Sooner or later every GTA Online player looks at the price of a new business or supercar and wonders whether to just pay for money. You have two choices: Rockstar's official Shark Cards, or a GTA 5 cash service that adds money to your character. They work very differently, so here is the honest breakdown.
What Shark Cards are
Shark Cards are Rockstar's official in-game currency packs, sold through the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and PC launchers. They range from the small Red Shark Card up to the Megalodon. They are completely safe, but the price per million is high and the biggest card barely covers one large business with upgrades.
| Shark Card | GTA$ amount |
|---|---|
| Red Shark | $100,000 |
| Tiger Shark | $200,000 |
| Bull Shark | $500,000 |
| Great White | $1,250,000 |
| Whale Shark | $3,500,000 |
| Megalodon | $8,000,000 |
What a GTA 5 cash service is
A cash service adds GTA dollars directly to your existing GTA Online character. You keep your rank, cars, and progress, and you choose how much money you want. The big advantage is price: you usually get many times more money per dollar than with a Shark Card.
Side by side
| Shark Cards | Cash service | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per million | High | Much lower |
| Largest amount | $8M per card | Many millions or more per order |
| Delivery | Instant | Usually within hours |
| Official | Yes | No |
| Risk | None | Some. Goes against Rockstar's terms |
| Keeps your progress | Yes | Yes |
Which should you choose?
- Choose Shark Cards if you want zero risk and only need a small top-up.
- Choose a cash service if you want a lot of money for a reasonable price and are happy with some risk.
- Choose a [modded account](/blog/gta-5/gta-5-modded-accounts-explained) if you are starting over and also want rank and unlocks.
How to spend money safely after delivery
- Spend gradually over days, not all in one session.
- Buy money-making businesses first so you also have normal income.
- Don't transfer or talk about delivered money in public lobbies.
Need ideas for what to buy? Our business ranking shows which purchases pay for themselves fastest.
Frequently asked questions
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Article update log
- Reviewed against the latest GTA Online update and refreshed prices, tips, and FAQs.
- First published.
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