FreeAppADay: Paid iOS Games (and Other Apps) for Free!

FreeAppADay is exactly what it sounds like. Paid apps for free. That’s it. Apps that are usually paid downloads are offered free for a day (or for a few days, but in any event for a limited time.) You can install the app (which is also free) to see new offerings every day!

Erin, How Does This Free App Thing Work?

The apps are regular App Store apps that usually cost some amount of real money to download. The App Store has a built-in feature that allows developers to change the price on their app for a scheduled time, so that for example they can list their paid apps at a lower tier rate for special promotions like Cyber Monday sales. With FreeAppADay, developers offer their app free for a limited time and list it on the FreeAppADay app.

Because the price change is listed through the App Store, you don’t really need the FreeAppADay app to download the apps for free. For that day (or limited number of days) the app is free to everyone. The FreeAppADay app just gives you an easy way to find those free offers right on your iPhone or iPad. If you’d rather take a gander at the free offerings without downloading the app, you can always check out their web site at freeappaday.com, which includes a whole calendar of free app offerings.

Free Games Today: JED-GO Untouchable, Blocks Up, Hackycat, iSniper 3D Arctic Warfare

OK, So What’s the Catch?

There is no catch. At least, not really. The downloads are free. Of course, that doesn’t make the in-app purchases free. Developers are always more ready to make this kind of offer if they expect users to be interested in buying some further in-app enhancement to unlock levels or power-up a character or the like, so you do want to remember that these in-app purchases are not included in the download offer.

But for some of these downloads, the free download is really all there is to it. You get the whole thing for free. No in-app purchases available, just free. Period. Why would a developer offer their complete game for free? They might if they are a small enough developer just releasing a new game, and they’re counting on you to be cool enough to download their app for free during the limited time and then rave about it to all your friends next week, when it’s back to being a buck ninety-nine.

But What If the One Paid Game I’ve Been Dying for Isn’t on Here?

You’re not out of luck yet! FreeAppADay lets you request your favorite app, and they will add it to their list of developers to contact. Obviously they can’t promise anything. There has to be enough interest, and the developer has to agree to it. But, hey, a chance of getting your favorite app for free is better than no chance at all, right? (You can make that request through their web site also.)

What I like about it is not just the chance to find some great deals, which is a good enough reason alone to download it, but also the opportunity to hear about some crazy game titles that I might not have come across otherwise. Like one of today’s free offers: Hackycat. “Save really cute cats from exploding. By kicking them.” What’s that all about? I don’t know. But I downloaded it. If I like it, you’ll be seeing a review up here soon. See? That’s why developers put their games on there. It’s working already.