You don't get for nothing

You don't get something for nothing.

Prov. Everything costs something, and anything that appears to be free must be deceptive. Jill: This newspaper ad says we can get a trip to Hawaii for free. Jane: There must be a catch to it somewhere. You don't get something for nothing.
See also: get, nothing
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • (as) free as a bird
  • free as a bird
  • a free lunch
  • free lunch
  • the only free cheese is in the mousetrap
  • free, gratis, and for nothing
  • free as air/as a bird
  • (as) free as (the) air
  • get free of
  • get free of (someone or something)