Best OSRS F2P Profitable Skills for Earning Gold in 2025
Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers a vibrant free-to-play (F2P) experience, but making gold without a membership can feel like a grind. Fortunately, several F2P skills can turn your time into profit while leveling up your character. This guide explores the most profitable F2P skills in 2025, focusing on methods that balance gold per hour (GP/H), accessibility, and skill progression. Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned adventurer saving for a bond, these skills will help you stack gold efficiently.
Mining is a cornerstone of F2P money-making, offering consistent profits through resource gathering. It’s accessible to beginners and scales well with higher levels, unlocking valuable ores like Runite.
Gold Ore Mining
At level 40 Mining, you can mine Gold ore, which sells for a decent price on the Grand Exchange (GE). The Al Kharid mine is a prime spot due to its proximity to a bank. With level 40 Crafting, you can access the Crafting Guild, which has multiple Gold veins and fewer competitors. Expect around 100,000-150,000 GP/H, depending on world hopping and market prices.
Runite Ore Mining
For high-level players, mining Runite ore at level 85 is one of the best F2P money-makers, yielding up to 500,000 GP/H. The catch? Runite rocks are only found in the Wilderness Lava Maze (level 46 Wilderness), making it risky due to player killers (PKers). Use a Rune pickaxe and lightweight gear to maximize efficiency and minimize risk. World hopping is essential due to slow respawn rates (around 17 minutes).
- Tip: Bring minimal items to reduce loss if PKed.
- Tip: Use the GE to check live ore prices before committing.
Crafting: Turning Materials into Profit
Crafting is a low-requirement skill that offers solid profits in F2P, especially through jewelry making. It’s ideal for players with some starting capital and can be done AFK for relaxed gameplay.
Sapphire Rings
At level 20 Crafting, you can craft Sapphire Rings using a ring mould, gold bars, and cut sapphires. The Al Kharid furnace is the best location due to its closeness to a bank. Each ring yields about 110 GP profit, translating to 120,000-150,000 GP/H with focused effort. You’ll also gain around 25,000 Crafting XP per hour, making it great for skill progression.
Ruby Jewelry
At level 34 Crafting, Ruby jewelry (especially unstrung amulets) becomes highly profitable, offering up to 250,000 GP/H. You’ll need a necklace mould, gold bars, and rubies. The Edgeville furnace is ideal for efficiency, as it’s the closest to a bank in F2P. This method requires around 400,000 GP in starting capital but is less competitive than other crafting options.
| Method | Level Required | GP/H | Starting Capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapphire Rings | 20 Crafting | 120,000-150,000 | 100,000 GP |
| Ruby Jewelry | 34 Crafting | 200,000-250,000 | 400,000 GP |
Cooking: Serving Up Profits
Cooking is an accessible skill that can be profitable in F2P, especially for players with low stats. While it’s not the highest earner, it’s low-effort and pairs well with other activities.
Cooking Tunas
At level 30 Cooking, you can cook raw tunas, which are in high demand for their healing properties. The Al Kharid range is perfect due to its proximity to a bank, minimizing travel time. At level 63 Cooking, you stop burning tunas, maximizing profits at around 50,000-100,000 GP/H. This method is simple: buy raw tunas from the GE, cook them, and sell the cooked tunas for a profit.
Pizza Making
Starting at level 35 Cooking, making plain pizzas from scratch is surprisingly lucrative, offering around 180 GP per pizza and up to 150,000 GP/H. You’ll need pizza bases (made from flour and water), tomatoes, and cheese. Cook them at the GE for convenience, but note that you’ll burn pizzas until level 68 Cooking, which can cut into profits. This method is great for players who enjoy a multi-step process.
- Tip: Use the GE to buy ingredients in bulk for better prices.
- Tip: Cook near a bank to save run energy.
Smithing: Forging Wealth
Smithing combines well with Mining and offers profitable methods for F2P players, especially at higher levels. It’s capital-intensive but rewarding for those who invest.
Iron Bars
At level 15 Smithing, smelting Iron ore into bars using a Ring of Forging guarantees success, yielding about 40,000 GP/H. The Edgeville furnace is the best choice due to its bank proximity. This method is accessible for beginners but requires some starting gold to buy ores or a Mining level to gather them yourself.
Rune Items
At level 99 Smithing, you can smith high-value Rune items like platelegs, plateskirts, or two-handed swords, earning up to 300,000 GP/H. The Varrock west bank anvil is the closest to a bank, making it ideal. This method requires significant capital (rune bars are expensive) and is best for players who’ve already leveled Mining or have gold to invest. It’s also relaxing, as you can smith multiple items per inventory.
Magic: High Alchemy for High Profits
Magic isn’t typically seen as a skilling money-maker, but High Alchemy (High Alch) is a standout F2P method for turning items into gold. It’s capital-intensive but offers excellent returns.
High Alchemy
At level 55 Magic, you can cast High Alchemy to convert items into gold, earning up to 500,000 GP/H with the right items. Rune items (e.g., platelegs, kiteshields) are often the most profitable, offering 400-500 GP profit per alch. You’ll need a Staff of Fire and Nature Runes, plus a large cash stack (ideally 120 million GP) to buy items in bulk. The GE is the best place to alch, as you can buy and sell instantly. Check sites like Alchmate for the most profitable items daily.
- Tip: Use the RuneLite plugin to track alch profits in real-time.
- Tip: Avoid low trade volume items to prevent price crashes.
Telekinetic Grab for Nature Runes
At level 33 Magic, you can use Telekinetic Grab to collect Nature Runes in the Wilderness, earning around 130,000 GP/H. This method requires a Staff of Air, Law Runes, and decent Hitpoints or 43 Prayer to survive PKers. The runes spawn near the Wilderness altar, and you can bank in Falador. It’s riskier but viable for players comfortable with the Wilderness.
Tips for Maximizing Profits in F2P
To make the most of these skills, keep these strategies in mind:
- Monitor GE Prices: OSRS prices fluctuate daily. Use the GE tracker or RuneLite to ensure you’re buying low and selling high.
- Start Small: If you’re low on gold, begin with methods like Cooking or Iron Bar smelting, which require less capital.
- Combine Skills: Pair Mining with Smithing or Crafting to reduce costs by gathering your own materials.
- Avoid Burnout: Choose AFK methods like Cooking or Smithing for longer sessions to stay engaged.
- Plan for a Bond: A bond costs around 3.4 million GP in 2025. High Alchemy or Runite Mining can get you there fastest.
By focusing on these profitable F2P skills—Mining, Crafting, Cooking, Smithing, and Magic—you can build a solid gold stack in OSRS without a membership. Each skill offers unique advantages, from low-requirement accessibility to high-level riches. Start with what suits your level and capital, and you’ll be on your way to affording that bond or upgrading your gear in no time. Happy skilling!
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