FiveM on PC: system requirements, install and RP servers

FiveM is a free multiplayer modification for GTA V on PC, developed by Cfx.re. The team is now part of Rockstar Games. It connects you to community-run servers, mostly roleplay (GTA RP), without going through GTA Online. You still need a legitimate copy of GTA V on PC.

If you have ever watched GTA RP on Twitch or YouTube, FiveM was almost certainly what was running on screen. Here is what you need to get started in 2026.

In brief

• FiveM is free, but you must own GTA V on PC.
• Playing FiveM does not get you banned from GTA Online, according to the official site.
• Installation takes five steps and a Cfx.re account.
• Most RP servers ask for a whitelist application and a stop at their Discord.
• You can run your own server from €1.99 a month.

What is FiveM and how does it differ from GTA Online?

FiveM is a modified client that launches your copy of GTA V outside Rockstar's online services, then connects it to servers run by communities. Each server sets its own rules, jobs, vehicles and economy.

Its status changed in 2023. Rockstar announced that Cfx.re officially joined Rockstar Games. The company had also widened its mod policy to cover mods made by the roleplay community.

Criterion	FiveM	GTA Online
Who hosts	Communities and individuals	Rockstar
Rules	Set by each server	One set, fixed by Rockstar
Scripts and mods	Yes, depending on the server	No
Content	Custom jobs, economy and rules	Content defined by the publisher
Launch	Through the FiveM client	Through GTA V, with Rockstar's services

Is FiveM free?

Yes, the client costs nothing. The expenses that can creep in are GTA V itself and, sometimes, perks sold by individual servers, such as queue priority or cosmetic extras. Those sales fall under the Cfx.re and Rockstar monetisation rules.

Renting a server of your own is a separate budget, covered at the end of this article.

Do you need GTA 5, and which version?

You need a legitimate PC copy of GTA V, installed on your machine and launched from a launcher that FiveM supports. FiveM does not supply the game.

On versions, FiveM ran only on the Legacy edition for a long time. Cfx.re has opened early access to FiveM for GTA V Enhanced, with a warning that this build contains bugs and missing features.

In practice, it is a separate client with its own download. Before you install anything, check your server's Discord or rules to see whether it runs on Legacy or Enhanced.

There is no official FiveM for PS5, Xbox or mobile. The "FiveM APK" files you find online are fakes, and they are far more likely to carry malware than anything else.

FiveM PC requirements and installation

You need 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 and a machine that can run GTA V. For the Enhanced version, check the minimum specification for Enhanced on the official site before buying any hardware.

For Legacy, see the system requirements page in the Cfx.re documentation. Either way, plan for more than the minimum. An RP server packed with scripts, vehicles and custom clothing uses more RAM, and an SSD noticeably cuts loading times.

Installing FiveM in 5 steps

1. Download the client only from the official site, fivem.net.
2. Run the installer and choose an install folder.
3. Tell FiveM where GTA V is installed (it often finds it by itself).
4. Create a Cfx.re account, or sign in to your existing one.
5. Open the built-in server browser and pick a server.

Common problems

• Antivirus: it can block or quarantine client files. Add the FiveM folder to its exclusions.
• Cache: after a crash or a server switch, clearing the FiveM cache fixes a lot of loading-screen freezes.
• GTA V updates: a Rockstar update can knock your installation out of sync. Run a file verification in your launcher, then relaunch FiveM.

Can you get banned from GTA Online for playing FiveM?

No, not simply for playing FiveM. The official site states that FiveM does not modify your GTA V installation and does not use GTA Online's servers, so you can switch between GTA Online and FiveM without getting banned.

Three caveats still apply:

• Any FiveM server can ban you if it decides you have broken its rules.
• Cfx.re can sanction cheating on its platform.
• Never install a mod menu. It is the fastest way to lose access to one server, or several.

How do RP servers work on FiveM?

An RP server is built from several layers. The framework (ESX, QBCore, vRP or ox_core) lays the foundations: characters, money, jobs. On top come scripts and resources, written mostly in Lua: inventory, phone, car dealership, 3D voice chat. A database, often MariaDB, keeps characters and property between sessions.

The owner runs everything from txAdmin, FiveM's administration tool, which handles restarts, bans and the console. OneSync takes care of synchronisation and lets a server hold far more players than original GTA could. To see what content is out there, browse the best scripts for a FiveM server.

Servers fall into a few families:

• Serious RP: strict whitelist, demanding rules.
• Semi-whitelist: easier entry, sometimes a light interview.
• Freeroam: no imposed storyline, you play as you like.
• PvP: combat and conflict zones, with no roleplay required.

In other words, FiveM is not only about RP. Non-RP servers exist too.

How to join a roleplay server

The route barely changes from one server to the next:

1. Pick an English-language server in the FiveM browser. Our roundup of the best GTA RP FiveM servers to join in 2026 can help.
2. Read the rules in full.
3. Join its Discord.
4. Pass the whitelist: a written application, sometimes a voice interview.
5. Set up your microphone, then create your character.

The basics of RP come down to a few terms. Stay in character (in-character play), do not kill without a story reason (freekilling), and do not use knowledge your character could not have (metagaming). As for whitelist rejections, they usually come from a rushed application.

Creating your own FiveM server

Many players end up wanting a server of their own. There are two routes. Self-hosting on your own PC costs nothing, but your IP address is exposed, the machine has to stay on around the clock and nothing protects you from a DDoS attack. Renting avoids those pitfalls. For the difference between the two, read Self-hosting or a game server host?.

With Fly-Serv's FiveM offer you start from €1.99 a month, with no commitment. It includes:

• txAdmin pre-installed
• the ESX, QBCore, vRP and ox_core frameworks
• a MariaDB database
• permanent Anti-DDoS protection, with a preconfigured FiveM template
• Ryzen 9 7950X3D processors and NVMe drives
• delivery in under 60 seconds

Full details are on the FiveM Server Hosting: rent your GTA RP server from €1.99/mo page. If the Wild West appeals more than Los Santos, there is also a RedM server for RDR2 roleplay.

Frequently asked questions

Is FiveM free?

Yes, the FiveM client is free. You do need to own GTA V on PC, though. Some servers offer paid perks, within the Cfx.re monetisation rules.

Do you need GTA 5 to play FiveM?

Yes. FiveM does not supply the game: you need a legitimate PC copy of GTA V installed on your machine. The client relies on those files to launch servers.

Does FiveM work with GTA 5 Enhanced?

Yes, but in early access. Cfx.re provides a dedicated client, and bugs are possible. A server runs on either Legacy or Enhanced, so check which one it requires before you install.

Can you get banned from GTA Online for playing FiveM?

No, not for simply playing FiveM: according to the official site, it does not use GTA Online's servers and does not modify your installation. You can, however, be banned from a server, or by Cfx.re, if you cheat or use a mod menu.

Is there a FiveM for PS5, Xbox or mobile (APK)?

No, FiveM exists on PC only. The APKs doing the rounds for Android are fakes and may contain malware. To play, go through the official site, fivem.net.

How much does a FiveM server cost?

At Fly-Serv, a FiveM server starts at €1.99 a month and goes up to €28.99 a month depending on the size of your community. There is no commitment. Discounts run from 5% on 3 months to 20% on 12 months.

Launch your GTA RP server

Before you rent, try a few servers as a player. Note what you like (framework, scripts, atmosphere), then build your own on that base. With txAdmin already installed and the frameworks available in one click, all that is left is to configure your server. Launch your GTA RP server in under a minute and we'll take care of the rest: FiveM Server Hosting: rent your GTA RP server from €1.99/mo.