Google has periodically offered various freebies to its users, ranging from physical hardware devices to complimentary access to premium software features. These promotional offers are typically targeted at subscribers of specific Google services, such as YouTube Premium or Nest Aware, and are often distributed via email notifications or in-app prompts. The availability and terms of these offers are subject to strict eligibility requirements and redemption deadlines.
Free Nest Mini for YouTube Premium Subscribers
In May 2020, Google launched a promotion offering a free Nest Mini to eligible YouTube Premium subscribers. The offer was available to users who were active paid members of an individual plan, student plan, or family plan head-of-household of YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium, or Google Play Music as of May 19, 2020.
Eligible users received a prompt upon opening the YouTube app for Android or iOS, or they could access the offer via a specific URL. Upon accessing the offer page, a promotional code was generated, which automatically applied the discount to the user's Google Store account. Users could then select a color (Chalk, Charcoal, Sky, or Coral), add the item to their cart, and proceed to checkout. The discount was applied at the final stage of the process. Shipping was free on the "Saver" tier, though users had the option to pay for expedited shipping.
The deadline to redeem the promotional code and place the order was 11:59 p.m. PT on June 30, 2020. While the prompt in the YouTube app was the primary notification method, some users reported success by manually visiting the promotional URL.
Nest Hub Sleep Sensing Feature
Google has offered the Sleep Sensing feature on the Nest Hub (2nd Gen) as a freebie, with access extended through 2023. This feature, which functions as a preview, allows users to utilize sleep-tracking capabilities without a subscription. It provides personalized insights, tips, and sleep data directly to the user's phone.
Originally announced as a free service through 2022, Google extended the complimentary period. The feature was slated to become a paid service with a subscription cost of $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year, but as of the provided information, it remained free through 2023. By 2024, Google plans to integrate this feature into Fitbit Premium, where it will require a subscription and incorporate data from Fitbit smartwatches.
Nest Aware Subscriber Freebies
Subscribers to Nest Aware, Google's subscription service for connected home devices, have been eligible for free hardware offers. In a promotion following the YouTube Premium offer, Nest Aware subscribers could receive a free Nest Mini or a Nest Hub smart display.
Eligible subscribers were expected to receive an email at the address associated with their Nest account. The specific hardware offered appeared to depend on the subscription tier: the base Nest Aware tier ($6/month) was associated with the free Nest Mini, while the Nest Aware Plus tier ($12/month) was associated with the free Nest Hub. The Plus tier includes additional features such as extended video history.
This promotion was limited to U.S. residents. Google experienced initial technical issues with the promotional codes but subsequently resolved them, allowing affected users to redeem the offer.
Third-Party Freebie Applications
Beyond Google's direct offerings, third-party applications exist that aggregate free product offers. One such application is the "Freebies App" (Free Stuff Alert App), available on the iOS App Store. This app notifies users of free stuff alerts. According to its privacy details, the app may use location, identifiers, usage data, and diagnostics to track users across other apps and websites. It also collects data linked to the user's identity.
Terms of Use for Digital Freebies
When accessing free digital assets, users often must agree to specific terms and conditions. For example, Mockupnest offers free digital resources such as mockups and flyers for both personal and commercial use. Users are permitted to modify these resources for their projects but are prohibited from reselling, sublicensing, or claiming ownership of the freebies themselves. These resources are exclusive to the Mockupnest platform and cannot be distributed elsewhere. While attribution is appreciated, users are asked to link back to the original source rather than hosting the files on their own sites.
Conclusion
Google's freebie programs are targeted promotions designed to reward loyalty to specific services like YouTube Premium and Nest Aware. These offers typically involve physical hardware like the Nest Mini and Nest Hub, or extended access to software features like Sleep Sensing. Access to these promotions is generally restricted by subscription status, geographic location, and specific redemption deadlines. Additionally, the broader ecosystem of freebies includes third-party apps and digital asset platforms, each governed by their own terms of use and privacy policies.