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In a day and age where everyone seems to be offering free stuff online, it may be hard to discern which companies offering free stuff are legit, and which ones are a scam.
The truth is not everyone has your best interest in mind, and often times getting free stuff isn’t as simple as some people make it out to be. There’s almost always some sort of “catch.” You’ll have to register an account, download an app, or start a free trial. You get the point.
It makes sense, though. Companies aren’t just going to offer free stuff online if there isn’t at least some heightened chance that you’ll do business with them in the future. Fortunately, you don’thaveto do business with them. Many companies offer free product samples, free makeup, or other free stuff by mail, with no requirements, commitments, or shipping costs.
To help you cash in on their desperation generosity, we’ve put together a list of 22 completely safe places you can get free beauty products, gift cards, and other common household items (from retailers such as Amazon, Starbucks, and Walmart), at no cost to you.
22 Apps and Websites to Get Free Stuff Online
There are a number of companies that offer online freebies in exchange for completing easy tasks like taking paid surveys and watching videos. The tasks are generally pretty boring, but they offer a legit way to get totally free stuff with no strings attached.
Note: The apps and websites below can be accessed without a credit card (if you’d prefer to keep your information private).
1. Get free cash back with DollarSprout Rewards
If you ever buy anything online, make sure you are using a cash back browser extension. After years of recommending these to our readers, we decided to make our own (better) version, which we named DollarSprout Rewards.
Any time you are are shopping online, DollarSprout Rewards works in the background to find you the best cash back deals and coupon codes so you can save as much money as possible. Whenever you visit an eligible merchant, you will get a small alert notifying you of a cash back opportunity — just hit the Activate button and you are all set to earn.
DollarSprout Rewards is available on the desktop versions of Chrome and Safari.
Where to get free gift cards
Gift cards give you the opportunity to buy whatever your heart desires at various retailers, restaurants, and more. The below websites may reward you with free gift cards, making it easier to score new clothes, enjoy a dinner out, or cover a week’s worth of groceries.
2. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys rewards users for giving feedback on products and services. You don’t have to pay for anything. All it costs is a small portion of your time. But with its Survey Matching Engine that pairs you with opportunities that fit your profile, it won’t even cost you much of that either.
Once you reach 1,000 points you can cash out for $10. Options include PayPal, direct deposit, or gift cards to places like Apple, Lowe’s, Amazon, and other favorite restaurants and retailers.
Bonus: Get your first 100 points when you create your account.
3. Swagbucks
With Swagbucks, you can earn points for things like shopping, taking surveys, watching videos, and playing games. Once you earn enough points, you can redeem them for gift cards to popular places like Target, Amazon, and Walmart.
You can also earn cash and transfer it to your PayPal account if that’s your preference.
Bonus: Get a free $10 gift card when you make a $25 purchase at a qualifying retailer.
4. InboxDollars
InboxDollars rewards you for things you’re probably already doing. Think searching the web, playing games, taking surveys, and watching videos.
According to its website, most surveys “pay from $0.50 to $5.00 and take 3 to 25 minutes to complete. There are some online surveys that pay $10, $20, or even more if you match the demographic profile an advertiser is looking for.”
The minimum redemption amount is $30. You can redeem your rewards points for Visa or retail gift cards, or you can opt for a physical check in the mail if you’d prefer.
Bonus:Get an instant, free $5 bonus when you sign up today.
5. Survey Junkie
You’ll love Survey Junkie if you don’t mind taking surveys and sharing your opinion. Most surveys only take a few minutes to complete and you’ll still get points for trying to take a survey even if it turns out you’re not qualified for it. You can redeem these points for gift cards at hundreds of retailers or cash through PayPal.
6. MyPoints
The MyPoints rewards program gives you points for searching the Internet, reading emails, taking surveys, printing coupons, and more. You can earn 60 points just by signing up and completing your profile. You can save up points for a $100 gift card or redeem fewer points for gift cards worth $10, $25, or $50.
Bonus: Get a free $10 gift card when you make a $20 purchase at a qualifying retailer.
7. Tapestri
Tapestri doesn’t give out gift cards, they just pay you straight cash. Tapestri is a data collection app that pays users for their data — mainly, their location data. This is the same kind of stuff that virtually every other big name app collects, like Facebook, Instagram, even the Weather Channel app. This data is worth a lot of money to companies because it gives them more insight into understanding their customers’ behavior.
The nice thing about Tapestri is that even though they are selling your data (and paying you a cut of the profits), the data is completely anonymous and not tied to you in any way. That means that you won’t start getting bombarded by ads when you download the app. According to most recent estimates, users can earn up to $25 per month simply by downloading the app and letting it collect run in the background – no work required. The app also has a generous referral program that rewards you for getting your friends to join.
Where to get free stuff by mail (product testing)
Companies rely on consumer opinions to improve their products and help them figure out whether or not they should be brought to market.
As long as you don’t mind sharing detailed feedback when it’s all said and done, you can earn good money testing products (and you may even get to keep the product for free once the testing period is over). Here are 4 places to do just that:
8. Pinecone Research
If you decide to become a panelist for Pinecone Research, you’ll get an email every time a survey is ready for you. You’ll receive multiple points for each survey you complete and can cash them in for cash or prizes. Occasionally, you’ll also get a free product to test. You’ll be able to influence the products of tomorrow while getting rewarded.
Note: One perk of Pinecone Research is that in addition to occasionally getting free stuff by mail (with no catch and no shipping costs), you’ll get paid $3 for each survey you complete.
9. American Consumer Opinion
To become a product tester for American Consumer Opinion (ACOP), you’ll have to take several 10-minute surveys each year. These surveys can inform ACOP of what types of products to send you. In exchange for free products, you’ll have to document your experiences and give useful feedback.
10. National Consumer Panel
As a panelist for National Consumer Panel (NCP), you’ll receive a handheld scanner or access to the NCP mobile app. You’ll then use the scanner or app to scan the barcode on all the products you or others in your family buy during a shopping trip.
The data you provide will be shared with manufacturers and influence the products they put on the shelves. Every week you participate, you can earn reward points that can be redeemed for things like electronics, household appliances, and sporting goods.
11. Crowdtap
Crowdtap will send you free products as long as you honestly review them. Every time you receive a freebie from Crowdtap, you’ll be asked to answer a number of questions related to it.
After you do, you’ll earn points that you can redeem for gift cards and other rewards.
Where to get freebies by mail with no requirements
You don’t always have to take surveys, answer questions, or do other things in order to get absolutely free stuff. Listed below are several websites that will send you freebies with no strings attached.
12. Cashbackbase
Cashbackbase was created to help you score the best deals on Amazon. It offers 100% discounts on some products and major discounts on others. Simply sign up for an account and contact the sellers to apply for the free products you want.
It’s a great way to get free stuff on Amazon with minimal effort. You may be able to score freebies like wireless earbuds, neck pillows, flameless candles, and magnetic phone mounts.
13. Free Stuff
The founders of FreeStuff.com regularly search the internet to find free stuff that you can claim. While they don’t directly provide the online freebies, they’ll link to websites that do. Even though the Free Stuff website is updated every day, free items come and go quickly so you may come across some that are expired.
14. I Love Free Things
I Love Free Things delivers free sample offers to your inbox twice a week. You won’t have to pay for shipping or do anything to claim any of these samples. Subscribe to the newsletter and wait for the emails to come. It’s really as easy as it sounds.
Where to get samples for free
Many big-name brands offer free samples by mail so you can experience their products firsthand and talk about them to your family and friends.
15. PINCHme
PINCHme is a free sample program that sends you boxes of free samples from major brands. The site will release new samples once a month at noon EST. You can request samples if you sign up through Facebook or create an account.
You should make a note in your calendar so you can claim the samples before they’re all gone. To continue to get free samples from PINCHme, you’ll need to review your freebies after you’ve used them.
16. Influenster
After you create a profile with information on your lifestyle and brand preferences, Influenster will send you a VoxBox.
This box is full of free samples from brands like Pantene and Downy. Sometimes, you’ll have to go the extra mile and do things like review products you’re currently using, or take a picture of you with a specific brand of shampoo.
17. Sample A Day
Sample A Day keeps an updated list of companies that are offering free samples by mail. Check its site every day to get direct links to claim your freebies.
The site’s founders double check the offers so you know it is legitimate.
Related: How to Get Free or Cheap Magazine Subscriptions
Where to get birthday freebies with no catch
Why not treat yourself on your birthday by claiming freebies from your favorite stores and restaurants? There are many ways to get free birthday stuff and make the most out of your special day.
18. Godiva
If you’re a chocolate lover, you owe it to yourself to join the Godiva rewards club. You’ll get a chocolate birthday gift every year and other perks like free shipping for online orders and early access to exclusive sales.
19. Starbucks
Do you love going to Starbucks? If so, you can become a member of Starbucks Rewards and get a free drink or food item on your birthday. You’ll get an email with your birthday treat two days before your birthday and can present it to a barista on your actual birthday to redeem it.
20. Sephora
If you’re a makeup junkie, you’ll be excited to learn that Sephora will give you a free gift on your birthday as long as you sign up for its free Beauty Insider program. You don’t have to buy anything and can choose from a mini set from Kat Von D Beauty and Drunk Elephant.
(Note: DollarSprout Rewards offers cash back at Sephora)
21. Ulta
For another birthday makeup freebie, join Ulta’s Ultamate Rewards for free. You can earn points for every purchase and get a free gift on your birthday, plus 2X points on anything you buy that day. Once you have 100 points, you can redeem them for products online or in-store.
(Note: DollarSprout Rewards offers cash back at Ulta)
Where to get free baby samples
Let’s be honest; having a baby is expensive. But there are a number of free baby samples you can claim to reduce some of the costs that come with raising your child.
22. The Honest Company
Diaper samples are useful for every new parent. The average baby will use more than 2,700 diapers in their first year, and the average cost of a disposable diaper is $0.20[1].
The Honest Co. will send you a free Discovery Kit of Diapers and wipes if you pay a shipping charge of $5.95. After you receive your kit, it’ll automatically enroll you into a diaper subscription service.
Huggies will also send you reduced cost, or entirely free diapers, as well as gift cards and sweepstakes offers, if you join its free rewards program.
23. Similac
Like diapers, the cost of formula can add up quickly, especially in a baby’s first year of life.
Thankfully, the Similac® StrongMoms® Rewards program can hook you up with free formula samples and coupons.
There’s also the Enfamil Family Beginnings® program, which can send you baby formula samples, coupons, and special offers.
You Can Score All Sorts of Free Stuff Online
Since not all online freebies are created equal, it’s a good idea to look at all of your options to figure out which ones are right for you.
While you can absolutely get free stuff online, keep in mind that it can take quite a bit of time to apply for and wait for these freebies to arrive. Also, you may not be able to choose the types of free stuff you get and end up with some that you have no use for. Nonetheless, coming home to packages of free goodies can be an awesome feeling.
