{
  "schema_version": "1.1",
  "id": "ftc-free-offer-guide-no-more-than-3-per-year",
  "slug": "ftc-free-offer-guide-no-more-than-3-per-year",
  "url": "https://groundedkit.com/claims/ftc-free-offer-guide-no-more-than-3-per-year/",
  "api_url": "https://groundedkit.com/api/claims/ftc-free-offer-guide-no-more-than-3-per-year.json",
  "claim": "The FTC's 'Free' guide says not to run a 'Free' offer for the same product in one area for more than 6 months a year, or more than 3 times in 12 months",
  "commonly_cited_as": "\"How often can you advertise 'free'?\"",
  "verdict": "verified",
  "verdict_definition": "Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.",
  "confidence": "high",
  "rating": {
    "value": 5,
    "best": 5,
    "worst": 1
  },
  "origin": {
    "publisher": "Federal Trade Commission (16 CFR Part 251)",
    "title": "Guide Concerning Use of the Word “Free” and Similar Representations",
    "year": "1971 guide, current eCFR"
  },
  "quote": "a single size of a product or a single kind of service should not be advertised with a “Free” offer in a trade area for more than 6 months in any 12-month period. At least 30 days should elapse before another such offer is promoted in the same trade area. No more than three such offers should be made in the same area in any 12-month period.",
  "method": "Text of the FTC guide in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.",
  "drift": [
    "An FTC guide (interpretive), not a statute; it describes what the FTC considers non-deceptive"
  ],
  "interest": "n/a (federal regulator's guidance).",
  "safe_rephrasing": "The FTC's 'Free' guide says a 'Free' offer on one product size in one area should not run more than 6 months in 12, with at least 30 days between offers and no more than three offers a year.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "eCFR — 16 CFR Part 251",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-251",
      "primary": true
    }
  ],
  "kind": "reference_fact",
  "as_of": "eCFR text read 2026-10-17",
  "last_checked": "2026-10-17",
  "stale": false,
  "date_reviewed": "2026-10-17",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0",
  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
}