The global COVID-19 pandemic prompted numerous companies worldwide to offer free products, services, and support to individuals, families, and businesses affected by the crisis. While the majority of the initiatives detailed in the provided source material are US-focused, they represent a significant trend in corporate responsibility and consumer assistance during an unprecedented period. For UK consumers and businesses, understanding these offers can provide context for similar programmes that may have been or could be available locally. This article synthesises information from verified sources about companies that offered free software, services, and other forms of support during the pandemic, focusing on the eligibility, scope, and nature of these offers.
Free Software and Service Trials for Remote Work and Learning
A major area of corporate support involved providing free access to software and services to facilitate remote working and learning, which became essential during lockdowns.
Microsoft offered a free 6-month Office 365 E1 Trial, which included Microsoft Teams, in response to the increased need for employees to work from home. This offer was intended for any customer managed by a Microsoft account representative and was available to organisations, including nonprofits, that had not activated any other Office 365 E1 trials in the past.
Mailchimp, an email marketing service, provided free standard service to eligible groups such as local governments, schools, healthcare providers, and nonprofits that were sending critical public health information about COVID-19. This offer was valid through June 30. Additionally, Mailchimp gave away free service for up to three months to their small business customers who needed financial support during the crisis.
Vidyard offered not just free video conferencing but also on-demand videos and video messages (also known as video emails or video voicemails) to businesses until June 30.
Krisp, a virtual microphone that removes background noises on calls, provided several things for the next six months (until September 17): - All users received 120 minutes per week of free noise cancellation. - All students, teachers, hospital and government workers were eligible for unlimited Krisp for free. - Krisp Pro and Teams received a 30% price cut, reducing the new price to $40 per year and $5 per month.
Meero, a file storage service, provided free large file transfers to facilitate remote working. The company increased the storage capacity and validity duration of files shared via MeeroDrop to up to 10 Gigabytes and three months of validity, features typically only available in the advanced version.
Microsoft also offered a free 6-month Office 365 E1 Trial, including Microsoft Teams, in response to the increased need for employees to work from home (WFH) in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This offer was intended for any customer that’s managed by a Microsoft account representative and for organisations – including nonprofits – who hadn’t activated any other Office 365 E1 trials in the past.
Vidyard offered not just free video conferencing, but on-demand videos and video messages (also known as video emails or video voicemails) to businesses until June 30.
Free Courses and Educational Resources
Several companies focused on supporting education and professional development during the pandemic by making their courses available for free.
Moz, a software company specialising in search engine optimisation, made its Moz Academy courses available for free.
Kapwing, a product that enables young people and teachers to create videos, multimedia collages, and more from any device without any need for technical training or expertise, gave Kapwing Pro for free to any educator affected by emergency closures.
Labster helped bring learning online quickly in the event that a high school or higher education organisation had to close or students decided to stay home. The specific details of the free offer are not fully elaborated in the source material.
Coursera launched the Coursera Workforce Recovery Initiative, which provided free classes for newly unemployed workers at no cost.
Free Products and Services for Healthcare and Essential Workers
A significant portion of the corporate response was directed at supporting healthcare professionals and essential workers on the front lines of the pandemic.
Kaspersky, a multinational cybersecurity and anti-virus provider, offered free availability of its core endpoint security products for medical organisations to help them stay protected from cyberthreats during the COVID-19 pandemic. The full list of B2B products available for free for six months included: Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud Plus, Kaspersky Security for Microsoft Office 365, Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business Advanced, and Kaspersky Hybrid Cloud Security.
Salesforce announced a free COVID-19 care response solution for health workers and systems and free access to software for small businesses wanting to help customers remotely.
Hilton, a huge hotel brand, announced a program to donate up to 1 million hotel room nights to U.S. frontline medical professionals that are fighting COVID-19.
Nordstrom, a department store retailer, used its network as the “largest employer of tailors in North America” to sew more than 100,000 masks, which were distributed to Providence Health & Services.
Sweetgreen, a U.S. salad chain, started the Impact Outpost Fund, which enabled it to donate 100,000 meals to more than 130 hospitals. The company later committed to upping its original goal to serve 250,000 meals to hospitals around the U.S.
Vistaprint converted machines that normally make banners and signs to produce 100,000 face shields for frontline medical workers in rural communities.
Free Support and Financial Assistance for Small Businesses and Individuals
Many companies offered direct financial assistance, grants, or unique support services to small businesses and individuals facing hardship.
Amazon started a $5 million Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund to help Seattle small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The fund delivers cash grants to businesses with fewer than 50 employees or less than $7 million in annual revenue.
Apple donated 10 million N95 masks to U.S. medical facilities and developed its own COVID-19 screening tool. It was also working with Google on a contact tracing solution.
Salesforce announced it would give small business grants of $10,000 per company to U.S. businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Verizon waived late fees, overage charges, and data caps for 60 days (until May 13) for customers and small businesses who let them know they were unable to pay as a result of economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also automatically gave 15GB of free high-speed data to wireless consumers and small business customers and offered free international calling to select countries through April 30. Lifeline and low-income customers had all billing charges waived for 60 days (two billing cycles), and Verizon offered a new affordable internet option for low-income households, starting April 3.
Jottful offered free marketing services.
Vistaprint donated $1 million to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Save Small Business Fund, which was hoping to provide $5,000 grants.
Zappos launched an innovative support line where people could call in about any problem they were facing during this unprecedented period. The company’s Customer Service for Anything hotline could be called between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. PST for any reason, including Netflix recommendations, vacation ideas, fun recipes, seeing what restaurants are open or even emotional support.
Important Considerations for UK Consumers
It is crucial to note that the majority of the offers and programmes detailed above were specifically designed for U.S. entities, customers, or locations. For instance, many grants were for U.S. businesses, hotel donations were for U.S. medical professionals, and hotline services operated on U.S. time zones. UK-based consumers and businesses looking for similar support should focus on UK-specific initiatives.
The source material also references U.S.-focused government and financial relief, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the CARES Act, which provided $376 billion in relief for American workers and small businesses. These are not applicable to UK entities.
For UK consumers, the principle of companies offering free samples, trials, and support during crises remains relevant. However, the specific programmes and eligibility criteria would differ. UK-based consumers interested in free samples or promotional offers should look for announcements from UK-based brands, retailers, and service providers, and always check the specific terms and conditions, which will outline geographical restrictions, eligibility requirements, and expiry dates.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic saw a wave of corporate initiatives aimed at providing free software, services, products, and financial support. Companies like Microsoft, Mailchimp, Kaspersky, and Verizon offered free trials and services to facilitate remote work and protect essential services. Others, such as Hilton, Nordstrom, Sweetgreen, and Vistaprint, directed their efforts towards supporting frontline workers with accommodation, PPE, and meals. For small businesses and individuals, grants, fee waivers, and unique support services were offered by companies like Amazon, Salesforce, and Zappos.
While the vast majority of these programmes were U.S.-centric, they illustrate a broader trend of corporate social responsibility during global emergencies. For UK consumers, the key takeaway is to remain vigilant for similar offers from UK-based companies, carefully reviewing all eligibility criteria and terms to ensure they are applicable. The landscape of free samples and promotional offers can shift rapidly during times of crisis, making it essential to rely on official brand communications for the most accurate and up-to-date information.