OSRS F2P Ironman Money Making Guide

Making money as a Free-to-Play (F2P) Ironman in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a unique challenge. With restrictions on trading, using the Grand Exchange, and accessing members’ content, you need self-sufficient methods to earn gold pieces (GP). This guide covers the best F2P Ironman money-making strategies for all levels, from fresh accounts to seasoned players, helping you fund your skilling, quests, and gear upgrades. Whether you’re aiming for a bond or just want a steady GP flow, these methods are practical, efficient, and tailored to F2P limitations. Let’s dive into the top strategies to stack coins in 2025!
Unlike regular accounts, Ironmen can’t trade with players or sell items on the Grand Exchange, making GP harder to come by. Gold is essential for:
- Skilling Supplies: Buying raw materials like gold bars, runes, or leather for Crafting, Magic, and Smithing.
- Tools and Gear: Purchasing pickaxes, hatchets, or early-game armor from NPC shops.
- Quests: Funding items needed for quests like The Knight’s Sword or Vampire Slayer.
- Bonds: Earning enough for a bond (around 8-10M GP in 2025) to access P2P content without real money.
Since F2P Ironmen rely on NPC shops, alching, or quest rewards for income, choosing efficient methods is key. Below, we’ll explore beginner-friendly options, mid-game grinds, and high-level strategies to maximize your GP.
Early Game Money Making (Levels 1-30)
New F2P Ironmen need quick GP to kickstart their journey. These methods require minimal skills and gear, making them accessible right after Tutorial Island.
Stronghold of Security (One-Time 10,000 GP)
The Stronghold of Security in Barbarian Village is the best one-time money maker for fresh accounts. This dungeon offers 10,000 GP upon completing the first three floors and answering account security questions. The fourth floor grants Fancy or Fighting Boots but no coins, so low-level players may skip it to avoid death.
- Requirements: None (bring food like shrimp or cooked meat for safety).
- Method: Navigate the four floors, answer questions, and claim 2,000 GP (first floor), 3,000 GP (second floor), and 5,000 GP (third floor).
- Profit: 10,000 GP (one-time).
- Tip: Cook fish or meat before entering to sustain longer. Ultimate Ironmen may delay completion to use the 10,000 GP as rebuild money after death.
Banana Crates (Pirate’s Treasure Quest)
Filling banana crates for Luthas on Musa Point during or after the Pirate’s Treasure quest is a low-effort way to earn early GP. Each crate filled nets 30 GP, and it’s repeatable.
- Requirements: Access to Karamja (10 GP boat fare from Port Sarim).
- Method: Pick bananas from the plantation, fill five crates, and claim payment from Luthas.
- Profit: ~5,000-7,000 GP per hour (factoring in travel time).
- Tip: Bring extra coins for boat fares and bank bananas to save inventory space.
Collecting Steel Platelegs (Wilderness)
World-hopping to collect steel platelegs in the Wilderness (level 24, near the ruins) is a simple, no-skill method. These can be high-alched or sold to NPC shops.
- Requirements: None (55 Magic for High Alchemy recommended).
- Method: Hop worlds to grab steel platelegs, bank in Edgeville, and alch or sell to Varrock’s armor shop.
- Profit: ~10,000-15,000 GP per hour (alching yields ~720 GP per platelegs).
- Tip: Stay cautious of PKers and bring minimal items to reduce risk.
Mid-Game Money Making (Levels 30-60)
Once you’ve got some skills and combat levels, you can tackle more profitable methods. These require moderate investment in skills like Crafting, Mining, or Combat but offer better GP per hour.
Crafting Gold Jewellery
Crafting gold jewellery, especially ruby necklaces or gold amulets, is a relaxing and profitable method that scales with your Crafting level. The Crafting Guild is ideal for a seamless workflow.
- Requirements: 40+ Crafting (56 for ruby necklaces), 40 Mining, 40 Smithing.
- Method: Mine gold ore at the Crafting Guild, smelt into bars at Edgeville furnace, and craft ruby necklaces or gold amulets. High alch necklaces (~1,300 GP each) or sell amulets to general stores.
- Profit: 50,000-80,000 GP per hour.
- Tip: Buy rubies from gem shops or collect from Ogress drops for necklaces. Use a fire staff to reduce alching costs.
Killing Ogresses (Corsair Cove Dungeon)
Ogresses in the Corsair Cove Dungeon are the F2P Ironman meta for mid-game money making due to their valuable drops and Prayer XP. They’re ideal for combat training and GP.
- Requirements: 40+ Combat (80+ Attack/Strength/Defence or 80+ Ranged recommended), completion of The Corsair Curse quest.
- Method: Kill Ogress Warriors or Shamans, collect drops like mithril/adamant items, runes, and big bones. High alch valuable items.
- Profit: 50,000-100,000 GP per hour, plus big bones for Prayer.
- Tip: Bring runes for Bones to Bananas to convert bones into food for longer trips. Safe-spot Shamans for ranged training.
High-Level Money Making (Levels 60+)
High-level F2P Ironmen can leverage advanced skills and combat to maximize profits. These methods require significant skill investment but offer the best GP per hour in F2P.
Smithing and Alching Runite Items
Smithing runite items like rune 2h swords and high-alching them is the most profitable F2P method, though it demands high Smithing and access to runite ore.
- Requirements: 99 Smithing, 55 Magic, 85+ Mining.
- Method: Mine runite ore (Skeleton Mine near Edgeville), smelt into bars, and smith rune 2h swords at Varrock’s west anvil. High alch for ~11,520 GP each.
- Profit: 100,000-150,000 GP per hour (depending on mining speed).
- Tip: Use a fire staff and stockpile nature runes from Ogresses or shop runs.
Bossing: Obor and Bryophyta
Bossing offers both GP and combat XP. Obor (Hill Giant) and Bryophyta (Moss Giant) drop valuable items like rune kiteshields, battlestaves, and noted big bones.
- Requirements: 70+ Combat, giant/mossy keys (from hill/moss giants), rune armor, food.
- Method: Farm keys by killing hill or moss giants, then fight Obor (Edgeville Dungeon) or Bryophyta (Varrock Sewers). High alch or bank drops.
- Profit: 50,000-100,000 GP per hour (varies with key drop rates).
- Tip: Use ranged for safe-spotting Bryophyta and bring antipoisons for Obor.
Passive Money Making Tips
In addition to active methods, incorporate these passive strategies to boost your GP while training other skills.
High Alchemy During Downtime
High Alchemy is a versatile way to turn drops into GP while training skills like Agility or Fishing. Stockpile alchable items from combat or skilling.
- Requirements: 55 Magic, nature runes, fire staff.
- Method: Alch items like mithril/adamant gear from Ogresses or rune items from smithing during downtime.
- Profit: Varies (~400,000-500,000 GP per hour if alching high-value items).
- Tip: Buy nature runes from shops or save Ogress drops to sustain alching.
Selling to Martin Thwait (Rogue’s Den)
At 50 Agility and Thieving, you can sell items to Martin Thwait in the Rogue’s Den for their High Alchemy value, skipping the need to alch yourself.
- Requirements: 50 Agility, 50 Thieving.
- Method: Sell alchable drops like mithril swords or rune items directly to Martin Thwait.
- Profit: Matches High Alchemy value (e.g., ~11,520 GP per rune 2h sword).
- Tip: Useful for high-level players who don’t need Magic XP from alching.
Comparison of F2P Ironman Money Making Methods
Here’s a quick overview to help you choose the best method based on your levels and goals:
Method | Requirements | Profit (GP/Hour) | Skill XP | Risk Level |
---|---|---|---|---|
Stronghold of Security | None | 10,000 (one-time) | None | Low |
Banana Crates | Karamja access | 5,000-7,000 | None | Low |
Steel Platelegs | 55 Magic (optional) | 10,000-15,000 | Magic (if alching) | Medium (Wilderness) |
Crafting Gold Jewellery | 40+ Crafting, Mining, Smithing | 50,000-80,000 | Crafting, Mining, Smithing | Low |
Killing Ogresses | 40+ Combat, Corsair Curse | 50,000-100,000 | Combat, Prayer | Medium |
Smithing Runite Items | 99 Smithing, 85+ Mining | 100,000-150,000 | Smithing, Mining, Magic | Low |
Bossing (Obor/Bryophyta) | 70+ Combat, keys | 50,000-100,000 | Combat | High |
Final Thoughts
Earning GP as an F2P Ironman in OSRS is a grind, but it’s incredibly rewarding. Start with simple methods like the Stronghold of Security and banana crates to build a small cash stack. As you progress, shift to crafting jewellery or killing Ogresses for steady profits. High-level players should invest in Smithing for runite items or tackle bosses for big payouts. Combine active methods with passive alching or selling to Martin Thwait to optimize your income. With patience and strategy, you’ll have enough GP to fund your F2P Ironman adventure or even snag a bond for P2P content. Happy grinding!