What happened to Apps Gone Free?
Apps Gone Free was a daily list of paid apps that were temporarily free, run by AppAdvice. On January 23, 2026, AppAdvice announced that its operation had been discontinued, effective immediately. The app and the list stopped updating, and there has been no announcement of a return.
Do paid apps still go free?
Yes. Developers still drop a paid app to $0 for a few hours or a few days — to climb the charts, celebrate a big update or collect reviews. What disappeared is one popular place that collected these sales, not the sales themselves.
Where to find apps gone free today
AppHunt’s apps gone free today page checks the US App Store every few hours and lists paid apps that just went free, plus price drops of 30% or more. It only shows apps rated 4.0 or higher with real reviews, and marks apps with in-app purchases, so you can tell a free app from a free download with paid extras.
The Reddit community r/AppHookup also collects app deals for iPhone and other platforms, and developers sometimes announce free days on their own social accounts.
How to get the most out of a free app
- Download it while it is free, even if you will not use it today. It stays in your App Store purchases, and you can reinstall it later at no cost after the price goes back up.
- Check for in-app purchases. A free download does not include subscriptions or paid features inside the app.
- Look at the rating and the date of the last update. An app that has not been updated for years may not work well on the latest iOS.
The other way to get paid apps free: promo codes
Developers also hand out promo codes that unlock a paid app or a subscription — often for a whole year. AppHunt collects them in one place: see the free promo codes for iPhone apps, or the codes that are live right now below.
Free promo codes right now
Flirta: AI Dating Assistant
1 Year Free · 1,492 codes left
Couples Games: Spicy Challenge
1 Year Free · 1,471 codes left
ai Food Scanner - FOOD IQ diet
1 Year Free · 1,492 codes left
Secret World: AI Trip Planner
1 Year Free · 4,999 codes left
Fluier: Dog Whistle & Clicker
1 Year Free · 1,500 codes left
Guitar Wiz - Tuner & Chords
1 Year Free · 1,996 codes left
Questions and answers
Is Apps Gone Free coming back?
AppAdvice has not announced a return. Its last announcement, on January 23, 2026, said the operation had been discontinued.
Is it legal to download apps that went free?
Yes. The developer set the price to $0 in the App Store, so downloading is an ordinary free purchase, and the app stays in your purchase history.
Why do developers make paid apps free?
A free day brings thousands of downloads at once, which pushes the app up the charts and brings in reviews. Some developers also do it to promote a new version or a paid upgrade inside the app.