The 7 Best Fast Food Reward Apps to Save You Money

These fast food loyalty reward apps for Android and iPhone are actually worth using.

If you regularly visit a fast food establishment, you might have its app already downloaded. Or maybe you're one of those people who always sees ads for a restaurant's loyalty app, but have just never made the effort to download it.

Either way, not all loyalty apps are created equally. Some apps only let you conveniently order online so your food is ready to pick up as soon as you get there, while others offer rewards and incentives. We've gathered a few of the best food loyalty apps that actually make you want to use them.

1. Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A rewards more frequent visitors with membership tiers. As you move up in a membership tier, you earn more points per dollar spent at the restaurant.

At the most basic membership tier, you earn 10 points per dollar. Then, there are different point tiers to choose a free reward from. You can get a free chocolate chunk cookie (200 points), fountain drink (300 points), Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit (500 points), and more.

Download: Chick-fil-A for Android | iOS (Free)

2. Panera

Panera Bread counts each purchase you make as a unique purchase toward your next reward, whether you're buying a whole meal or a simple bagel. Sometimes, you'll only need to make two more purchases until your next reward and sometimes you might have to make four or six purchases.

The reward you get at the end is always comparable to how many purchases you have to make, and the reward is always personalized for you.

Download: Panera Bread for Android | iOS (Free)

3. Starbucks

If you frequent Starbucks, you probably already have this app. But if you love coffee and don't have it downloaded, what are you waiting for? Although Starbucks drinks and pastries can be expensive, the rewards system in the app helps keep costs down and gifts you free items occasionally.

Depending on how many stars you earn, you can get a free bakery item (50 stars), handcrafted drink (150 stars), lunch sandwich (200 stars), and more. For every dollar you spend, you earn one star. If you pay with a preloaded Starbucks card, you can earn two stars per $1. Then, there are random Bonus Star events where you can earn more.

Download: Starbucks for Android | iOS (Free)

4. McDonald's

McDonald's is constantly updating its app with new daily deals. On the day of writing this, there's an offer for a free 6pc Chicken McNuggets or free fries of any size with a minimum purchase of $1.

Past its amazing daily deals, the McDonald's app also rewards you with points. When you reach 1500 points, you can get an item for free, like a McChicken, a Vanilla Cone, or a Cheeseburger. You earn 100 points for every $1 you spend, so you'll have to spend at least $15 to earn a reward.

Download: McDonald's for Android | iOS (Free)

5. SONIC

Drink lovers, rejoice! If you order through the Sonic app, drinks and slushes are half price all day, every day. The only drinks excluded are Mini drinks and cold brew iced coffee, but everything else is fair game.

Download: SONIC Drive-In for Android | iOS (Free)

6. Papa Johns

Although Domino's also has a rewards app, Papa Johns gives you more bang for your buck in rewards. For every dollar that you spend, you get one point. Once you reach 75 points—or spend $75—you get $10 off your next total order.

Download: Papa Johns for Android | iOS (Free)

7. Dunkin' Donuts

Dunkin' Donuts rewards its customers with a free drink for every 200 points they earn. Unfortunately, that's the only reward the company offers, so if you're not a big Dunkin' Donuts coffee drinker, you're fresh out of luck.

There are deals in the app that offer bonus points when you buy certain items. For every $1 you spend, you earn five points. So for a free drink worth 200 points, you have to spend $40 (without deals and bonus point offers).

Download: Dunkin' Donuts for Android | iOS (Free)

Convenience and Saving Money Is Awesome

All loyalty programs, whether they're linked to your favorite fast food joint, your local grocery store, or a specialized retailer you frequent, are designed to keep you coming back. Luckily, all of the apps on this list actually reward you for coming back; it's not just a facade.

Once you've gotten a taste of the convenience of fast food apps, you might just start downloading apps for everything to make your life easier.