How to level up fast in GTA Online and earn reputation quickly

How to level up fast in GTA Online

If you know how to level up fast in GTA Online then you can quickly ascend your character through the ranks, and thus increase your rate of progress significantly. Raising your rank by levelling up is more than just a badge of honor, as it also dictates the missions you can access along with the weapons and vehicles you can purchase in GTA Online. For example, you can't get the minigun weapon until you reach rank 120, unless it comes up in the inventory rotation at the GTA Online Gun Van where unlock requirements are overlooked, and to carry the maximum of 10 body armor items you need to achieve rank 135. Basically, increasing your rank gets you more of the good stuff, which makes understanding how to level up fast in GTA Online a key part of the game.

To level up in GTA Online, you'll need to earn Reputation Points (RP), which you get for completing all sorts of actions in-game but mainly through finishing missions. If you want to level up fast in GTA Online then you need to take part in the right activities, and in running through some of these jobs you'll also build up your cash reserves while learning how to make money fast in GTA Online. We've gathered up these tips to help you earn RP and level up fast in GTA Online, so you can catch up to the people who’ve been logged on since launch day.

Spin the Lucky Wheel in the Casino

How to level up fast in GTA Online

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Inside the Diamond Casino and Resort you'll find the Lucky Wheel, which you can spin every day for a chance to win one of 20 prizes. Five of these are RP related, ranging from 2,500 to 15,000 RP awards, so you have a 25% chance of increasing your reputation with each spin. If you've already won the Podium Vehicle, then hit the vehicle award slot again before the weekly update refreshes the podium, you'll bank a huge 20,000 RP! Better still, if you want to follow this method to level up fast, you can use the GTA Online Lucky Wheel glitch to have as many spins as you need to hit the prize you're after.

Focus on Adversary Modes

How to level up fast in GTA Online

Adversary modes brought crazy new group vs group scenarios where teams would usually play out classic movie scenes, most of which would involve one group surviving an assault from the other. These missions, that are highlighted by the Tron-inspired Deadline, can net you a ton of reputation since they are classified as longer missions. They can bring in thousands of points, and are just fun to play – you’ll need a team though, as they can’t be done alone. If you've got friends on other platforms and you're wondering, 'can you play GTA Online on PS5 with PS4 players?', we've got answers for you here. 

Collect Cargo

How to level up fast in GTA Online

Once you get to rank 12, you’ll be able to retrieve crate drops that happen all over the map. Before it happens you’ll receive a notification on the top right corner of the screen, followed by markings on the mini map that tell you where it’s been dropped. You’ll have to kill a few well armed NPCs that defend the drop, but once you do you could open up the crate to find 3,000 reputation points – some special drops have 5,000 RP. It’s one of the best ways to gain RP, that’s widely agreed upon throughout the GTA Online community.

Check the Newswire

How to level up fast in GTA Online

Every Tuesday Rockstar updates their Newswire with new info and details about events that offer double the reputation. This can include specific mission types or special playlists that they put together for a unique event. No matter what it ends up being, it’s a great opportunity to get extra RP and cash. Checking the Newswire can also give you tips on how to get discounts on certain vehicle purchases and free items, so it’s in your best interest to bookmark that baby.

Build a playlist with the best missions

How to level up fast in GTA Online

Completing missions is the intended way to gain RP, as they’re the bulk of GTA Online and contain all sorts of objectives and play styles. You can compile some of the missions that give out the most RP in a playlist, either by yourself or with a crew, to tackle them efficiently. Remember that missions unlock at certain ranks so you won’t be able to access them all at once, and we have a rundown of the GTA Online best paying missions that would make a great basis for that playlist.

Join an organization

How to level up fast in GTA Online

GTA Online lets you do way more than just petty one-off crimes, it lets you build an empire. Players can buy an office once they have enough money and start their own organization, and other players can then join as associates. This will be a good source of RP since you’ll have access to a group of like-minded individuals that actually want to get stuff done. You can easily earn on your own, but completing missions with a group – including those listed above – will earn you a nice bonus alongside your typical cut.

Take part in Freeroam Events

How to level up fast in GTA Online

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

As long as you're playing on a public server you'll see Freeroam Events pop up at regular intervals, often with a countdown timer to their start so you have time to get to a suitable location or find an appropriate vehicle to take part. These events are randomly selected from a large pool of options, and while you'll usually be entered into them automatically there are some that you need to follow a prompt to take part in. There are big RP rewards for winning these events, which gradually reduce the lower you position, but as a lot of players tend to ignore Freeroam Events now it usually not hard to finish near the top.

Go fast & furious in races

How to level up fast in GTA Online

You can earn up to 500 RP for just completing a race, you don’t even need to win it. This isn’t as much as other missions might net you, but races are over much faster and can be done in quick succession if you want to rack up points quickly. The Criminal Record race can be finished in half a minute if set to only one lap. This is also better suited for starting out since it’s an easier task to tackle, however it’s not recommended once you’ve reached the upper echelon of GTA Online ranks. 

Lose the Cops

How to level up fast in GTA Online

While not the most efficient way to build up experience, losing the cops after building a wanted level is a consistent way to earn reputation. Each star wanted level brings in another 100 points, but be careful going for those higher levels since it can be incredibly difficult, or at least time consuming, when trying to ditch a trail that hot. This is also one of the most enjoyable ways to gain reputation since you can do almost anything you want to gain the cops attention, much like the single player campaign. It’s best to gain a wanted level by either stealing a car or killing another player, since both actions will also get you some RP on their own. 

GTA Online tips | GTA Online Solomon Movie Props | GTA Online new cars | GTA Online fastest cars | GTA Online fastest bikes | GTA Online best weapons | GTA Online Payphone Hits | GTA Online Short Trips | GTA Online Shark Card | How to transfer GTA Online | GTA 6

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Freelance Writer

Aron writes for Upcomer covering the video games and eSports industries in-depth. He was previously a freelancer whose work appeared in Wired, Rolling Stone, Washington Post, and GamesRadar, among others. 

With contributions from