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There are currently eight different heists to complete in Grand Theft Auto Online, but some are much more enjoyable and rewarding than others. Heists vary in player requirements, setup costs, number of prep missions, and potential take, so not all of them are worth completing multiple times. GTA's best heists are both thoroughly entertaining and allow players to quickly earn large amounts of cash.
The first set of heists that was released for GTA Online included five unique scenarios, but they had to be completed in order. Three additional heists have been added since then that are completely separate, so players can attempt them in any order they prefer. Every GTA heist can be replayed upon completion. Additionally, if a heist mission is failed, players can reattempt it without having to start the whole scenario over again unless they are attempting the Criminal Mastermind challenge.
Although there are eight heists in GTA Online, including the Cayo Perico heist, they all offer different levels of difficulty, intensity, entertainment value, and rewards. Some heists have higher potential takes but are harder to complete, or they have a large number of prep and setup missions, like the Doomsday Heist. Other scenarios simply become boring after one or two playthroughs, such as Series A Funding. The best heists in GTA 5's online mode have a manageable difficulty level and offer players decent cash rewards with a thrilling story or finale.
#8 - "Series A Funding" Is GTA Online's Worst Heist
The Series A Funding heist requires four players, and there are five setup missions to complete before the finale. The setup missions involve stealing drugs and vehicles so they can be sold to a new buyer for a large profit. The biggest appeal of the Series A Funding heist is the inclusion of Trevor from Grand Theft Auto 5. In the finale, players need to defend the stolen goods, then deliver them to a secluded house across the map. The setup cost is $40,400, and the highest potential take on hard mode is $505,000 split between four players.
The finale for Series A Funding is underwhelming and it doesn't deliver the same sense of satisfaction as successfully infiltrating and robbing a bank or stopping a global catastrophe. The payout is relatively low, especially compared to some of the newer heists, and it has to be split with three other players. Although it's not particularly difficult, the Series A Funding heist is GTA Online's worst heist because of its low payout and disappointing finale. Check out the Series A Funding Heist finale below with this video from CN3Gaming No Commentary on YouTube:
#7 - GTA Online's Fleeca Job Is A Quick & Easy Heist
The Fleeca Job is the first heist for new players in GTA Online, and it only has two setup missions to complete before the finale. The heist requires two players, and the maximum payout for completing it on hard mode is $143,750. In the first setup mission, players will need to drive to the bank to observe its security, then start formulating a plan. The finale involves robbing the bank using a drill, then driving the Kuruma obtained in the second setup mission to get away from the cops.
The Fleeca Job is the easiest and quickest heist to complete, and it also offers the lowest payout. There's minimal setup required and the finale is a straightforward bank robbery that leads to a high-stakes car chase. Although the missions are relatively easy, and the payout is low, the Fleeca Job is still exciting for new players and does a great job of introducing the basics of heist missions in GTA Online and how to beat them. Watch the final mission of The Fleeca Job below, thanks to SCORPION videos on YouTube:
#6 - The Humane Labs Raid Is Unbalanced In GTA Online
The third original GTA Online heist is the Humane Labs Raid, which costs $54,000 to set up and requires a team of four players. The main goal is to infiltrate the research facility to look for chemical weapons, and there are five setup missions leading to the finale. In the last mission of this GTA heist, two players infiltrate Humane Labs while the other two provide support from the air. On hard mode, players will receive a percentage of the $675,000 payout after the files are retrieved and delivered.
The Humane Labs Raid can be entertaining, but mainly for the team that gets to infiltrate the facility. Staying back and holding off a few security choppers isn't nearly as thrilling as fighting to reach the files before making a daring underwater escape. Out of the five original heists in GTA Online, the Humane Labs Raid has the second-highest potential take, but it's not enjoyable for those that get stuck on the air support team. See The Humane Labs Raid for yourself in this video from GeniusGaming:
#5 - GTA Online's Prison Break Isn't Worth Replaying
There are four setup missions and a finale to complete for the Prison Break heist. A team of four players is needed, but a few of the missions will split the group up into teams of two. Similar to the Humane Labs Raid, one team will definitely see more action, but it's a little more balanced in Prison Break. After setting in motion an elaborate breakout and escape plan, the heist team will need to retrieve their target from within the walls of a high-security prison, then escape while defending him. The payout for the Prison Break finale is $500,000 on hard mode, and the setup cost is $40,000.
Prison Break is the second heist added in GTA Online, and it's a big jump from robbing a small, low-security bank. Although not the most difficult or best heist in GTA 5, Prison Break offers a greater challenge than the Fleeca Job. Since this heist requires four players rather than two, the individual payout is not much higher than in the first heist. Cash rewards aside, Prison Break offers an intense experience with an interesting story the first time around. However, there's not much reason to replay the Prison Break heist after initially completing it. Check out GTA Online's Prison Break Finale in the video from EskiYo below:
#4 - Pacific Standard Is The Perfect Bank Heist In GTA Online
With a maximum potential take of $1,250,000 on hard mode, the Pacific Standard heist offers players the highest cash reward out of the original heists. However, it's also one of the only missions, along with the Diamond Casino and Cayo Perico heists in GTA Online, where players can lose money by taking damage during the finale. The heist requires four players, and there are five setup missions to complete before robbing the bank. The Pacific Standard heist costs $500,000 to begin.
Pacific Standard is unequivocally the best heist included in the original GTA Online heist update. While the Fleeca Job gave players a chance to practice robbing a small-time bank, the Pacific Standard heist puts those skills to the test in a high-stakes robbery with everything from hacking and clearing out a large vault to evading the cops via Lester's elaborate escape route. Although the risk of losing money is present, this heist still offers a higher payout than the four that came before it, and it's arguably the most satisfying to complete. Watch GTAO's Pacific Standard Heist below in this YouTube video from AFGuidesHD:
#3 - GTA Online's Doomsday Heist Has Diversified Content
The Doomsday heist is the longest and most difficult set of missions to beat in GTA Online, and there are actually three separate finales each with a different setup cost and potential take. All three of the Doomsday heists require at least two players, but they're much easier with four. The Doomsday finales are some of the most difficult heist missions, and the payouts for each one are relatively low compared to the Diamond Casino and Cayo Perico potential takes.
The Doomsday heist includes a variety of setup missions that utilize many different vehicles, and it's the most well-rounded of all the currently available heists. Repeating the Doomsday missions isn't really worthwhile for those just looking to make money, but saving the world is an undeniably fun and unique experience. Doomsday isn't GTA 5's best heist, but it's undoubtedly the most diverse set of missions to play through. Check out the entire Doomsday heist (or, at least, one variation of it) in this video from SpottinGames:
#2 - The Cayo Perico Heist In GTA Online Has Many Outcomes
The Cayo Perico heist in GTA Online takes place in a completely new location, and it's the only one that can be completed solo. All of the prep missions, and the finale, can be done in private sessions while playing alone or with friends. There are a variety of possible primary and secondary targets, so the potential take differs each time. However, even with the best possible combination of items to collect, the Cayo Perico heist only has the second-highest possible payout.
GTA 5's Cayo Perico heist is the best choice for those that want to have complete control over how the finale is executed because choosing an approach doesn't lock in specific choices like vehicles, time of day, or the escape route. Cayo Perico is genuinely fun, and finding new or more efficient ways to complete the finale keeps the heist interesting when replaying. The variation in rewards and execution makes Cayo Perico one of the best heists, especially for single-players, that GTA Online has to offer. Look at the massive payday UnderwaterPixel earned in this YouTube video:
#1 - The Diamond Casino Is GTA 5's Best Heist
The best heist in GTA 5 is the Diamond Casino & Resort, hands down. The take for the Diamond Casino heist varies depending on how much damage is taken during the escape and what the vault contents are. Vault contents can be cash, gold, or artwork, and, during limited-time events, diamonds can also be found. The potential take can be anywhere from $2,115,000 to $3,619,00 depending on the difficulty setting and vault contents. There are a few different types of Diamond Casino heists to choose from depending on the approach that players want to use. Having the option to change the way the heist is completed makes it much more enjoyable to replay the Diamond Casino mission in GTA Online.
The Diamond Casino heist only requires two players, but one needs to own an Arcade, and all of the setup missions need to be completed in a public session. Although completing missions in public sessions can sometimes be frustrating, the payout is worthwhile, especially for only two players to split. The variation in approaches and high potential take makes the Diamond Casino the best heist available in GTA Online. See it for yourself in this video from YsterGaming: