Mobile phone deals with free gifts

Contract phones with free gifts

Purchasing a brand-new mobile phone with a contract deal is a big decision, so wouldn’t it be amazing if you could have a little something extra thrown in? That’s where phones with free gifts shine. Providers use fabulous freebies to entice shoppers and keep existing customers happy. What more could you want?

We know you’re eager to search for the best contract phones with free gifts but hold your horses. Before diving right in, it’s helpful to know what kinds of rewards you’ll receive and whether there are any hidden catches. While most deals are legit, we suggest reading the small print before signing on the dotted line. Plus, some presents are far more valuable than others.

Ready to learn more? Keep scrolling as we answer some of your most pressing FAQs, including how mobile phone deals with free gifts work and where you can find the most exciting giveaways, vouchers and cashback offers.

What are mobile phone contracts with gifts?

On the surface, it’s self-explanatory. Phone contracts with gifts are exactly the same as regular contracts but with a present included to sweeten the deal. You’ll receive your item at the start of your agreement, which typically lasts two or three years.

However, here’s where it gets complicated – many of the freebies aren’t as free as you think. Sometimes, providers ask customers to extend their contracts in exchange for the product. On top of this, third-party retailers often make the deal more expensive to compensate for the additional cost. Either way, you end up paying more than you usually would!

Still confused? Let’s explore the two types of phone deals with gifts in more detail:

First-party gifts

First-party gifts (also known as provider gifts) are more transparent than third-party deals. Most of the time, you don’t need to untangle a load of jargon and unclear conditions – what you see is what you get.

However, we recommend comparing mobile contracts with free gifts to regular contracts to see if there are any differences. For instance, you might notice the former has a longer agreement or smaller data allowance. Doing your research will reveal whether you’re receiving a priceless present or a bogus bonus!

Third-party gifts

Take third-party gifts with a grain of salt. Although some are worthwhile, most charge you above and beyond for an item you wouldn’t have necessarily bought in the first place. You can see this clearly when you use a comparison site like YesPhones – the mobile phone deals with free gifts always come up more expensive than the same deals without them.

One retailer we researched offered an Apple iPhone 11 with FIFA 23 for the PS5. The deal was £5 extra per month than the same offer without the “freebie”. Considering the game is only £50 and most contracts last two to three years, you can see how much extra you’d spend throughout your agreement.

What freebies are on offer?

Now we’ve covered the sensible stuff, here’s what you might receive. Phones with free gifts tend to stick to the same themes – predominantly technology and vouchers. However, you might find entertainment subscriptions, cashback deals and fitness watches. Keep your eyes peeled for unique deals!

If the bundle sounds too good to be true, it probably is. As a rule, the more expensive the item, the more caution you should apply. Here are some of the most popular offerings on the market:

Audio accessories

The most common giveaways are audio accessories, including headphones, speakers and cables. Largely, these are exclusive to the phone you’re buying. For example, you might receive a pair of Apple AirPods with the latest iPhone.

Consoles and games

Games consoles are a considerable investment, so who wouldn’t want one for free? Mobile deals with gifts typically include an Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo Switch. Additionally, providers and third parties will try and entice you with the latest games.

Fitness watches

Fitness watches are all the rage, making them tempting to new and existing customers. Popular brands you might come across include Apple, Whoop, Garmin, Fitbit and Samsung. There’s a huge variation in cost between the models. Generally, Fitbits are less expensive, so you might cinch a more reliable deal.

Televisions, computers and tablets

Keep in mind what we said earlier. If the mobile phone with a free gift sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. It’s wise to switch on your savvy shopper’s brain if you see “free” televisions, computers and tablets. Expensive tech almost always comes with a catch. But you can pick up budget-friendly freebies at no extra cost.

Entertainment packages

Phones with free gifts don’t always offer something that can be packed up and posted. Instead, many deals promise entertainment packages and subscriptions, such as Now TV, Netflix and Disney+. Be mindful that most of these bonuses are time-limited. You might receive access for six months, then find yourself locked into a slightly more expensive contract.

Gift vouchers and cashback

Gift vouchers and cashback offers are safe options because they don’t cost the provider or third-party retailer much money. Amazon vouchers are popular as most people shop online. However, you aren’t always tied to a specific vendor – Love2shop gift cards are valid at over 20,000 stores in the UK. How much can you expect? Somewhere between £50 to £100.

How do contract mobile phones with free gifts work?

Setting up a mobile phone with free gift contract is pretty much the same as arranging a standard agreement. However, you’ll need to find a deal beforehand. Our top advice is to move quickly because the best offers fly off the shelf, and you don’t want to miss out.

Browse phones with gifts

The first step is the most crucial – choose a handset from one of your favourite brands. There are literally thousands to sift through, so this part will take the longest. Once you’ve decided, check whether it’s compatible with your preferred provider and freebie. You might have to wait if all three aren’t available or choose another option. Finally, sign-up for the deal online.

Be patient

Unfortunately, you won’t receive your bounty straight away. Frustrating, we know! You’ll have to wait until the cancellation period expires for obvious reasons, which is normally between 14 and 30 days.

Make a claim

You didn’t think the process would be easy, did you? While you’d be forgiven for assuming your present would arrive automatically, you actually have to claim it. Why do providers and third-party retailers do this? Quite simply, the more barriers they put up, the less likely they are to cough up. Many people forget or can’t be bothered to claim their reward. Don’t sacrifice something you’re entitled to.

Who offers contract phones with free gifts?

As mentioned, you must be super speedy to secure the best mobile phones with gifts. Not only do the most valuable rewards run out quickly, but offers are usually time-sensitive. You’ll notice plenty of flash sales around certain times of the year, including Black Friday, Valentine’s Day and Christmas.

If you haven’t got time to search for phones with gifts, there’s no need to worry. Keep reading as we share which providers offer the most attractive freebies.

First-party providers

First-party providers are the phone companies themselves – for example, O2, Vodafone and Three. Remember, these phone deals with gifts tend to be more reliable than third-party offerings.

O2

O2 is known for irresistible incentives, the most famous being O2 Priority Tickets. O2 Rewards also gives customers money back on their top-ups every three months, which can be spent on extra credit, shopping vouchers, accessories and more.

As for freebies, O2 mainly offer digital gift cards. However, you’ll sometimes find smartwatches and accessories. Keep an eye on the terms and conditions because most vouchers are only compatible wherever Mastercard is accepted. Plus, you usually have to redeem the gift within 44 days of making a qualifying purchase.

Three

Three is quite generous with its pay monthly phone deals with free gifts. In the past, you might have seen the “Big Tech Giveaway”, where you could pick up treats like the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, Powerbeats Pro by Beats, JBL Xtreme 3 and Fitbit Versa 3 with selected handsets.

What’s more, you can find some incredible deals on the Three clearance shop – it’s easier for providers to sell stock when they throw in AirPods for good measure!

Sky Mobile

Sky Mobile frequently pushes gift accessories, like tablets and smartwatches, when you order an eligible device. There are small cashback deals too, where you receive an extra £100 or £150 when you trade in your phone for the latest model.

Vodafone

Does Vodafone give free gifts? Sometimes. Instead of outright freebies, it focuses on bonus data and rewards for existing customers. The VeryMe Rewards app gives you discounts on cinema tickets, coffee, independent restaurants and more.

Tesco Mobile

Like Vodafone, Tesco Mobile doesn’t sell phone deals with free gifts as such. However, you can make significant savings when you buy a handset with your Clubcard. On the rare occasion it does offer a freebie, it’ll probably be a £5 or £10 gift card to spend in-store. Not the most glamorous giveaway, but every little helps!

giffgaff

giffgaff boasts some of the fairest deals at the lowest possible prices. Consequently, and understandably, you won’t often find free gifts added on. Most of the rewards revolve around referrals. When you bring a friend on board, you’ll receive cash, vouchers, credits or a charity donation in your name.

Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile is known for delivering good-value phones with free gifts. At the time of writing, it offered several time-limited subscriptions to Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Fitness+ and Disney+. However, do the maths before committing to a contract. You don’t want a higher fixed monthly rate for a service that ends in three to six months. You could also pick up a Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite when you purchased another eligible Samsung product.

EE

EE regularly promotes contract phones with free gifts. In fact, we’d say it’s easier to find fun freebies here than with most other providers. When you buy a Samsung phone, you might receive a pair of Galaxy Buds2 Pro worth over £200. Around Christmas, there are heavily discounted tech products to add to mobile phone bundles. While not completely free, it’s worth looking into if you’re already searching for a new device.

iD Mobile

Alongside EE, iD Mobile (formerly a part of Carphone Warehouse) is a treasure chest of mobile phone deals with free gifts. Alongside subscription services, we saw Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, £100 Currys vouchers, OPPO Watches, Samsung Note packs and Smart Clock 2s with wireless docking stations. There was an even longer list of expired offers, proving how frequently you can find these awesome deals!

BT Mobile

BT Mobile prefers giving customers rewards over freebies. BT Rewards is a preloaded Mastercard that turns points into cash, so you can get money off the things you love. That said, you can sometimes find contracts with free accessories thrown in.

Third-party providers

Third-party providers include well-known retailers and mobile phone comparison sites. As you read the following information, keep repeating our number one golden rule – if it sounds too good to be true, it is, it is, it is!

Carphone Warehouse

Carphone Warehouse is one of the most recognisable mobile phone retailers around, dazzling customers with shiny deals. Its generosity extends from small freebies, such as phone cases and chargers, to more valuable items like headphones and tablets. Of course, there’s a catch – many of the phone deals with free gifts only apply to the latest handsets, encouraging you to spend more even if you didn’t plan to.

BuyMobiles.net

BuyMobiles.net is one of the best comparison sites for data deals. Plus, there’s always a sale, combining cheaper handsets with free earbuds, smartwatches, and more. However, you need to be careful with third-party gift suppliers. We recommend checking the deal’s total cost with and without the gift, then tallying it against the item’s value before making a decision.

Mobiles.co.uk

As mentioned above, double-check the phone contracts with gifts on mobiles.co.uk. Although it’s the longest-running comparison site, and you’d expect total transparency, you can still find dud deals. When we had a look, the “Free Gifts” page listed Beats headphones, televisions and tablets.

Frequently asked questions

How do I claim my freebie?

When you browse contract phones with free gifts, there should be clear instructions on how to claim your prize. Normally, you must complete an online claim form and upload your proof of purchase. You’ll receive your present once the cooling-off period has finished, which is around 14 to 30 days.

How do I choose the right mobile phone for me?

With so many impressive phones on the market, how do you know which is best for you? Unfortunately, we can’t give you a clear answer because everyone has different requirements. If you have no idea where to start, check out the latest Apple, Samsung and Google phones because they consistently receive five-star reviews.

Are free gifts really free?

Although most first-party providers are trustworthy, you must be careful with third-party offers. Online retailers and comparison sites typically charge a higher monthly rate for mobile phone deals with free gifts. Eventually, the total cost far exceeds the value of the present itself.

Which providers are best for free gifts?

At the time of writing, EE and iD Mobile offered the most phone deals with gifts. However, this changes throughout the year, so it’s worth doing your own research. Rather than ask which provider is best, it’s more helpful to think about when you can find the best deals. You’ll generally find amazing offers around key dates and holidays, including Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Black Friday.