Free Slots vs. Free Spins - What's The Difference?
Demo slots are free-to-play slot games where the game features remain intact, and instead of real money, you can play with virtual coins that have no monetary value. You can play demo slots risk-free, and bet like a high roller! But... what's the difference between free slots and free spins, if by playing you are actually spinning for free?
Before we can answer that, we need to explain that there are two types of free spins.
- Free Spins slot features: This type of free spin is a built-in feature of a slot game. The casino itself has no control over this type of free spin. You can trigger a Free Spins bonus round by getting a specific combination of symbols on the reels. The number of spins you can get varies, depending on the game and the symbols you landed to trigger the feature, and there are usually Multipliers attached to Free Spin features where each win is multiplied by a specific amount. All these details are usually explained in the slot game's paytable info section.
- Free spins slot bonuses: This type of free spin is awarded by the casino, usually as part of a welcome bonus package or a reload bonus. The slot game that you can play these spins on, as well as the number and value of the spins, is set by the casino. Basically, it's the casino loading a particular slot game with credits so that you can play for real money, but they pay for the spins.
When you play free slot games, you can trigger the free spins feature of the slot. In fact, this is one of the benefits of playing for free: it allows you to spin as many times as you need to trigger the feature. This allows you to see how the Free Spins feature works and what it looks like when you activate it, without spending money. However, you can't win any actual money either.
On the other hand, free spin bonuses issued by a casino give you the opportunity to play real money slots for free. This is a whole different kettle of fish because you can actually win real money - and you can activate a Free Spins feature while playing with a free spins bonus (provided that you are luckier than we have been lately). If you manage this, the wins will really start rolling in thanks to the Multipliers usually attached to the Free Spins feature.
We don't like to dampen anyone's enthusiasm, but it's important to point out that any money you may win while playing with a free spins bonus may have wagering requirements attached. For example, if a casino has 30x wagering on its free spins, and you win $10, you need to wager $300 before you can withdraw the winnings. If you have a run of luck, this is not an impossible feat.
Different Types of Free Slots
How do you like your slots? Simple and straightforward? Full of features, bells and whistles? There are plenty of free slot games you can try online, ranging from 3-reel fruit slots to multi-level 3D slots. Here are some of the most popular game types:
- Classic Slot Games | Classic slots feature nostalgic symbols such as fruit, bells and 7s. They tend to have fewer reels, paylines and bonus features than other slot types.
- Video Slots | Video slots have more reels, more paylines, and more features. You will normally play video slots across 5 reels and there will be at least one bonus level, like Free Spins.
- 3D Casino Games | 3D slots take online gaming to the next level. Games have cutting-edge graphics and sound, plus innovative game features.
- Progressive Slots | Progressive slots offer special linked jackpots which can reach into the millions.
Free Megaways Slots
Big Time Gaming software revolutionized the online casino world when it launched its Megaways slots mechanic in 2016. With ground-breaking game features like Cascading symbols, sublime bonus rounds for big payouts, and exciting gaming action, the demand for Megaways slots has escalated exponentially. Traditional slots have a fixed number of symbols on their reels and a fixed number of possible pay lines, but with Megaways slots, the number of symbols on each reel changes randomly from one spin to the next, which can lead to massive wins. You can play Megaways slots for free, and when you’re ready, switch to real money Megaways for significant chances to land great wins.
Free Egyptian Slots
Visit the great pyramids of Giza, travel back in time and meet Cleopatra, or battle a mummy for ancient treasure. Egypt-themed slots bring mystery and magic from a bygone era. Be transported to the land of the Pharaohs and enjoy plenty of free spins for your shot at bagging your next win. Due to their unique designs and exotic atmosphere, Egyptian slots have become very popular at online casinos. With symbols like pyramids, scarabs, and golden masks, as well as terrific graphics, toe-tapping soundtracks, and amazing features, play free Egyptian slots and spin your way toward great treasures.
Free Cluster Pays Slots
Most slot machines require matching symbols to land on an active line to form wins, but Cluster Pays slots only require matching symbols to be touching. Forming a cluster win requires at least five touching icons, but this differs from game to game. A classic Cluster Pays slot game you can try is NetEnt's Aloha! Cluster Pays. This popular game rules out the conventional payline mechanisms and delivers an exciting way to load up on your wins. You can play free Cluster Pays slots to learn how it works until you're happy to take it to the next level... or simply keep playing for fun.
Free High Volatility Slot Machines
Slot volatility represents how often a slot game pays out, and high volatility slots typically pay out big wins, at intervals, while low volatility slots pay out smaller wins in (relatively) quick succession. Slot volatility ranges from high to low, and while lower volatility slots land more frequent wins, the higher the volatility, the bigger the wins when they do pay. Higher volatility is also a higher risk because payouts take time, but when the symbols line up perfectly, bam! If you're looking for a great high-volatility slot game, try Book of Ra by Novomatic. If you want to browse our selection, hit the Filter button on our slot game list above, then click the Volatility option. Select the type you prefer, and browse away!
Free Penny Slot Machines
We get it. Times are tough and playing budgets may be small. That's why so many of us enjoy playing free slots - to get the flavor without the calories. However, if you want to spice it up just a notch, penny slots are the way to go. Penny slots are slots that can be played at 1 cent per line, and as they are economical, they perfectly suit players that want to enjoy real money slots without risking too much money. Playing penny slots for free will show you that you lose nothing in terms of game quality, extra features, and theme variety, when compared to higher-limit slots, and seeking these out and adding them to your Favorites will give you a personalized playlist for when you do want to spend a dollar or two, and have it go as far as possible.
Free Mobile Slots
Most online slots these days are created with mobile users in mind, with every online casino fully optimized for mobile gaming. The best-loved slot games for mobile play are created by top software companies like IGT, Play'n GO and NetEnt, making on-the-go gaming convenient and entertaining. Free mobile slots are accessible from iOS and Android mobile devices in two ways: either by logging into the casino and playing games through your mobile browser, or by downloading a dedicated slots app.
You can access a large variety of US casinos that offer free slot games, simply by browsing through our recommended mobile slot sites. Enjoy the many benefits of playing on the go, including multiple payment providers, 24/7 customer support, and plenty of free slots.