11 Ways You Can Score Free Electronics

Out of all the freebie posts that I look forward to, the ones about free electronics are perhaps the best and most engaged in the freebie-loving community.

And why not?

Imagine scoring a new smartphone that’s been on your wish list for months or that smart home speaker you’ve been dying to get since it was launched… and then getting to keep them all for free.

Well, you don’t have to daydream.

If want to know how to get free electronics or free gadgets, read on and bookmark this page for future use.

How to get Free Electronics (11 Legit Ways)

If you think only inexpensive electronics are being given away for free, you’d love this post.

For example, many people know that they can get free cell phones if they signed up for a new postpaid contract from Verizon and other similar companies.

But not everyone knows that low-income consumers get free phone service (monthly data, unlimited texting, or free monthly minutes) from the Lifeline Assistance Program and also obtain discounted or free phone service if eligible.

Here are several ways to get free electronics. Make sure that you decide which product category you have on your wish list.

1. Product Testing Gadgets: Test Out New Electronics in Exchange for Feedback

Many companies usually undergo another layer of product research right before a product launch. They pick a group of people to try out the product and ask for feedback.  From there, the company decides either to improve the product first or continue with the planned launch.

If you’re looking for free electronics, trying them out is an awesome opportunity to help the brands you love and receive their products without spending a dime.

A couple of good examples of this are the testing programs of Philips or Microsoft.

Sometimes, the companies use a third-party organization or website to host these surveys/opinion research. Here are some that I know of:

• Amazon Vine
• American Consumer Opinion
• Pinecone Research
• SnagShout
• National Consumer Panel
• UserTesting
• TestBirds

Some of these sites pay with rewards or cash on top of the product, some only pay in points, which you could claim as items. Note that they have different requirements to join, and offer varying rewards as well, but most of them let you keep the electronics you receive after reviewing them.

2. Follow Brands and Manufacturers

If you’re a photography fan and would love to have a new DSLR bag, lens, or even new releases of cameras, you should follow brands like Nikon, Fujifilm, Canon, Leica, and other camera makers, or camera accessory makers like Lowepro, Vanguard, and so on.

For video game consoles, follow the big three: Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo. And while you’re at it, you can work on getting free Xbox credits and free PS4 gift cards as well.

If you’re into smartphones, you have a ton of brands to follow from US-based Apple to Korea’s Samsung.

You get the point, right?

Once you’ve identified the brands and manufacturers from a specific electronics niche, here’s what you do:

• Follow them on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok)

• Check their official website and subscribe to their newsletter

• Join loyalty or rewards programs

• Read their emails and notifications, so you are up-to-date with promotions

• Join contests, testing programs, or other cool ways you can get free electronics from manufacturers

3. Join Blogger Giveaways

Bloggers attract advertisers and followers who share the same interests. A good example of this is Engadget, which features the best tech deals and electronics news from all over the world.

Of course, there are other bloggers that are far less popular than Engadget but are still able to pull off giveaways.

You know how they do it?

• A company sees that a particular blog attracts people who love wearables (smartwatches, fitness trackers, virtual reality gadgets, smart fashion, and so on).

• This same company sells wearables as well but gives away a new product – usually 1 for the blogger to review, and another 1 (or more) of the same product to give away.

• Giveaways like these, where there is no catch to win, are flocked by hundreds or thousands of people online.

• The company that sent the giveaway already earned new customers and exposure without paying extra fees. It’s a win-win situation.

Be careful, though; you should never pay to join a giveaway.

4. Participate in Community Contests

The cool thing about the internet is that it is so vast that you can have the most obscure hobbies and interests and yet you’ll find a corner of the world wide web with a community of like-minded people.

For example, if you’re a part of the survivalist movement and have been invested in keeping your home secure and well-prepared for anything, you’d probably need traditional electronics for navigation, portable audio, surveillance, homesteading tools, and so on.

And because the online communities you join are so specific, companies naturally come to them (if the audience is a perfect fit) and often hold contests.

When this happens, make sure to participate.

You’ll never know if you could win solar power kits, aquaponics set-ups, First Aid packs, etc., and get them totally free.

5. Exchange Old Stuff for New Electronics

If you have a lot of old electronics that are not being used at home, you could post them on Listia and earn credits when someone buys them.

These credits can then be redeemed for free items like laptops, iPhones, etc.

Join the website, or download the app (it’s available for both iOS and Android).

Once you register, you earn 1,000 points.

Another site where you can sell your old, used, or broken smartphones or other devices is Buyback Boss.

Provide details of your device and get a quote. If you accept their price, ship them your phone and you’ll get cashback through a check in the mail or a transfer to your PayPal account.

You can then use that cash to get the gadget of your dreams.

6. Check Alibaba’s Electronics Stores

Alibaba, the biggest China-based e-commerce company, is home to many huge manufacturers.

Alibaba is where you’d find factories of electronic parts, phone accessories, tablets, and so on. As such, people are known to buy here in bulk.

Many companies who list their products here offer free samples.

You can get free electronics and other products to try out as long as you do not resell them anywhere else.

7. Be Good at What You Do

Bloggers, YouTubers, Twitchers, social media influencers, and other personalities online are the most effective product testers because they already have an audience (or following).

If you fall under any of these categories even before your search for free electronics, then make sure you’re good at what you do so brands naturally go your way.

Note that this method’s effectiveness depends largely on what you do.

For example, if you’re famous for YouTube makeup tutorials, the free electronics that may be sent your way could be limited to ring lights, hair straighteners, face massagers, and other similar products relevant to this niche.

8. Join Amazon’s Trade-in Program

Amazon Trade-in is a cool program that allows anyone to get rid of their old and unused electronics like gaming consoles, mobile phones, home security devices, tablets, e-readers, wireless routers and other gadgets within the platform.

Just trade them in and receive an Amazon gift card, which you can then use to buy electronics.

Sometimes Amazon also includes deals for you, such as an “extra 20%” if you buy a new Kindle from them using the gift card your earned from the latest trade.

9. Freecycle and OfferUp

People give away stuff they don’t need at Freecycle or OfferUp.

Anyone who wishes to grab them could potentially be chosen.

It works on a first-come, first-served basis.

The good news is that many communities have their local Freecycle program. Check if yours has one by Googling “your town’s name” + “Freecyle”.

10. Trade Old Electronics at Gazelle & Get New Electronics Free

Gazelle works similarly to Amazon’s Trade-in.

Just send Gazelle the device (make, model, and condition),  get an offer from another Gazelle user, ship the item, and Gazelle pays you  get by Amazon gift card, PayPal, or check.

11. Get Free Electronics from Charities

• Computers for Causes – If you need a laptop or PC for schooling or work, you can submit your application here. If you meet the requirements (they do background checks so please don’t lie about your financial situation).

• The On It Foundation – This organization helps students and families of K12 students receive their own computers. You’ll need to apply and meet requirements before you can receive a free computer.

• Everyone On – If you pass the low-income threshold, you can receive a free computer and low-cost internet plan with this program.

So, what’s the catch to free electronics?

Fortunately, all of the methods above do not have a catch. As long as you do not pay anything upfront for the free electronics, then you’re all good.

If the giveaway, testing program, or product review requires that you enter your financial information (such as credit card details) or other personal data, don’t bother.

You shouldn’t have to be asked for these things if the electronics are really given out free.

And if you couldn’t get one using these methods above, you can always earn some free Target gift cards, free Walmart gift cards, or free Visa cards and exchange them for whatever you want!

You can also try these methods of getting free stuff from Amazon and receive something you’ve been dreaming about.