Getting free apps on an iPhone may seem impossible since the App Store requires payment for downloads. However, there are actually several legitimate ways to download free apps on iPhone. The key is taking advantage of promotions, free trials, and app alternatives.
Get Free Apps with Promo Codes
One way to download paid apps for free is to use promo codes. Promo codes allow you to download an app without paying the listed price. Here are some tips for finding and using promo codes:
- Check the app’s website – Developers often provide promo codes on their website or social media pages for marketing purposes.
- Look for giveaways – Tech blogs and review sites like AppAdvice sometimes offer exclusive promo codes for giveaways.
- Join rewards programs – Sign up for rewards programs like Apple’s Volume Purchase Program to get free codes.
- Listen to podcasts – Podcasts like AppStories give out codes during episodes.
Once you have a promo code, here’s how to redeem it:
- Open the App Store app on your iPhone.
- Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Scroll down and tap “Redeem Gift Card or Code.”
- Enter the promo code and tap “Redeem.”
- The app will now download for free.
Promo codes are one of the best ways to get paid apps for free, but they’re usually one-time use. You’ll need to keep finding new codes to download more free apps.
Download Free App Trials
Many paid apps offer free trials that allow you to download and use the app for free for a limited time. Here are some tips for taking advantage of free trials:
- Check the App Store listing – The app details page will mention if there is a free trial available.
- Sign up for a subscription – Some trials require a subscription sign-up that you can cancel later.
- Set a reminder – Make sure to set a reminder to cancel the subscription before you’re charged.
- Check for trial extensions – Some apps extend the free trial if you contact the developer.
Here are some of the most popular apps that offer lengthy free trials:
| App | Free Trial Length |
|---|---|
| Spotify | 30 days |
| Netflix | 30 days |
| Hulu | 30 days |
| YouTube TV | 14 days |
| Pandora | 14 days |
The advantage of free trials is you can use the full app for an extended period. Just make sure to avoid forgetful charges once the trial ends.
Use Free App Alternatives
If an app doesn’t offer a promo code or free trial, check if there is a free alternative available. Many popular paid apps have comparable free app options. For example:
- Google Maps (free) vs. Waze (paid)
- Google Docs (free) vs. Pages (paid)
- YouTube (free) vs. YouTube TV (paid)
- Skype (free) vs. FaceTime (paid)
Here are some places to search for the best free alternatives:
- Search the App Store – Filter results by “Free” and check out the top options.
- Check app review sites – Sites like Wirecutter suggest the best free app options.
- Ask for recommendations – Friends may know of good free alternatives to paid apps you want.
Although free alternatives may not offer all the same features, they can fulfill most of your needs without requiring payment.
Use the App for Free on Another Device First
Did you know many apps allow you to download their app for free on other devices before paying on iPhone?
For example, you can get the Kindle app for free on Android devices or personal computers. Then once you create an account and add books, you can download the Kindle app on iPhone for free and still access your entire library.
Here are some other apps featuring this handy loophole:
- Dropbox
- Evernote
- Spotify
- LastPass
The key is to download the app and set up your account on a device where the app is free first. Then when you download the app on your iPhone, you can login with your existing account instead of subscribing again.
Just make sure the app offers a universal login and cloud syncing between devices. Then you’re all set to use a paid app for free on iPhone.
Access Web Apps for Free
Many paid apps have free web app counterparts that work on iPhone. For example, you can use the free web version of Microsoft Office at office.com instead of paying for the mobile app version.
Some other web apps you can use for free on iPhone’s web browser include:
- Slack
- Trello
- Blogger
The web app experience isn’t as seamless as the mobile app. But you still get core functionality without any cost.
To create quick access to web apps on your iPhone, follow these steps:
- Open Safari and navigate to the web app.
- Tap the Share button at the bottom.
- Scroll down and select “Add to Home Screen.”
- Name the web app shortcut and tap “Add.”
Now you’ll have an icon for the web app on your home screen for easy access!
Use an App Store Alternative
The official Apple App Store isn’t the only place to download iPhone apps. There are alternative app stores that provide apps you can directly download and install for free, including:
- TutuApp: Offers modified apps and games for free. You have to install the TutuApp helper first.
- TweakBox: Provides hacked games, ++ apps (premium apps for free), and emulators.
- AppValley: Features hacked apps and games as well as emulators for consoles.
However, keep in mind these 3rd party app stores require you jailbreak your iPhone first, which comes with security risks. Plus, sideloading unofficial apps violates Apple’s terms and conditions.
Proceed with caution and at your own risk with these alternative app stores. They do offer many paid apps for free, but it’s safer to stick with the official App Store.
Wait for Free App of the Week
Every week, Apple features a Free App of the Week on the App Store. It’s usually a popular paid app that becomes completely free for one week.
Some examples of past Free Apps of the Week include:
- Facetune
- HotSchedules
- Hyper Light Drifter
- Dark Sky Weather
To find the current Free App of the Week:
- Open the App Store on your iPhone.
- Scroll down until you see “Free App of the Week.”
- Tap “Get” to download the app for free.
Set a reminder on your calendar to check the Free App of the Week each week. This ensures you’ll always download them while they’re free.
The Free App of the Week only lasts 7 days though. So if you miss it, you’ll have to pay full price to download later.
Use an iTunes Gift Card
If you receive an iTunes or Apple App Store gift card, you can use it to download paid apps for free. Here are some ways to get gift cards:
- Birthday and holiday gifts
- Credit card rewards programs
- Shopping reward programs
- Apple employee discounts (if applicable)
Once you add the gift card funds to your Apple ID balance, you can download any paid app or game for free up to the gift card’s value.
However, most gift cards have a modest value, so they’re best used for cheaper apps under $10. But free is free!
Take Advantage of Family Sharing
If someone in your Family Sharing group already paid for an app, you can download it for free! Here’s how it works:
- Make sure you’re part of the same Family Sharing group, either as a parent/guardian or family member.
- Have the family organizer turn on app sharing in the App Store settings.
- You’ll now have access to all paid apps downloaded by other family members.
- Simply find the app and download it without having to pay again.
Family Sharing is a great way for spouses, kids, and other family members to save on paid apps. As long as one person pays, the whole family gets to take advantage of the app for free.
However, keep in mind you can only access the apps while part of the family group. If you leave or your organizer quits the group, you may lose downloaded apps.
Conclusion
While the App Store doesn’t offer direct downloads of paid apps for free, there are plenty of creative workarounds. Taking advantage of promotions, free trials, app alternatives, and Family Sharing allow you to download apps without paying a dime.
With these suggestions, you can build an impressive iPhone app library full of titles you snagged for free. Never pay full price again for quality apps and games.