How to Rent CS2 Skins Through LootBear

Although skins don’t affect gameplay balance, they hold a special place in the hearts of Counter-Strike 2 players. Whether you’re a pro or new to CS2, having a visually appealing cosmetic can definitely enhance your experience. It’s no secret that many players feel more confident going into a match with rare or expensive skins equipped. However, with secondary market prices constantly rising, CS2 cosmetics have become less accessible. For this reason, we’re here to guide you on how to rent CS2 skins for a short period to get that perfect look when it counts.

Is It Allowed to Rent Skins in CS2?

Let’s begin by clarifying that current options for renting skins are not officially tied to Valve, except for the recent Kilowatt Case. The company allowed you to rent CS:GO skins on third-party platforms, but only with CS2 did they introduce an in-house skin-renting option. That is, after purchasing the Kilowatt Case and the key to it, players can either open it and try their luck like with any other case, or rent every single skin from the case for a week.

However, it solely applies to Kilowatt Case skins. If you want to rent skins from other collections, you’ll need to use third-party platforms not affiliated with Valve. Be cautious: if Valve changes its stance on skin rentals, these services may become illegal, the platforms that provide the service will all go offline, and using them could result in account bans if you’re especially unlucky. With this being said, let’s dive into how the rental process works.

How Does Skin Rental Work?

If you think that CS2 weekly drop, chances of getting an expensive skin are low, then you should definitely pay attention to renting. However, there are no standard terms on how to rent a skin in CS2; it all depends on the platform you choose. Typically, users are asked to subscribe for a specified period, either by making an initial fund deposit or by providing their credit/debit card details for regular subscription fees. Many rental websites also offer payment options through crypto, PayPal, and similar methods.

To rent a skin, players usually need to transfer an amount roughly equivalent to the item’s market price to the platform’s account. However, once you return the skin you’ve borrowed, the funds are refunded back to your card (minus a potential fee if your provider does not operate on a monthly subscription basis).

Thus, if you’re looking to experiment with different skins or skin combinations, renting is a compelling option, as you’ll get an opportunity to try out cosmetics before deciding what to purchase. Additionally, some platforms enable users to rent out their skins as well. Thus, if you’re fortunate enough to have a solid inventory, you can benefit just from sharing your skins with these websites.

However, there’s an important factor to keep in mind if you want to explore CS skin renting. As you may have guessed, the rental system we’ve described above is particularly susceptible to scams and fraud. First and foremost, because these platforms are not affiliated with Valve, you cannot fully trust any rent provider. The skin hype is at an all-time high, and scammers are taking advantage of this trend.

Moreover, keep in mind that if you rent out your inventory, the items you receive back might not be the same as the originals. The float, stickers, and patterns can differ, so it’s crucial to read the terms and conditions of the platform you choose carefully. As a general rule, if you plan to rent out a rare, high-value case-hardened pattern in hopes of earning a significant profit, remember that this venture could backfire. Simpler skins, however, are typically safer bets. If you do decide to take a chance, it’s worth knowing which are the best CS2 cases to open what potential rewards you can expect from them.

CS2 Skin Renting Sites

So, is it safe? Well, the answer is complex. To minimize the risk of scams, players should only use reputable platforms with a proven track record. One recommended option is LootBear, which has been working since CS:GO, and holds a good rating on Trustpilot.

How to Rent CS2 Skins?

Before we proceed, let’s assess whether renting skins on LootBear is safe and identify any potential pitfalls you may encounter.

Is LootBear Legit?

LootBear's primary focus has always been skin rentals, and overall, players report a positive experience. For example, LootBear Trustpilot’s rating is 3.7 out of 5.0, with 77% of reviews being five stars. While players generally speak well of the site, some negative experiences have been reported.

The main complaints of players were and still are cases of skin theft. Occasionally, a player may not return a rented skin, and while the victim will be refunded, no one wants to find themselves in that situation. A notable issue is that the site does not consider float values when determining rental prices. This means that LootBear rent prices for more rare float values will be the same as for less rare ones. Consequently, with such LootBear prices, the player who fails to return the skin and is charged by the platform can still sell it for a profit.

The solution, in this case, will be simply not to rent out particularly rare skins. If you are planning to rent the skin for yourself, you shouldn’t have any concerns.

Now, we will guide you through the steps of renting a skin on LootBear (or one of the similar sites open to rent in CS2).

Registration

Go to LootBear. First, you have to start the registration process by pressing “Get started” in the top-right corner of your screen.

You can sign up using your email, then verify your account by clicking the link LootBear sends you. Alternatively, you can register via Steam.

Browsing Skins

Once you’ve logged in, click on the “Rent” tab in the header.

Then, hover over the skin you want to rent and click “Rent.”

Getting Started

Now, the website will offer you a subscription. LootBear provides a free one-week trial for new users. To activate it, simply click “Start Your Free Week” in the pop-up window.

Setting Up Your Account

1. Next, you’ll be asked to set your Steam inventory public and provide your trade link. To do it, go to your Steam profile and press “Edit Profile.”

1. Select “Privacy Settings” in the menu on the right.

1. Set your inventory’s privacy to “Public.”

1. After that, go to your inventory and click “Trade Offers” in the top-right corner.

1. Select “Who Can Send Me Trade Offers” from the right-hand menu.

1. Copy your Trade URL in the “Third-Party Sites” section.

1. Paste it to the required field on LootBear, and press “Save.”

1. For the next step, choose your payment method and add a card. If you prefer crypto, LootBear accepts payments in Bitcoin or Ether.

Renting Skins

To proceed with the LootBear rent skins option, return to the “Rent” tab, choose your skin, and press “Rent.” After that, you will receive a usual trade offer on Steam. That’s it! You can now flex with your new skin until the LootBear subscription expires.

How to Avoid Risks Renting CS2 Skins?

Now that you know how to rent skins in CS2, let’s talk about the potential risks and how to avoid them.

1. Rental is not governed by Valve. The platforms that provide skins for rent are not affiliated with Valve, meaning Valve can't assist if anything goes wrong. To stay safe, always research the platform you’re using. Check Trustpilot, Reddit, YouTube, Steam forums, or simply Google the service. Sticking to well-reviewed platforms will likely keep you out of trouble.
2. You get similar but different skins back. When renting out your skins, don’t expect to get back the exact same item. Don’t get it wrong: if you rent, say, an AK | Redline MW, you’ll get another AK | Redline MW back. However, it would be another skin, not the one you’ve originally rented. Therefore, the pattern, stickers, name tag, and float may differ. And if you can assign the old name to the other skin or even place the same stickers your gun used to have, you cannot, for instance, change the skin’s float. To avoid surprises, always read the platform’s terms of service carefully.
3. Refund challenges. Sometimes, skins may get lost during the renting process, and requesting a proper refund can be a time-consuming hassle. Thus, before renting out any of your skins, check out user reviews to learn about the platform’s refund policies.

If the rental process seems too complicated for you or risky, consider checking out the best cheap CS2 skins and purchase something to own permanently.

Can Any of the Players Find out That My Skin is Rented?

Now you know how to rent skins and avoid risks associated with the process, you’re ready to flex in-game. To end our article on a cheeky note, here’s a fun bit of trivia for you. If you were to rent a knife in CS2 and flaunt it without revealing that it’s rented, other players wouldn’t be able to tell that you don’t actually own the skin.

However, if some salty players get seriously upset after losing to you, they might go the extra mile and investigate your skin’s history. If you rented from a platform that uses trade bots, there’s a good chance they could figure out that the skin is rented. On the other hand, platforms acting as intermediaries for P2P exchanges make it nearly impossible for others to acquire such information. Either way, it’s best not to pay attention to anyone who has time to dig into your rental history.