Free things can be obtained without giving money in exchange.
Free is a term that can be used as an adjective to describe what is free or as an adverb to refer to that which has no cost . What is free, meanwhile, is achieved, carried out or offered free of charge .
Priceless
Something free is priceless since it is given or dispensed without financial compensation . However, it is important to consider that certain products or services that are mentioned as free, in reality, demand some type of consideration or disbursement .
Take the case of a technology company that invites you to create a free email box and use it without maintenance charges. This account may be free for the user in terms of money , but in reality the company profits by selling advertising to other firms and by marketing the personal data provided by those who register to use the service. In other words, attention and information generate income.
Suppose that a bank decides to give all its clients an agenda as a gift for the holidays. These agendas, in this way, are free for the people who manage to access them, but not for the bank that had to purchase them from a supplier.
We can also analyze the concept of free regarding the use of public space . Families can go to a park and enjoy its infrastructure (seats, playground equipment, drinking fountains, etc.) for free, in the sense that they do not have to pay for it every time they visit the place. But they do make the park's existence possible by paying taxes.
Free video games
Free video games (called free to play or F2P in English) are those that can be downloaded and played without any initial cost. However, they often include in-game purchase options to unlock additional content or access specific perks.
They are usually available on platforms such as PC, consoles, and mobile devices. As we mentioned above, they may contain in-game microtransactions: options to purchase virtual items, such as character outfits, skill upgrades, in-game currency , or other items that can enhance the experience or speed up progress.
Free game developers often make money through such transactions . Some also include banner ads , but this may vary depending on the title. In principle, these games offer an accessible experience for everyone. However, some players may feel that those who spend money within the game have an unfair advantage, known as "pay to win."
Free music on Spotify
Spotify is one of the most popular services to listen to free music is Spotify. It was launched on October 7, 2008 and allows access to their extensive music catalog online.
On the other hand, it also offers a premium subscription , the price of which varies depending on the region. In the free version of Spotify, commercials play between songs from time to time. These can be audio or visual, and help fund the service.
Since 2008, Spotify has legally offered free music.
You can stream music online directly from the mobile app, tablet or computer. You only need a stable Internet connection to access the music catalog. Spotify offers features like curated playlists , personalized recommendations , and radio stations based on each customer's music tastes. This is to discover new music and artists that fit your preferences.
The premium subscription, on the other hand, is paid and eliminates ads, allows offline playback (after downloading the music to a local disk) and offers other additional benefits, such as improved audio quality and the ability to skip tracks without restrictions.