One of the great promises of the internet was that it would allow greater competition, and through that greater savings — yet Amazon now dominates much of the online market. For many items, there is simply no alternative but to buy through Amazon, meaning that if you want to save money, you’re going to have to know how to work that particular system. After all, why would you want to spend the money you earn if you don’t have to? There will be no shortage of Black Friday deals at Amazon, but with these tricks, you can score awesome savings all year round.
Amazon may be the largest online retailer, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t few freebies to be had — you just need to know where to look. And while finding a great deal is always a thrill, there is something about being able to combine those savings with world-leading shipping and variety that really gets the blood pumping. There’s no need for couponing, birthday freebies, or pesky survey sites to get the free stuff you deserve. Put that credit card away and check out our tips on how to get free stuff on Amazon to help you on your frugal journey.
Become a Vine reviewer
Have you ever heard of Amazon Vine? The Vine program that gives consumers free stuff as a reward for an honest review of the products. These products are often things that haven’t been released yet (which is why you’ll see them on a lot of review sites) that need a bit of consumer backing to get started. Amazon Vine is by invitation only, however. You can get noticed by the right people by getting a reputation on your Amazon profile as someone who writes honest and fair in-depth product reviews.
Here are some tips on increasing your Amazon rankings to become a Vine reviewer, or just click on the button below for more info about Vine. Getting free stuff online could just be a few reviews or helpful votes away.
What is Amazon Vine?
Sign up for free sample boxes
The Amazon sample box program is something you’ve probably never heard of, but it’s a great way to get Amazon products without having to spend money. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can purchase select sample boxes and get reimbursed for the cost with Amazon credit of equal value, similar to digital gift cards. If you’re already an Amazon shopper, you might as well get a free sample while you’re at it, right? These boxes have everything from free food, new products, product samples, and many other goodies.
This offer has a limit of one of each sample per customer, but they are continuously updated year-round with new free boxes. If you’re looking for an easy way to snatch up a free item or two, this is your best bet.
Get them for free
Browse free Kindle e-books
If you’re an avid reader on a budget, finding something free stuff to read can be difficult. Luckily, Amazon has a variety of free Kindle e-books available online. This list is populated with a new freebie or two every day, so be sure to regularly check to see what’s new. You can also take a look at positive reviews from an Amazon customer or two to gauge whether or not a book is worth your time. That’s not something you’ll find at Barnes and Noble. If you don’t already have a Kindle, you can wait until Black Friday to take advantage of the best discounts.
While some ebooks may be permanently free, many are just for a limited time, from new up-and-coming authors. You can always exchange one free book for another if you don’t like what you’re reading, that’s the beauty of free.
Get them for free
Browse free digital albums
If you love music but hate paying for it, these free things called digital albums are what the kids are into these days. You can find anything from the Foo Fighters to the jaunty twangs of bluegrass music, all completely free. Just make sure you check those Amazon reviews so you don’t end up assaulting your ears with something terrible.
To find out what Amazon has to offer in terms of free music, just sort by the list price by selecting “low to high” or click the button below. This little trick is what we like to call one of those “Amazon Hacks”, but really it’s just pressing a button.
Get them for free
Get free cloud storage
Do you need a way to back up your most important files? Amazon Drive will give you free admission to 5GB of storage absolutely free. Upload files, photos, and videos to the cloud to make sure you don’t lose your most important files.
If you’re an Amazon Prime Member, you will also receive unlimited photo storage, as well as the 5GB of free storage. There are other freebie sites that offer free cloud storage, but Amazon is sure to outlast them.
Get it for free
Sort through free digital MP3 singles
Did you know Amazon has a huge library of free, downloadable MP3 singles? You don’t even need a coupon code to start downloading. We have certainly come a long way since the days of looking over our shoulder while illegally downloading our favorite tunes.
You can also snag a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime to gain access to even more free downloads.
Get them for free
Download free apps
Though there aren’t exactly free products flowing from the Amazon coffers, there are hundreds of free apps currently available. You can find everything from games to the classic apps simply by searching for “apps” and sorting the list by price.
You don’t need to sell your soul to start downloading apps for free, or check this list of our favorite free apps for iOS for more options.
Get them for free
Sign up for an Audible free trial
There is nothing better than relaxing in a cozy little nook with a hard copy of your favorite book. That is if you have time, of course. Work, personal relationships, and adult responsibilities get in the way far more often than they should. Audible is a great way to keep up with your favorite stories while on the go.
You can sign up for a free 30-day trial of Audible from Amazon as well as two free audiobooks to get you started. Be warned though, once you take advantage of this promotional offer, it’s hard to go back to reading with your eyes.
Get it for free
Sign up for an Amazon Prime student free trial
Do you have a student email address? If so, you can sign up for Amazon Prime Student free for six months, no coupon or promo codes required. This includes free shipping, access to thousands of free TV shows and movies, and exclusive college discounts. You can cancel your subscription at any time, or pay just $5.49 a month once your trial ends — its worth it to keep it for the whole year.
This free trial is great for holiday shopping or an unhealthy six-month binge of your favorite movies and shows.
Get it for free
Watch free movies and TV shows
If you are currently an Amazon Prime member or have a 30-day free trial, you have access to thousands of free movies and TV shows. Watch original content such as The Tick, new movies, and a slew of classic films — you won’t find that at Walmart.
You can enjoy unlimited streaming and more with Amazon Instant Video. If you don’t want to sign up for everything Amazon has to offer, that’s okay too.
Get it with Amazon Prime
Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.
Editors’ Recommendations
