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We all love getting free stuff, right? So knowing all the options out there for how to get free shoes can definitely be a winning strategy!

And as you’ll see, there are actually a surprising number of major companies out there offering free shoes to giveaway.

In some cases, you’ll only be able to get them in exchange for a review. Others, however, are only for those in certain jobs, like the companies that provide free shoes for healthcare workers.

But either way, there may just be an option on this list that lets you take advantage of these offers too, whether you’re looking to get free Jordans or other Nike shoes, some other brand of free sneakers or a bunch of others!

How to get free shoes online

One of the main ways for almost anyone to get free shoes is through participating in testing programs.

This essentially means that you’re getting free shoes for a review on your thoughts on the shoe, including its comfort, style and fitness for purpose, like if it helped you with your running or another sport.

1. Nike

Given the massive popularity of their shoes, it’s hardly surprising that there are so many people trying to work out how to get free shoes from Nike.

Fortunately, they actually do have a program where you can help them to design amazing new products – or even improve existing ones.

a Nike store that can get free shoes

Does Nike give free shoes?

Yes, you can get free shoes from Nike through one of several programs they offer where you can get free Nike shoes in exchange for a review. Keep in mind though that you won’t be able to keep the shoes forever.

Now we can’t tell you, say, how to get free Jordans shoes, as you’re not able to choose which ones they send you. Instead, as a Nike product tester, they’re more likely to send you their new releases as free shoes for review.

How to get free Nike shoes

To get free Nike shoes, apply to become a product tester for them. You’ll get some apparel or a pair of free shoes by mail to review. Alternatively, if you live close to a Nike testing center, you can come in for an in-person shoe test.

You’ll then be asked to wear the shoes for a certain period of time, which can be for anything from one month to a few months. You may also be asked to do certain activities in them, such as playing sport, to test how well they can withstand wear and tear.

Once the testing period is over, Nike asks you to send the shoes back for their Research and Development Department to take a closer look at the shoes and analyse how they have held up.

someone who worked out how to get free Nike shoes

How do I become a Nike shoe tester?

You can apply to become a Nike shoe tester through Nike’s Voice of the Athlete site. Applicants’ profiles are reviewed and then, if they are considered eligible, applicants are contacted with the next steps on how to participate.

The application page for getting these free Nikes shoes is available here with different sections for the following applicants:

  • One application for those who are 18 and older
  • Another application for those aged between 13 and 17 years old
  • An application for kids who are 12 years old and younger, to be completed by their parents

It’s worth noting that the application for those who are between 13 and 17 years old needs to be done alongside a parent or guardian, who must confirm that they give permission for their teen to do this.

a pair of Nike shoes for free

Do Nike testers get paid?

Nike testers don’t get paid. Instead, their compensation is the free shoes and other apparel that they receive for participating in the testing program. That said, you don’t get to keep these free items indefinitely as they do have to be returned after a few months.

This can be a bit of a bummer, especially if you would have preferred to keep the shoes forever. At the same time, keep in mind that if you send the shoes back along with suitable feedback, you’ll continue to be eligible to receive new products.

This means that you could set yourself up to actually get free shoes from Nike several times a year.

Related: How to Live Cheap: 54 Frugal Living Tips to Save You Money

2. Vans

While Vans doesn’t have a product testing program, there is still a way to get free shoes from Vans.

How to get free shoes from Vans

To get free shoes from Vans, you need to sign up for their program which is essentially a customer loyalty scheme. As a member, you’re able to “unlock entry to exclusive family only products, promotions and experiences”, which can include getting free shoes.

You’ll also earn points through the Vans Family program by doing random things such as confirming your email, referring friends to their program and purchasing Vans products. Those points can then be redeemed for other products.

free shoes from Vans
Source: Reddit

However, one extra perk you can get for being a member of the Vans Family is that, from time to time, they’ll send you free shoes by mail as a surprise.

And this isn’t even as rare as you think, with people on Reddit getting free shoes from Vans here, here, here and here.

3. Adidas

If you’re looking for free shoes, Adidas is here to help. This is because, like Nike, they also have a highly reputable testing program.

How to get free shoes from Adidas

To get free shoes from Adidas, you need to create a profile in the Adidas product testing program and make sure you meet the minimum requirements on there. If selected, you’ll receive an email inviting you to participate in a round of testing of a particular product.

The minimum requirements for the Adidas product testing program include living in the US or Europe, being at least 18 years old and agreeing to not test any competitor products or share information on what you’re asked to test.

You can access the Adidas product testing page here, including to review all of the minimum requirements in full to make sure that it works for you.

someone who knows how to get free shoes from the Adidas product testing program

From there, if you receive the invitation email and accept it, Adidas will send you some free shoes by mail.

At that point, you’re expected to test the product for a minimum number of hours or mileage per week for the testing period, which is usually around two to four weeks.

Make sure you take detailed notes on how you use the free shoes, so Adidas knows how they’ve been used. Then, at the end of the test, you’ll be asked to mail the shoes back – which Adidas pays for.

And if they like your work, you’ll continue to be eligible for future tests! This means that while you don’t get free shoes from Adidas to keep forever, you could have new ones in rotation basically as frequently as you want.

Related: How to Drastically Cut Expenses: 43 Easy Ways That Actually Work

4. Brooks

If you’re a runner, you’ve definitely heard of Brooks before. They have some of the best running shoes in the business, so getting a free pair should be a priority if you like to pound the pavement from time to time.

How to get free running shoes from Brooks

To get free running shoes from Brooks, you have to sign up for their testing program. If you meet the various requirements and are considered eligible, you also have the chance to be sent other apparel too.

You can sign up for this here. As you’ll see at that link and as just mentioned, they have certain requirements that are similar to Adidas in order to be eligible to get free sneakers.

Specifically, you have to be 18 and agree to keep the product information confidential. This includes no posting on social media.

man running outside

Their program is only available to those living in the US but if you live in Seattle, you have the added bonus possibility of being selected to come to Brooks’ lab and help them test their products there.

Given what Brooks is known for, you’re more likely to be selected if you’re a runner. That said, anyone who prefers other sports can still be considered given that Brooks is looking for all sorts of people who use their shoes in all sorts of different ways.

Also keep in mind that you don’t have to be a champion runner. On the contrary, they specifically say that you can run at any time, any pace.

You’ll get to use your free running shoes for around three months, at which point Brooks will ask for them to be sent back (which they pay for) for their Research and Development Team to look at. And then you can sit back and wait for the next testing round to participate in!

5. New Balance

New Balance is another brand that’s well known to anyone who considers themselves a bit of an athlete. And luckily for you, they also have a great product testing program for you to score yourself some free shoes from New Balance.

How to get free shoes for review from New Balance

To get free shoes for review from New Balance, sign up to become a product tester on their site. You’ll have to provide some details about yourself, including how often you exercise as well as what you do.

Rest assured though that you don’t have to be an Olympian to qualify though. From there, if they think you’re a fit, you’ll be contacted by their testing team and sent some free shoes by mail.

rows of free sneakers

Also note that you don’t necessarily have to be a runner for this. For example, some people report getting free basketball shoes through this program.

Simply wear them as you would any other pair of sports shoes, log your usage and provide feedback on their fit, usage, comfort and more. Your feedback will then be used to improve New Balance’s product line going forward.

Sign up here to get shoes for free from New Balance.

6. Reebok

There’s no need to miss out on the fun if you’re a Reebok fan, with the company also offering free shoes through its product testing program.

Much like the other brands, you’ll have to meet certain minimum requirements to be approved for this program. These include things like how active you are, where you live, your age and so on.

a Reebok shoes for free

Importantly, you’re also not allowed to test any competitor products while in this program.

If you’re invited to join (don’t forget to click “accept” in that all important email!), you’ll be sent free running shoes with certain steps to follow. For instance, you’ll be requested to use them for a certain number of hours or distance each week during the testing period.

After that, you’ll have to send the shoes back for Reebok’s testing department to see how they’ve held up.

7. Play games with Swagbucks

Swagbucks is easily one of my best picks apps for making free money. It’s given out literally hundreds of millions of dollars to its users over the year just for them doing all sorts of activities.

(Starting with the free $10 welcome bonus you’ll get just for signing up verifying your email!)

All you have to do to earn points is do things like playing games, watching videos, doing surveys and even using their in-built search engine. This means that you’re basically earning from doing things you’d be doing on your phone anyway!

a woman holding her phone playing games to get free shoes

And the points you earn can be converted into gift cards at almost any major retailer you can imagine, including Amazon, Target, Walmart and even PayPal – which is basically like receiving straight up cash.

You can then use those gift cards to buy that pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing off – and they’ll be totally free!

Swagbucks

Free sign-up bonus: $10

A great app for making extra money, including with cash back from online shopping, watching videos, playing games and more.

And given it’s paid out over $550 million through Amazon, Paypal and other gift cards, it’s 100% legit.

8. Earn points from groceries with Ibotta

Ibotta is another great app for making money. In fact, it’s easily the best in the business when it comes to the cash back apps, as it’s perfect for giving you money for things you’d be buying already.

So, for example, if you’re looking for how to dress professionally on a budget, using Ibotta when buying your work clothes will give you an automatic discount on basically everything!

a woman getting free shoes after earning points

How it works is that when you buy things like groceries, medicine or clothes at any of its 500 partner retailers (including online), the app will give you money back per item. This cash then accrues to be exchanged for gift cards at all the stores plus more listed in the Swagbucks section above.

And you can get started with the pretty amazing free $20 sign up bonus just for redeeming your first offer.

Check out our Ibotta review to find out more.

Ibotta app cash back example from shopping

Ibotta

Free sign-up bonus: $20

Ibotta is a completely free app that gives you cash back on what you’re buying already – groceries, medicine, clothes and more.

In fact, users make $150 per year on average – not including your free $20 welcome bonus – with over $682 million having been paid out, so you know Ibotta is definitely legit.

9. Do surveys with Survey Junkie

Many survey sites are notoriously low paying, which is why I always recommend that people only head to those that are proven to be legit.

And easily my top pick for the most legit survey site is Survey Junkie. It’s got a ton of surveys available (much more than other sites) and they’ve proven to actually pay out for the surveys you complete.

a woman holding her phone answering survey to get free shoes

Now, you’re not going to get rich by doing this. But if you’re looking for a way to earn some money by doing surveys in your spare time that you can then convert into gift cards to get free shoes, I’d definitely recommend Survey Junkie for this.

Did you know: You can also join paid focus groups with Survey Junkie that pay up to $150 an hour! Simply sign up with Survey Junkie (it’s free!), complete your profile and you’ll immediately be able to see what’s on offer.

10. Foot Locker

Sometimes, you may not want to stick to one particular brand of shoes. Instead, you may want to have the option of getting free shoes from a range of lines.

And that’s where taking advantage of Foot Locker’s offer can come in handy.

How to get free shoes from Foot Locker online?

If you sign up for FLX, Foot Locker’s customer loyalty program, you can earn points that can go towards free shoes and other products, and enter competitions to win other prizes, like vacations. Other apps also have gift cards you can redeem for free shoes from Foot Locker.

More information on FLX can be seen here. As you’ll see, from the moment you sign up, you’ll start earning points.

a woman holding a shoes that she can get for free

For example, if you simply complete your profile, you’ll get 500 XPoints and taking a survey earns you another 250 XPoints. That site also gives you a good idea of how you can redeem your points.

Also, don’t forget that apps like Swagbucks and Ibotta also let you earn points that you redeem for gift cards. As these include gift cards for retailers like Amazon and Visa, these can easily be spent at Foot Locker to get free shoes from them.

11. Under Armour

Given the wide product range that Under Armour offers, joining their product testing program can be a great way to get your hands on almost anything they sell!

This makes it a great choice if you want to get free shoes AND other free apparel.

a man with his running shoes that he get for free

In some cases, you will have to return the items you’re testing – but not every time, so you may get lucky there.

It’s also worth noting that this program accepts people from outside the US as well. So, no matter where you live, it’s worth at least applying to join if you’re an athlete who thinks you’ll meet their activity requirements.

12. Saucony

Saucony is another company with a great product testing program for anyone who wants to get free running shoes. While you won’t get to keep them forever, the testing period is usually around six to eight weeks, so you’ll at least have some time with your brand new shoes!

They accept testers from all of the lower 48 states of the US. Interestingly, if you live in the Boston area, you can also sign up to come to their Human Performance and Innovation Lab to test there. Sometimes, in that area, Saucony will also meet you in the “real world” to see how their shoes go in the wild.

Participants are expected to run 40 to 50 miles per week, so you will need to be quite a runner to qualify here.

a woman fixing the shoe lace

13. Red Wing Shoes

Not all product testing programs involve getting free sneakers or other athletic shoes. Some, like Red Wing Shoes, allow you to test work boots.

The requirements for this program are more restrictive than some of the others. In particular, you have to live in Minnesota or western Wisconsin and they only give free shoes in sizes men’s 9M, 11M and 13m, and women’s 8M and 10M.

But one great part about this if you meet the criteria is that you’ll likely be able to keep the boots you’ve tested. Just report back on how the shoes have held up and Red Wing Shoes says that the boots are more than likely yours to hold on to.

Red Wing Shoes store to get free shoes

14. Columbia

As another good option for someone wanting to get free shoes that aren’t necessarily for running, the Columbia Global Performance Testing Program could be for you.

And it doesn’t only include shoes. You can get all sorts of products from Columbia’s many different clothing lines, making it a great program to qualify for.

At the same time, it’s for that exact reason that this program is so popular. This is why, if you get an invitation to join, it’s important to accept it as quickly as possible. Places are limited and fill up fast.

a blue shoes for free

15. Puma

Puma also offers product testing from time to time, albeit not as frequently as some of the other companies on this list.

That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t sign up for the Puma Product Testing Platform as they will send out invitations occasionally for you to get free shoes from them to test.

a white Puma shoes for free

The good part about this is that it tends to be less popular than, say, the Nike product testing program, which is more well known. This means you have less competition when it comes to being accepted as a tester.

Requirements are similar to many of the other athletic companies on this list – which, unfortunately, means you’ll also be asked to send the shoes back after the testing period.

16. ASICS

The ASICS FrontRunner program is aimed at people who want to essentially be brand ambassadors. They have various requirements for this, some of which are more general (“share ASICS passion for running and philosophy of a sound mind in a sound body”). Basically, though, this means you have to be pretty athletic already to qualify.

ASICS shoes brand where you can get free shoes

It’s definitely a fun option though, as the program will get you advance access to their product testing program, among other things. The program is also available internationally, with a particularly large contingent in Europe, so could be just what you need if you’re a runner outside of the US.

If you’re enthusiastic about running (and willing to show that enthusiasm online), take a look at this program.

17. Koi Footwear

Koi Footwear is one of the few companies on this list that lets you get free shoes with truly no strings attached.

As you can see here, just go to their website, enter the code “FREESHOES” and you’ll get a pair of Vegan shoes that are completely free! It lets you do something good for the environment and for your wallet, all at the same time!

pairs of leather shoes for free

18. Free used shoes

Keep an eye on places like Facebook groups in your local area for free shoe giveaways, as these can be a goldmine of free stuff. This includes if you’re trying to be fashionable on a budget.

And you don’t even have to limit yourself to local groups, as you can also get free shoes and just pay shipping if they’re coming from further away.

It may sound odd to look for free used shoes and it’s true that you do have to be careful about the quality you’re getting.

pair of kids shoes

But this can work particularly well for getting free kids’ shoes in pretty good condition. Just think how quickly they grow out of their shoes and how much less wear time they’ve probably had.

Another tip is to look based on the seasons. Winter shoes are often given away in spring and summer, especially for kids by parents who don’t think the shoes will fit when the next winter rolls round.

19. Free shoes for low income families

There are various organizations out there helping people who may be struggling to get by through offering free shoes for kids.

These are usually organized through schools and are generally location-specific. For example:

  • Laces of Love has provided free shoes to over 200,000 kids in Southwest Florida
  • My New Red Shoes has given free shoes and clothing to nearly 90,000 homeless and low-income children in the San Francisco Bay Area
  • Shoes That Fit has provided over 2 million pairs of free shoes for kids across the US
children that get free shoes

If you’d like to know more, including to nominate your school or another one you know that’s in need of some help, these organizations and more will be able to give you more information.

Get free shoes for healthcare workers and other essential workers

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, some companies came out and offered to give free shoes to medical staff and other frontline workers, as a small way to say thank you for what they are doing for the rest of us.

Some of these programs aren’t running anymore, but I’ve kept them here anyway for you to check.

healthcare worker sitting in a hospital

That is, as these offers change quite quickly, it’s worth jumping on to each company’s site to see whether or not they’re offering this anymore in some form.

(And if you know of any that aren’t listed here, please let me know!)

20. Free Kizik shoes for healthcare workers

Kizik is known for its hand-free shoes, in that you can slip them on and off without having to touch them. And it helps that they look really good too – these aren’t your grandparents slippers we’re talking about here.

Given how important it is right now to limit our touching, especially for essential workers who may be more exposed to the virus, they’re offering to donate 1,000 pairs of free Kizik shoes for healthcare workers.

To find out more and request a pair, click here.

healthcare workers getting free shoes

21. Crocs offering free shoes to frontline workers

You may have your own opinion on what Crocs look like, but there’s no denying that they’re comfortable.

Which is why it’s great news that Crocs is running a Sharing a Free Pair for Healthcare program, which has given away over 910,000 pairs of shoes globally since late March 2020 to healthcare workers.

Find out more here.

a pair of crocs shoes for free

22. Brooks program for shoes for NHS staff and other healthcare workers in Europe

In April and May 2020, Brooks donated a total of 6,000 pairs of free running shoes to healthcare workers across Europe, including NHS staff in the UK as well as Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, France and more.

While the program isn’t active as we write this, it’s worth keeping an eye on their site to see when it reopens, as they’ve hinted at running a similar offer again in the near future.

a person wearing a pair of running shoes for free

Is there a free shoes app?

While there isn’t a specific free shoes app, apps like Swagbucks, InboxDollars and Ibotta let you earn points to be converted into gift cards. You can then use those gift cards to buy shoes, making them completely free.

And the best part is you get to keep the shoes forever, not only for a certain period of testing!

Final thoughts on how to get free shoes

Figuring out how to get free shoes, whether it’s for a few weeks as a product tester or forever, can be a great bonus for anyone, especially if you’re trying to save money.

Let’s be honest: anything free (including getting free books mailed to your home) is always appreciated.

This is why it’s worth applying to as many of these programs as you qualify for. And you never know when a free pair of shoes will drop into your letterbox!

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