Short Answer
No, Crimson Desert is not free to play. It is a full-price retail game that costs $69.99 USD for the Standard Edition on all platforms: PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Pricing by Platform
PC (Steam / Epic Games Store / Microsoft Store): $69.99 USD
PlayStation 5: $69.99 USD
Xbox Series X|S: $69.99 USD
A Deluxe Edition is also available for $89.99 USD, which includes bonus cosmetic armor sets, horse equipment, and additional in-game items. All bonus content is purely cosmetic and provides no gameplay advantages.
No Microtransactions
Pearl Abyss has confirmed that Crimson Desert does not contain microtransactions. Unlike Black Desert Online, which follows a free-to-play model with an in-game cash shop, Crimson Desert is a one-time purchase with no additional monetization.