Channels
Official store vs Codashop: which is actually cheaper?
The difference is usually small, changes with the region, and can disappear once tax and bonus units are included. Compare the four variables, not the home page.
Codashop and similar authorized resellers advertise convenience: enter your player ID, pay in your local method, receive the currency. The official store advertises safety and exact parity with the game. Neither is always cheaper.
The comparison only becomes meaningful when both offers are reduced to cost per 100 units after tax, bonus units and the first-purchase bonus.
What a reseller actually changes
A reseller buys codes or credits from the publisher and sells them in local currencies and payment methods. The pack contents usually come from the publisher, but promotions can differ: a reseller may sell the base pack without an in-game bonus, or run its own discount.
That means the correct comparison is row against row, not brand against brand. A reseller can be cheaper in one region and more expensive in another on the same day.
Where the “cheaper” price hides costs
Check the currency conversion and the payment fee. A price shown in your currency may include a conversion spread that the official store does not charge. Check whether tax is included, and whether the pack still includes bonus units.
The calculator normalises all of this into USD per 100 units and shows the tax basis it used. If an offer looks dramatically cheaper, confirm the pack contents before celebrating.
The non-price difference still matters
The official store is operated by the publisher and needs no player-ID lookup beyond your account. Authorized resellers ask for a player ID and server; that is normal, but only use channels the publisher lists as authorized.
Any shop that asks for your account password, offers “recharge on your behalf” or sells below the official price by a suspicious margin is outside this comparison. The risk is not worth the discount.
A three-step decision
First, pick the pack you need, not the pack with the biggest banner. Second, compare cost per 100 units for your region with the same tax basis. Third, apply the first-purchase bonus once if it is available to you.
If the difference is under a few percent, choose the channel you trust and whose payment method you already use. A small discount is not worth a support problem.
Frequently asked questions
Is Codashop an official channel?
It is an authorized reseller for the games it lists, not the publisher’s own store. Treat it as a reseller: useful, usually legitimate, but still a third party to the game account.
Why is the official store sometimes cheaper?
Regional pricing, local promotions and tax presentation can all favour the official store. It can also be the only channel that includes the in-game bonus units.
Do resellers charge a service fee?
Some add a fee at checkout depending on the payment method. The calculator records the price it read from the storefront; check the final checkout screen for fees before paying.