Which Are the Best Fast Food App Rewards You Can Get Today?

Remember when they used to stamp a little card and after 10 stamps you get a free muffin? Well, those days are gone. Everything these days is apps, apps, and more apps. And while too many apps are, well, dizzying, depressing, and make my phone hot for some probably bad reason, fast food apps are usually a safe bet. 

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Really, if you frequent a given food or drinks chain and they offer rewards, it’s probably a good idea to sign up. Yes, they want your data (not all of it―just the stuff that helps them track, predict, defy, and high-five over consumer spending habits). But it’s also a great way for you to get a bit more bang for your buck. And the rewards, typically administered in points (or stars, or, yes, even crowns) do add up. 

Our favorite part, of course, is the free food―which you usually have to earn but, as you’ll see below, sometimes comes by just signing up (and maybe spending a buck). Here’s a breakdown of the major fast food and fast drink apps programs and our take on their rewards, especially for newbies.

McDonald’s

McDonald’s might be getting all sorts of funkadelic with its drinks menu (and we’re here for it) but they’re keeping it simple and classic when you download the McD’s app: a free medium fries or a free Big Mac―aka America’s favorite and yet somehow least filling triple-decker sandwich―with your first purchase of $1 or more. And once you’re an app member up and running, once a week you’ll get any $2 breakfast sandwich of your choosing.

Wendy’s Rewards

That’s 10, count ‘em, 10 cluckers (aka Wendy’s chicken nuggets, nobody calls them “cluckers”) when you sign up for the Wendy’s rewards program. As with most apps, you earn points through purchases, but Wendy’s also starts you out right with 200 bonus points just for signing up. 

Carl’s Jr.

Like Starbucks, Carl’s Jr also operates in “stars,” not points. Unlike Starbucks, Carl’s keeps it classy by rewarding new My Rewards members with some free grub! Okay, after a $1 purchase. But that’s not a ton! And then you get your choice of a free Western Cheeseburger, a Famous Star, or a Hand-breaded Chicken Sandwich.

Church’s Chicken

Called Church’s Real Rewards, Church’s plan gives new members a “welcome offer” worth cluckin’ about: a free 2-piece (leg and thigh) or 3-piece tenders with a purchase. They’re also still running 50% off a 3- or 6-piece Honey-Butter Biscuits order for rewards members during their “Happy Hour,” aka 2 to 5PM, up until September 4th. 

Starbucks

As we reported, Starbucks upgraded its rewards system a few months ago (it’s kinda fun, you can be a “Green,” “Gold,” or a “Reserve” member, like in a video game but with caffeine). As far as automatic app rewards go, this one is meh. New members, automatically “Green,” get a free (day-of) Birthday Reward, double-stars when you BYOCup, and up to $2 worth of drink customization completely free as part of their select “Free Mod Mondays.” 

Taco Bell Rewards 

Since they want you to Live Mas (and you’ll need the nutrition to do so) Taco Bell gives new Taco Bell Rewards members with a free welcome reward. Your choice of classics like the Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, a Soft Taco, a Locos Tacos, etc., which you can scarf down as you consider the mas ways you’ll stack up those 10-points-per-$1 rewards.  (FYI since 250 points gets you more free food, you’ll get another burrito for every $25 you would have already spent there.) 

Burger King

Burger King is really driving home the whole monarchy thing with its “Royal Perks” app―instead of points or even stars, users earn “crowns.” To be fair, it’s about the same exchange rate you’ll see in any app: 10 “crowns” per $1 spent. So far as we can tell, there’s no instantaneous food (hence its low, low placement on our list) but you do get double “crown” earning points for your entire birthday month. 

Dunkin‘

As per usual, it’s 10 points earned per dollar spent―and Dunkin’ will give you a birthday bonus, but it’s also a bit meh, as in you earn triple points for every dollar you spend―yes, nothing free in play. But at least they acknowledge the days before and after your birthday, since for some reason you can also earn triple points then, too. A weird reward, kind of hard to remember. Like every birthday you’re ever supposed to remember. (But, hey, maybe Dunkin’ will remind you!)