Best of all, these free offers are a win-win for you and cell phone companies. You get an awesome phone, and they'll get a customer for another year or two. So, with all offers on web, one has to wonder:

Are they really free? Yes, but, only if you sign up for a new plan when you purchase your phone.

Here's our quick guide to getting best free cell phone deals online.

Select your features Write down a list of top 5 features that you need in a cell phone. If you plan to use it as your primary phone increase your list to 10 features that you need. Include everything from background color, text messaging capabilities, phone size, brand, internet ready and other features.

Size matters Any cell phone carrier out there can impress you with a phone size of your credit card. However, when it comes to dialing, you cannot adjust size of your hand and your fingers. The perfect phone for your pocket or purse might not be perfect phone when you try to use it.

Usually, an earpiece or headset, long lasting batteries and a car charger are provided at a discount when you purchase your phone. If you plan to replace these items, make sure that your new accessories are compatible with your brand of phones. A cell phone is a small, but sensitive item. If you try to attach wrong equipment, you'll need to use your warranty a lot sooner than you think.