Jasmine Birtles
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This week’s best UK freebies – the food, drinks and offers worth claiming now
Vicky Parry
20th Apr 2026
Freebies Galore. From free drinks and restaurant rewards to free local food, SIM cards and useful household gadgets, there are still plenty of ways to get something for nothing this week — if you know where to look.
At a time when food, travel and household bills still feel stubbornly high, freebies can sound a bit too good to be true. But the reality is that plenty of brands are still giving things away — sometimes to get you to download an app, sometimes to tempt you into a loyalty scheme, and sometimes because there is simply surplus stock or food that would otherwise go to waste.
The trick is not to claim everything with the word “free” attached to it. The smart approach is to focus on the offers that genuinely replace spending you were already going to do.
MoneyMagpie editor Vicky Parry says: “I am always wary of freebies that create more clutter than value, but some of these are genuinely useful. A free drink, free food locally or a practical household freebie might sound small on its own, but they can make a real dent in your weekly spending when you stack them up.”
This week’s quick wins
- Free Greggs welcome drink through the app
- Free Dough Balls or side at PizzaExpress Club
- Free food and household items through Olio
- Free giffgaff SIM card delivered to your door
- Free water-saving devices for many households
1. Free Greggs drink just for downloading the app
Greggs remains one of the best quick-win freebies on the high street. The chain says its app is a “sure-fire way to bag some free treats”, and its own freebie guide highlights a welcome freebie for app users. Greggs has also recently been promoting a free hazelnut hot drink through the app, which shows how often these sign-up and app-based drink offers rotate.
It is exactly the kind of freebie worth bothering with because it is simple, genuinely usable and tied to something plenty of people buy anyway.
2. Free Dough Balls or a side at PizzaExpress
PizzaExpress Club is one of the better restaurant loyalty freebies around. The chain says new members joining the Bronze tier get Dough Balls ‘PizzaExpress’ or a side straight away, plus a birthday treat later on. It is worth knowing that the reward comes with a minimum spend, so it is best treated as a useful extra if you were already planning to go.
That said, in a market where plenty of rewards are vague or underwhelming, this is at least a clear and tangible freebie.
3. Free local food through Olio
Olio is one of the most genuinely useful freebie apps in the UK because it is built around surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. The app says you can get free food from local shops, bakeries and neighbours, and it is often one of the easiest ways to pick up bread, snacks, fresh food and other useful items near you.
What makes this one particularly strong is that it is not a one-off marketing gimmick. If your area is active, it can become a regular source of free groceries.
4. Free household items on Olio too
Olio is not just for food. The app also lets people give away books, toys, toiletries, kitchenware and other household items, which means it can be surprisingly useful if you are trying to avoid spending on the basics. It is the sort of platform that rewards being nosy and checking often.
If you are furnishing a room, replacing kitchen bits or just trying to cut waste, this is one of the most practical freebie routes around.
5. Free giffgaff SIM card
Sometimes the least glamorous freebies are the most useful. Giffgaff still offers free SIM cards in all sizes, delivered to your door. This is a handy one if you are comparing mobile networks, need a backup SIM or are helping someone switch providers without paying for a starter pack.
It is not exciting, but it is exactly the sort of small freebie that can save you a bit of hassle and a bit of money.
Order a free giffgaff SIM card
6. Free water-saving devices
This is one of the most underrated freebies because it has the potential to save you money more than once. Save Water Save Money lets eligible households order free water-saving devices through participating water companies. These can include simple items that help reduce water use and, in some cases, hot water use too.
It is not the most glamorous claim on the list, but it is the kind of freebie that earns its keep over time.
Check if you qualify for free water-saving devices
7. Free photo prints every month
FreePrints is still offering up to 45 free 6×4 prints a month, with only postage to pay. This one is obviously more of a nice-to-have than a cost-of-living essential, but if you were already planning to print photos, it is a straightforward way to do it more cheaply.
It is also the sort of freebie people forget exists until they need it.
8. Free audiobooks and podcasts through Audible’s Free Listens
Audible’s Free Listens section is a useful reminder that not every digital freebie has to involve a trial you later cancel. Audible says users can stream a rotating selection of free audiobooks and podcasts with “no credits, no cash”, which makes it a decent option if you want something for the commute without adding another subscription.
In a week where you are trying not to spend, free entertainment still counts as a proper saving.
9. Free Krispy Kreme birthday doughnut
If your birthday falls this week or this month, this is an easy one to line up. Krispy Kreme says Rewards members can get a free Original Glazed doughnut on their birthday, which makes it worth joining in advance if you are eligible.
Birthday freebies are not instant for everyone, but they are still one of the simplest ways to get a little something back from brands you already use.
10. Free Costa birthday treat
Costa also runs a birthday freebie for Costa Club members, with a free sweet treat available if your details are set up correctly in the app. Again, it is not one everyone can claim this week, but it is worth noting because so many people forget these rewards exist until after their birthday has passed.
If you are the organised sort, these are the small wins that can quietly add up over the year.
How to do freebies properly
- Only claim things you would actually use
- Use a separate email address for sign-ups
- Read the terms, especially where minimum spend applies
- Check whether your local area is active before relying on an app
- Prioritise freebies that replace real spending
Why freebies are still worth watching
Freebies are easy to dismiss as gimmicks, but they can be surprisingly effective when they replace spending you were already going to do. A coffee, a restaurant side, some local surplus food, a useful household item or a practical device for cutting bills can all chip away at your weekly costs without much effort.
Vicky Parry adds: “The best freebies are not necessarily the flashiest ones. They are the offers that fit naturally into your life and save you from spending money you would otherwise have handed over without thinking.”
We will keep updating the best offers each week, but the strongest freebies rarely stay around forever. If you spot one you will actually use, it is usually worth moving quickly.
To get our full weekly deals round-up check here
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