Categories
Every receipt, sorted by where "free" shows up in your life.
Lead Generation
Sites that look like providers but sell you as the product — quotes, matches, and 'compare rates' funnels.
NOT FREE The “Free Quote” That Never Stops CallingSubscriptions
Trials, freemium tiers, and the quiet economics of forgetting to cancel.
LOSS LEADER Free Trials: Your Forgetfulness Is the Business ModelPrivacy Tools
Products that promise to protect you — priced in the very thing they promise to protect.
NOT FREE Free VPNs: Paying for Privacy With Your PrivacySocial Media
The attention economy: platforms where the service is free because your attention is the inventory.
FREE-ISH Free Social Media: The Attention Economy, ItemizedRetail
Free shipping, free returns, free gifts — the psychology of zero built into the checkout.
LOSS LEADER Free Shipping: The Price Is Hiding in the PriceApps & Games
Free downloads engineered as funnels, from wait timers to loot boxes.
LOSS LEADER Free-to-Play Games: Designed So 2% Pay for EveryoneCredit & Finance
Where 'free' meets your money directly — the traps, and the rare real thing.
ACTUALLY FREE AnnualCreditReport.com: Actually Free. Really.