How to Get Freebies
5 min read Article Updated 2026-05-15
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The smartest, scam-free ways for UK students and graduates to get products, food, and software for £0.
"Free" is one of the most over-used words on the internet. Most freebie sites are data-harvesting traps. The useful UK freebie playbook is shorter than you think, and we have verified each route below in April 2026.
1. Amazon Prime Student (6 months free)
The single most valuable freebie on this list. Amazon offers a 6-month free trial of Prime Student that includes free Prime delivery, Prime Video, and exclusive student discounts on textbooks. After the trial it is £4.49 a month (50% off the standard £8.99 Prime price), and you keep the discounted rate for up to 4 years total. Cancel anytime in your account settings.
2. Free professional-grade software
Software companies want students to stay loyal once they enter the workforce, so they give away the expensive stuff for free. Verified today:
- Microsoft 365: Most UK universities provide a free institutional licence for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook. Always check your university IT portal first before paying.
- GitHub Student Developer Pack: Free bundle worth several hundred pounds: free private domains, free cloud hosting credits, free Canva Pro for 12 months, and dozens of premium developer tools.
- Autodesk Education: Free 1-year licence for AutoCAD, Revit, Maya, and Fusion 360 for verified students.
- Notion for Students: Free Notion Plus plan with unlimited AI for verified.ac.uk addresses.
- JetBrains: Free 1-year licence for the entire JetBrains IDE suite (IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate, PyCharm Pro, etc.).
3. Streaming free trials worth claiming
The big audio and video services all run a 1-month free trial for new accounts (sometimes longer for student-verified accounts). The trick is to set a calendar reminder to cancel before day 30 if you do not want to keep paying.
- Spotify Premium Student: 1 month free, then £5.99 a month (vs £11.99 standard). Up to 4 years.
- Apple Music Student: 1 month free, then £5.99 a month.
- YouTube Premium Student: 1 month free, then £7.99 a month (vs £13.99 standard).
- Apple TV+: 7-day free trial. Free for 3 months when you buy any new Apple device.
- NOW (Sky): Frequently runs free trials of Entertainment, Cinema, or Sports. Check the homepage today.
Verified prices on each provider's UK site, 25 April 2026.
4. Zero-waste food apps (free or near-free meals)
Olio
Olio is the leading UK app for free food sharing. Tesco partners list surplus stock that is approaching its expiry date, and neighbours offer leftovers from over-shopping or moving house. Browse, request, collect. No payment, no catch.
Too Good To Go
Not strictly free (Magic Bags cost £2 to £4) but offers around £10 to £15 of food from chains like Greggs, Costa, Morrisons, and Pret. The cheapest reliable way to stock a fridge if you live in a city. toogoodtogo.co.uk.
Society and freshers' fair food
Society launch nights, society AGMs, careers fairs, and freshers' fairs almost always include free pizza, snacks, or drinks. Check your students' union calendar weekly during term.
5. Cashback sign-up bonuses
If you are buying something anyway, route through a cashback site. TopCashback and Quidco both offer £10 to £20 sign-up bonuses for new members who hit a small qualifying purchase. They also run "Free Cashback" sections where you earn pennies for actions like comparing insurance quotes or starting free trials.
Common UK cashback wins worth checking before any new contract:
- Phone contracts: often £100+ cashback through TopCashback / Quidco.
- Broadband signups: typically £75 to £150 cashback.
- Switching bank account: often stacks on top of the bank's own switching bonus.
- Insurance: car, home, and travel insurance routinely pay £20 to £75 in cashback.
6. Bank account switching bonuses (free cash)
This is the highest-return category on the list. Switching incentives change quarterly, but typical 2026 offers verified today:
- Santander Edge Student: £20 minimum prize draw entry plus a free 4-year 16-25 Railcard worth £115. £1,500 0% overdraft in years 1 to 3.
- NatWest Student: £85 cash plus a 4-year Tastecard. £2,000 0% overdraft maximum.
- HSBC Student: No cash bonus, but a £1,000 to £3,000 0% overdraft progression across the degree.
For non-student switchers, current account bonuses from First Direct, Lloyds, and NatWest regularly run between £150 and £200. Use the Current Account Switch Service (CASS), which moves all direct debits automatically within 7 working days.
7. Birthday freebies (set up in advance)
The trick is to sign up for loyalty apps at least 2 to 4 weeks before your birthday. Verified loyalty perks today:
- Greggs Rewards: Free sweet treat or doughnut on your birthday.
- Krispy Kreme Rewards: Free doughnut.
- Costa Club: Free slice of cake.
- Tortilla Rewards: Free starter or side.
- The Body Shop "Love Your Body": Birthday voucher (around £5) usable on a small product.
- Space NK NDulge: Birthday gift, often a sample-sized luxury item.
Use a dedicated freebie email address. These signups generate marketing email volume.
8. Direct brand sampling (Send Me a Sample)
Big brands (Nivea, Gillette, Cadbury, Carex, Persil) run sampling campaigns on Instagram, TikTok, and through "Send Me A Sample" smart-speaker integration. The realistic strategy:
- Follow the brand on Instagram or TikTok.
- Engage with a few recent posts so the algorithm starts targeting you.
- Watch for "Sponsored" posts offering a free sample. Fill the SoPost or "Send Me A Sample" form.
- Samples typically arrive within 14 to 28 days.
Avoid "freebie aggregator" sites that demand a credit card or full address before you have selected anything. Those are scams.
Final tips for freebie hunting
- Use a dedicated email address. Keep your main inbox clean.
- Set cancellation reminders. Most "free trials" auto-renew. Diary the cancellation day immediately after signing up.
- Be patient. Free samples can take up to 28 days to arrive.
- Never pay a "small admin fee" for a freebie. Legitimate brand giveaways do not charge.
Disclaimer: Offers and prices verified on 25 April 2026 from each provider's own UK site. Terms can change. Always confirm before signing up.
Frequently asked questions
What freebies are easiest for UK students to claim?
The 6-month Amazon Prime Student trial, the GitHub Student Developer Pack (worth several hundred pounds), Microsoft 365 free through your university IT portal, and freshers' fair samples (typically Red Bull, Pot Noodle, snacks). All require minimal effort and zero payment.
Are freebie sites and survey panels worth my time?
Mostly no. Survey panels pay around £2 to £4 an hour and many freebie aggregator sites are data-harvesting fronts. Stick to brand-direct sampling (SoPost, Send Me A Sample), official cashback sites (TopCashback, Quidco), and verified bank switching bonuses for the best return.
How can I get free food at university?
Society launch nights, careers fairs, and SU events almost always include free pizza, snacks, or drinks. Check your students' union calendar weekly. Olio (free) and Too Good To Go (£2 to £4 Magic Bags) cover most of what is left.
Do I ever need to pay anything to claim a freebie?
No reputable freebie programme requires payment, deposit, or credit card details before sending a sample. If a site asks for a fee or full bank details up front, it is almost always a scam or a misleading subscription trap. Stick to brand websites and verified UK aggregators.
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