My mac OS X did not come with GarageBand, how do get it for free?

Okay, so you bought the machines used?

What OS version was on it when you bought it?

You bought Snow Leopard (10.6.x) and installed it?

The original version is important because there were some OS versions that did not include iLife (incl. Garageband) - you had to get it separately. And, the retail Snow Leopard disk does not include it.

So, if that is correct, then it doesn't have to have it installed. In any case, you can still buy a retail version of iLife with the full suite of apps from online retailers; either version 09 or 11 will work with your OS. Or you can just buy Garageband at the app store.

If you did not buy it new (or refurbed) from Apple, then you need to ask whoever you got it from for the original disks. iLife will be on there.

Oh and babowa:

iLife comes with the *computer*, not the operating system. There was only one version of the OS that came with an obsolete version of iLife, but that was over a decade ago.

Yes, I am aware of it; I also know that the disk was not always included (with the computer, such as refurbs) - I have had to purchase two of the three versions of iLife I have.