No Man’s Sky: How to Easily Get Units (Money)

No Man’s Sky has a huge economy that plays into a lot of the different systems on offer. Players will need Units (the game’s currency) to fund their journey to the center of the universe. While many things such as simple resources don’t cost much, there are a few goodies that will take some serious bank. To that end, we’ve provided some tips to help get you rolling in the digital dough, so that you can get all the equipment you want/need for your space adventure.

Scan Everything

This is one of the easiest ways to earn money in No Man’s Sky. Throughout the universe you’ll discover new star systems, planets, plants, and animals. Each of those discoveries is worth something to the Galactic Library since they have a huge database full of information from the farthest reaches of the universe.

As you scan things they are added to the Discoveries tab in your pause menu (Options button). Items marked with a green icon have been uploaded to the library already, but those with a red one can be named and uploaded. Once uploaded you will immediately have Units added to your account.

Different scans have different values depending on what they are. For instance, new animals tend to be worth more than new plants, but they are much rarer. But that shouldn’t matter too much, because you should be scanning absolutely everything you see. 

Species Bounties

Each planet has its very own group of species. Some have a lot, some have very few, but all of them have bounties. Don’t worry, these aren’t the types of bounties where you have to kill some newly discovered lifeforms (though you can if you really want to). All you have to do is discover them with a simple scan.

Now this can be a bit tougher than other ways to earn money depending on what planet you’re on. If you’re on a large planet, the different animals can be very spread out, requiring you to do a lot of exploration. But, it’s worth it in the long run. You get 2,000+ Units for discovering an animal, and when you’ve got them all you can get 150,000 + Units. We’ve seen as high as half a million, and there’s no doubt even higher bounties as you progress closer to the center of the universe. 

Trading

As you explore in No Man’s Sky, you’ll end up collecting a lot of different resources such as elements, items, and artifacts. These resources can be used for your own needs such as charging your tech and crafting other items and upgrades. If you have no need for them, they can be sold on the market. You can also trade with other traders if you come across their ships while travelling. Just interact with the ship and see if they’re interested in what you may have.

Selling on the market is easy, though a skilled hand can eke out a few extra Units. The way the economy works is based on the resources available in your current star system. For instance, if you’re in a system that is abundant in Iron, selling Iron may not prove to be the most lucrative endeavor. However, something like Titanium or Platinum will most likely earn you a stronger market price.

When in the selling menu (whether it’s to the galactic market or a single trader) you’ll notice red and green numbers next to the item and its selling price. These compare the current price with the star system’s average. If the percentage is green, it means your making a bigger profit. If it’s red, then you’re selling at a loss. Keep this in mind when deciding what to unload. It can be annoying to keep cargo for longer, but it’s better to wait for a better price so you can afford that big ship you’ve been eyeing. 

Pirating

This is for all you scoundrels out there who want to fatten up your accounts by any means necessary. No Man’s Sky allows you to be a space pirate, attacking innocent convoys and traders in order to nab their goods.

You can potentially get your hands on some pretty good stuff, as well as on some Titanium for destroying the ships (or even rarer metals). Once you have what you want, you can find a Market terminal and sell it all. Do keep in mind that your crimes will not go unnoticed. If you’re attacking certain alien races, then your standing with them will plummet, and Sentinels frown upon piracy. 

Find Some

It’s not super common, but you can actually find Units just laying around from time to time. Sometimes they will be inside of a container, other times you’ll just have to interact with some weird device.

It’s never a lot, so don’t get too excited. The amount is usually within the 100-500 Unit range, which is enough to maybe by one cheap item. But all those small numbers can add up into one big number. When trying to save up for a new upgrade or some fancy device that caught your eye, you’ll need all the funds you can get your hands on.

Need more help with No Man’s Sky? Check out our robust wiki full of guides and tips!