Way off topic, but free climbers definitely do use carabiners. Free here means “free from aid” i.e. not using ladders or other tools common in aid climbing, but

Way off topic, but free climbers definitely do use carabiners. Free here means “free from aid” i.e. not using ladders or other tools common in aid climbing, but free climbing still includes safety devices to catch a fall (usually involving carabiners). You’re thinking of free soloing which also excludes safety devices. And yea, these terms are confusing, I guess naming things is hard!