9 Things That Really Are Free on Amazon

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If you love Amazon, you already know about the many great deals you can find there. But did you realize you can get many items for free at the online retail giant?

These items are available to anyone who shops through Amazon. You don’t need to be a member of Amazon Prime — although joining that program allows you to access an ever-increasing number of perks, as we detail in “These Are the 8 Best Benefits of Amazon Prime.”

Following are some of our favorite examples of the free stuff anyone can get at Amazon.

1. E-books

Woman reading an e-book at a restaurant
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You’ll find free e-books for Kindle — which is Amazon's line of e-readers — on Amazon’s “Free Books and Low Priced Reading Options” webpage.

Don’t have a Kindle? Don’t worry — just check out “This Trick Lets You Read E-Books Without an E-Reader.”

2. Anything you can buy with a gift card

Amazon gift card
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Yes, it’s possible to snag an Amazon gift card for free, as we detail in “13 Ways to Get Amazon Gift Cards for Free.”

Then, anything you “purchase” with free gift cards is effectively free.

3. Anything you can buy with points

Shopper earning extra cash back online
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If you have one of the Prime Visa credit cards or the Prime Store Card, you can use accumulated points from your purchases with them to buy things on Amazon. And anything you “purchase” with those points is effectively free.

These credit cards also come with freebies: You will get a free Amazon gift card worth $200 for the Prime Visa Card and a gift card worth $80 for the Prime Store Card — upon signing up and being approved.

Of course, it’s generally unwise to sign up for any new credit card based on the sign-up bonus alone. First, do a little comparison shopping using a free online resource like Money Talks News’ credit card comparison tool to identify the best plastic for you.

Also, if you have a cash-back credit card that is not affiliated with Amazon, note that you can still use the cash back you earned from that card to buy things on Amazon. Anything you “purchase” with any kind of cash back is still effectively free.

4. Mobile apps

Businesswoman looking at her smartphone
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Amazon's Appstore includes plenty of free mobile apps.

To view just the free ones, select “Free” under the “Price” menu on the left side of the webpage. You can also filter the apps based on various other preferences using the menus on the left.

5. Shipping

Amazon purchases
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Prime members can get free and fast shipping for just about anything, but nonmembers can also get free shipping for many purchases.

Amazon’s “Order with Free Shipping by Amazon” webpage explains:

“Shipping is free if your order includes at least the stated minimum threshold of eligible items.”

6. Photo storage

Couple using a laptop
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Amazon Prime members get unlimited photo storage and 5GB of video storage on Amazon Photos at no extra cost — which is among the best Prime perks. But folks who aren’t Prime members also get free storage on Amazon Photos — up to 5GB worth.

To get even more free photo storage without a Prime membership, see if any of your friends or relatives with Prime use the Family Vault feature.

The Family Vault is basically online storage space that Prime members can share with five other people. And those five invitees also get unlimited free photo storage — even if they are not Prime members.

7. Wedding discounts and extended returns

Gay Couple Exchange Rings and Kiss at a Beach Wedding Ceremony Venue at Sunset.
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If you create a wedding registry on Amazon, you will enjoy numerous perks — including the ability to return a wedding gift up to 180 days later. You may also qualify for a “one-time 20% discount on select items.”

8. Baby items

Baby in a crib
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Amazon’s registry freebies aren’t just for couples tying the knot.

Parents-to-be who create a baby registry on Amazon also enjoy perks, which include a 15% discount, free one-year returns and a free welcome box. Amazon describes it as a “gift with full, travel, and sample-size surprises for parents and baby.”

9. Audiobooks

Teen listening to music on headphones
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Amazon owns Audible, a company that produces and sells audiobooks and other audio entertainment. Audible also offers a membership that enables you to access free and reduced-price audio content.

Audible memberships are not free, but a free 30-day trial is available for both the Plus and Premium Plus plans. Just don’t forget to cancel the Audible membership before the trial ends if you decide you don’t want to pay for a membership.

For more options, check out “10 Places You Can Find Free Audiobooks.”

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