What Is FACEIT?
FACEIT is the largest third-party matchmaking platform for Counter-Strike. It runs its own servers, its own anti-cheat and its own ranking, completely separate from Valve's Premier and Competitive modes. Your FACEIT level does not affect your CS2 rank, and the other way round.
Players use it for two main reasons: a mandatory anti-cheat that runs whenever you play, and a ladder where the higher levels are full of players who take the game seriously. Many professionals play FACEIT between official matches, which is also why FACEIT is a good source of pro settings: the pro crosshair codes on our site come from FACEIT's own Season 9 post.
FACEIT Levels and Elo Table
Every player has an Elo number and a skill level from 1 to 10 that follows from it:
| Level | Elo range |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | 100 – 500 |
| Level 2 | 501 – 750 |
| Level 3 | 751 – 900 |
| Level 4 | 901 – 1,050 |
| Level 5 | 1,051 – 1,200 |
| Level 6 | 1,201 – 1,350 |
| Level 7 | 1,351 – 1,530 |
| Level 8 | 1,531 – 1,750 |
| Level 9 | 1,751 – 2,000 |
| Level 10 | 2,001 and up |
The ranges are inclusive: 1,750 Elo is level 8 and 1,751 is level 9. Charts that start level 9 at 1,851 predate FACEIT's level rework and are out of date. Level 10 has no ceiling.
What Is Challenger?
Challenger is a badge for the top 1,000 level 10 players in each region (such as Europe, North America, South America, Southeast Asia and Oceania). It is not a fixed Elo: the cut-off rises and falls with the ladder, and you can lose and regain Challenger during a season. Season-end Challenger rewards are a separate award announced by FACEIT each season.
How Elo Goes Up and Down
- Win or lose decides the direction. Elo goes up for a win and down for a loss.
- Team strength decides the size. Beating a team with a higher average Elo earns more than beating a weaker one, and losing to a weaker team costs more.
- Seasons reset softly. At the start of a FACEIT season, Elo gets a soft reset rather than a full wipe. Season 9 started on 5 August 2026; Season 10 starts on 9 December 2026.
Abandoning a match costs Elo and can bring queue bans.
FACEIT vs Premier
| FACEIT | Premier | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | FACEIT (third party) | Valve |
| Ranking | Elo, levels 1–10, Challenger | CS Rating in colour bands |
| Anti-cheat | FACEIT AC, mandatory, Windows only | VAC, built into the game |
| Extra software | FACEIT client and anti-cheat | None |
| Map choice | Captains veto maps | Pick-and-ban veto |
| Cost | Free, optional paid tiers (new CS2 links need Prime) | Needs Prime Status |
Both use the CS2 game client and the same in-game settings, so your crosshair, viewmodel and binds carry over. Skins work on FACEIT too: your inventory loads exactly as it does in official matchmaking.
How to Get Started on FACEIT
- Create an account at faceit.com and link your Steam account.
- Download and install the FACEIT client, which includes the anti-cheat.
- Start the anti-cheat before CS2 whenever you want to play FACEIT.
- Queue for CS2 5v5 matchmaking in your region. When a match is found, accept it, join the veto if you are a captain, then connect to the server from the match room.
FACEIT checks that your Steam account is eligible before letting you queue, including CS2 Prime Status for accounts linking CS2 for the first time. Requirements can change, and the client tells you what is missing.
Tips for Your First FACEIT Matches
- Talk. FACEIT lobbies at higher levels expect callouts. Even simple info (how many, where, how much health) wins rounds.
- Know the map pool. FACEIT's pool is close to Valve's Active Duty pool but not identical: Season 9 added Vertigo as an optional map after a community vote. Practise the maps you are likely to get, not just your favourite.
- Sort out your settings before you queue. A visible crosshair from our Crosshair Generator and a viewmodel that does not block your view are free wins.
- Review your games. FACEIT keeps match stats; compare them with your CS2 stats to see what is holding you back.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FACEIT?
FACEIT is a third-party matchmaking platform for CS2, independent of Valve. You install its client and anti-cheat, queue for 5v5 matches on FACEIT's own servers, and earn Elo and a skill level from 1 to 10. Many competitive players use it alongside Premier, and professional players often practise on it.
How much Elo is each FACEIT level?
Level 1 is 100 to 500 Elo, level 2 is 501 to 750, level 3 is 751 to 900, level 4 is 901 to 1,050, level 5 is 1,051 to 1,200, level 6 is 1,201 to 1,350, level 7 is 1,351 to 1,530, level 8 is 1,531 to 1,750, level 9 is 1,751 to 2,000 and level 10 is 2,001 and above.
What is FACEIT Challenger?
Challenger is not an eleventh level. It marks the top 1,000 level 10 players on each regional leaderboard, so there is no fixed Elo for it: the cut-off moves with the ladder, and you can lose and regain it during a season.
Is FACEIT free?
FACEIT matchmaking itself is free. Since early 2025, though, FACEIT has required CS2 Prime Status on accounts linking CS2 for the first time (accounts linked earlier are not affected). FACEIT also sells optional paid tiers with extra features.
Can I play FACEIT on Mac or Linux?
No. The FACEIT anti-cheat, which is mandatory for matches, runs only on Windows.
Is FACEIT better than Premier?
It is different rather than better. FACEIT's main draw is its stricter, always-on anti-cheat and a player base that skews competitive, while Premier needs no extra software and has Valve's official leaderboards. Plenty of players use both.
What Elo do you start with on FACEIT?
FACEIT can use an eligible new player's recent Premier history to set their starting Elo; players without it start at 1,000, which is level 4.