Roblox stopped selling lifetime membership in 2016
Roblox once offered a lifetime membership — a one-time purchase that gave you premium features forever. The company discontinued this option in 2016 and replaced it with Roblox Premium, a monthly subscription model. If you bought lifetime membership before 2016, your account kept those benefits, but Roblox no longer sells that product to new players.
The shift happened because subscription services are more predictable for a company's finances than one-time purchases. A player who pays $100 once generates less ongoing revenue than a player who pays $10 monthly. Roblox needed a steadier income stream as the platform grew, so they moved everyone toward the monthly model.
This change affected thousands of players who had purchased lifetime membership years earlier. Those players did not lose their benefits — they straightforward kept what they had bought. But anyone joining Roblox after 2016 never had the option to buy lifetime membership at all.
Key Takeaways
- Roblox discontinued lifetime membership in 2016 and replaced it with Roblox Premium, a monthly subscription.
- Players who purchased lifetime membership before 2016 kept their benefits permanently on those accounts.
- New players cannot buy lifetime membership anymore — the only option is the monthly Roblox Premium plan.
- The change happened because monthly subscriptions give Roblox more predictable revenue than one-time purchases.
What lifetime membership actually included
Lifetime membership gave players a set of perks that made the account feel special. Members received a monthly stipend of Robux (the in-game currency), a special badge on their profile, and access to exclusive items in the catalog. They also got a boost to their earning rate when they sold items or games on the platform.
The monthly Robux stipend was the biggest draw. A lifetime member received 450 Robux every month without spending another dollar. For a player who spent years on the platform, that added up to thousands of free currency over time. The exclusive badge signaled to other players that you had been around long enough to buy in when that option existed.
These benefits were not game-changing — they did not make you better at playing games or give you access to content other players could not reach. They were status markers and a small financial advantage. The real value was that you paid once and never had to think about it again.
How Roblox Premium works now
Roblox Premium is a monthly subscription that costs between $4.99 and $19.99 per month, depending on the tier you choose. The highest tier gives you 2,200 Robux monthly plus the same perks that lifetime members had — a badge, exclusive items, and a boost to your earning rate. You can cancel anytime, but the benefits stop the moment your subscription ends.
The monthly model means you pay more over time if you stay subscribed for years. A player who paid $100 for lifetime membership in 2015 and kept it for ten years got a better deal than someone paying $10 monthly for the same ten years. But Roblox benefits because most players do not stay subscribed for a decade — they subscribe for a few months, cancel, and move on.
If you had lifetime membership before the change, you were grandfathered in. Your account still has those benefits today, even though you cannot buy that product anymore. You do not have to convert to Premium unless you want to — your lifetime membership is still active.
Why companies switch from one-time purchases to subscriptions
The shift from lifetime to monthly is not unique to Roblox. Many online services have made the same move — from World of Warcraft to Adobe Creative Suite to streaming services. The reason is always the same: predictability and growth.
When you sell a product once, you get a spike of revenue and then nothing. When you sell a subscription, you get a smaller payment every month, but you know it is coming. That steady stream lets a company plan budgets, hire staff, and invest in new features with confidence. It also means the company benefits when players stay longer — they have an incentive to keep the service good.
Subscriptions also let companies adjust pricing and features over time. If a one-time purchase becomes outdated, you are stuck. With a subscription, you can add new perks, change the price, or create different tiers. Players accept this because they know they can cancel anytime.
What happened to players who owned lifetime membership
Players who bought lifetime membership before 2016 did not lose anything. Their accounts kept the monthly Robux stipend, the badge, and the earning boost permanently. Roblox honored the deal they had made — you paid once, you kept the benefits forever.
These accounts are now rare. Most players who bought lifetime membership years ago have either stopped playing or moved on to other games. But the ones still active have a permanent advantage: they get free Robux every month without paying anything. New players cannot get that deal anymore, which makes those old accounts slightly more valuable.
Roblox did not grandfather players into Premium automatically. If you had lifetime membership, you still have it — you did not get converted to a monthly subscription. You only pay if you choose to upgrade or buy additional Premium tiers on top of your lifetime benefits.
Can you still get lifetime membership today
No. Roblox does not sell lifetime membership anymore, and there is no way to purchase it now. The only subscription option available is Roblox Premium, which renews monthly and can be canceled anytime.
You might see third-party websites claiming to sell lifetime membership codes or accounts with lifetime membership. These are either scams or accounts that already had lifetime membership from before 2016. Buying an account from someone else violates Roblox's terms of service, and you risk losing access to it if Roblox detects the sale.
The legitimate way to get premium features on Roblox today is to subscribe to Roblox Premium. You choose your tier, pay monthly, and keep the benefits as long as you stay subscribed. It is not the same deal as lifetime membership, but it is the only option Roblox offers now.
The difference between lifetime membership and Roblox Premium
The main difference is commitment and cost. Lifetime membership was a one-time payment that lasted forever. Roblox Premium is a monthly payment that you can cancel anytime. Over many years, Premium costs more, but you have the flexibility to stop whenever you want.
The perks are similar — both give you monthly Robux, a badge, exclusive items, and an earning boost. The amount of Robux differs depending on which Premium tier you choose, but the highest tier gives you roughly what lifetime members got. The real difference is that lifetime members never had to think about renewal, while Premium subscribers have to manage a recurring charge.
Lifetime membership also had a status element. It signaled that you had been on Roblox long enough to buy in when that option existed. Premium does not carry that same weight — anyone can subscribe this month. This is partly why old lifetime membership accounts are sometimes seen as more prestigious in the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I had lifetime membership, do I still have it today?
Yes. Roblox grandfathered all lifetime members into permanent benefits. Your account still receives monthly Robux, keeps your badge, and maintains your earning boost. You do not have to do anything — the benefits are automatic and permanent.
Can I buy lifetime membership for someone else as a gift?
No. Lifetime membership has not been sold since 2016, so there is no way to purchase it as a gift. You can gift Robux or a Roblox Premium subscription, but not lifetime membership. If you want to give someone premium features, a Premium subscription is the only option.
Why did Roblox get rid of lifetime membership?
Roblox switched to a monthly subscription model because it provides more predictable revenue. A company can plan better when it knows money is coming in every month rather than in one lump sum. Monthly subscriptions also let Roblox adjust features and pricing over time without being locked into old deals.
Is Roblox Premium worth the cost compared to lifetime membership?
That depends on how long you plan to play. If you subscribe for a few months, Premium costs less upfront than lifetime membership did. But if you stay subscribed for many years, you will pay more overall. Lifetime membership was a better deal for long-term players, which is partly why Roblox stopped selling it.
What if I want the same benefits as lifetime membership without paying monthly?
There is no way to get permanent premium features on Roblox anymore. The only option is Roblox Premium, which requires a monthly payment. If you do not want to pay monthly, you can play Roblox without any premium subscription — you just will not get the monthly Robux stipend or exclusive items.