There are a lot of levels to strive for in Grand Theft Auto 5: Online and it can be a bit overwhelming at times. While most players probably won't strive for Rank 8,000 you definitely want to get to Rank 135 to unlock everything in the game.
If you’re starting over or this is your first time playing this great game, then there are some strategies you can use to level up fast. Which one you choose should be a combination of whatever’s available to you, which is most efficient given your current level and resources, and what sounds the most fun.
Updated November 25, 2021 by Michael Abayomi: We've updated this list to include two additional entries. Both of them involve ways to keep track of missions that offer great rewards.
12 Keep An Eye On The Newswire
The world of GTA Online is constantly evolving, with additional content and events being added to the game to keep players coming back for more. One way to keep an ear to the ground and learn about upcoming events is by regularly checking the Rockstar Newswire.
These bulletin-style update posts serve to inform players about what events and rewards they can look forward to in the near or not-to-distant future. It is typically updated weekly, so make a point of checking in at least once a week.
11 Create A Missions Playlist
Not all missions are created equally and some undoubtedly offer better rewards than others. These are the ones you'll most likely want to keep coming back to if you seek to level up your character faster.
And one way to do so is by creating a playlist of such missions. This would help you to keep track of them whenever you're looking to grind for some additional RP.
10 Leave Them Wanting
When you attract the cops’ attention your wanted level starts to grow. At higher levels, this can result in a greater effort by law enforcement to put an end to the chaos you’re causing. Once you lose the cops you will gain a handful of RP to level up your character.
Granted this isn’t a substantial amount and there are far more efficient ways of getting RP, but if you’re looking for some mindless fun or doing something illegal already you may want to get the police to notice you.
9 Go Racing
If you can afford a halfway decent car, racing is a great way to snag some RP and make some money at the same time. Winning should obviously be your goal as it gets you the most RP for your efforts, but even if you come in dead last you’ll still get some RP.
It’s a quick way to level up and there are plenty of cheap cars that can hold their own on the race track. That or you could always steal something fast to win.
8 Lucky Wheel
The Lucky Wheel in the Diamond Casino and Resort is a great way to snag a large amount of RP. Every day you get a free spin to win all kinds of prizes, and there are some hefty RP rewards to be had.
Granted this is by no means a guarantee, and it certainly isn’t an efficient way to level, but it doesn’t take very long and any of the rewards on the wheel will help towards your leveling efforts. Just get in the habit of making the wheel the first thing you do every day and you’ll see the difference.
7 Daily Objectives
A consistent way to gain some RP along with a healthy dose of cash is to complete your daily objectives. They’re never hard and with a little bit of playtime can steadily nudge your character’s level upward.
It should also be worth noting that consistently doing these daily rewards will net you much more lucrative monthly rewards. Day-to-day you may not think it’s worth your time but when you factor in the larger rewards it absolutely is.
6 Weekly Events
If you’re going for efficiency then make sure to check what events are posted for the week. Every week Rockstar will have different deals and opportunities going and there’s almost always a double RP gain for doing certain activities.
These can be a great way to rack up some serious RP and often align with your other pursuits anyways. Sure now and then it’ll be tied to something you aren’t interested in, but give it a week and it’ll be something different.
5 Corporate Gains
Starting your own organization may or may not be appealing to you depending on how you like to play, but there’s no denying the benefits in RP and cash that comes from being your own boss. With a few associates under your belt, you can collaborate on larger goals and projects that can net far more RP than any solo activity would.
Again, this isn’t for everyone, and how efficient and productive this entirely depends on your associates, but building an empire can be a great way to level up quickly.
4 Adversary Mode
Similar to the previous entry, Adversary Mode is a team style of play that can be a lot of fun and net you some decent RP. These PVP matchups can be incredibly difficult or easy to win depending on who you go up against.
With a comparable team on your side and some dedication, you can earn a lot of RP and level up very quickly at the expense of other players. Even if you lose you’ll find it was worth your time.
3 Crate Drops
For many players, this is their solo go-to for snagging a ton of RP with moderate effort. Every now and then you’ll get a notification that there’s a cargo drop going on and you can steal the cargo for yourself. You do have to go up against some well-armed and armored enemies.
The contents are largely randomized, but if you can snatch a Special Crate you’re looking at something in the neighborhood of 5,000 RP with other goodies like heavy armor, Carbine Rifles, and a few thousand in cash. If you have the resources when you get this notification jump on it.
2 Survival Missions
In survival mode anywhere from a single player to four players must defend against 10 waves of enemies that become increasingly stronger. Between waves, players must gather supplies and gear up for the next wave.
If you enjoy this kind of play then you can gain some serious levels for every enemy you kill, with some enemy kills giving you hundreds of RP. Getting through the final wave will also drop around $50k into your bank account. It’s up to you whether you want to go solo or with a team, and there will be pros and cons to both when it comes to leveling.
1 Special Cargo
The final method you can use to level up quickly are Special Cargo missions. As the CEO of your own organization and with the ownership of a warehouse you can pick up a piece of cargo, drop it off in your warehouse, and sell it for a healthy amount of cash and earn some decent RP.
This is better done on a less occupied server otherwise you’ll be swarmed with players trying to steal the cargo from you. Having a team, a strong vehicle, and powerful gear is all but essential to perform this risky, but an extremely lucrative task.