GTA Online weekly bonuses: when to buy on sale and when to play
In GTA Online, everything resets on Thursday: sales, activities paying double or triple, the weekly challenge and, since Title Update 1.73 of July 14, 2026, the first-completion bonus on several heists. To earn more, play right after Thursday. To spend less, only buy on sale what was already on your list.
What changes every Thursday?
| Item | Example from the week of September 17, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Sales | 30% off about fifteen vehicles, 70% off the Astron Custom |
| Free or heavily discounted property | Free Grapeseed Bunker (normally 1,750,000 GTA$) |
| Bonus activities | Bunker Research missions 2X, Community Series 3X |
| Weekly challenge | 3 Research missions = 1,000,000 GTA$ |
| First-completion bonus (since 1.73) | Cluckin' Bell, The Contract (Dr. Dre), Casino, The Doomsday Heist, original Heists... |
Sources: GTABase (week of September 17), official 1.73 notes. This week's details are on our weekly bonuses page.
When should you buy on sale?
- Make your list before the sales. Decide ahead of time on your next three useful purchases (see what to buy first). When one of them goes on sale, buy it.
- Be careful with vehicles. A car at 30% off is still a fun purchase that earns nothing. The most profitable sales are on properties that make money.
- Free properties often come with a condition. This week's free Bunker replaces yours if you already own one, according to Timesaver. Read before you confirm.
- Keep a cash cushion. A property without the money to upgrade or resupply it earns nothing for weeks.
When should you play to earn more?
Ideally in the days after Thursday. That way you enjoy the 2X activities all week and you get your first heist completions in early, which pay the most. If you don't play much, a single 60 to 120-minute session after Thursday captures most of it (see what to do with 30, 60 or 120 minutes).
FAQ
What day do bonuses change in GTA Online?
Thursday, with the weekly update. Sales, 2X activities and the weekly challenge are replaced that day.
Should you buy a property as soon as it goes on sale?
Only if it was already on your list. A 30% discount on a purchase that won't earn you anything is still wasted money.
Does the first heist completion bonus of the week stack with weekly bonuses?
The sources we checked don't say. Look at the end-of-mission screen after your first completion of the week to find out.
Sources
- Rockstar Support: GTAV Title Update 1.73 notes (July 14, 2026)
- GTABase: Title Update 1.73 patch notes (July 19, 2026)
- GTABase: weekly update, bonuses and discounts (September 17, 2026)
- Timesaver: free Bunker during Gunrunning week (September 17, 2026)
Guide prepared with the help of AI tools from the sources cited, then reviewed by the WantedWise team. Independent site, not affiliated with Rockstar Games.
