CSMoney

CS.MONEY’s dual model enables both P2P and bot-based trading. In the P2P mode, items remain in the seller’s Steam inventory until the buyer commits to purchase; the seller then manually approves the trade. In bot-based transactions, the seller deposits items to a CS.MONEY Steam bot account, and the site automates the handover of goods upon purchase. While P2P provides convenience for sellers (allowing them to list the same skins on multiple platforms), bot-based offers tend to give buyers a more instant, “one-click” acquisition process. Additionally, users can buy and sell items directly for cash on CS.MONEY’s integrated marketplace, complete with an auction feature for those seeking higher revenues on special or rare skins.

Owing to its early entry into the skin-trading market in 2015, CS.MONEY has secured a massive foothold among both casual and professional traders. Its streamlined design and quick trading mechanism have become strong selling points, attracting millions of unique visitors every month. Well-known esports partnerships—such as sponsorships with BLAST Premier and NAVI—have further boosted the site’s visibility. CS.MONEY’s vast inventory of skins and the ability to find high-value or rare cosmetics make it a go-to option for those wanting immediate access to a wide variety of items.

Having started nearly nine years ago, CS.MONEY quickly gained traction when Valve implemented stricter policies for trading, leaving many players in need of a user-friendly alternative. Over time, the platform’s bot-based system became a cornerstone of quick trades, though it also introduced a P2P component in late 2022 to address the Steam market’s 7-day hold period. While this evolution has improved speed and flexibility, the site has faced challenges. In August 2022, CS.MONEY experienced a significant hacking incident in which about $1.6 million worth of skins were stolen and moved across multiple accounts, forcing a temporary shutdown. Despite these setbacks and controversies regarding pricing practices, CS.MONEY remains a major actor in the trading community, largely thanks to its user-friendly operations and brand longevity.

CS.MONEY imposes a base fee of 7% on transactions, which can be lowered to 4% by subscribing to the site’s Prime membership. Compared to Valve’s official Steam Community Market fee of approximately 15%, CS.MONEY’s 7% might seem more attractive. However, it does appear higher than the 2.5% seen on certain other third-party platforms such as BUFF163. Additionally, some users have claimed that extra, less-transparent fees appear during market crashes or are factored into the pricing of specific premium items.

Beyond its core marketplace, CS.MONEY offers a skin wiki, a 3D inspection tool, and several other resources aimed at helping users better evaluate item floats and cosmetic details. The site has also introduced a Prime subscription service, which grants perks like faster support, enhanced discounts on both trades and cash purchases, and a larger top-up bonus for those who frequently use the platform. While not separate “projects” in the strict sense, these features function as standalone enhancements that expand the overall trading experience.

By combining P2P and bot-based trading, CS.MONEY grants traders flexibility and speed. Its extensive catalog of CS2 (as well as DOTA 2) skins allows users to find nearly any item they desire, from well-known favorites to extremely rare cosmetics. A straightforward user interface enables even newcomers to understand the trading process within seconds, which is further enhanced by the existence of a mobile app for on-the-go transactions. Additionally, the market introduction in late 2022 allows for direct cash payouts to Visa or MasterCard accounts (in certain regions), addressing longstanding requests for real-money withdrawals. Prime membership also lowers fees, offers better deals, and speeds up customer support, potentially saving heavy traders a significant amount over time.

While 7% is substantially lower than Steam’s 15% fee, many competing third-party sites offer transaction fees in the 2%–3% range, making CS.MONEY costlier in comparison. Certain controversies have arisen around alleged hidden fees, price manipulations, and inconsistent market value alignment; influential community figures like TDM_Heyzeus and zipelCS have voiced concerns about how CS.MONEY operates during major price fluctuations. The platform’s partial negative reputation has led some users to question its transparency. Moreover, even though the market feature now permits some real-money withdrawals, these are limited to credit cards and remain unavailable in numerous locations, which can be off-putting for international traders.

One of the major draws of Prime membership is the lowered commission fee (from 7% down to 4%), which can quickly pay for itself when dealing with higher-value trades. This subscription also grants benefits like a 2.4% discount on in-market purchases and a robust 45% top-up bonus for adding funds. While some users question whether the membership is worth its monthly cost of $8.99, regular traders of rare or expensive skins often see the savings as a worthwhile exchange.

CS.MONEY’s integration of a fully fledged marketplace expands beyond basic buy/sell transactions, letting users set auctions to compete for premium items. The site also encourages mixing and matching different game items, enabling participants to swap CS2 skins for DOTA 2 cosmetics, and vice versa, all in a single user session. This convenience is part of what has maintained the site’s broad popularity among cross-game collectors.