The hidden freebies on your phone worth £100s – claim months of TV, music, games & books with hacks that everyone misses
You can bag perks worth hundreds of pounds, getting you TV, music, games,
books
and even extra phone storage - if you know where to look...
Advertisement
14
Spotify has plenty of free music – but it's not your only option
Credit: Spotify
14
Amazon customers can bag free music too
Credit: Amazon
To save you searching, we've tracked down some of the most tempting freebies hiding on your phone or tablet today.
FREE MUSIC
It's no secret that Spotify offers a free tier. You won't be able to choose specific songs and you'll endure ads – but it's free.
However, there are plenty of alternatives to Spotify that you might prefer.
Advertisement
One potentially cheaper option is Amazon Music Prime, which comes included with your regular Amazon Prime subscription.
It gets you more than 100 million songs, and it's totally ad-free.
So if you're already paying for Prime, then this is a great freebie that'll save you sitting through Spotify ads (or paying for Premium).
If you're an Apple fan, you have two great options available to you.
The first is Apple's "new device offer", which gives you three months of Apple Music for free.
Advertisement
This is Apple's own Spotify rival that normally costs £10.99 a month.
You get it if you've recently bought an
Set up your new device, then just launch the Apple Music app and your offer should appear right away. Claim it and away you go.
Sky customers can claim delicious freebies in new giveaway scheme
Apple Music can also be heavily discounted if you're a student.
You can claim a one-month trial, and then pay just £5.99 a month for up to 48 months.
Advertisement
All you need to be eligible for the offer is to be enrolled in a degree-granting university.
It means you'll save £240 over the course of four years. Not a bad saving.
14
Apple AirPods entitle you to a handy music freebie
Credit: Apple
FREE TV
There's also no end of free telly available if you know where to look.
In the Music section above, I mentioned how you could get half-price Apple Music.
Advertisement
Well, if you're eligible for that offer, Apple also chucks in
Once you start the Apple Music Student subscription, just go to Apple TV and it'll work right away. The only catch is that you can't share it with Family Sharing.
14
Apple Music Student subscriptions also come with a special TV perk
Credit: Apple
You can also get Apple TV+ for free if you buy a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac.
You'll be able to bag three months of membership – normally that would be £8.99 a month, totalling £26.97.
Advertisement
And you can even share this with up to five other family members through Family Sharing.
You'll just need to claim the deal within three months of first setting up new new Apple gadget.
14
Apple TV+ is packed with top telly, including hit footie comedy/drama series Ted Lasso
Credit: Apple
But what else is out there?
If you're an Amazon Prime member, you probably know that you get Prime Video as part of your membership.
Advertisement
But you can also take a cut-price membership that only gives you Prime Video, which costs just £5.99 a month instead of £8.99 for full Prime.
There's also a deal that gets you
14
Prime Video is loaded with amazing telly
Credit: Amazon
How much does Amazon Prime cost?
Here's how the prices break down...
Prime monthly (£8.99 monthly) – £107.88 a year
Prime annual – £95 a year
Prime Video (£5.99 monthly) – £71.88 a year
Prime 18-22/student (£4.49 monthly) – £53.88 a year
Prime 18-22/student annual – £47.49 a year
Prime 18-22/student monthly + 6-month free trial – £26.94 for first year
Prime 18-22/student annual + 6-month free trial – £23.75 for first year
Picture Credit: Amazon
An even thriftier option is to take advantage of the endless supply of free TV apps out there.
Normally,
the catch
is that you'll need to view ads – but you'll also have to sit through commercial breaks even on the cheapest paid-for Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ tiers.
Advertisement
I tested a load of
If you've got a Samsung TV, then you probably know that you can enjoy Samsung TV Plus for free. That'll get you loads of live TV channels.
14
Samsung TV Plus isn't just for televisions – it works on your mobile too
Credit: Samsung
But it's also possible to unlock Samsung TV Plus on Samsung phones and tablets too – something many telly fans miss.
Just go into the app store and download Samsung TV Plus and you'll get the same enormous library of free telly.
Advertisement
FREE GAMES
Obviously, there's no shortage of free games out there on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
In fact, I served up free top picks that you'll actually play for hours earlier this year – check out my guide to the
14
Apple Arcade is filled with premium games for you to play
Credit: Apple
But there are some great ways of playing premium titles for free, too.
Once again, there's a
nice
Apple freebie available if you've snagged one of the company's gadgets recently.
Advertisement
If you've bought a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac, it comes with three free months of Apple Arcade (and up to six family members can access it).
Apple Arcade is a special subscription service (normally £6.99 a month) that gets you access to more than 200 games.
These are all free from ads, don't have any hidden fees or micro-transactions, and can't be found for free elsewhere.
Just set up your device and then tap the Apple Arcade app within the first three months to claim your trial period.
Next
up, there's a nice perk for anyone with an Amazon Prime subscription.
Advertisement
Amazon operates a special "cloud gaming" service called Luna. It's a bit like Netflix, but for video games.
14
Amazon Luna lets you stream console-quality games over the internet – and you don't even need a console
Credit: Amazon
So instead of needing a console, you can just
Normally this would require paying for an £8.99-a-month subscription to Amazon Luna+.
But if you have a Prime subscription, you can play a rolling selection of games for free. These are console-quality games.
Advertisement
One of them is Fortnite, a shooter game that's one of the most popular titles in the world.
AMAZON LUNA – CAN YOU PLAY?
Here's what you need to know...
Amazon says that you need a minimum internet speed of 10Mbps. You can check yours online at
For web browsers on your iPhone, iPad, or Android, you need the following:
Chrome web browser (version 83+) for PC, Mac, and (version 86+) Chromebook.
Microsoft Edge web browser (version 90+) for PC and Mac.
Safari web browser (iOS 15+) for iPhone and (iPadOS 15+) iPad.
Chrome web browser (version 86+) for Android (Android 10+) devices.
Compatible controllers for iPhone and Android include:
Luna Controller
PlayStation 4 DualShock Wireless Controller
PlayStation 5 DualSense Wireless Controller
Xbox One Controller
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
Google Stadia Controller
Picture Credit: Amazon
All you need is a joypad – even an Xbox or PlayStation one you've got lying around – that can connect to your telly or Amazon Fire Stick.
Then just download the Amazon Luna app and away you go. No console needed – and no Luna+ subscription either.
Another nifty option is available for free if you have Netflix.
Your Netflix TV subscription includes access to a load of
Advertisement
14
Your Netflix subscription comes with a treasure trove of free mobile games
Credit: Netflix
Just go to the Netflix app on your mobile, scroll down to Mobile Games, and then you'll be able to download them via the App Store.
Your Netflix subscription will grant you access to play them for free instead of paying.
There are a bunch of great options on there right now, including:
Stranger Things: 1984
Exploding Kittens Game
Reigns: Three Kingdoms
RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch
Squid Game: Unleashed
Oxenfree
Dead Cells: Netflix Edition
GTA: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition
Asphalt Extreme
Blood Line: A Rebel Moon Game
There are loads more titles too, and Netflix is constantly adding extra games. So make sure you're making the most of these bonus freebies.
Advertisement
Finally, for a fun free option, go into Instagram and open a DM with someone.
Send an emoji – it can be anything, like a heart or
football
– and then tap it.
It'll take you through to a
14
Your Instagram DMs are hiding a fun free game
Credit: The Sun / Instagram
FREE BOOKS & AUDIOBOOKS
If you're happy to read virtual books – or listen to audiobooks – then there are some great free options.
Advertisement
For a start, Audible has a brilliant free tier that gets you free audiobooks without paying a penny.
There's a rolling library that Amazon (which owns Audible) updates, and you don't need to have a membership to claim them.
And if you've got Amazon Prime, you can start a 30-day Audible trial to claim two free audiobooks of your choice instead of one.
14
Audible is a great option for thrifty book fans
Credit: Amazon / Audible
For e-books, Amazon Prime members are able to enjoy select books for free through Prime Reading.
Advertisement
And you can also take advantage of Amazon First Reads to choose one of next month's Kindle books for free too.
If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can use Apple Books to check out a load of free ebooks.
This includes a load of classics, plus some newer titles too.
Spotify members can get involved too. If you have a Premium membership, you get 15 hours of audiobook listening time every single month.
FREE PHONE STORAGE
Always running out of phone storage? Often the advice is to back up your media to the cloud – but that fills up pretty quickly too.
Advertisement
Thankfully there are some ways to get free cloud storage.
For a start, Apple offers 5GB of cloud storage for free through iCloud. You'll have to pay for extra – but it's at least something.
14
iCloud comes with 5GB of storage for free
Credit: Apple
Then every Google account comes with 15GB of free storage. You'll be able to use that in Google Drive or Google Photos (but it also pulls from Gmail).
So if you want to just store photos and videos, consider setting up a second free Google account to put those there – and keep the storage on your main account for emails.
Advertisement
Amazon also hosts a cloud storage service that offers up 5GB of free storage.
But if you have Amazon Prime, you can bag unlimited storage for photos. That's a pretty generous offer, so consider taking advantage of it for backing up your pics.
14
Google also offers up free cloud storage for your files
Credit: Google
Microsoft's OneDrive also offers 5GB of free storage with a Microsoft account, and Dropbox Basic gives you 2GB of no-cost storage.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
3 hours ago
- The Journal
Spotify is increasing its subscription prices again (but only for students)
SPOTIFY HAS ANNOUNCED that it will increase prices for student subscribers in Ireland on 1 September. The price hike is part of wider increases for users of the streaming service across Europe, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region. From next month, the price of a student subscription will go from €5.99 to €6.99 in Ireland. Spotify has several subscription options, such as a family plan and a 'duo' plan, but there'll be no changes made to these for Irish users. Advertisement Last year, the price of the Individual Premium subscription – Spotify's most popular plan – went from €10.99 to €11.99. The app is free to use, but a subscription eliminates ads and provides other features and content such as audiobooks. The price increase follows similar changes in the US and UK, which came into effect in May. Spotify has around 220 million premium subscribers worldwide. In 2024, the service made a net income of €1.138 billion – the first year it's made a profit since the company's founding in 2006. In the same year, it paid out €10 billion to artists. It had faced backlash for not paying artists more for streams and was accused of in the US unfairly cutting loyalty rates . However, in January a federal judge ruled that the move was supported by 'unambiguous' regulations. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Extra.ie
8 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Everything to know as Penneys app finally coming to Ireland
Penneys have announced that they're releasing an app for customers looking to shop for their entire range. It's been wanted for as long as shopping apps have been a thing, and yet it never seemed like it was going to happen, until today, as Primark (what they call Penneys outside of Ireland) have announced that their new app has launched today (August 5). The app will allow customers to have the full Penneys experience in the palm of their hand, while still allowing the thrill of seeing an item you didn't previously have on your radar but might want to pick up a la a real Penneys in-store experience. Penneys have announced that they're releasing an app for customers looking to shop for their entire range. Pic: Chrisdorney/Shutterstock The new app allows people to browse the shops' newest trends and style inspiration wherever they are, with a stock checker allowing them to check and see if an item that catches their eye is available in their local store. A built-in store locator provides ease of access to the shop's opening hours and directions, while the favourites feature allows people to save items they may like for their next visit. You're also able to have personalised notifications to stay up to date on the latest arrivals, collection launches, and exclusive updates, all delivered through the app, which allows for effortless navigation. Alas, there's no delivery option (but hey, if you're looking for something specific from Penneys, it's convenient that you can check!) The app will allow for people to browse Penney's collections from their phones, while they'll also be able to check and see if an item they want is in store. Pic: Penneys 'We know our customers love the buzz of a Penneys store — from discovering the latest trends to picking up everyday essentials for the family,' Fintan Costello, Head of Penneys Ireland and Northern Ireland, said. 'Our digital channels are driving shoppers into our stores, and so with more people browsing online before they shop, the Penneys app extends that experience, offering a convenient and inspiring way to explore our ranges anytime, anywhere. Whether at home or on the go, now it's never been easier to connect with Penneys.' The app will allow people to check if there are items available in their local stores. Pic: Penneys The Penneys app is available in Ireland from Tuesday, August 5, and is completely free to download. Anyone with an Apple device (iPhone, iPad etc) can download them HERE, while people with Android devices can download them HERE via the Google Play Store. Alternatively, you can go on to your respective App Store and search Primark/Penneys.
Irish Examiner
20 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Small Irish firms 'have not yet explored full potential of AI', survey finds
Just 40% of small Irish firms have implemented AI in some form across their business, but its use remains 'shallow' and is mostly confined to content generation and simple data analysis, a new survey has found. According to research conducted by Amárach on behalf of the Small Firms Association, 8% of firms have already incorporated AI into most of their business areas, while 13% said they had started incorporating it into some of their business. A further 19% said they had started to experiment with AI in some business areas. Another 22% said while they had started looking into how AI might be used in their business, they had yet to start using it. Small Firms Association director David Broderick said while the survey showed that although small businesses were interested and curious about AI, "adoption remains shallow among small firms as it is mostly confined to content generation and simple data analysis, rather than innovation, product development, or decision-making'. 'Therefore, many businesses have not yet explored its full potential,' he said. Mr Broderick added small businesses needed to 'adopt AI strategically to keep up with large businesses to survive'. In total, 357 companies were surveyed as part of this research. Of the firms who use AI, 66% said it was utilised in their sales and marketing, including content creation, while 44% said it was being used in their data analytics. It also found 35% of firms had implemented the technology in chatbots and customer support. Read More John Whelan: Every penny of available Apple cash needed to back Irish AI development
