Freebies that ship free without buying anything
These cost nothing to get, Free Shipping Day or not. Each guide has its own live list.
| What | What it costs you | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Free samples by mail | Nothing; the brand pays shipping | Free samples by mail |
| Free catalogs | Nothing; you get on the mailing list | Free catalogs |
| Free 2027 calendars | Nothing, though charities send a donation request | Free 2027 calendars |
| Free Christmas cards | Sometimes shipping on photo card promos | Free Christmas cards |
| Free letter from Santa | A stamp to send yours; replies are free | Free letter from Santa |
Tips for Free Shipping Day
- Read the delivery promise. Some stores guarantee Christmas Eve delivery only for certain items or regions.
- Check for a minimum."Free shipping" with a $50 minimum is a deal only if you meant to spend $50.
- Ship gifts early anyway. Carriers run behind the week before Christmas.
- Request samples now for January. Samples ordered in mid December often arrive after the holidays, which makes a nice surprise in January.
Holiday freebies calendar, 2026 season
Every TrySpree holiday guide in date order. Each has its own live list of offers.
| When | Guide |
|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 31 | Halloween freebies |
| Wed, Nov 11 | Veterans Day free meals |
| Thu, Nov 26 | Thanksgiving freebies |
| Fri, Nov 27 to Mon, Nov 30 | Black Friday and Cyber Monday freebies |
| Sign up Oct to early Dec | Free Christmas gifts and toys |
| Dec 1 to 24 | Advent calendar freebies |
| Fri, Dec 4 | National Cookie Day freebies |
| Mail by early Dec | Free letter from Santa |
| Nov to mid Dec | Free Christmas cards |
| Mon, Dec 14 | Free Shipping Day (this page) |
| Nov to Dec 25 | Christmas giveaways |
| Fri, Dec 25 | Christmas freebies |
| Dec 26 to Jan 7 | New Year freebies |
| Now to January | Free 2027 calendars |
When is Free Shipping Day 2026?
Monday, December 14, 2026. It is set each year for the middle of December, late enough to shop and early enough that standard shipping can still arrive by Christmas Eve.
What is Free Shipping Day?
A one-day online shopping event, started in 2008, where participating stores drop shipping charges and promise delivery by Christmas Eve. Each store sets its own terms, so some still have a minimum order.
Is anything free on Free Shipping Day?
Only the shipping, and only on what you buy. For things that are free with no order at all, request free samples, catalogs and calendars; the brands pay to mail those.
What is the last day to ship for Christmas?
Each carrier posts its holiday cutoffs in the fall. In recent years USPS has suggested about December 17 for Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail and about December 18 for Priority Mail, with UPS and FedEx ground cutoffs a few days earlier depending on distance. Check each carrier for the 2026 dates.
About TrySpree
TrySpree is a free sample site, running since 2013, that lists free sample offers from real brands and checks the links; it's free to use and supported by ads. See how offers are checked, or skip the survey sites with free samples without surveys.
More TrySpree guides
- Free Samples by Mail: Where free samples by mail come from, what each kind costs, and the live offers in every TrySpree category.
- Birthday Freebies: Free food, drinks and beauty gifts on your birthday: which loyalty programs give one, how early to join, and which need a purchase.
- Free Baby Stuff and Newborn Freebies: Free baby stuff for expecting parents: registry welcome boxes, formula and diaper programs, and live baby sample offers, with what each one asks of you.
- Free Makeup Samples by Mail: Ways to get makeup samples mailed or handed to you, which are free and which need an order, plus live makeup offers.
- Free Perfume and Cologne Samples: How to get perfume and cologne samples by mail or at a counter, what they cost, and live fragrance offers.
- Companies That Send Free Samples: Which companies send free samples, how to email a company for free stuff (with a template), and the brands with a sample form open right now.
- Free Catalogs by Mail: Who still mails free print catalogs (seeds, clothing, gifts, hobby gear), how to request one, and live catalog offers.
- Halloween Freebies: Free Halloween treats for wearing a costume, free kids workshops and store events, and trick-or-treat kits, with this season's live offers and last year's list.
- Veterans Day Free Meals and Freebies: Free meals, haircuts and other Veterans Day thank-yous for veterans and service members on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, what proof to bring, and live offers.
- Thanksgiving Freebies: Free turkey and dinner deals, kids turkey crafts, cooking help and community meals for Thanksgiving, with what each one asks of you.
- Black Friday Freebies: Which Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday freebies are really free (early-bird swag bags, doorbuster gifts) and which need a purchase, plus live offers.
- Advent Calendar Freebies: Free printable and app advent calendars, daily holiday giveaways and countdown freebies, and what the paid beauty and snack advent calendars actually cost.
- National Cookie Day Freebies: Free cookies on National Cookie Day (December 4): which bakeries have given one away, which need a purchase or the app, and live cookie offers.
- Christmas Freebies: Free Santa photos, kids ornament workshops, letters to Santa and holiday events, plus this season's live offers.
- Free Christmas Gifts and Toys: Free Christmas toys and gifts for kids and families: Toys for Tots, Angel Tree, Operation Santa, free kids workshop kits and holiday app rewards, with sign-up windows.
- Christmas Giveaways and Sweepstakes: Christmas giveaways and holiday sweepstakes open now, how the daily-entry ones work, and how to spot a fake giveaway.
- Free Letter From Santa: How to get a free reply from Santa: Canada Post's Santa letters, USPS Operation Santa, the North Pole postmark, 2026 mail-by dates and a free printable Santa letter maker.
- Free Christmas Cards by Mail: Free Christmas cards from photo card promos, charity mailings and card swaps, with the shipping and postage catches spelled out.
- New Year Freebies: Free stuff from December 26 into January: free 2027 calendars, fresh-start trials and apps, and January birthday freebies to sign up for now.
- Free Calendars by Mail: Who gives away free wall calendars each year, when to ask, what they want in return, and live calendar offers.