"Pokémon GO" can be downloaded for free, but some actions beyond that require players to shell out some cash. Like other free-to-play games out there, "Pokémon GO" encourages people to spend real money by offering premium items to advance their progress.
This is where PokéCoins come in. PokéCoins are the currency in "Pokémon GO" that can buy various items in the Shop such as Lucky Eggs, Lure Modules, Bag Upgrades, and Egg Incubators, among others.
Purchasing PokéCoins can really accelerate your progress in the game, but that's if you're willing to spend real money. However, there's a way for you to get PokéCoins for free, and that's through defending a "Pokémon GO" Gym using some of the Pokémon you caught.
"Pokémon GO" Gyms, which players can access after reaching level five, are arenas where trainers can put their Pokémon to battle against other players. Gyms can be a place of friendly matches, but it can become a rivalry fight where the prestige of the Gym is at stake.
Trainers can earn PokéCoins and Stardust by putting a Pokémon as a Gym's defense. After doing this, players can check out their Shop page and click an icon in the upper right corner to get their Defender Bonus, according to Forbes. PokéCoin and Stardust bonuses are also given whenever your Pokémon has successfully defended a Gym.
A friendly or unoccupied Gym should be at a high enough level to accommodate your Pokémon. An icon will pop on the bottom left of the screen if there's an empty slot at the Gym.
If that icon doesn't appear, players have to train in the Gym to raise its prestige level by tapping the boxing glove icon on the screen's bottom right. Training there will increase the Gym's level and will allow you to use a Pokémon to defend it. Battling and defeating a rival Gym several times will drop its prestige to zero and will allow a player to claim it for their own team.
The PokéCoin and Stardust bonus can be collected once every 20 hours, so you should try to deposit Pokémon as many as you can at a gym before getting the bonus. You can also collect it immediately after you put a Pokémon at a Gym because those incentives wouldn't be there forever.
As reported by IGN, listed below is how much PokéCoins cost for those of you willing to spend real money for them. Prices can go up as high as $100.
100 PokéCoins - $0.99
550 PokéCoins - $4.99
1,200 PokéCoins - $9.99
2,500 PokéCoins - $19.99
5,200 PokéCoins - $39.99
14,500 PokéCoins - $99.99
