if the website is offering No-deposit bonus then it's the best option to try the website for free, as you can even get little profit and would confirm payouts etc... (however, most sites have big rollovers for ND bonuses that make it unwithdrawable anyway), A faucet is good to feel the interface as well as graphics, and the betting system overall.
Play money is a type of faucet I guess with no possibility of withdrawing even with the best luck, if faucet is available then it's better than play money.