kostenfreier

Kostenfreier is a German adjective meaning free of charge. It describes a service, product, or offer that costs nothing for the user. The form kostenfrei is the base form; kostenfreier is used before masculine singular nouns in certain declined contexts (for example, ein kostenfreier Service). Feminine and neuter forms are kostenfreie and kostenfreies, respectively. In predicate position it is common to say “Der Versand ist kostenfrei.”

Usage and nuance: Kostenfrei is common in formal or business-oriented language, marketing materials, terms and conditions, and invoices. It is slightly more formal than synonyms like kostenlos or gratis, which are often more colloquial. Kostenfrei emphasizes the absence of a price as a property of the service or item, rather than simply describing that it costs nothing.

Relations to other terms: Kostenfrei is closely related to kostenpflichtig (requiring payment) and to gratis or kostenlos, which are everyday synonyms. While gratis and kostenlos are widely understood in colloquial speech, kostenfrei is favored in official texts, legal contexts, and professional communication. The choice among them can signal tone and formality as well as the type of offering.

Examples: Der Versand ist kostenfrei. Wir bieten kostenfreie Software-Downloads an. Eine kostenfreie Hotline steht Ihnen rund um die Uhr zur Verfügung. Ein kostenfreier Monat ist in der Aktion enthalten. In jedem Fall bleibt der Kern meaning: kein Preis wird erhoben.