Why Can’t I download free apps without a card on file?

Hello~ Yes…in order to download apps you need a card on file because many have subscriptions and in app purchases …also for verification purposes.You will not be charged for a free app.

Payment methods that you can use with your Apple Account - Apple Support

Have you considered Family Sharing?

What is Family Sharing? - Apple Support

~Katana-San~

It is important to note while some developers offer their apps as a free download, many also contain in-app purchases/subscriptions. The developers must pay every year to offer those apps to you and it also costs them time and money to produce the apps and continue to update them. The free download gives you an opportunity to see if that app is useful and the developer provides those optional methods in hopes you will value their work and use one of those options. Without a valid payment method that would never be possible and if developers never made money off of the time and money they spent, you would not have ANY apps to download. They are not doing it for charity.

There is nothing wrong with supporting a developer for an app that they have provided that is something you truly enjoy using. The payment method is the way to do that if you choose and simply requiring a payment method without requiring you to use it is the least that can be done for those developers.

Hello again ~ You’re welcome. Post back should you need more assistance.

~Katana-San~