Heists are among the most thrilling content GTA Online has to offer. These multi-part missions demand careful planning for flawless execution and deliver some of the highest payouts in the game. However, not all heists are created equal when it comes to quality or cash rewards. Some are best treated as one-time experiences, as their setups or overall length don’t justify the final payout. To make your journey easier, we’ve ranked the best heists in GTA 5 Online, complete with details on their payouts and more. For this list, we’re focusing exclusively on the eight heists released in GTA 5 Online to date. With that said, let’s dive in.
8. The Prison Break
- Payout: $700,000 (Normal), $875,000 (Hard)
- Player Requirement: Four players
The Prison Break is one of the original heists introduced to Online back in 2015. It involves a crew of four players orchestrating a daring jailbreak, working alongside Agent 14, to rescue Maxim Rashkovsky. However, before you can break into Bolingbroke Penitentiary, the heist requires completing four setup missions, three of which focus on stealing vehicles. It also has a setup cost of $40,000.
As for the finale, players are divided into teams of two, with one tasked with rescuing the prisoner and the other handling demolitions. This division complicates matters, as the mission’s success heavily depends on every player pulling their weight. Additionally, the combat sequences unleash a flood of armed guards and special reinforcements, making coordination absolutely crucial.
Being one of the earlier heists released in the game, it carries the frustrating drawback of instant mission failure if even one participant disconnects. Combined with the challenging combat scenarios, this can turn solid progress into sudden failure. And given the underwhelming payout, the effort simply isn’t worth it. As a result, we rank it the worst heist in GTA 5 Online.
7. Series A Funding
- Payout: $707,000 (Normal), $883,750 (Hard)
- Player Requirement: Four players
As another OG heist, Series A Funding shares many of the same flaws as The Prison Break. To start, the frustrating instant-fail conditions are still present, along with the heavy reliance on full teamwork. That said, the finale should be easier to complete even with random players, as the action isn’t particularly chaotic.
The highlight of this heist is the involvement of everyone’s favorite maniac, Trevor Philips. The GTA 5 protagonist plays a major role, showcasing plenty of his homicidal antics and unfiltered absurdity. He even ends up sobbing by a tree when it’s all over but we’ll leave the reason for you to discover.
In short, Series A Funding is a quicker heist compared to The Prison Break, with slightly better payouts. However, due to its complicated nature, we still don’t recommend it in GTA Online.
6. The Fleeca Job
- Payout: $201,250 (Normal), $250,250 (Hard)
- Player Requirement: Two players
The Fleeca Job was the first heist introduced in GTA Online, and it clearly shows in its straightforward structure. The setup is simple, and Lester even covers the initial financial investment for your first run. However, keep in mind that any subsequent attempts will require $11,500.
The mission itself is a classic bank robbery, with one player acting as the getaway driver and the other drilling into the safe. After securing the cash, players jump into an armored vehicle and lead the police on a high-speed chase, which ends with their car being lifted away by a helicopter-mounted magnet.
It’s a undeniably cool way to close out the game’s first heist, and the best part is that it can easily be completed in under 30 minutes. This makes it highly accessible, especially for replaying, and the payout only needs to be split between two players always a welcome bonus. If you’re a beginner with a friend looking to kill some time, this GTA 5 Online heist is definitely worth trying.
5. The Humane Labs Raid
- Payout: $945,000 (Normal), $1,181,500 (Hard)
- Player Requirement: Four players
The Humane Labs Raid requires a setup cost of $54,000 and five prep missions before the finale. These tasks can be challenging, involving vehicle thefts from armed convoys and intense shootouts with Merryweather.
The heist’s core is stealth-based, as your crew breaks into a secure research facility to steal biological weapons. You’ll have access to useful equipment like night vision goggles, scuba suits, and suppressed weapons, making this heist both thrilling and rewarding.
The mission has a Tom Clancy game aesthetic, emphasizing stealth for most of the heist. Eventually, chaos unfolds, leading players to an underwater escape, which heightens the stakes and makes the raid unforgettable. With solid payouts, the Humane Labs Raid is a must-play in GTA 5 Online.
4. The Bogdan Problem (Doomsday Heist Part 2)
- Payout: $1,425,000 (Normal), $1,781,250 (Hard)
- Player Requirement: 2-4 players
The finales of all three parts of the Doomsday Heist are top-notch, but for us, The Bogdan Problem stands out as the best. It requires a setup cost of $25,000, along with completing five setup missions. Like other heists, you’ll be stealing various vehicles for the finale, but these include Deluxos (flying DeLoreans), Stormberg underwater vehicles, and an Avenger VTOL.
These heists set the stage for an action-packed mission where players infiltrate a submarine to eliminate the infamous Bogdan. Depending on the team split, two players will race behind the submarine in the high-tech Stormberg, while others provide aerial support against incoming Buzzards. This leads into intense gunfights both underwater and above the surface, all culminating in a nail-biting race against the clock.
The heist is an adrenaline rush from start to finish and is absolutely worth experiencing at least once. However, where it falls short is in replayability, as the setup missions and even the finale itself are too time-consuming.
3. The Pacific Standard Job
- Payout: $1,500,000 (Normal), $1,875,000 (Hard)
- Player Requirement: Four players
The Pacific Standard Job is about as classic as GTA heists get. It’s a straightforward bank robbery, free from any futuristic gimmicks, where four players hit the titular bank while running through some of the most iconic Hollywood heist clichés. It’s a tried-and-true formula that has been used throughout the franchise, yet it still holds up as strongly as ever.
This GTA Online heist requires an investment of $25,000, along with completing five setup missions that are easy to breeze through. The finale includes all the typical single-player mechanics, like crowd control, elaborate getaways, and the risk of losing money if the duffel bags get shot. The simplicity of it all works in the heist’s favor, making it one of the best activities for grinding out substantial payouts.
2. The Diamond Casino Heist
- Payout: $2,115,000 (Normal), $2,326,500 (Hard)
- Player Requirement: 2-4 players
When it comes to payouts, the Diamond Casino Heist stands alone. The figures mentioned earlier reflect the minimum reward players can expect, but depending on what’s inside the casino’s safe, the payout can soar up to an impressive $3.6 million. However, don’t think of this heist as just a money-making grind, as it’s also one of the most intricately designed missions in the entire game.
Rockstar put a great deal of effort into the heist’s creation, allowing players to control nearly every aspect of the job. There are three distinct methods to execute the robbery, and each one is worth experiencing at least once.
It’s also one of the few heists where recruiting high-level professionals is almost essential. If you’ve got the skills, you can even attempt to escape without alerting the authorities who are closing in. All of this makes robbing the Diamond Casino one of the best heists in GTA 5 Online.
1. Cayo Perico Heist
- Payout: $630,000 : $1,900,000 (Normal), $693,000 – $2,090,000 (Hard)
- Player Requirement: 1-4 players
For players familiar with the game, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Cayo Perico Heist has been a fan favorite since its release for several reasons. First off, it takes place on a secluded island outside of Los Santos a refreshing change that fans had been eagerly hoping for.
The heist also offers multiple targets, giving players the freedom to approach the mission however they see fit. Whether you decide to go in guns blazing or take a stealthy route like Agent 47, the choice is yours. The icing on the cake is that this heist can be completed solo, allowing players to pocket the entire haul for themselves.
As part of the setup, you’ll need to complete a few odd jobs and scout the island, but these tasks can be done quickly. The heist itself can be finished in as little as 10 minutes, making the time-to-payout ratio absolutely insane. It’s no wonder the Cayo Perico Heist is the go-to cash grind for solo players. In fact, it stands as the best heist in GTA 5.
That wraps up our rankings of the best heists in GTA Online. Do you agree with our picks? Let us know in the comments below!
