Kostenlose

Kostenlos is a German adjective meaning “without cost” or “free of charge.” It is used to describe goods, services, or content that are provided without payment. The form kostenlose is used when the adjective appears before a noun in attributive position and agrees with the noun’s gender and number. Examples include eine kostenlose Lieferung (feminine singular), der kostenlose Testzugang (masculine singular), kostenlose Downloads (plural with no article), and die kostenlosen Proben (plural with definite article).

In practice, kostenlo s is most commonly seen in consumer language and marketing. Its basic meaning is neutral, simply indicating that a price is zero. The exact ending of the adjective changes with the noun it modifies: feminine singular takes -e (eine kostenlose Lieferung), masculine singular also uses -e after a definite article (der kostenlose Testzugang), plural forms vary with article (kostenlose Proben vs. die kostenlosen Proben).

Kostenlos is often contrasted with gratis and umsonst. Gratis is frequently used in marketing and carries a slightly more informal or promotional tone, while umsonst emphasizes that something is obtained without any compensation and can carry a sense of futility in certain contexts. Kostenlose offerings can appear with conditions or limits, such as “kostenlose Lieferung ab einem Bestellwert” or “kostenlose Probezeit,” where terms apply.

Etymology traces kostenlos to Kosten (cost) + los (without), literally “without costs.” It is distinct from related terms that describe freedom or openness (frei) and from kostenpflichtig, which means “subject to a charge.” See also: Gratis, Umsonst, Kostenpflichtig.