemon Go Shop. Keep in mind that you can only put one Pokemon in each gym at a time, and you can take over a maximum of 20 gyms at once.
Using Google Play credit
The most obvious way to get PokeCoins is to buy them, and of course, that’s not free. However, players can use Google Play credit to purchase PokeCoins, and we have the perfect way to get free Google Play credit right here.
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- Download Google Opinions Rewards
- Open the app and follow the instructions to set everything properly.
- Take the introductory survey and close the app.
- Go back to the Pokemon Go app and play as usual.
- During the following weeks, you’ll get notifications from the Google Opinions Rewards program asking you to complete surveys in the app.
- Do so and you’ll earn Google Play credit in exchange. (Each survey only takes a few minutes but keep in mind not all of them will get you a reward)
- Use the Google Play credit to buy PokeCoins.
Daily PokeCoin Field Research ticket
The newest way to get PokeCoins does cost real-world money, but it involves both a purchase and gameplay. Niantic has released the first Daily PokeCoin Field Research ticket which, from May 16 through May 30, will allow players to earn 20 PokeCoins for completing Field Research tasks.
The ticket, which costs $2, will get you up to 280 PokeCoins, making it slightly cheaper than buying a similar amount of Coins. However, note that you’ll need to play every day to get the full benefit, and you must have a Field Research task active when you log in.
It’s currently unclear if Daily PokeCoin Field Research will return after this first event.
What can I buy with Pokemon Go Coins?
The Pokemon Go Shop is filled with supplies and exclusive items for Trainers to buy with PokeCoins. If you’re curious about what the premium currency can unlock, check out the list below:
- Boxes
- Lucky Eggs
- Poke Balls
- Incense
- Bag Upgrades
- Pokemon Storage Upgrade
- Egg Incubators
- Lure Modules
- Raid Passes
- Poffins
- Star Pieces
- Max Potions
- Max Revives
That’s everything you need to know about how to earn free PokeCoins in Pokemon Go. For more tips and tricks on becoming a Pokemon Master, check out more of our guides below: