Top 5 Easiest Ways to Earn New CS:GO Skins

Tom Kosiec - Writer for Buff
By Tom Kosiec
Tamara Fodora - Editor for Buff
Edited by Tamara Fodora

Updated July 17, 2023.

Man sitting in front of gaming laptop loading Counter Strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) remains one of the most popular competitive multiplayer video games in the world, with 1.13 million active players as of November 2022. The addicting gameplay that's highly adaptable to both short and long game sessions keeps gamers engaged.

Moreover, all the numerous collectible weapon skins allow players to define and establish their presence. The cost of these skins ranges from the inexpensive Desert Eagle Oxide Blaze that can be found for under $1.00:

CS:GO pistol with Desert Eagle Oxide Blaze skin


To the much costlier and highly desirable Karambit Case Hardened (Blue Gem), going for up to $1.5 million or more:

CS:GO pistol with Karambit Case Hardened (Blue Gem) skin


But can it be done without spending millions or even hundreds? Thankfully, yes! We've explored the top 5 easiest ways to earn new CS:GO skins, so here's what you should know:

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1. The Game Itself

Let's start with getting skins purely through gameplay. This can be done by playing CS:GO regularly and leveling up your character. It can also be done by playing competitively on either official servers or community servers that have Valve Anti-Cheat software enabled.

While you won't be earning the most expensive skins this way, you can definitely land yourself a few $1 options every week. They can then be traded up for the more expensive options.

To clarify further, CS:GO has a trade-up contract, which is an option where, if you collect 10 skins of the same tier (level), you get a one-tier-higher gun skin. This one skin can be of any durability or from any collection of skins. Furthermore, certain combinations of skins you put up for a trade can land you an almost guaranteed good skin.

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2. Operation Pass

In addition to playing many CS:GO matches, you can accelerate your skin collection by signing up for the optional Operation pass. The way it works is that it gives you weekly missions, and by completing them, you get XP and "stars." You can exchange those stars in the Operation store for new agents, stickers, or weapon cases that contain skins.

The prices of the passes range from around $8 to around $480, but they all come with prizes that will often be worth much more than the initial investment.

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3. Gambling Websites

The 3rd way to expand your CS:GO skin collection is by utilizing the benefits offered by the top CS:GO gambling websites, like CSGO Empire and Farmskins.

What's great about them is that you don't actually have to invest anything to get skins. You usually get free bonuses just by joining, and you can use those bonuses to gable or bet for free. Most of them also offer referral bonuses, so you can get rewards by inviting your friends too.

Once you get a satisfactory amount of coins, you can withdraw them and use them to get yourself some CS:GO skins. Additionally, most gambling websites organize giveaways on their social media, so it's also a good idea to follow them and keep an eye out for the announcements.

4. Paid Surveys

One of the simplest ways to get CS:GO skins involves filling out short paid surveys and completing easy tasks to get skins as rewards. Some great websites for this are Idle Empire, GrabPoints, and BigCash.

What you need to do is sign up via your Steam account, and you can start earning points. As mentioned, you can do so by completing surveys, but you can also choose to watch short videos instead, or you can download mini-games to test them out and provide feedback.

If you do such tasks weekly, you'll have a constant flow of currency for purchasing new skins without spending any real money.

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5. Rewards Programs

The final way to get CS:GO skins is through rewards programs. Applications like Buff offer CS:GO players rewards through a loyalty program, and all you need to do is play the game regularly.

Once you download Buff and install it, you can let it work in the background as you play. It rewards you for your performance; it tracks your KDA ratio, kills, headshots, wins, and similar. Then, it lets you exchange the Buff points you got as a reward for CS:GO skins and more.

In other words, it doesn't affect your game performance, and it can benefit you in more ways than one.

» Get started with Buff

Can Getting Skins for CS:GO Be Easy?

Getting skins in CS:GO is easy if you follow these tips, and though some of them might require a small initial investment, the prize would still be worth more. It's a great way to supplement what you already love about playing CS:GO and be rewarded for your effort.

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