As in most other MMORPGs, players must pay the publisher (NCsoft) a monthly fee to continue playing City of Heroes. Portions of the subscription costs go to supporting a full-time "live" team, which develops additional content for the game; other portions support the significant server maintenance and bandwidth costs. In addition to paying subscription fees via credit card, another option is prepaid cards that are available at video game retailers. Once purchased, the player inputs a code from the card and their account is updated to allow as many months of play as the card is good for. PlayNC time cards are available from stores that work for any NCsoft published game, and come in 15, 30 and 60 day options.
Continuing active subscriptions are also entitled to Veteran Rewards. The system rewards players with a plethora of costume pieces, extra powers, supergroup base items, respec opportunities, and other minor in-game perks to all characters (both hero and villain characters) on any server tied to the active subscription. Inactive accounts do not accrue time for Veteran Rewards.
As of March 2008 City of Heroes has around 134,195 subscribers in the US & Europe, according to financial reports released by NCsoft in May 2008.
Payment options
US dollars
  1 month for $14.99
  3 months for $41.85 ($13.95 per month)
  6 months for $77.70 ($12.95 per month)
  12 months for $143.40 ($11.95 per month)
  60-day PlayNC time card for $29.99 suggested retail price
Beginning April 5, 2006, NCsoft began adding sales tax to the above subscription charges for customers living in the states of California, Texas, Arizona, and Minnesota, due to having a legal business presence in those states.
Euro
  1 month for ?12.99
  3 months for ?34.99 (?11.66 per month)
  6 month for ?64.99 (?10.83 per month)
British pounds
  1 month for ?8.99
  3 months for ?23.99 (?7.99 per month)
  6 months for ?44.99 (?7.49 per month)