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How to get paid apps for free on Android

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We love apps. We love free apps. And we love paid apps being given away for free most of all. But we don't like pirates and we don't like stealing. There are plenty of legal ways to get paid apps for free on Android – including in the Play Store – and we're going to share a few with you.

Before we continue, it's worth pointing out that free apps may cost in other ways: as one study discovered, ad-funded apps can use an average of 79 percent more mobile data than the ad-free equivalents. If you're on a limited monthly mobile data plan, choosing the "free" version of an app may be a false economy.

Free app of the day

Freapp is one of my favorite apps because every morning I'm greeted by another new app for free. It's not always one I want but saves me having to look through a ton of lists that other sales apps have.

freapp
Naturally, you don't get anything for free on an app without looking at ads. / © NextPit

As with any deals program, the offers vary: some apps won't be eligible for updates, and some of the free apps probably don't cost anything to start with. Nevertheless, the deals just keep coming and there are often some real gems in there.

${app-com.digitaltbd.freapp}

AppHoarder - paid apps gone free

This app will delight the thrifty. Most developers make their premium apps free temporarily for promotional reasons or during sales, and once you download an app, it's yours. Rather than always be looking on the Play Store for deals, this app collects the paid apps that are currently available for free and displays them in a list. You'd be surprised just how many on any given day, but of course, most aren't so great. Thankfully you can use advanced search and filter options to sort for what you're most interested in.

App Hoarder
Browse or bargain hunt, you can grab some great deals this way. / © NextPit (screenshot)
  • Get it on the Play Store

Ask the Internet hive mind

On the Internet, no power is more remarkable than swarm intelligence. A good place to look when researching for exciting deals is Reddit. In particular, the subreddits googleplaydeals and AndroidGameDeals. Follow the link below to check them out together:

The games posted there are sorted by popularity and discussed on site. Quite often the app developers themselves will answer your questions.

Google Play surveys

We've written about Google's free Play Store credit in exchange for answering surveys before. If you're not aware of it yet, Google offers its very own rewards program because, well, it wants even more information about you and your habits.

Simply install the Google Opinion Rewards app, fill in a short survey and collect your coinage. You're limited to one survey a week (so you won't exactly be able to retire early), and you don't always get paid for every survey, but you can earn up to a dollar per survey. Not bad for a few minutes of your time.

AndroidPIT Paid Apps For Free Google Opinion Rewards
Google likes to know things about you, and it is willing to pay you for it. / © ANDROIDPIT
${app-com.google.android.apps.paidtasks}

Discounted apps and sales

Some apps, such as AppSales, enable you to add apps you're interested in to a watch list, so you can be notified when they go on sale. It isn't exactly free, but it's still better than full price. Plus, AppSales does occasionally post free apps.

appsales
Appsales tracks both discounts and freebies. / © NextPit

How do you score paid apps for free (no illegal methods, please)? What's the best deal you've ever found for a paid app? Make yourself heard in the comments. 

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Nicholas Montegriffo

Nicholas Montegriffo
Editor

A cyberpunk and actual punk, Nicholas is the Androidpit team's hardcore gamer, writing with a focus on future tech, VR/AR, AI & robotics. Out of office, he can be found hanging around in goth clubs, eating too many chillies, or at home telling an unlucky nerd that their 8th level wizard died from a poisoned spike trap.

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53 comments
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  • 1
    DJBABY1980 Feb 18, 2019 Link to comment

    Google Opinion Rewards works great... I've been using it for a few years now and have purchased a couple apps and made numerous in-app purchases.


  • 27
    Sorin Feb 9, 2019 Link to comment

    I've subscribed to https://sharewareonsale.com and https://www.giveawayoftheday.com, and I find useful and interesting programs for both PC and Android.


    • 25
      Deactivated Account Feb 9, 2019 Link to comment

      Thank you Sorin 😀


  • Albin Foro 30
    Albin Foro Feb 9, 2019 Link to comment

    Not long ago the Play Store itself had a section for "On Sale" apps, many free. Now terminated, probably because it was being "gamed" as a shortcut to undeserved status for a lot of crummy junk discounted from faked "regular" prices. (For apps in the article, see if the shoe fits.) With all the junkware, it was a one-stop service worth checking now and then and I got several very good products free. Hope Google will fix and bring it back.

    Deactivated AccountSorin


  • Zafeer 4
    Zafeer Mar 17, 2018 Link to comment

    A nice piece of information and looking fabulous, Honest work and please update some more.

    Sorin


  • 2
    Vinay kumar Mourya Jan 20, 2018 Link to comment

    yes these are the true methods to use i have used google surveys and a app which gives gives you notifications of ongoing sales of free apps using the apps provided by apk apps sites are not the best way because you can get a virus or file you dont want and also it is not good to get someones work for free, i only like the google syrveys vecause its secure and google already knows about you so no metter if they ask anything.. But a great post.

    Sorin


  • D. L. 8
    D. L. Dec 18, 2017 Link to comment

    Sorry to toot the competition's horn, but Android Police runs a feature a couple times a week, usually on Wednesday, listing free and on sale apps & games. I've seen big named apps there on sale, like popular launchers, Nova, and others. They feature new and notable apps that are only weeks old. So if you like trying out new stuff, you should definitely visit AP.

    Mike


  • Dan Bod 2
    Dan Bod Dec 10, 2017 Link to comment

    You've missed, "Paid Apps Gone Free" (or "PAGF").

    Kevin love


  • 20
    Reg Joo Dec 10, 2017 Link to comment

    The apps that you get from other app stores most of the time, won’t be updated through the play store, even if that same app is on it, especially paid apps. If the other AppStore doesn’t have a updater,you won’t be able to update, unless apkmirror has a newer version.


  • 2
    Jay W Dec 10, 2017 Link to comment

    Amazon underground app! This app has an entire section of 100% free apps, and it's not cheesy apps either, I'm taking about good quality apps like plex ($4.99 on Google play) In addition to this, the Amazon app store gives away a free app every day. Just sign in an look for the free app of the day. I have a rediculous amount of good free apps from Amazon, apps like Where's my water, Tetris and Cut the Rope. Amazon is all you'll ever need.

    Kevin love


  • Jawad Ahmed 2
    Jawad Ahmed Jan 3, 2016 Link to comment

    I had also written about apps which are free available fro people i think you will enjoy that to get apps in your pocket with your smart phone here is it on geeksjar.com

    Kevin love


  • Shafiq Ur Rahman 2
    Shafiq Ur Rahman Dec 21, 2015 Link to comment

    almost all paid app are available free in Google play but then you can play some of the mission there and then you should pay for other mission.


  • Mark G. 28
    Mark G. Dec 20, 2015 Link to comment

    Hi,
    I can't seem to find the Google play store "free app of the week" has it ended or moved?


  • 3
    Karen J. Dec 19, 2015 Link to comment

    Google Play Rewards were constantly giving me surveys.....I earned a bit here & there & loved it but now I hardly here from them . My tablet is set to alerts & nothing.....I've reinstalled the app a few times but still having issues...
    Same with the App of the Day,same as above but if I want to check it out I have to press on the widget......

    All settings are correct...Just in case you were wondering...I formerly had an Acer tablet which I loved...I now have a Samsung Galaxy s4 16G. ...

    Enigmo


  • 16
    Viktor jovanović v. Sep 26, 2015 Link to comment

    On Amazon you can also get free apps


  • 16
    Viktor jovanović v. Aug 29, 2015 Link to comment

    You can also go to Google Play - Get paid apps for free. good luck!


  • GrimJimCrowley 14
    GrimJimCrowley Aug 19, 2015 Link to comment

    Google Play Rewards is great! Able to get premium version of Nova Launcher without spending my own hard-earned $$$

    Kevin loveSaleh Jamali


  • 3
    William Kane Aug 7, 2015 Link to comment

    Nice idea, but m not sure its 100% legit.

    Saleh Jamali


  • Junaid Q. 17
    Junaid Q. Aug 4, 2015 Link to comment

    I use Blackmart app to get paid apps for free ;-)


    • sinkster 23
      sinkster Aug 4, 2015 Link to comment

      I'd be wary about blackmart, Aptoide or any other app pirating app/site. Any of their pirated apps (i.e. any paid apps for 'free') have the ability to compromise your phones security at root level and install undetectable or unremovable trojans. If you don't pay a developer for his work, you pay in other ways ;)

      Dan BodJunaid Q.

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