Helium Mobile just rolled out totally free phone service -- but is there a catch?
I mean, yes, obviously, but probably not what you think. PLUS: Snag a portable monitor for just $60.
DISCLAIMER: Some of the links included herein are affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase via one of them, I may get a small commission. I promise you, now and forever, that I won’t choose deals based on whether there’s an affiliate option available.
Friends, I have a weird ask. I’ve spent my entire professional life using Windows, but now I’m suddenly forced to use a Mac for work. I’ve mostly adapted; just need help with a couple keyboard-related questions. (Trusty Google hasn’t yielded the answers, alas.) If you’re a Mac expert who’s also familiar with Windows and could give me 5-10 minutes of your time, please reach out. Thanks!
QUICK HITS
📺 Cheap streaming: Much like Hulu does every November, NBC streaming service Peacock is again offering a deeply discounted annual plan: $29.99 for Peacock Premium. (I’ll do the math for you: That amortizes to just $2.50 per month.) It’s home to a deep bench of both modern and classic TV shows, a smattering of live sports, and some exclusives: The Oscar-nominated Conclave (surprisingly enjoyable movie given the dry subject matter), the cat-and-mouse spy series Day of the Jackal (just started it; also enjoyable), and the widely gushed-about The Wild Robot.
Despite the name of this tier, Peacock Premium does make you watch commercials (though usually pretty brief ones). Still an excellent deal, IMHO.
📚 Cheap books: If you love to read, you need to sign up for BookBub immediately. The free service e-mails daily deals on books and authors you like (or that you might like, depending on your stated preferences). You can also create a wishlist and get notified when those titles go on sale. I’ve used BookBub for years; I’m startled to realize I’ve never mentioned it before now.
👾 Cheap Godzilla: It’s back!! My favorite toy of 2025 (granted, it’s early), the Jada Toys Godzilla X Kong: Heat Ray Breath Godzilla Remote Control Figure (what a mouthful — ha!) is back on sale for $29.98 — for a limited time, and while supplies last. The previous two times I shared this, they didn’t last long. Read my prior Godzilla missive if you want to learn more about the big guy. I’m determined to make sure that every Deal Secrets reader who wants this Godzilla gets this Godzilla! (Note: Earlier this morning, it was back up to $45, but at this writing I’m again seeing it at $29.98. The pricing on this thing jumps around more than Godzilla on Tokyo.)
🖥️ Cheap screen: A second monitor can greatly improve your productivity, and a portable one means you can easily tote it to wherever you work. For a limited time, and while supplies last, the MNN Portable 15.6-inch Monitor is on sale for $59.99, tying its all-time low. Thin, light, and powered by USB-C, it works with Windows and Mac laptops in portrait or landscape mode. It has a “smart” cover/stand and built-in speakers as well. Pretty bonkers deal.
🏓 Cheap pickleball: I say this completely without hyperbole: Start playing pickleball and your life will improve 1 million percent. And it’s so cheap! For a limited time, and while supplies last, this top-rated pickleball paddle set drops to $29.99 when you clip the $10-off coupon. It includes two fiberglass paddles (stay away from the wood ones), four outdoor balls, two grip tapes, and a carrying case. While you’re at it, why not throw this top-rated pickleball book into your cart? (Ugh, more shameless self-promotion; I’m the worst. Anyway leave a review, too!)
Get totally free 5G phone service — with data! — from Helium Mobile
We all know there’s no such thing as a free lunch (these days I’d be happy enough with a sandwich under $10), but how about free cell service?
Over the years, various carriers have tried (and mostly failed) to make this work. But let’s see how this plays out: Helium Mobile is offering a free 5G mobile plan, no immediately obvious strings attached.
The aptly named Zero (as in dollars) plan includes 100 voice minutes, 300 text messages, and 3GB of 5G data (on T-Mobile’s network) per month. Amazingly, you don’t even need to put a credit card on file (though obviously you’ll need one if you end up purchasing extra data, which is an option). You can bring your own device and, if wanted, port an existing phone number.
OK, so what’s the catch? First up is the wait: Right now you can merely join the waitlist (which I did a few days ago), and it’s anybody’s guess how long before you’ll be able to sign up.
Second, while 3GB of data is better than zero, in 2023 the average user consumed 29GB per month. Now, if you spend most of your time at home and/or in an office, connected to Wi-Fi, you might be able to squeak by on 3GB. But this plan might be better suited to something like a backup phone, or a kid’s phone with parental controls in place.
Finally, there’s the question of privacy. Helium has this Cloud Points program that further incentivizes customers by letting them “earn points by participating in activities like anonymized location sharing, referrals, and surveys.” But is this optional? And what’s the overall privacy policy?
I don’t yet have answers to this, though to be honest I don’t really mind this kind of marketing-driven stuff. If the company wants to know where I’m shopping or what I’m buying, in exchange for totally free service, I’m fine with it. (For those clutching their pearls right now, I understand I’m very much in the minority with this position. 😄)
I hope to have some real-world testing to share in the coming weeks. For now, I’ll just mention that TextNow also offers free wireless service, though you have to use their phone/messaging app and you’re limited to “essential” data-driven tasks: maps, rideshare apps, and e-mail (with a monthly cap of 350MB).
My question for you: Does Helium’s plan sound like something you’d use? Share your thoughts!
Thanks for reading Deal Secrets! Questions? Comments? Shoot me an e-mail. I’ll do my best to respond to all inquiries! Want to show your support? Buy me a coffee!
There's also my book: Everything I Need to Know, I Learned Playing Pickleball. And check out my curated book list at Bookshop.org, which donates to local bookstores with every purchase.
Hey Rick! The privacy issues with Helium’s free plan are too substantial for me to overlook. As I was signing up, I saw that they require you to set their app to *always track location*. This crosses a line for me and I am not comfortable with it.
There are those who are waving this off, saying “carriers already have your location through cell tower information so this is no big deal”. My answer is, yes that’s true, but there are at least some nominal protections on that data. Plus it’s course data, not exact location. If I agree to heliums terms, they are free to use my location data however they want.
Sorry I won’t do that, even for free.
Hi Rick, I also saw the Helium Zero plan a few days ago and plan to use it on a second phone. I saw the waitlist and did a quick search for referral codes. HELIUMCEO worked for me and their SIM is on the way to me. I hope this free service sticks around.