Second life doesn’t offer a demo per se but provides an option for gamers whether to start off with Basic membership and upgrade to a paid account later on.

The free basic membership has it’s limitations. For one, Basic membership accounts cannot create alternate characters. Additionally, basic members cannot own land.

Before May 29th, 2006, basic members were given a stipend of 50 Linden dollars (L$50) a week.

Aside from the free basic accounts, there are additional basic accounts and premium accounts. Additional basic accounts are pretty much the same with free basic membership and do not offer any additional privileges. Second Life residents commonly avail of additional basic accounts for creating alternate characters.

Premium account holders on the other hand, are given a stipend of L$500 a week (whether or not they log in periodically) plus a signup bonus of L$1250. Premium members can also own second life real estate up to 512 square meters without additional costs.

Listed below is the pricing scheme for additional basic accounts and premium accounts.

* Additional basic accounts – $9.95 per account
* Premium accounts – Monthly $9.95; Quarterly $22.50 annually $72.00

Premium members who wish to own land bigger than the 512 square meters alloted to them can do so for the following prices:

- 1024 square meters for $8.00 a month
- 2048 square meters for $15.00 a month
- 4096 square meters for $25.00 a month
- 8192 square meters for $40.00 a month
- 16384 square meters for $75.00 a month
- 32768 square meters for $125.00 a month
- 65536 square meters for $195.00 a month

Premium members can even own an entire island in second life. Small islands which measure 65,536 square meters cost $1,250 and are charged a maintenance fee of $195 a month Large islands which measure 262, 144 square meters, on the other hand, cost $5,000 and are charged a maintenance fee of $780 a month.