The Best Free (Or Free-ish) Stuff in Chicago

If we’ve learned one thing about Hey Chicago readers over the years, it’s that “free” is your love language. That’s why we’re sharing the freebies you can cash in on year-round.

Best Place Where Kids Eat Free: Fogo de Chao

While adults feast on all-you-can-eat meat at the Brazilian steakhouse downtown and in the suburbs, kids under age 6 can eat for free and kids ages 7–12 for half-price.

Best Food Challenge: Strings Ramen’s ‘Monster Hell’

Want to get a free meal, T-shirt, and a $50 gift certificate? Slurp down a spicy bowl of ramen at the chain in Chinatown, Hyde Park, Lakeview, or Aurora. Sign that waiver, and we’ll see you on the other side 🫡

Best Free Plants: Rogers Park Seed Library

The literal grassroots organization has been serving Far North Siders for the last five years by providing free seeds out of PO Box Collective.

Best Free Tools: Chicago Tool Library

Need a power tool? A projector? A tent? The Garfield Park space offers a pay-what-you-can membership to those borrowing equipment.

Best Free Books to Own: Books4Cause

Check out the free bookstore in Avondale offering fiction, nonfiction, and kids books. Plus, the store also offers free school supplies and DVDs.

Best Free Furniture: Chicago Furniture Bank

The Brighton Park nonprofit works with other organizations to get beds, couches, dishware and more to Chicagoans in need of furniture. They also offer free pickup for your gently-used items.

Best Marketplace: TrashNothing

You might be able to find something free on Facebook or Craigslist if you’re lucky, but the Chicago chapter of TrashNothing has helped residents get everything from treadmills to patio covers.

Best Free Car Wash: Zippy’s

Enter your phone number to get a free car wash at the Niles spot.

Best Free Composting: City of Chicago

Chicagoans can drop off their food scraps daily at 17 locations across the city from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. All you have to do is fill out this form.

Best Way to See Chicago Museums: Free Days

Flash that Illinois ID, and get into the city’s best museums like the Shedd Aquarium and Museum of Science & Industry on select days.

Best Free Tours: Chicago Greeter Tours

Whether you want to play tourist for a day or want a guide to take your out-of-town visitors around the city, these Choose Chicago tours led by local volunteers are informative, fun, and free.

Best Free Workout: Chicago Park District

Chicagoans can get a free 3-month single-site fitness center membership if they have a doctor’s prescription for exercise for obesity-related diseases. Fitness center memberships are pretty inexpensive compared to private gyms.

Best Kayak Deal: Chicago River & Canoe Pass

Rent a canoe or kayak four times from this company with outposts from Winnetka down to Orland Park, and the fifth time is free with a paddle pass! Your fav newsletter editor has just a couple more rides to go 🛶

Best Free Dental Clinic: Chicago Dental Society

Volunteer dentists at the Wheaton clinic help low-income residents in Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties take care of their pearly whites.

Best Bang-for-Your-Buck Haircut: Tricoci University

Cosmetology students offer haircuts for $15 and braids and twists for as low as $30.

Best All Around: Chicago Public Library

Your local branch not only has books you can borrow, but seeds to take home, passes to city attractions, and more.

+ Anyone know any good local rewards programs? Could be for grocery stores, coffee shops, bowling alleys — you get the idea. Hit us up!