The best free deals ahead of Black Friday:
Best free reading deal
Kindle+
30-day free trial
Best free audiobook deal
Audible
30-day free trial
I’ve spent the past few weeks looking through early Black Friday deals, and while I love a good discount, nothing beats an unexpected freebie — especially when I’m buying gifts for other people.
Of course, “free” usually comes with a few conditions. You might need to be a new subscriber, qualify for a specific offer, or remember to cancel before the first charge is made. So I’m rounding up the free trials worth considering, along with what you get, who qualifies, and what you’ll pay if you keep the subscription.
Best free membership deal
Why we like it
Paying for a membership just to shop a sale feels a little counterproductive. Luckily, eligible customers can try Amazon Prime free for 30 days. Starting your trial now gives you time to shop early deals and still have it for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. After the trial, Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, depending on your selected plan.
Prime comes with more than free shipping, though that’s probably the perk you’ll use most while shopping for gifts. You also get Prime Video, Amazon Music’s ad-free listening options, access to a selection of books through Prime Reading, and member-exclusive deals. The newest addition is $0 delivery fees on eligible Uber Eats restaurant orders of $25 or more placed through Amazon — a useful extra for the nights you’d rather order dinner than make it.
Best free reading deal
Why we like it
Books are one of those things I don’t particularly enjoy putting a spending limit on. A subscription at least gives you a way to read more without paying for every title separately. Kindle+, formerly Kindle Unlimited, offers a 30-day free trial with access to a catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and comics. It automatically renews at $11.99 per month unless you cancel.
You might also see an offer for two months for $0.99 total. That’s not free, but it’s worth comparing with the trial before you choose.
The best tech deal this week
Best free music deal
Why we like it
A music subscription is pretty easy to test for a month. You’ll have time to find your favorite artists, try a few playlists, and decide whether you like it enough to pay for it. New subscribers can get one month of Apple Music free, including ad-free listening and downloads for when you don’t have an internet connection. The Individual plan costs $11.99 per month afterward.
And despite the name, you don’t need an iPhone to use it — Apple Music also works on Android and Windows.
More free music deals
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Spotify Premium Individual — One month free for people who haven’t tried Premium before, then $12.99 per month. Includes ad-free music and offline downloads.
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Amazon Music Unlimited Individual — 30 days free for new subscribers, then $11.99 per month for Prime members or $12.99 per month for nonmembers, plus applicable tax.
Best free audiobook deal
Why we like it
Not all reading has to involve sitting down with a book. Audible’s 30-day free trial lets new customers choose one audiobook from its collection, including bestsellers and new releases, and listen to an included catalog of podcasts. After the trial, it automatically renews at $8.99 per month unless you cancel.
Mashable Deals
There’s also a separate promotion for three months at $0.99 per month, plus a $20 Audible bonus. I wouldn’t call that free, but paying $2.97 for three months might make more sense than taking one free month and then paying the regular rate.
More free audiobook offers
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Hoopla — Free through participating public libraries. Check whether your library offers access before signing up; this is library borrowing, not a subscription trial that turns into a monthly bill.
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Kobo Plus Listen — 14 days free, then $7.99 per month. The Read & Listen plan includes both ebooks and audiobooks for $9.99 per month after the trial. You can use the Kobo Books app on your phone or tablet, so there’s no need to buy an e-reader.
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Everand — 30 days free, with plans starting at $11.99 per month afterward. The trial includes one premium-title unlock, plus unlimited access to a separate catalog of more than 20,000 audiobooks, ebooks, and podcasts.
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All You Can Books — 30 days free, then $24.99 per month. The service advertises unlimited downloads from its catalog of audiobooks, ebooks, language courses, and other content, and says downloaded files remain yours even after cancellation.
Best free magazine and news deal
Why we like it
Apple News+ gives new subscribers one month to try its collection of newspapers and magazines, making it a different option from the book-focused subscriptions above. The subscription costs $12.99 per month after the trial.
I’d use the free month to check whether the publications you actually want to read are included. A long list of magazines sounds nice, but it doesn’t mean much if you’re only opening one of them.
