If you love eating lunch but abhor paying for it, you’ve come to the right place. In a seemingly endless sea of apps, there are a handful of ones that not only keep more money in your pocket, but more food in your mouth, too. I’ve been playing the chain restaurant fast food app game for a long time, so believe me when I tell you they’re not all created equally. Some apps are throwing you freebies left and right—others will leave you pondering why you ever surrendered your email address to them.
If you’re going to eat out for lunch, you might as well get the most out of it: Here are the fast food restaurants that will give you free items through their apps.
McDonald’s. If you download the McDonald’s app, you will get a free large order of fries before you even spend a single cent. Thereafter, the McDonalds app works on a points system, where you get 100 points for every dollar you spend. Through the app, you will also be eligible for promotions like $0.99 for any size coffee and Free Fries Friday (with the purchase of any $1 minimum mobile order).
Chipotle. The ubiquity of Chipotle is what makes it one of the fast food apps I turn to most frequently. In the Chipotle app, you earn 10 points for every $1 you spend. From there, it’s up to you. You can get some instant gratification and cash in some free guac at 400 points, or you can play the long game and get that sweet, sweet free burrito at 1,400 points.
Wendy’s. There’s no free item upon signing up, but don’t let that discourage you. Wendy’s offers 10 points for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for the items below. Additionally, Wendy’s has a rewards receipt submission form in case you made a purchase and forgot to scan your loyalty card. You will also get the occasional offer for a free item.
Burger King. You know what they say: To the victor goes the spoils. This self-proclaimed burger royalty put their money where their mouth is with a pretty impressive loyalty program. If you sign up for Burger King’s Royal Perks program, not only will you get a free sandwich with your first digital order, but you’ll also qualify for free fries with any purchase all year.
Dairy Queen. If you’re in the market for free ice cream that won’t fall out of its cup when turned upside down, you’ve come to the right place. As part of their rewards program, Dairy Queen offers 10 points for every dollar spent. Among possible free redeemable items are a free small regular or dipped cone for 200 points, or one of their classic mini Blizzards for 250 points. Not only that, as a rewards member, you will have access to Dairy Queen’s weekly deals.
Dunkin’. So much has been made of getting free food that I almost forgot to mention getting free drinks. With the Dunkin’ app, you can sign up for DD Perks, a rewards program that eschews giving out rewards in a solid state of matter in favor of rewards in a liquid state of matter. It’s simple: For every dollar you spend, you earn five points. For every 200 points you earn, you get a free beverage of any size. Whether you’re a coffee drinker or prefer a Coolatta, Dunkin’ is a worthwhile app to have on your phone.
Starbucks. As a Starbucks rewards member, you don’t accumulate points, but instead stars. You get one star for every dollar you spend if you pay with cash or credit/debit, or two stars for every dollar you spend if you link your payment method to your Starbucks account. With these stars, you can redeem a customized drink with an extra shot, dairy substitute, syrup, or sauce for 25 stars; hot brewed coffee, a bakery item, or brewed tea for 50 stars; a handcrafted drink or hot breakfast item for 150 stars; or a lunch sandwich or salad for 200 stars. If you’re a frequent customer, this rewards program can pay dividends relatively quickly.
Panera Bread. Upon joining the MyPanera program, you are eligible for a free pastry or bagel with your first purchase. Thereafter, there’s a litany of rewards you can qualify for. MyPanera is different from the rest in that there are no points to track; the rewards you receive are not directly correlated to the amount of money you’ve spent at the chain. Instead, rewards come more haphazardly. If you’re willing to go with the flow and accept a free pastry or beverage as they come, this is the rewards program for you.
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