Chromecast is one of the best accessories you can buy for an Android device. The little streaming dongle makes it easy to watch YouTube or Netflix videos on your TV, or even to play games at a party.
Available at a near giveaway price, it is a complete no-brainer for every smartphone and tablet user.
There’s also another bonus to owning a Chromecast: Google frequently gives it users free gifts or special offers.
These range from free movies from the Play Store—including big name titles like Gravity or X-Men—to extended trials of streaming services, and even, on occasion, free credit to be used on apps, games and digital content through Google Play.
It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the special offers available for your Chromecast. Here’s how you do it.
Check your Chromecast for special offers
Make sure your Chromecast is turned on (ie. make sure it’s plugged in to your TV and the TV is on). Launch the Chromecast app on your phone or tablet.
Select your Chromecast then tap the menu button at the top right of the screen. From the menu that opens select Check for offers.
Click I Agree when prompted to send your Chromecast’s serial number to Google. All the offers are tied to individual Chromecast units, so are not transferable to other users.
After a short delay the browser will launch, displaying all of the available offers for your device.
Redeem a free gift for your Chromecast
To claim one of the offers or free gifts simply tap on the Redeem button below the offer.
If it’s related to a third party service you will be taken to the site for that service, or prompted to download an app. If it’s Google Play related the corresponding Play Store purchase window will open for you to claim the offer.
And that’s it. You can now launch the Play Movies app to watch your movie (it’s yours to keep), or whichever other app your content was related to.
Very occasionally Google even gives Chromecast users free credit for their account. The offer will encourage you to spend this on a movie, but the credit can be on used on any content from the Play Store, including apps and in-app purchases.
These kinds of Chromecast offers turn up from time to time, so it’s a good idea to check back every few months to see if anything has been added.