The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a wide range of companies and organizations to offer free products, services, and digital content to support consumers during lockdowns and economic uncertainty. These offers spanned multiple categories, including food and beverage, digital entertainment, educational tools, and professional software. The available source material documents specific freebies and deals that were extended to various groups, such as college students, federal workers, and the general public, often as a response to the shifting landscape of remote work, education, and home-based leisure.
While many of these offers were time-sensitive, the documented initiatives highlight how brands adapted to provide value during a period of widespread disruption. The following sections detail the specific freebies and promotional offers reported across the provided sources.
Food and Beverage Freebies
Restaurants and food chains implemented several promotional offers to attract customers and support specific groups affected by the pandemic or government shutdowns. These deals ranged from daily meal giveaways to purchase-based incentives.
TGI Fridays launched a support program for federal workers during a government shutdown that began on October 1. The restaurant chain provided a free meal daily through October 23 to Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) and air traffic control workers. This initiative was designed to support these employees who were either furloughed or working without pay during the shutdown.
In the Washington, D.C. region, WTOP’s "Friday Freebies" roundup highlighted several food-related offers in November. MyPanera members could receive a free bakery treat when placing a minimum order for delivery through November 16. The promotion also included daily deals for members during that period. Corner Bakery offered a buy-one-get-one-free deal on Baby Bundts or Bundt Bites on November 15 for National Bundt Cake Day, valid at participating locations while supplies lasted. Additionally, the grand opening of a new Chicken Salad Chick restaurant in Herndon, Virginia, on November 18 featured freebies for the first 100 people in line, followed by giveaways with purchase for early visitors from November 19 to 22.
During the initial lockdown phase, Burger King offered two free kids' meals with each order placed through its app per day from March 23 to April 6. This promotion was part of a broader wave of offers from food and beverage companies aiming to ease the financial burden on families.
Digital Entertainment and Gaming Offers
With consumers spending more time at home, video game publishers and digital platforms offered a significant number of free titles and trials. These offers were designed to keep users engaged and provide accessible entertainment.
Epic Games offered Watch Dogs and The Stanley Parable for free to PC gamers until March 26 at 11 a.m. GOG (formerly Good Ol’ Games) ran a "Spring Sale" promotion featuring 37 titles available for free. The indie game store Itch.io also provided several dozen games discounted down to zero. Steam made more than 40 new game previews available for free through March 23.
Beyond gaming, digital comic publishers provided free content to fans during the 2020 lockdown. 2000AD offered a variety of free single issues and samplers on their website, including the free download of Judge Dredd: Case Files #05, a 384-page collection available in cbz and pdf formats. DC Comics did not offer its superhero titles for free but made several hundred pounds worth of Scooby Doo comics available at no cost.
Educational and Professional Software Freebies
Companies extended free access to educational and professional tools to support the transition to remote learning and work. These offers targeted students, educators, and professionals adapting to new virtual environments.
Loom permanently removed the paywall for its education tier in response to COVID-19. Students and teachers using Loom for Classroom gained free access to Loom Pro. The service also removed the recording limit on its free plan, cut the price of other plans in half, and extended all trials from 15 to 30 days. Microsoft Teams Premium was offered with free access for six months.
Online education platforms also stepped in to provide content. Ivy League universities made 450 free online courses available to the public. Additionally, a variety of free live music, fitness, yoga classes, and theater performance streams were offered daily.
Offers for Specific Groups
Certain freebies were directed at specific demographics facing unique challenges during the pandemic.
College students were a primary focus for companies offering extended deals and freebies to ease the transition from campus to quarantine. As documented, Loom’s permanent free access for education was a key offer for this group.
Federal workers affected by the government shutdown received targeted support. The TGI Fridays free meal program for TSA and air traffic control workers is a documented example of a company providing direct assistance to this segment of the workforce.
Broader Freebies and Promotional Content
The available sources also mention a general culture of freebies that emerged during the pandemic. One blog post titled "All the #StayHome Freebies!" compiled personal development courses and entertainment options to help people occupy their time at home. The post noted that many companies offered free courses and product trials to adapt to higher demand for virtual connectivity and to address consumer boredom.
Another source discussed freebies for documenting life during the pandemic. This included free digital printables and word art, such as those offered by Planners Anonymous and Ali Edwards, which consumers could use to create personal journals and albums documenting their lockdown experiences.
Conclusion
The documented freebies and promotional offers during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated government shutdowns reflect a broad corporate effort to support consumers through a period of significant disruption. Offers spanned essential needs like food, with restaurants providing free meals to specific worker groups and families, to entertainment and education, with major gaming and software companies providing free digital content and tools. These initiatives provided temporary relief and access to resources for various segments of the U.S. population, from college students and federal employees to the general public seeking at-home activities.