Which Star Citizen Starter Pack should you actually buy?
Maintained by Domux. Editorial approach and referral disclosure
Seven current Starter Packs, $45 to $125 before tax. They all give you full game access and a usable starter ship. Picking the right one comes down to whether you have any idea yet what kind of pilot you want to be. Most new players don't, and that's fine. There's a clear default.
Short answer: the Citizen Starter Pack at $45
$45 USD (promo, $60 base)
RSI Aurora Mk II plus 10,000 UEC. Full game access. It's the cheapest pack on the store, it's the right ship to learn flight and combat in, and if you decide later you want to specialise (mining, cargo, salvage) you upgrade your ship in-game instead of paying real money for a different starter.
Stack the referral code at signup and the new account gets 50,000 UEC on top, which is enough for a full armour set and weapon loadout the moment you land in Stanton.
Use code at RSI signup ✓ Verified referral code · Today: 3 October 2026The full Starter Pack lineup
Prices below are USD on the RSI Pledge Store. Regional VAT is added at checkout (Denmark for example is +25%). The 50,000 UEC referral bonus stacks on top of every one of these, under the same new-account referral rules.
| Pack | Starter ship | Pack UEC | Price (USD ex VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizen | RSI Aurora Mk II | 10,000 | $45.00 (regular $60.00) source checked 2026-10-03 |
| Generalist | Drake Cutter | 10,000 | $60.00 source checked 2026-10-03 |
| Salvager | RSI Salvation | 10,000 | $75.00 source checked 2026-10-03 |
| Miner | Drake Golem | 10,000 | $75.00 source checked 2026-10-03 |
| Duelist | Aegis Avenger Titan | 10,000 | $75.00 source checked 2026-10-03 |
| Hauler | Crusader Intrepid | 10,000 | $80.00 source checked 2026-10-03 |
| Privateer | Drake Cutlass Black | 10,000 | $125.00 source checked 2026-10-03 |
Note. The exact ship roster in role packs rotates between events. Prices stable as of the May 2026 store snapshot. CIG can adjust both at any time, usually around Invictus and IAE.
Citizen Starter Pack
Best default $45RSI Aurora Mk II light fighter plus 10,000 UEC and full game access.
- Slim, agile, easy to handle for new pilots
- Two missile racks plus a forward gun
- Small bunk and storage in the back
- SLV insurance (Self-Land Vehicle, ship reclaims at terminal)
For: anyone whose answer to "what playstyle do you want?" is "I don't know yet". This is the default for a reason. The Aurora teaches you the basics without locking you into a role, and you can save UEC in-game to rent or buy any other ship you want to try.
Generalist Starter Pack
$60Drake Cutter compact all-rounder plus 10,000 UEC.
- One-seat ship with 4 SCU of cargo room
- Small bunk, decent thrusters, sturdy hull
- Good for low-risk delivery missions out of the gate
For: players who want a bit more ship than the Aurora without committing to a role. The Cutter is a Drake workhorse: rough around the edges, tough, and useful for cargo runs from day one.
Salvager Starter Pack
$75RSI Salvation small salvage ship plus 10,000 UEC.
- Built for ship-hull salvage missions
- Single seat, slow, not built for combat
- Steady income loop once you learn the gameplay
For: someone who has already watched salvage gameplay videos, likes the methodical pace, and wants the right tool from day one. Skip if you're not sure salvage suits you. You can buy a salvage ship in-game later with credits.
Miner Starter Pack
$75Drake Golem entry mining ship plus 10,000 UEC.
- Small ship with a mining head, built for rock breaking
- Everything you need to start the mining loop and nothing you don't
- Far cheaper than the heavy dedicated mining ships
For: people who like the mining loop in other games (Eve Online, Elite Dangerous). Mining in Star Citizen rewards patience and good positioning more than it rewards twitch reflexes.
Duelist Starter Pack
$75 (list $75)Aegis Avenger Titan armed multi-role plus 10,000 UEC.
- Size 4 nose gun, genuinely capable in a fight
- 8 SCU cargo hold and a ramp that fits a ground vehicle
- Tough enough to survive the mistakes you will make
For: combat-first pilots who want a sharper ship than the Aurora but still want cargo space. See the full Avenger Titan guide.
Hauler Starter Pack
$80Crusader Intrepid single-seat starter hauler plus 10,000 UEC.
- Small signature, built for short-range hauling
- Good at courier jobs and low-risk delivery runs
- A budget way into the cargo loop
For: trade and logistics players. The Intrepid is the entry point to cargo runs without dropping into a $150+ Freelancer right away.
Privateer Starter Pack
$100 (list $125)Drake Cutlass Black medium multi-role ship plus 10,000 UEC.
- Three crew, cargo hold, decent guns, missile racks
- Genuinely capable for combat, cargo, light salvage and bounty work
- Holds value as you grow into the game (rarely outgrown)
For: someone who has played Star Citizen Free Fly, knows they like it, and wants a ship that does most things competently. This is the premium starter and the most expensive "you'll still love this ship in two years" option.
Which starter pack should I buy as a new player?
If you have not chosen a playstyle yet, compare the current Citizen and Generalist package totals in the table and start with the less expensive option that includes game access. A role pack makes sense when you already want its specific activity, such as mining or salvage. You do not need to buy an expensive ship just to begin. Check that the listing includes Star Citizen Digital Download before paying.
One thing worth being honest about: this is an alpha. Ships get rebalanced. Roles get reworked. A pack that looks great today might have a different ship in it next year. The Citizen Aurora has been the entry point for years and is the most stable choice for that reason.
Wait for a Free Fly before buying?
If you have not played Star Citizen at all, the smartest sequence is: create your RSI account during a Free Fly event, paste the referral code at signup, play for a week with the rotating ships, then decide on a Starter Pack. The referral code attachment is permanent, so the 50,000 UEC bonus still triggers when you upgrade later.
How the 50,000 UEC bonus stacks
The referral bonus is paid by RSI in-game UEC, not as a discount on the package price. So the package cost on your invoice does not change. What changes is the starting wallet on your account once the purchase clears.
- Without code. Citizen pack at $45 gives you the Aurora plus 10,000 UEC. You land in Stanton with 10k UEC, which buys roughly half a starting kit.
- With the referral code. Same Citizen pack at $45 gives you the Aurora plus 10,000 UEC plus 50,000 UEC referral bonus. You land with 60,000 UEC, enough for a full kit and a ship-component upgrade with change.
RSI advertises the 50,000 UEC signup bonus after buying a Game Package. For the referrer to earn a Recruitment Point, the account must own a Game Package and reach $40 USD in eligible fresh-money spending across the pledge store. Store credit and gifted pledges do not count toward that spend. RSI referral conditions
FAQ
Which Star Citizen Starter Pack should I get?
For most new players, the Citizen Starter Pack at $45 USD (promotional, $60 base). It gives you the RSI Aurora Mk II plus 10,000 UEC and full game access. Role packs (Generalist, Salvager, Miner, Duelist, Hauler, Privateer) make sense only if you have already decided on a specific playstyle from day one.
What is the cheapest Star Citizen Starter Pack?
The Citizen Starter Pack at $45 USD (promotional, $60 base) is the cheapest current option on the RSI store. It includes the RSI Aurora Mk II, 10,000 UEC, full game access, and SLV insurance on the ship.
Do I have to buy a Starter Pack to play Star Citizen?
Yes, outside of Free Fly events. A Game Package on your RSI account is required to play the live alpha. During Free Fly events (Invictus in late May, the Foundation Festival in summer, IAE in November) anyone with an RSI account can play a curated ship roster for free, but access ends with the event.
Is there a Star Citizen Starter Pack discount code?
No. RSI does not issue percent-off codes on Starter Packs. The only signup-time bonus is the Referral Program. Paste the referral code at signup and the new account gets 50,000 UEC on top of whichever Starter Pack you buy. The package price itself is unchanged.
What is the difference between a Game Package and a ship pledge?
A Game Package includes a ship plus full game access plus a small UEC stipend plus an insurance level. A standalone ship pledge is just the ship. New accounts must have at least one Game Package to play, since a standalone ship alone does not grant game access. All Starter Packs are Game Packages. Official package contents and prices
Can I upgrade my Starter Pack ship later?
Yes. RSI runs a system called CCU (Cross Chassis Upgrade) where you pay the price difference to swap your starter ship for a bigger one. You can also buy a different ship in-game with UEC. Most players who keep playing eventually do both.