Almost every big fast food chain now saves its best deals for the app. The free stuff is real, but most of it needs a small purchase. Here's what each one gives you and what it asks for.
The chains, one by one
- McDonald's: you have to opt in to MyMcDonald's Rewards in the app. You earn 100 points for every $1 you spend, and points turn into free food. The app has a free medium fries deal with a $1 minimum purchase (before tax), once a week through Dec 31, 2026. It doesn't work on McDelivery. McDonald's pages don't all show the same schedule, so check the Deals tab.
- Wendy's: the app has weekly offers like Wendy's Wednesday (free 6-piece nuggets with a $5 purchase) and Fryday (free fry, any size, with a $5 purchase). Wendy's Rewards gives you 10 points per $1 spent on food, and 200 bonus points after your first purchase. Rewards start at 200 points.
- Taco Bell: join Taco Bell Rewards and you get a free item to pick. It's good for 14 days and only works through the app for in-store or drive-thru pickup. No delivery or web orders. US locations only.
- Chipotle: new Chipotle Rewards members get free chips and guac with a purchase of $5 or more (before tax and tip). Use it within 7 days or it's gone. On your birthday you pick guac, queso, chips or a fountain drink, and you get 30 days to use it.
- Burger King: Royal Perks gives you 10 Crowns per $1 spent. In your birthday month you earn double Crowns, and you get a free item on your birthday. Add your birthday at least 7 days before.
- Chick-fil-A One: you earn 10 points per $1, and more at higher tiers. Rewards start at 200 points. Chick-fil-A doesn't do coupons, but some restaurants send a free Chicken Sandwich for finishing a survey. Look in the app's For You tab.
- Domino's: Domino's Rewards gives you 10 points for an order of $5 or more, one order a day. At 60 points you can get a free medium 2-topping pizza. Only online and app orders count, and only one reward per order. I couldn't find an Emergency Pizza offer running right now, so I left it out.
- Subway: Sub Club gives you 250 bonus points when you join and 10 points per $1. Every 400 points is $2 in Subway Cash. Save your birthday in your profile for a birthday treat.
"Free" almost always means "free with a purchase." Free fries need $1. Wendy's weekly freebies need $5. Chipotle's chips and guac need $5. The Taco Bell signup item is the main one here with no purchase listed.
How to stack
Stacking means using a deal and still earning points on the same order. It works at most chains, with limits.
- Wendy's: you can use one reward and one offer per order. You don't earn points on the part that was discounted, but you do earn on the rest.
- Chipotle: rewards can't be combined with other promotions unless that promo says so.
- Domino's: one rewards item per order.
My tip: make the small purchase count. If a freebie needs $5, buy the thing you were going to get anyway, then add the free item. That way the deal saves you money instead of making you spend more.
Set it up in 15 minutes
- Use one email just for rewards apps. My own tip, so your real inbox stays clean.
- Download the apps for the chains you actually go to. Skip the rest.
- Make an account in each one and opt in to rewards. McDonald's deals don't show until you do.
- Add your real birthday to every profile right away. Burger King needs it 7 days ahead. See the birthday list for more.
- Grab the welcome offers now: Taco Bell's free item, Chipotle's chips and guac, the McDonald's first-order deal. Note the deadlines. Taco Bell's is 14 days and Chipotle's is 7.
- Turn on push notifications for the two or three apps you use most. That's where flash offers show up.
- Before you order anywhere, open the Deals or Offers tab first.
I keep the current ones on the free food page, with the catch written out on each card.