For years, restaurants used punch cards to reward loyal customers. As the world becomes more tech oriented, these programs ventured into the world of apps. But which apps should you download? What spending traps should you avoid? Keep reading for the best restaurant apps that give you FREE food – many simply for downloading.
Don’t: Download All the Apps
Choose only restaurants you’d normally eat at when choosing which apps to download. There’s no need to sign up for for a program you won’t use. Remember, apps occupy space and can slow down the speed of your smart phone. Don’t waste either on somewhere you don’t like or don’t have in your area.
Do: Sign Up for Programs You’ll Use
If the waitress or barista asks if you have the app, don’t get overwhelmed in the moment. Sometimes we think we’ll burden someone by quickly downloading or signing up for a program. Most apps take less than a minute to load and establish. You could end up scoring something for free and logging points for the future by signing up. It’s worth it.
Don’t: Connect a Credit Card With Unlimited Spending
Some apps give you the option of linking a debit or credit card directly to the app and then using it for your source of payment. Be careful if you choose to do this. When you can, use cash to pay for your purchases. Spending with plastic causes you to spend more 9 times out of 10 (we’ll talk about the exception next). Moving from plastic to paying with a phone makes spending without thought even easier.
Do: Let the App Help You Manage Your Restaurant Budget
The one exception to paying with the app is when you can load a pre-determined amount per month. Either using a debit card or a gift card, put the maximum amount you’d like to spend at the restaurant that month on the app. When the amount is gone, don’t add any more until the next month. This might be able to help you actually pay closer attention to what you spend.
Restaurant Apps With Freebies
Now for the good stuff! Here’s a list of restaurants where you can get FREE food simply for downloading the app and/or collecting rewards points:
- Baskin Robbins: Get a FREE Scoop for downloading the app and signing up for mobile deals. Plus, you’ll get regular coupons.
- Steak ‘n Shake: Get a FREE Milkshake with the first purchase you make using the app. After that, you’ll get $5 in Rewards for every $50 you spend. I actually used this one to purchase gift cards one year in store for Christmas and it still gave me rewards money.
- Krispy Kreme: Get a FREE donut when you sign up for the Rewards program. While the App can help you track your rewards you don’t need it for the freebie.
- Sonic Drive In: Get a FREE Medium Drink or Slush just for downloading the Sonic App. By the way, anytime you order from the Sonic App, it’s always Happy Hour! So cool. You’ll also get rewarded for your purchases.
- Dairy Queen: Get a FREE Small Blizzard when you download the Dairy Queen App. You’ll also get access to coupons. Plus you’ll earn points when you order ahead or scan the app at the register.
- Marble Slab Creamery: Get a FREE ice cream just for signing up and downloading the app. Get $5 off on your birthday and anniversary of downloading the app. And collect 1 point for every $1 you spend. 50 Points gets you $5 off.
- 7-11: Get a FREE Snack or Drink when you sign up for 7 Rewards. You’ll also get every 7th drink for free, discounts, and more.
- Dunkin’: Get a FREE drink just for signing up for the Rewards program and downloading the app. You also collect rewards points for dollars spent and get a birthday freebie.
- BJ’s Brewhouse: Get a FREE Pizookie when you register for a Premier Plus Rewards Account. You can also get your name on the Waitlist early, collect rewards points, score a birthday freebie. This is another rewards program where you don’t have to have the app and can use it from a laptop at home just as easily.
- TGI Fridays: Get a coupon for a FREE appetizer or dessert just for signing up for Friday Rewards. You’ll also receive reward points for money you spend there.
- Wetzel’s Pretzels: FREE pretzel item for downloading the app. Free Pretzel on your birthday. Free surprise rewards. And Free pretzel for every 6 you purchase.
- Zaxby’s: Get a FREE Sandwich Meal via a postcard in the mail for signing up. Note: you don’t have to download an app or even give your mobile phone number of this one. You also get a FREE Nibbler on your birthday.
- Auntie Anne’s: Get a FREE pretzel after your first purchase of $1 or more. For every 300 points you collect, you get a free pretzel.
- Firehouse Subs: Get a FREE Large Drink with the purchase of a sub simply for signing up. Then, get a free sub on your birthday and 1 point for every $0.01 you spend with the app.
- My Panera Rewards: Get rewards based on purchases and sometimes “just because.” While I didn’t receive the offer, I’ve been reading that many others got a Free Bagel this October (and some even a free bagel every day!). So check your dashboard. You also receive a free offer on your birthday.
- McAlister’s Rewards: I have a free offer almost every time I visit McAlister’s. In the past these have included a free cookie, cup of soup, or lemonade. You also receive a $5/$5 coupon for your birthday and collect points when you use the app to pay.
- Quiznos: Get a FREE 4 inch sub with any purchase when you download the Quiznos Toasty Points App. Scan either your QR code when you check out or the barcode on your receipt to collect your points.
- Chick-Fil-A: While the Chick-Fil-A One app doesn’t give you a freebie just for signing up, you do receive free offers from time to time from your local store. And you can collect points for dollars spent on both regular orders and catering orders. Plus you get a freebie on your birthday.
- Qdoba: You don’t receive any free food just for signing up, but it doesn’t take long to collect enough rewards points to enjoy freebies from Qdoba. I love their Rewards program because it’s so easy to use.
- Wendy’s: Wendy’s regularly rotates free offers through their app. Through October 7, you can get a FREE half size Harvest Chicken Salad with any purchase. There are also offers for B1G1 items, FREE large fry with any purchase, $0.50 Frosty, and more.
- Burger King: Receive $30 worth of coupons, including many B1G1 deals when you download the Burger King App.
- Jamba Juice: Get $2 off your first order when you use the app and a free smoothie on your birthday with the Jamba Juice App.
- Starbucks: I LOVE Starbucks Rewards. You get a free drink on your birthday, free refills in store, and a free drink with every 125 stars you collect. It’s a great one to use with the budget strategy. Read The Best Ways to Save at Starbucks for more ideas.
- McDonald’s: Get exclusive deals and freebies with the McDonald’s App. These include 1 FREE McCafe drink for every 5 you purchase, Buy 1 Sandwich Get 1 for $1, and more.
- Subway: Remember the old school Subway stamps? They’ve gone digital. Get surprise rewards, digital coupons, and the ability to be rewarded tokens for every purchase you make.
Do you have a favorite restaurant rewards app or program? Leave it in the comments so we can download it, too!
Our new book Your Money, Your Marriage releases THIS WEEK September 25th from Zondervan Harper Collins Christian and is already available for pre-sale now everywhere books are sold. Be sure to check out videos on managing money together on Facebook. AND join us for a special book signing event at Barnes & Noble (Greenwood, IN) on Saturday September 29th from 2 – 4 PM.
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out The Debt Free Devotional
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