CSGOEmpire vs CSFloat: Which Is Better for Trading CS2 Skins?
Updated · By the MyCS2Guru Editorial Team
CSGOEmpire and CSFloat both run peer-to-peer skin marketplaces, bro, so if you're a trader deciding where to list your knife or where to buy your next AK, it's a real question. They're built for different people though. CSFloat is a dedicated marketplace that grew out of the CS float-checking world. CSGOEmpire is a skin gambling site whose P2P marketplace happens to be one of the biggest in the game. We compared fees, pricing, the trade protection wait and how you actually get money out.
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Quick verdict
- Choose CSGOEmpire if you want zero trading fees, you like turning skins into coins you can play with or cash out as crypto, and you live in a country Empire accepts.
- Choose CSFloat if you only trade, you want payouts through Stripe-style rails rather than crypto, and you're fine paying a small sale fee for a trading-only platform.
Fees side by side
| Fee | CSGOEmpire | CSFloat (as reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Listing / selling skins | 0% (help centre) | About 2% of the sale price |
| Buying skins | 0% trading fee | No buyer marketplace fee reported |
| Cashing out | Crypto network fees; some cash methods have processing fees | Withdrawal fee reported from about 2.5% down to 0.5% by volume |
| Deposits | Processing fees vary by method and location | Varies by method |
Empire's help centre is clear: "There are 0 fees when depositing or withdrawing skins on CSGOEmpire!" It also explains that crypto withdrawal fees don't benefit the site; they're network fees plus a small payment processor charge, and that Litecoin, Solana, XRP, BNB, TRX, POL and stablecoins on BNB Smart Chain or Polygon are the cheapest to send.
CSFloat's fees come from independent 2026 reviews rather than our own fetch of its help pages, so treat the exact figures as a guide and check CSFloat's FAQ before listing anything expensive. The structure most reviewers describe is a 2% sale fee and a tiered withdrawal fee that drops as your lifetime sales grow.
How pricing works
Empire's help centre says it collects pricing data from other marketplaces, mainly BUFF, and by default prices items about 6% below the BUFF listing price, though items with low demand can vary. You set your own markup when listing. Items listed at +6% or less go into a three-minute auction where buyers can bid, which can push your sale price up.
CSFloat lets sellers set prices freely and is known for detailed item data like float values and pattern info, which helps when you're selling something special. If you trade low-float or rare-pattern items, CSFloat's tools are a big part of its appeal. Our CS2 float value guide explains why that data matters.
The 8-day wait: same problem everywhere
Since Steam introduced trade protection, every completed CS2 trade can be reversed for seven days. Empire's help centre says that when you sell an item, it can take up to 8 days before you receive your coins, so the buyer is sure to keep the item. Buyers can equip and play with a newly bought item but can't trade, sell, consume or modify it during that time.
This isn't an Empire-only thing; any marketplace has to deal with it, so expect a similar delay before CSFloat sale proceeds are final too. Empire softens it with instant credit: a tiered limit that can pay part of your skin deposit value immediately. Its help centre lists ten tiers from 0 up to 20,000 coins, with tiers 2 to 10 requiring at least level 40, plus 50% of your daily reward pool.
Try CSGOEmpire's P2P Marketplace
Getting money out
On CSGOEmpire, your sale becomes Empire Coins (1 coin = about $0.614 per the help centre). From there you can play, buy other skins, or withdraw crypto in 12 coins including BTC, LTC, ETH, USDT, USDC and SOL. Cash withdrawals aren't offered as such; to turn crypto into cash, Empire suggests using a regular exchange.
On CSFloat, reviewers report payouts through Stripe, and only money earned from sales can be withdrawn, not money you deposited. That makes CSFloat more familiar for traders who want funds in a bank account.
Trade safety and reversals
Both platforms rely on Steam trades, so the same safety basics apply: confirm trades in the Steam app, never share your API key, and keep Steam Guard on. Empire's skin trading policy, updated July 1, 2026, spells out the rules:
- Sellers must send the correct item and mark it as sent in time; buyers must accept and mark it received.
- If a seller fails to send, the trade is cancelled and the buyer refunded.
- Anyone who reverses a trade may be permanently banned from the marketplace.
- If a buyer reverses, they aren't refunded; the seller gets the item back and keeps up to 100% of the coins.
Empire also recommends its Chrome extension for trade tracking and autofilling trades so you always send the right copy of an item.
Availability
This is where many people get stuck. CSGOEmpire's terms block the US and its territories, UK, Australia, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands and others, and its terms note that some players in restricted places may be limited to trading features only. CSFloat is a trading platform rather than a gambling site, so its availability is broader. If you're in a blocked country, Empire isn't an option for trading either. See CSGOEmpire USA for US details.
Buying skins: where's cheaper?
For buyers, the honest answer is "check both". Prices on any P2P market are set by sellers, so the same skin can be cheaper on either site on any given day. A few patterns hold up though:
- Empire sellers start from a BUFF-based default price and add a markup, so common skins listed close to default can be good value, especially once you factor in that Empire charges buyers no trading fee.
- CSFloat buyers can filter by float and pattern, which matters far more than a few percent if you want a specific look.
- On Empire you pay in coins, so if you already have a balance from playing, buying there skips a deposit fee entirely.
- On either site, remember a bought item is locked from trading during the protection window, so don't buy something planning to flip it the same day.
Who should use which?
| You are... | Better fit |
|---|---|
| A trader who also plays roulette or cases | CSGOEmpire |
| A trader who never gambles and wants bank payouts | CSFloat |
| Selling a rare float or pattern | CSFloat (data tools) or Empire with a markup |
| Chasing zero fees | CSGOEmpire |
| Based in the US or UK | CSFloat (Empire blocks you) |
Tips for selling on either
- Check recent sales history before pricing.
- Factor in the 8-day protection wait before you count the money.
- On Empire, listing at +6% or less triggers an auction that can attract bids.
- Don't accept trades from people adding you on Steam claiming to be site staff.
- Keep your trade URL current; see our CS2 trade URL guide.
Bottom line
If you're in an allowed country and you like having the option to play, CSGOEmpire's zero-fee P2P market is hard to beat. If you're a pure trader who wants bank payouts and deep item data, CSFloat is built for you. For Empire's marketplace in detail, read our CSGOEmpire marketplace guide and CSGOEmpire fees.
18+ only. CSGOEmpire isn't available in the US, UK, Australia and other restricted countries. See our responsible gambling page.