PokéCoins are the exclusive currency used to purchase items from the in-game Shop. Unlike the items you get from PokéStops, these purchases are often permanent upgrades or hard-to-find passes.
What You Need Coins For:
- Storage Upgrades: Expanding your Pokémon Storage (essential for collectors) and Item Bag (crucial for long play sessions).
- Raid Passes: Buying Premium Raid Passes for in-person raids and Remote Raid Passes to join battles from home.
- Convenience Items: Incubators (to hatch eggs faster), Lucky Eggs (for double XP), and Incense (to attract Pokémon).
- Cosmetics: Trainer outfits and accessories.
There are two primary, legitimate avenues for getting coins: earning them for free through in-game activities and buying them with real money.
What Are Pokémon GO Coins?
PokéCoins are the premium currency introduced in Pokémon GO to enable the “freemium” model. They allow players to exchange real-world money for in-game advantages, but critically, they also offer a path for free-to-play players to earn them through dedicated gameplay.
The entire coin economy is built around Gym defense, making local community interaction and strategic placement a core part of the free-to-play experience.
How to Get Pokémon GO Coins for Free
For the vast majority of players, there is only one reliable, permanent method to earn free coins: defending Gyms.
1. Earn Coins by Defending Gyms (Primary Method)
The Gym defense system is the foundation of the free-to-play coin economy. It requires you to defeat an opposing team’s Pokémon (or simply join a Gym controlled by your team) and place one of your own Pokémon to defend it.
The Rules and Rate of Earning:
- Earning Rate: You earn 1 PokéCoin for every 10 minutes your Pokémon is defending a Gym. This breaks down to 6 coins per hour.
- Daily Cap: You can earn a maximum of 50 PokéCoins per day, regardless of how many Pokémon you have in Gyms or how long they have been defending.
- When Coins are Awarded: You only receive the coins when your Pokémon is knocked out of the Gym and returns to you. If your Pokémon remains in the Gym for days, you will only receive the coins on the day it finally returns, and they will be subject to that day’s 50-coin cap.
Example: A Pokémon needs to defend a Gym for 8 hours and 20 minutes (500 minutes) to hit the maximum 50-coin daily limit.
Tips for Maximizing Gym Coin Earnings:
- Place in Less Crowded Areas: High-traffic gyms turnover quickly. Look for gyms in parks, neighborhoods, or areas slightly off the beaten path where turnover is less than once per day. This ensures your Pokémon reaches the full 8 hours and 20 minutes required for the 50-coin payout.
- Spread Out Your Pokémon: The best strategy is to place Pokémon in multiple gyms. This increases the probability that at least one of them will be knocked out on a different day, allowing you to hit your 50-coin cap daily rather than getting 50 coins from a multi-day stay.
- Choose Bulky Defenders: Pokémon like Blissey, Chansey, Snorlax, and Slaking have massive HP pools and high defense, making them difficult and time-consuming for opponents to defeat.
- Feed Berries: Feeding berries to your defending Pokémon restores their Motivation (CP). Restoring Motivation, especially when your Pokémon’s CP is getting low, is critical to extending its time in the Gym. This also gives you Stardust!
- Coordinate with the Local Community: In some areas, players from different teams coordinate to rotate Gym control every 8-9 hours, ensuring everyone hits their daily coin cap efficiently.
2. Daily Tasks for Coins (If Available)
While not a permanent, global feature, Niantic has periodically tested a different system for earning free coins in certain regions.
- The Experimental System: This test capped Gym earnings at a lower amount (e.g., 30 coins) and allowed players to earn the remaining coins (e.g., 20 coins) by completing specific Daily Tasks (e.g., ‘Make an Excellent Throw,’ ‘Walk 1 km,’ etc.).
- Status: As of today, the original 50 coins per day via Gym defense only remains the standard system in most regions. Always check the in-game news for any regional changes or testing.
Also Read: How Much Is Pi Coin Worth?
How to Buy Pokémon GO Coins With Real Money
For players who need coins quickly or want to invest in the game, buying PokéCoins is the direct method.
4.1 In-App Purchases (Android & iOS)
This is the standard and safest way to purchase coins directly.
- Open the Pokémon GO app.
- Tap the Poké Ball icon at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the Shop icon.
- Scroll down to the PokéCoins section and select your desired package.
Available Coin Packages (Standard US Pricing):
| Coin Bundle | Price (USD) | Effective Price per 100 Coins |
| 100 Coins | $0.99 | $0.99 |
| 550 Coins | $4.99 | $0.91 |
| 1,200 Coins | $9.99 | $0.83 |
| 2,500 Coins | $19.99 | $0.80 |
| 5,200 Coins | $39.99 | $0.77 |
| 14,500 Coins | $99.99 | $0.69 |
4.2 Best Value Packs and Saving Money
As is standard with mobile games, the general rule is: The larger the bundle, the better the price per coin. The 14,500 Coin bundle offers the best long-term value.
- The Pokémon GO Web Store: Niantic often runs exclusive sales and first-purchase bonuses (sometimes an additional 15% bonus on coins) on the official Pokémon GO Web Store that are not available through the in-app stores (Google Play/Apple App Store). Always check the web store before making a large purchase.
- Special Boxes: The absolute best value for your coins comes not from buying individual items, but from purchasing the Special, Great, Ultra, or Adventure Boxes in the shop, which rotate every few weeks. These boxes offer significant discounts on bundled items like Incubators and Raid Passes compared to buying them separately. Wait for a box that contains the items you need most before spending your coins.
Avoiding Scams and Unsafe Methods
Be extremely cautious of any third-party websites, apps, or videos claiming to offer free or “unlimited” PokéCoins outside of the methods listed above.
- Coin Generators and Hacks are Fake: There are no legitimate PokéCoin generators, hacks, or modded APKs that can grant you free coins. These are scams designed to steal your account login information or financial details.
- The Risks: Using unauthorized software violates Niantic’s Terms of Service and can result in immediate and permanent bans (the “three-strike policy” often begins with a temporary shadow ban but progresses to a permanent ban). You also risk installing malware or losing your entire account to hackers.
- Encouragement: Stick to the official Gym defense system and Niantic’s official in-app or web store purchases to keep your account safe and your progress intact.
Tips to Make the Most of Your Coins
Earning or buying coins is only half the battle; spending them wisely is key to efficient progress.
Prioritize Long-Term Value Upgrades:
| Item | Cost | Why it’s a Must-Buy |
| Pokémon Storage Upgrade | 200 Coins (adds 50 slots) | Essential for collecting and preparing for events like Community Day. |
| Item Bag Upgrade | 200 Coins (adds 50 slots) | Crucial for carrying enough Poké Balls, Berries, and healing items. |
| Remote/Premium Raid Passes | 100 Coins (usually) | Necessary for competitive play and completing specific raids. |
Avoid Wasting Coins:
- Poké Balls: Never buy standard Poké Balls, Great Balls, or Ultra Balls. You can collect unlimited amounts from PokéStops.
- Potions/Revives: These are common drops from PokéStops and Gyms and should not be purchased.
- Single Incense/Lure Modules: Only buy these when they are heavily discounted in a special bundle box.
Also Read: Where to Buy $Trump Coin: A Complete Guide for US Buyers
Conclusion
The path to getting Pokémon GO coins is clear: Embrace the Gym defense meta to consistently earn your daily 50 coins for free.23 This consistent, daily effort will eventually afford you all the essential storage and item upgrades you need.
If you choose to purchase coins, do so strategically: Buy the largest bundle you can afford to maximize the price-per-coin ratio, and only spend those coins on value-packed boxes that offer discounted Premium Items.
By sticking to these legitimate methods, you will build your coin reserve safely and sustainably, ensuring your journey to becoming a Pokémon Master is well-funded.
7. FAQs
Can I transfer coins between accounts?
No. PokéCoins are tied directly to the account that earned or purchased them and cannot be gifted or transferred to another player’s account.
Why didn’t I get coins even after my Pokémon defended a Gym?
You likely hit the 50-coin daily limit already. If you had one Pokémon return with 50 coins, and another Pokémon returns later on the same day, that second Pokémon will return with zero coins, regardless of how long it defended the Gym. The coin counter resets at midnight local time.
How long does a Pokémon need to defend a Gym for max coins?
8 hours and 20 minutes (500 minutes). This amount of time, assuming it’s the only Pokémon to return that day, will grant you the full 50-coin daily limit.21
Are there bonuses for first-time purchases?
Yes, Niantic frequently offers a bonus percentage of coins for a trainer’s first purchase through the official Pokémon GO Web Store.22 Always check the web store for current promotions.
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