How to Get Free Clothes (30+ Ways!)
Clothes can be an expensive recurring expense. You need clothes for yourself, your growing kids, different occasions, and different seasons.
If you’re on a tight budget, this is one area where you can save money with some smart shopping and deals. You can even get clothes for free! Check out these 30+ ways you can get free clothes in this post.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may receive compensation when you click on a product link or purchase an item linked on this site. Click here for details.
This post is divided into multiple sections:
Referral programs
Trade-in
Product testing
Loyalty programs
Store & cashback credit cards
Cashback sites
Survey reward sites & free stuff sites
Clothing swaps
Donations
Gift cards & more
Referral Programs
Many businesses rely on referrals to drum up new business. What better way to get new customers than to have current customers who like your business advertise for you?
That’s how referral programs work. A current customer such as yourself invites someone to join or shop at that same retailer.
You are both rewarded for your efforts. The reward is usually cash or credit towards purchases on the retailer’s site.
Note that commonly the referee has to purchase something or make some sort of transaction first before you receive the referral credit.
You’ll find many referral programs that can lead to cash or credit for new clothes.
Here are several of them::
1 | Poshmark
Poshmark is one of my favorite places to buy and sell clothes, shoes, and accessories. The site has both new and second-hand items.
You can find all sorts of items there as there are over 201 million secondhand and new items on the site as of 9/30/2020.
I’ve found Poshmark particularly useful for
Finding new items I want that are no longer in stores
Sizes that are sold out on retailer sites
Finding replacements for the things I love but have worn out like my favorite sneakers
Vintage and rare items
You receive $10 for each referral. You’ll likely need 2 referrals ($20 in credits) to cover the cost of a small purchase because of shipping and taxes, but there’s no expiration so you can keep your credits until you earn more or find something you really want.
** If you don’t have a Poshmark account, you can receive a free $10 bonus when you sign up with the code SFGIRL2015.
Read more my tips for buying on Poshmark to get the best finds and prices.
2 | Mercari
Mercari is another favorite place of mine to shop for clothes and other items. Mercari allows many more categories of items than Poshmark, so you’ll find more that fits your needs.
I also like Mercari because prices tend to be a bit cheaper than on Poshmark and shipping is cheaper for items under 1 lb.
You earn $10 for every referral. You earn an additional $40 in credits when your referee makes their first $100 in sales.
That’s a win-win for both of you!
** On Mercari, you can get a $10 credit when you sign up with the code JENMHM.
As a seller yourself, you receive an additional $20 in credit when you earn your first $100 in sales. Credits are good for 60 days.
3 | thredUP
thredUP touts itself as the world’s largest online thrift store. You earn $10 when someone signs up with your code and makes a purchase. Referral credits expire 30 days after you receive them.
You can earn up to $580 in referral credits per calendar year.
thredUP has so many new and used items with new items being added every day. You’re bound to find something you want.
You can also sell your clothes and other items on second-hand sites like Poshmark, Mercari, and thredUP and use the money you earn to purchase items on the sites. This is an easy way to rotate out old or unwanted clothes for something new.
Some sites like Tradesy will provide more in credit for you to spend on the site than if you cash out.
4 | eBay
Did you know that you can earn money by referring people to eBay? The benefit of the eBay Partner Network is that it pays cash, not credit.
From eBay’s site: “If you drive traffic to eBay and the buyer completes a Qualifying Transaction on one of your items, you’ll receive a commission and an incentive credit to offset your final value fee for that sale. For all other Qualifying Transactions, you can earn commissions up to 4% of the item sale price.”
This isn’t as high-earning as it used to be because eBay has changed some of its terms, but this can still earn you money if eBay is popular with your family and friends or your social media audience.
5 | Stitch Fix
Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service. When you sign up, you fill out a survey so the company better knows your style, fit, and budget. A stylist handpicks clothes for you for a $20 styling fee.
You’re sent the items at home to try on and then send back the rest. The $20 styling fee is credited toward any item you keep. Shipping, returns, and exchanges are free.
Stitch Fix is an easy way to discover new brands and pieces without having to leave the house and spend time shopping. This is great for someone who’s getting back to working in an office, has changed sizes recently, or just needs some new pieces in their wardrobe.
The usual credit is $25 but can vary with a cap of $599 per calendar year. I’ve heard of people receiving $100 credits randomly for referring people.
6 | Fabletics
Fabletics is a popular athleisure wear brand created by Kate Hudson. The clothes are stylish, affordable, and high-quality. This is another favorite brand of mine both for buying and reselling.
You can earn $10 for credit for every person you refer.
In researching for this post, I came across many other companies with referral programs. I won't go into detail about them here because I don’t know much about them or the quality of their referral programs.
Rue La La
Zulily
Rent the Runway
If you like a retailer or service that’s not mentioned in this post, research online if they have a referral program.
Some companies don’t advertise their referral programs, but they have them or would be willing to set up a special tracking code just for you.
I’ve read about people doing this and not just for clothing. Reach out to those companies you like and would want to refer people to for more information.
You might be thinking:
I don’t know enough people to earn a lot of credits.
My friends and family aren’t interested in this retailer.
No one is signing up when I tell them my link.
No one clicks on my link when I put it on my social media page.
Most people will probably have at least a few friends and family who are willing to sign up for a retailer to shop there or to support them.
To earn substantial referral credit, you need to have a larger audience.
You can do that in several ways:
Build your social media following
Make posts and videos for Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
Create a blog and write about the retailers and items that you like
I’ve heard of social media influencers making thousands of dollars in referral or affiliate revenue. You don't need a fashion blog or a large following either. Micro influencers (those with small followings) are very popular with brands.
I was approached by companies when I had less than 1,000 followers on my Instagram account. If you build a profile for you or your child, you can work to acquire free clothe or deep discounts from retailers that way.
It does takes work to build an audience and create content that leads to them signing up for the retailers you support. So this isn't completely passive, but you can earn a lot for the amount of work you put in.
Referring family and friends is great for a start. Then earn even more with a social media following.
Trade-in
7 | thredUP partner kits
thredUP partner kits are a great way to earn free clothes. thredUP has partnered with brands like Reformation, Athleta, Gap, Frame, Vera Bradley, and more to help you clear out your closet.
Go to the thredUP partners site, select the partner company whose credit you want, print out a shipping label, and send in a bag of clothes.
Your bag is processed soon after it’s received. You get credit to the retailer you picked shortly after that. Some retailers give an additional percentage boost to your credit.
You don’t have to wait weeks for your items to sell and wait longer for any return deadline to pass. The credit is yours to keep.
thredUP partnerships are not as well known as the traditional method of sending items to thredUP.
There may come a time in the future when the partner kits are not available anymore. Take advantage of this opportunity while it exists.
I did this to receive a gift card to Banana Republic. I was impressed at how much I received with so little effort. You can read about my experience with thredUP partner kits.
8 | Lululemon Like New
Lululemon launched its program Like New in May 2021. Shoppers can trade in gently used Lululemon items in exchange for gift cards from $5 to $25.
Right now the program is available in California and Texas with plans to roll out the program nationwide.
While $5 to $25 is not much, a few of these gift cards add up so you can purchase a new item.
9 | Madewell Denim Recycling Program
Bring a pair of your old jeans to a Madewell store and receive a $20 credit toward any full-priced Madewell brand jeans as part of their Madewell Denim Recycling Program. You can turn in jeans from any brand.
10 | Eileen Fisher Renew
Renew is the Eileen Fisher take-back program. Bring your Eileen Fisher clothes in any condition to an Eileen Fisher store or Renew store and receive a $5 rewards card for each item. If you can’t visit a store, you can send in your items for rewards too.
How do you maximize your profits on trade-ins?
You might be saying that these brands are expensive to buy in the first place. So why are you recommending them to me?
There are two ways to maximize your profits here:
get your items at a lower cost or
earn more for them when they sell
To earn more: Find items by the above brands in new or excellent condition and try to sell them yourself on sites like Poshmark and eBay.
That will give you the biggest return for your item because you’re doing all the work. You only pay commission to the site (usually 20% or less).
If you don’t know the time to sell on your own or your items don’t sell after a while, then trade them in to thredUP or the retailer’s program.
To get items cheaper: Go to thrift stores, thrift outlets like the Goodwill bins, and yard sales. Ask for donations.
Get items for $5 or less. You may even be able to get donations for free.
Turn the clothes in for gift cards.
Spend the gift cards at the retailers or sell them for cash.
The key is to know how those programs run, the items they will take, and how much you can get for them.
Product Testing Programs
Product testing is exactly as it sounds. You test products for companies and give them feedback on the items.
Most but not all of the companies below are athletic wear companies looking for runners to test their athletic shoes.
They may require you to use the shoes a certain number of miles or hours per week and report back several times during the testing process.
Some companies let you keep the items. Other companies require you to return the item when testing is complete.
11 | Shein
Shein is known for its affordable and trendy women's clothing, so here’s now to get free Shein clothes. The company has a Free Trial Program where you apply to receive new clothes for in exchange for a review.
You browse the available Free Trial products, select the ones you want to try, and apply for them. You can select up to 3 items a week.
If you are selected, you'll be sent the item free of charge with free shipping too. You'll have 10 days to write a review about it.
If you write quality reviews, you'll be more likely to be chosen to review other items that you apply for in the future. This is a great opportunity to get the clothes in the latest fashion without paying retail prices.
12 | Nike
Nike product testing is very popular. It can be difficult to get a spot in their program. I’ve tried twice, and both times they were not accepting applications.
If you can to apply, you then wait for the green light to participate in a testing. You receive the product and test it, give feedback over the website, and return the item when testing is done.
While you don’t get to keep the items, you get to be in the know about new products and the first to try them out.
13 | Adidas
Adidas provides another opportunity to be a product tester. Fill out the form online with your clothing and shoe sizes and wait to be contacted to test an item.
14 | Reebok
Reebok is a subsidiary of Adidas, therefore the website to apply to be a product tester is the same as the one for Adidas. You can choose whether you want to test apparel, footwear, or both.
15 | Saucony
Saucony has you fill out a detailed application focusing heavily on your current running habits, shoes that you currently wear, and shoes that you want to wear. You get to keep the items they send you for testing
16 | Brooks
Brooks website indicates that they’re looking for product testers who are runners to test their shoes. Their program is full as of this writing but check in from time to time to see if they are accepting applications.
17 | Under Armour
Under Armour has you create a profile and fill out information about the sports and activities that you do including how many hours a week you do them and the equipment you need to complete them. It took me about 10 minutes to sign up and fill out the required information.
UA has more testers than they need right now so there’s no guarantee of how often you will receive something to test. Test periods are typically 1-2 months and some items may need to be returned while other items can be kept.
18 | New Balance
New Balance is similarly easy to create an account and fill out a profile. I completed one in about 5 minutes. New Balance has the option to test out casual or leisure items, not only those used by athletes.
Other brands that do product testing
These are additional brands that do product testing. Some are full, so you may have to get on an email list or check back from time to time for the chance to become a product tester.
Glamorise - currently full
Lane Bryant - covert shopping program
If there’s a brand you like, research online if they do any product testing that you can be a part of.
New brands are popping up all the time and may want reviews, publicity, or feedback on their products.
If you have a lifestyle or fashion social media following through a blog, YouTube, or some other medium, you can apply to be a brand ambassador or simply review products.
It takes work to grow a following, but you get free items in exchange for your reviews and promotion. You may get many nos before you get a yes from a brand.
If it’s your goal to be a social media influencer, just keep going growing your presence and reaching out to companies.
19 | Amazon
You can be a tester of Amazon products through Amazon Vine. This is an invitation-only program created by Amazon.
You have to already be a reviewer on Amazon and have a history of providing quality reviews.
It’s unclear what categories of items you can receive as Amazon is tight-lipped about this. It may include clothes. Getting free items in other categories isn’t bad either, right?
The other way to become an Amazon tester is by signing up for sites like AMZDiscover and indicating the categories you want to review.
I’ve read about sellers who have made thousands of dollars in free goods in exchange for their reviews. If you receive a product in exchange for a review, it’s important to disclose that.
Review Amazon's terms of service to determine their policies on receiving free items for reviews. If you violate their terms of service, they can ban you from the site.
This is a detailed review of how to become an Amazon tester.
Loyalty Programs
Many brands have loyalty programs or rewards programs, so the more you shop, the more you earn towards your next purchases. I also included in this section companies that give items away to promote their brand.
20 | LOFT
Loft is a women’s wear brand that sends you a $10 reward on your birthday.
21 | Kohl’s Rewards
With Kohl’s Rewards, you earn 5% on every purchase ($5 for every $100 spent). You can earn an additional $10 Kohl’s Cash for every $50 you spend during a special Kohl’s Cash earning period.
Kohl’s has everything you need for the home. I’ve shopped at Kohl’s for Christmas gifts, sneakers, and more at discounted prices and then earned rewards.
The rewards add up quickly and add to your savings when you spend on things you need.
22 | Free T-shirt Sites
Many companies provide free swag to promote their brands.
BoardVitals - This company gives away comical t-shirts to medical students and nursing students.
Kona Ice - This company holds a monthly drawing for their t-shirt giveaways.
T-Shirt Outlet - This company provides t-shirts that did not make the cut during the production process. For example, a logo may have been printed in the wrong color size or color.
Credit Cards
23 | Store & Cashback Credit Cards
Many large retailers provide credit cards that will earn you rewards to spend at that store or cash back.
Amazon - I use my Amazon Visa card to make purchases for myself and the home, then use the bonus points I earn to buy items for my dog. You can use the extra points to buy clothing and shoes on Amazon.
Nordstrom - Nordstrom offers special bonuses with their card. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is coming up as I write this post. As a special promotion, you can get a $60 bonus note to be spent on a future purchase when you apply for a Nordstrom credit card and are approved on the same day.
Keep in mind that these store credit cards are exactly that - credit cards. You have to pay interest if you don’t pay off your bill each month.
They may have low credit limits and you may not receive much benefit from them if you shop at other retailers. Use store credit cards carefully to get savings and free clothing.
Cashback Sites
24 | Rakuten
Rakuten (formerly Ebates) is a company where you can earn cash back by shopping at over 2,500 retailers such as Target, Walmart, Kohl’s, and Nike.
You make purchases from those sites through the Rakuten website, app, or browser extension.
Rakuten is free to use. I’ve used it many times to save money and get cash back. For example,
I shopped at Kohl’s, which already has discounted items.
I earn some cash back by shopping at Kohl’s through the Rakuten site.
I used a cashback credit card to earn even more money back.
I earn points through Kohl’s reward program for a discount on future purchases.
One day a check came in the mail from Rakuten. Surprise! I got some money without even knowing it.
You earn a $10 welcome bonus on Rakuten when you spend $25, which is easy to do with your normal shopping.
Another benefit is that you can refer others to Rakuten and earn more money. It’s typical to earn $25 per referral but there are sometimes promotions where you can earn more.
Survey Reward Sites & Free Stuff Sites
25 | Swagbucks
You can make extra money to spend on clothes on sites like Swagbucks and SurveyJunkie.
These sites give you free rewards for doing activities like answering surveys, playing games, watching videos, and searching the web.
You earn points that you can then redeem for gift cards to clothing stores such as
Old Navy
Nike
American Eagle
Gap
Athleta
Lands’ End
And more.
You can get gift cards to more general retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target too.
You can typically earn a few dollars a day by doing various activities. This is not bad considering it’s free money and you’re doing this in your downtime.
Sign up for a free Swagbucks account and start earning free rewards today.
26 | Free Stuff Sites
Several websites aggregate promotions, giveaways, and other events for free items from around the web. It’s a good idea to check these sites regularly because the information changes frequently.
You’re likely to find information on obtaining free clothing such as t-shirts as well as lots of other free stuff such as baby care, beauty samples, and coupons.
Clothing Swaps
27 | Host a clothing swap
Clothing swaps can be run by individuals such as you and your friends and organizations.
A friend of mine hosted a clothing swap several years ago. A bunch of us girls got together to chat and eat and exchange clothes. We took turns and rounds to ensure everyone had a fair chance of getting the items they wanted.
I ended up with a neat looking belt buckle and some other fun items while getting rid of some of the nice clothes I didn’t wear anymore.
I’ve also been to a clothing swap run by a student group as a fundraiser for charity. I’ve seen advertisements for community clothing swaps as well. They usually involve paying a few dollars for admission, which is small compared to how much you save with the new clothes you’re getting.
Host your own clothing swap or partner up with a friend to host one. You'll have fun and end up with new clothes!
Donations
28 | Ask friends and family for donations
When you’re on a tight budget, donations of clothes for you and your children can be incredibly helpful.
You can ask in a different way if you don’t want to blatantly ask for donations. Perhaps you have friends and family members whose style you like. They’re a similar size to you.
Let them know that you’d love that certain top they wear or that bag they’re carrying if they’re updating their closet and don’t want those things anymore.
You know best who to ask. I could ask my cousins and friends if I was interested in something of theirs, and I know they wouldn’t mind. They might buy it for me for my birthday or Christmas.
It’s common for friends and family to pass around hand-me-downs for children, so why not women’s clothes too?
29 | Search online for donations
You can find free clothes and other items online. It may take time and searching to find the free section or listings for free clothing and other free stuff. Nonetheless, they come up from time to time.
Facebook Marketplace
OfferUP
LetGo
Craigslist
Freecycle
Nextdoor
Local Facebook groups
When I finished school and was moving out of the city, I put my mattress up online for sale. I was contacted by someone who said she had lost everything in a fire. She told me to look up her story because it was on the news.
I told her she could have the mattress for free. Her son came to pick it up within a few days. I was free of my mattress and she had a good one to use. So know that some people will give you things for free if you really need them.
During the COVID pandemic, many people were out of work and tried making ends meet however they could. I read about many women posting on sites like Nextdoor asking for clothing donations. These women were looking for free clothes to sell but some kept things for themselves and their families.
30 | Yard sales and garage sales
You can get clothes that are new to you by visiting yard sales and garage sales at the end of the sales. Many people just want their items gone and may give you items for free.
You can sweeten the deal for them by offering to take all of the clothing or some of the other items, essentially helping them to clean up after their sale.
Keep what you want of these items and sell the rest or send the rest to thredUP as mentioned above.
31 | Non-profit organizations and local churches
You might be under the impression that non-profit organizations and local churches only give away free clothes to low-income families or others in need. That may be true, but if you're in need, then why not reach out?
I have a family member who works with teens and young adults going for summer internships and the first jobs. The organization provides free work clothes to those teens and adults.
My neighborhood Buddhist temple runs a clothing drive every winter and people including me have given new clothes and clothes in good condition to it.
Gift Cards, etc.
32 | Receive gift cards as gifts
This recommendation is a little out of your control as it requires people to buy gift cards for you. Still, you can let people know what you like and where you shop in conversation and where you buy them gifts.
My mom has been a fan of Macy’s for years. She buys gifts for others at Macy’s all year round. All of our family members know it and her long-time friends know it too.
When her birthday or Christmas comes around, guess what they give her? Macy’s gift cards!
An aunt of mine loved Nordstrom. She had a Nordstrom credit card and even shopped there with a personal shopper. When it came time to give her a gift, we would get her a Nordstrom gift card.
People want to give you things that they know you like. Make it easy for them by letting them know where you shop.
33 | Purchase discounted gift cards
This suggestion isn’t 100% free. You can get a good deal on clothing by purchasing discounted gift cards on gift card exchange websites.
How it works is that someone has a gift card let’s say for $20. They sell it to a gift card exchange website for $10.
The website then sells it to you for $15. Everyone benefits because the seller recoups $10, the website earns $5, and you save $5.
Popular gift card exchange websites:
Cashcard
Gift Card Granny
34 | Contests
The last way to get free clothing is to look for contests and promotions. Lots of companies and bloggers post on social media about these limited-time offers.
I once got a free ring after seeing an advertisement for it on Facebook or Instagram. I only had to pay for shipping and wait several weeks for it to arrive.
Follow your favorite influencers and brands on social media such as Instagram or sign up for their email lists. Many will host giveaways for reaching a certain number of followers or other celebratory events.
Final Thoughts
The list above covers the best places and best ways to get clothes for free. While you may not qualify for every opportunity listed here, there are plenty of options to explore from product testing and referral programs to trade-ins and donations. Give it a try and see how much money you save!
Have you tried any of these ways to get free clothes? What are some other ways you’ve gotten clothes for free?
