Is Ark Lost Island free?

Hello there, I'm curious about Ark Lost Island. I've heard a lot about it and I'm interested in playing the game. However, before I dive in, I wanted to clarify one thing - is Ark Lost Island free to play, or do I need to purchase it? I'm hoping it's accessible to everyone without having to spend money upfront, but if that's not the case, I'd like to know the pricing details. Thanks in advance for your help!