Many U.S. consumers are unaware that their monthly phone bills or everyday apps can include access to free products, services, and rewards. From streaming subscriptions and cloud storage to free food items and retail coupons, various programs offer no-cost benefits. Understanding how to identify and access these opportunities can lead to significant savings and freebies without requiring a purchase. This article examines verified methods for obtaining free items, focusing on information from carrier plans, dedicated apps, and birthday club sign-ups.
Mobile Carrier Perks and Bundled Subscriptions
Major phone carriers in the United States often bundle subscriptions and promotional perks with their plans, many of which customers may not realize they have. These benefits can range from free streaming services to cloud storage and weekly giveaways. To discover these, customers are advised to log in to their carrier's website or mobile app and navigate to sections like "Plan Benefits" or "Included with Your Plan." Additionally, checking emails, texts, or social media announcements from the carrier can highlight time-sensitive perks. For those on family or multi-line plans, it is important to confirm that perks requiring activation by the primary line holder are correctly set up and shared across all eligible lines.
T-Mobile and Related Brands
T-Mobile offers a variety of free perks to its customers. Any Go5G™ or Magenta® plan with two or more lines and specific plan types (Experience More, Experience Beyond, Go5G Next, Go5G Plus™, or Magenta® MAX) includes Netflix Standard with Ads for free. Higher-tier plans, like Experience Beyond, also include Apple TV+ and ad-supported Hulu. This combination can be worth up to $35 per month in streaming value.
T-Mobile also runs a weekly giveaway program called T-Mobile Tuesdays, where prizes can range from free coffee or donuts to discounts on movie and concert tickets. Customers can claim these prizes by installing the T-Life app and logging in with an eligible plan.
Metro by T-Mobile, a subsidiary, offers value-packed plans. Every Metro Flex plan includes 100GB of Google One cloud storage. Additionally, customers on the Metro Unlimited Plus plan ($60 per month) receive free Amazon Prime. Like T-Mobile, all Metro plans have access to T-Mobile Tuesdays. Both carriers use the Add It Up app, which allows users to play games, win rewards, and reduce their phone bills.
Other Carriers and Their Offerings
Verizon historically tied freebies to its plans, but recent changes have led to discounted bundles replacing some free perks. However, customers can still find value by checking their plan details. Verizon is one of the Big Three carriers, which means it builds and maintains its own network infrastructure. Specific plan details, such as the inclusion of international calling on the Unlimited Ultimate plan, are available on their official website or through customer service.
Google Fi Wireless focuses on benefits within the Google ecosystem. Its Unlimited Plus and Premium plans come with Google One cloud storage, and all plans include a built-in VPN. New Unlimited plan subscribers have historically received six months of YouTube Premium for free, though this is often a promotional offer for new customers or plan upgrades.
Mint Mobile is known for its low prices, and its value comes from discounts and promotions rather than giveaways. Mint differentiates itself by offering wholesale discounts for its service, where customers buy multiple months of service at a time and pay less per month. The company was partially owned by Ryan Reynolds before T-Mobile acquired it in early 2024.
Cricket Wireless provides 2 GB of free cloud storage via the myPhotoVault app for every customer. Those on the $60 plan or with the device protection add-on receive 150 GB.
For customers who cannot find information about available benefits, contacting the carrier's customer service directly is recommended. Representatives can clarify available benefits and sometimes reveal unadvertised extras.
Free Sample and Reward Apps
Several apps and websites are dedicated to helping users find free items. These platforms aggregate opportunities from various sources, making it easier to discover freebies without extensive searching.
Freebie Alerts
The Freebie Alerts app sends instant notifications when neighbors are giving away items. Users enter their ZIP code, and the app scans multiple platforms to show all available free stuff in one place. This app is useful for finding local free items, such as household goods, furniture, or clothing, directly from other people in the community.
Other Reward Apps
Many carriers have dedicated rewards apps that offer regular freebies, discounts, or promotional deals. Downloading and regularly checking these apps is worthwhile. For example, the T-Mobile Tuesdays app (T-Life) is used to claim weekly prizes. Similarly, the Add It Up app used by T-Mobile and Metro allows users to win rewards and reduce their phone bills.
Birthday Freebies and Restaurant Offers
Signing up for birthday clubs at various restaurants and retailers is a common way to receive free items on your birthday. These offers often require an email sign-up and may have specific geographic availability.
Restaurant Birthday Freebies
Several restaurants offer free food items for birthdays, typically with no purchase required. For example: - Arby's: Offers a free dessert (regular shake, cookies, or turnover) with sign-up. This is available nationwide, including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. - Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream: Provides a free cone-gratulatory scoop of ice cream with sign-up. This offer is available in California, Connecticut, DC, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. - Atlanta Bread: Gives a free cookie with any purchase upon sign-up. Available in Alabama, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.
Other restaurants with birthday offers include Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza (free 12" traditional pizza if you spend $5), Applebee's (free dessert with any purchase of $15), and Beef 'O' Brady's (free appetizer with purchase of any entree, up to $8 in value). Note that some offers, like those from Beef 'O' Brady's, Benihana, and Bennigans, require a purchase to redeem the free item.
Retail Birthday Coupons
Some retailers also provide birthday coupons via email upon sign-up. For example: - Athleta: Sends a birthday coupon to members who sign up. This is available in numerous states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. - Belk: Offers a store coupon with sign-up, available in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Mail-In Samples and Useful Freebies
While many free sample sites offer items that may not be useful, some companies send useful samples for free, and some even send full-size products. The key is knowing where to look and how to request samples. This can be particularly helpful when trying to find the perfect product without spending money on full-size items first.
General Tips for Finding Free Samples
- Use Dedicated Platforms: Websites and apps aggregate free sample opportunities. Users should look for platforms that focus on useful products rather than generic freebies.
- Check Company Websites Directly: Many brands have official sample programs listed on their websites. These are often the most reliable sources for current offers.
- Sign Up for Loyalty Programs: Joining a brand's loyalty program or email list can provide access to exclusive free samples and trial offers.
Conclusion
Free samples, promotional offers, and no-cost product trials are accessible through various channels, including mobile carrier plans, dedicated apps, and retailer birthday clubs. By proactively checking plan benefits, downloading rewards apps, and signing up for brand newsletters, consumers can receive free products, services, and discounts. It is important to review the terms and conditions of each offer, as some may require a purchase or have geographic restrictions. Utilizing these verified methods can help U.S. consumers save money and discover new products without financial commitment.