The player earns XP (EXperience Points) by completing quests and the horse by entering the daily races. When either the player or the horse has gained a certain amount of XP it will level up.
Function
Every time you gain a level, your character will become better. Your skills will improve and you will be able to wear better clothes. Some quests are only available once you've reached a certain level, therefore it's important to level up, both to improve your character and to progress in the story line.
Star Stable
The player can earn XP by completing quests or discovering new locations. When the player levels up, they earn skill points which can be spent to improve their skills. Each horse breed has its own level which cannot change. Horses do not have XP in these games, but they can improve their skills by participating in races and training.
Star Stable Online
In Star Stable Online, both the player and the horse have XP and can level up. The player earns XP almost exclusively by completing quests, although some of the gifts in the Winter Village give the player XP as well. The highest level that any player has been known to reach through gameplay is 26, (30 with the use of mods) but getting to this level requires years of completing limited time quests.
The horses earn XP through certain quests, daily races, and Soul Riding. The horse's level is capped at 15. If the player does every daily activity that gives the horse XP (including the Icelandic horse race and pony race which can have their rewards collected by horses of other breeds) with a single horse, the horse will receive 12900 XP. If this is done every day, it will take two and a half days to get the horse from level 1 to level 15.
The character's XP per level
| Level | XP Required | Total XP |
| 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 150 | 150 |
| 3 | 600 | 750 |
| 4 | 750 | 1500 |
| 5 | 1000 | 2500 |
| 6 | 1500 | 4000 |
| 7 | 2000 | 6000 |
| 8 | 2000 | 8000 |
| 9 | 2000 | 10000 |
| 10 | 3000 | 13000 |
| 11 | 3000 | 16000 |
| 12 | 3000 | 19000 |
| 13 | 4000 | 23000 |
| 14 | 5000 | 28000 |
| 15 | 5000 | 33000 |
| 16 | 7000 | 40000 |
| 17 | 7000 | 47000 |
| 18 | 7000 | 54000 |
| 19 | 8000 | 62000 |
| 20 | 8000 | 70000 |
| 21 | 10000 | 80000 |
| 22 | 10000 | 90000 |
| 23 | 10000 | 100000 |
| 24 | 10000 | 110000 |
| 25 | 10000 | 120000 |
| 26 | 15000 | 135000 |
The horse's XP per level
| Level | XP Required | Total XP |
| 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 100 | 100 |
| 3 | 300 | 400 |
| 4 | 600 | 1000 |
| 5 | 900 | 1900 |
| 6 | 1000 | 2900 |
| 7 | 1500 | 4400 |
| 8 | 2200 | 6600 |
| 9 | 3000 | 9600 |
| 10 | 3300 | 12900 |
| 11 | 3600 | 16500 |
| 12 | 3800 | 20300 |
| 13 | 4000 | 24300 |
| 14 | 4200 | 28500 |
| 15 | 4500 | 33000 |