Frequently Asked Questions

A directory of free and discounted things NYC residents already pay for, organized by what you want to do rather than by which program runs it. Instead of asking “which agency gives me a free museum pass?” we ask “what do you want to do today?”

No. myfree.nyc is an independent project. We link to official sources and public datasets, but this site is not affiliated with NYC government.

No and no. The site is free to use and requires no account or sign-up. We also don't track you, store cookies, or ask for personal information.

Event data refreshes regularly from the NYC Event Calendar API. The events page shows when it was last updated. Benefit and program information is reviewed periodically against official sources.

No. Many places need no credential at all. Others accept any ID, a library card, or offer free hours regardless. For each place we list every route in, from easiest (walk in with nothing) to most involved. Check a place page to see which credential you need.

Pay-what-you-wish (PWYW) means you choose the admission amount, and some institutions let you include a small amount (like $1). This is not the same as free admission — PWYW usually requires you to pay something, even if very little, while free admission costs nothing at all. Check each place's listing for specifics.

It varies by place and by which route you use. Some cultural memberships include guest passes, while others cover only the card holder. Each place page lists the guest policy where we have that information.

Not necessarily. Five locations accept walk-ins on set days (Staten Island on Mondays, East New York on Tuesdays, Bronx Monterey on Wednesdays, Manhattan Union Square on Thursdays, and Queens Public Library at Central on Fridays). All other locations still require an appointment. See the full how-to-apply guide for details.

You need three (3) points worth of documents to prove your identity and one (1) point document to prove your NYC residency. Some single documents (like a passport) cover both. Use the official IDNYC Document Calculator to check what you have.

“No address, P.O. Box, or 'Care Of' Organization will appear on the card.”

Your address is used only to prove residency. The physical card shows your name and photo but not where you live.

A New York Public Library card (or Brooklyn Public Library, or Queens Public Library) unlocks digital resources, Culture Pass reservations, and more. See the libraries page for what each system offers.