- Many companies are providing free or discounted offers on their products and services to better serve customers during the coronavirus outbreak.
- The deals include free downloads of communication or security software, and some free upgrades to full-featured plans.
- Many deals are valid through the end of this year or at least through July 2020.
As the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has more Americans than ever transitioning to remote work, companies are stepping up to provide free or discounted business services such as video calling, network security, remote team management, and file sharing to small businesses and their employees. We've rounded up the best deals we could find to help make this transitional time easier for you and your team.
Adobe Magento
What is it? Adobe is offering three months free of its Magento Commerce and Magento Engage platforms when you sign a new contract. This software allow companies to begin building e-commerce revenue straight away. Adobe is also offering three months' worth of training for both platforms.
Who is eligible? All small businesses and individuals are eligible.
Where can I get it? You can learn more about Adobe's free offerings here.
What other special programs is Adobe offering?
- Free 90-day access to its web conferencing software Adobe Connect until July 1, 2020.
- Free use of its share-and-review feature on Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Free 90-day trial of Adobe Sign for new users until May 31.
- Free use of Adobe Talent and Adobe Portfolio until May 31.
Lifesize Video Conferencing
What is it? Lifesize video conferencing is offering six months' free use of its services. Features under the free plan include unlimited meetings, support for up to 25 participants, desktop and mobile apps, and online support.
Who is eligible? Anyone is eligible to sign up for the free plan.
Where can I get it? You can learn more about Lifesize's plans and sign up here.
Cloudflare for Teams
What is it? Cloudflare is a network that provides internet requests for over 1 billion unique IP addresses per day. It is offering its Teams products, Cloudflare Access and Cloudflare Gateway, free to small businesses for the next six months.
Cloudflare Access:
- Provides secure access to internal applications without a VPN
- Quickly secures on-premises applications with single sign-on (SSO)
- Standardizes access controls for on-premises, private and public cloud resources
- Allows authentication of users anywhere in the world
- Enables connection from any device with no special software required
- Generates login and access requests across all applications in one central place
Cloudflare Gateway:
- Provides protections to users from malicious internet content
- Allows on- and off-network traffic visibility
- Provides a centralized location for managing, deploying and monitoring your security
- Increases speed while lowering internet security costs by removing the need for office backhaul
- Scans for threats, detects malware, identifies unsanctioned SaaS apps and visualizes all internet traffic
Who is eligible? A free download of Cloudflare for Teams is available to all small businesses worldwide until Sept. 1. There is no obligation to sign up after Sept. 1.
Where can I get it? You can download Cloudflare for Teams here.
Wundamail
What is it? Wundamail is software built for managing remote teams. A check-in email is sent to team members at the end of the working day, asking how or what they did. Each team member responds, and a compilation email is sent to the team the next morning.
Wundamail does not require any apps, usernames or passwords. You can easily add team members, organize members into groups, import lists, and design your own email templates to customize your daily emails. You can also choose to implement a points system where team members can work to earn enough points to win awards, such as gift cards.
Who is eligible? Wundamail is offering one month free to any small business or organization that needs it.
Where can I get it? You can sign up for your free month of Wundamail here.
Cisco Webex
What is it? Cisco Webex is offering expanded capabilities on its free video conferencing personal accounts. These are the additional features:
- Unlimited use with no time restrictions
- Support for up to 100 participants
- Toll dial-in along with existing VoIP capabilities
Webex is a video conferencing platform that boasts an easy-to-use interface and reliable service. It also integrates with several other professional apps, such as Outlook, Google Drive, Gmail, GitHub, Office 365 and Salesforce.
Who is eligible? These extra features are available to customers who have a free personal account with Webex.
Where can I get it? The additional features should appear automatically in your account. If you have issues, you can contact Cisco. You can download a free personal account here.
Cisco Security
What is it? In addition to expanding the features for its video conferencing software, Cisco is offering free downloads or extended free licenses for three of its security technologies. These offers are available from now until July 1, 2020.
Cisco Umbrella is a cloud-based solution that protects users from malicious sites both on and off their networks. With this offer, existing customers can exceed their user limit to support more remote workers, and new customers can access a free license. If you would like to extend your initial 14-day period, you can contact the Cisco sales team.
Duo Security is software that allows organizations to verify users' identities and establish device trust before granting application access. Duo reduces risk and decreases the attack surface through a zero-trust model. Like Cisco Umbrella's program, this offer allows existing customers to exceed their user limit and new customers to access a free license.
Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client enables remote work via company laptops or personal devices. It also provides visibility and control to security teams, showing which devices are accessing the company's infrastructure. With this offer also, existing customers can exceed their user limit and new customers can access a free license. To get your requested usage counts, speak with a Cisco representative or partner. You can also view online documentation to help you get started.
Who is eligible? All new and existing Cisco customers are eligible for these offers.
Where can I get it? You can find more information on downloading your free licenses here.
Microsoft Teams
What is it? Microsoft Teams is a remote working communications hub that provides chat, meeting, video conferencing and collaboration tools all on one platform. Microsoft Teams is offering free downloads of the software that are valid through January 2021.
Microsoft Teams' "freemium" version provides unlimited chat, built-in group and one-on-one audio or video calling, 10GB of team file storage, and 2GB of personal file storage per user. Microsoft Teams also has measures in place for major impacts, such as sudden increases in usage (as we are experiencing now), location-based impacts like storms and natural disasters, and people-based impacts, such as if COVID-19 impacts the team that maintains the system.
Who is eligible? Anyone can sign up for Microsoft Teams. If your business is licensed for Office 365, you already have access to Teams.
Where can I get it? You can find more information and sign up here.
Quinyx
What is it? Quinyx is a workforce management platform that is offering free access to its communication platform to any organization that needs it to support communication with remote workers.
Quinyx provides a centralized experience no matter what device you are working from, offering scheduling, time and attendance, forecasting and optimization, and communication support. The free offer is only for its communication module and mobile app to support easy communication between remote workers. The module and app are free through this offer and do not require any signups or subscriptions.
The communication module uses Qmail, an efficient app-based email tool, and Pulse, a method of gauging how your employees are feeling during the workday. Users also have access to employee contact information and the ability to recognize work with badges.
Who is eligible? Any company that needs communication support can use this offer.
Where can I get it? You can register for the Quinyx platform here.
Free upgrades for G Suite
What is it? Google is offering free upgrades to its integrated collaboration suite, G Suite, including G Suite for Education. The increased capabilities include these premium Google Hangouts Meet features:
- Support for up to 250 participants on video calls
- Livestreaming for up to 100,000 viewers within a domain
- The ability to record meetings and save them in Google Drive
These features will be available to all customers at no additional cost until July 1, 2020.
Who is eligible? All existing G Suite and G Suite for Education customers are eligible for this offer.
Where can I get it? You can follow the instructions here.
Zoho Small Business Emergency Subscription Assistance
What is it? Zoho provides a comprehensive suite of business software applications, including CRM, mail, remote work and human resources. Zoho is providing three months' worth of free use for every application its customers currently use.
Zoho is also offering a free suite of productivity and collaboration apps for remote work that is available until July 1, 2020.
Who is eligible? Zoho is providing this offer to up to 20,000 qualified paying customers with 25 employees or less who have been impacted by the coronavirus-related downturn. The offer is good for up to three months.
Where can I get it? You can learn more and apply for the program here.
PreVeil Free Cybersecurity
What is it? PreVeil is offering its cybersecurity platform for free to critical infrastructure institutions, which will help protect workers' security as they work from home.
Who is eligible? PreVeil says that federal, state, and local governments and agencies are eligible, as are first responders and crisis management teams, and healthcare nonprofits.
Where can I get it? You can learn more about the offer and contact PreVeil's sales team here.
Free marketing report card from WesFed
What is it? WesFed's marketing report card, or Snapshot Report, grades your business's online presence, showing you exactly where you can take action and improve. Your business is graded on WesFed's six pillars of marketing: advertising, listings, reputation, social, website and SEO. The report aggregates data from over 70 directories to show how your business is ranked and listed online, including number of listings, accuracy of listings, and missing and potential sites.
Who is eligible? Any small business is eligible for the free marketing report card.
Where can I get it? You can request a report here.