Looking for Fast Food Deals? These Apps Offer the Biggest Savings and Rewards [2024]

With customers feeling the crunch of rising fast food prices more than ever, popular restaurant chains are finding new ways to retain customers. While some measures, like introducing limited-time value meals, address cost concerns, one interesting tactic fast food chains are investing in is targeting something larger: customer loyalty.

Reward programs (typically hosted in a mobile app) give frequent customers savings and allow them to earn rewards. But how effective are they, and how much does participating in a loyalty program actually save fast food consumers?

To find out which fast food loyalty programs offer the biggest savings, our research team at FinanceBuzz tested 13 rewards programs from the most popular fast food chains in America. We reviewed earnings rates, in-app experiences, and the points systems for each chain to find the most rewarding fast food rewards programs.

Key findings

• Pizza Hut offers the best overall savings of any fast food app. On average, customers can expect to earn back 15% of their spending on future orders.
• Starbucks offers the lowest savings. While its rewards program does offer some bonuses, customers only earn 2% back on their coffee and food purchases, on average.
• On average, Starbucks customers have to spend 42 times an item’s menu price to earn enough rewards to redeem to get that same item for free.

Which fast food apps have the best savings?

To determine which rewards programs offer the best and worst value, we texted 13 loyalty programs (through their mobile apps) and learned about their points and rewards systems.

Typically, these programs work similarly:

• Customers earn reward points based on items they purchase
• Once they’ve saved enough, customers can redeem their points for food or beverages at a rate determined by the fast food chain.

This idea is similar to how travel credit cards or hotel loyalty programs operate. While some chains allow you to redeem points for any menu item, others limit your redemption options.

In either case, we found how many rewards points users earn for every dollar they spend at different chains and calculated a return on those points when redeeming for a “signature entree” (such as a Big Mac), a “value” entree (such as a McChicken), and a side item (such as french fries) at each chain. We then calculated a “cash back” rate, similar to what you’d see on cash back credit cards and other popular financial products.

Using those data points, we calculated the average amount customers have to spend on menu-priced items to earn enough points to get free food.

Of the 13 nationwide chains we evaluated, Pizza Hut’s rewards program is the most generous, giving customers a 15% average return on their purchases. Taco Bell and Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. were second, at 13% each on average.

Notably, both Pizza Hut and Taco Bell are owned by the same company, Yum! Brands. The company also owns the chain with the fourth-best rewards program, KFC, which shows that Yum! Brands are committed to consistently offering top-notch value to its rewards program customers regardless of which brand customers choose to patronize.

Though these were the top programs, we reviewed every major fast food rewards app and ranked them below:

Which Fast Food Rewards Programs Offer the Most Value?

1. Pizza Hut

The Pizza Hut app offers customers 2 points for every dollar spent, which customers can then use on food items like breadsticks or sides. For example, $37.50 in purchases earns you 75 Pizza Hut points, which you can then redeem for an order of breadsticks, typically valued priced at $7.79 (21% back on your spend).

Of note, the app also frequently has coupons or specials for customers to use, offering even higher savings.

• Rewards program overview:
  • Points earned per dollar spent: 2 ($0.50 value per point)
  • Average reward points needed to earn a free item: 183.3 ($91.67 spent)
  • Average menu item cost of items evaluated: $13.72
  • Average return on spend (“cash back”) rate: 15%

2. Taco Bell

Taco Bell gives customers 10 points for every dollar spent, which can be boosted to 11 points per dollar after earning 2,000 points in a calendar year and achieving the “Fire” tier. Customers earn a free item from a diverse group of selected menu items for every 250 points earned.

• Rewards program overview:
  • Points earned per dollar spent: 10 ($0.10 value per point)
  • Average reward points needed to earn a free item: 250 ($25.00 worth of points)
  • Average menu item cost of items evaluated: $3.29
  • Average return on spend (“cash back”) rate: 13%

3. Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.

Users earn 10 points for every dollar spent when using the Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. apps, which can be redeemed for free food such as burgers, chicken tenders, and side items. Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. use a “tier” system for rewards, grouping items into buckets that cost 150, 300, or 500 points.

The app also features a variety of coupons and offers that offer additional savings, some of which are exclusive to rewards program users. However, users can’t combine rewards redemptions with coupons or bonus offers in a single order.

• Rewards program overview:
  • Points earned per dollar spent: 10 ($0.10 value per point)
  • Average reward points needed to earn a free item: 316.7 ($31.67 worth of points)
  • Average menu item cost of items evaluated: $4.12
  • Average return on spend (“cash back”) rate: 13%

4. Kentucky Fried Chicken

KFC gives app users 10 points for every dollar they spend at its restaurants, which can be used on things like its famous fried chicken and signature sides such as mashed potatoes and gravy. Users will need to spend around $75 on menu-priced KFC food to earn a signature entree and can earn a value entree or side item for $25 worth of purchases.

• Rewards program overview:
  • Points earned per dollar spent: 10 ($0.10 value per point)
  • Average reward points needed to earn a free item: 416.7 ($41.67 worth of points)
  • Average menu item cost of items evaluated: $4.92
  • Average return on spend (“cash back”) rate: 12%

5. McDonald’s

McDonald’s rewards program gives users one point for every penny they spend, resulting in large reward point totals for regular customers. It is actually easier to earn a value sandwich such as a McChicken (earned after $15 worth of purchases) than a side item like a medium french fry (earned after $30 worth of purchases).

The McDonald’s app also frequently offers coupons and buy-one-get-one-style deals on popular menu items.

• Rewards program overview:
  • Points earned per dollar spent: 100 ($0.01 value per point)
  • Average reward points needed to earn a free item: 3,500 ($35.00 worth of points)
  • Average menu item cost of items evaluated: $3.89
  • Average return on spend (“cash back”) rate: 11%

6. Popeye’s

Customers get 10 points per $1 at Popeye’s, which can be used for free fried chicken. Notably, the Popeye’s rewards program allows users to redeem points for full meals and not just individual menu items. For example, a three-piece chicken tender combo with a drink, a side, and a biscuit can be earned after spending $100 on menu-price items.

Popeye’s also gives app users access to coupons and exclusive offers, including some that produce big savings on meal deals that can feed multiple people.

• Rewards program overview:
  • Points earned per dollar spent: 10 ($0.10 value per point)
  • Average reward points needed to earn a free item: 633.3 ($63.33 worth of points)
  • Average menu item cost of items evaluated: $6.96
  • Average return on spend (“cash back”) rate: 11%

7. Wendy’s

Wendy’s gives app users 10 points for every dollar they spend, and users can start redeeming points for free food once there are 200 points in their account, with the most “expensive” rewards costing 800 points.

Wendy’s also features a number of coupons and special offers in the app every day, and unlike a number of other rewards programs, Wendy’s allows users to use one coupon or offer and one reward redemption in the same order.

• Rewards program overview:
  • Points earned per dollar spent: 10 ($0.10 value per point)
  • Average reward points needed to earn a free item: 350.0 ($35.00 worth of points)
  • Average menu item cost of items evaluated: $3.46
  • Average return on spend (“cash back”) rate: 10%

8. Jersey Mike’s

Rewards at Jersey Mike’s are earned a little differently than at other chains, as they are not based on how much you spend but instead are awarded based on what you order.

Users earn 3 points on a kid’s meal, 4 points for a breakfast entree or mini-sized sub sandwich, 6 points for a regular-sized sub, bowl, or wrap, and 12 points for a giant-sized sub. Based on menu costs for those items, we calculated that customers need to spend around $1.50 per point at Jersey Mike’s, meaning they need to spend a little over $70 to get enough points for a mini-sub and around $105 to earn a regular size sandwich.

• Rewards program overview:
  • Points earned per dollar spent: 0.68 ($1.47 value per point)
  • Average reward points needed to earn a free item: 60.0 ($88.20 worth of points)
  • Average menu item cost of items evaluated: $7.45
  • Average return on spend (“cash back”) rate: 8%

9. Burger King

The Burger King app awards users 10 points for every dollar spent. Users can earn a free “value” entree such as a Chicken Jr. sandwich after spending just $25, while Burger King’s signature Whopper sandwich can be had for free after spending $75.

The app also features a variety of coupons and exclusive offers. Notable bonuses unique to the Burger King rewards program include the ability to upsize an order of fries for free every day and giving double rewards points during a user’s birthday month.

• Rewards program overview:
  • Points earned per dollar spent: 10 ($0.10 value per point)
  • Average reward points needed to earn a free item: 516.7 ($51.67 worth of points)
  • Average menu item cost of items evaluated: $3.72
  • Average return on spend (“cash back”) rate: 7%

10. Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A gives 10 points for every dollar spent in the app and has a fairly consistent valuation when it comes to earning food using reward points. Whether getting a signature entree, a value entree, or a side, users will have to spend around 16 times what that item is worth on menu-price items to earn enough points for redemption.

• Rewards program overview:
  • Points earned per dollar spent: 10 ($0.10 value per point)
  • Average reward points needed to earn a free item: 600.0 ($60.00 worth of points)
  • Average menu item cost of items evaluated: $3.78
  • Average return on spend (“cash back”) rate: 6%

11. Dunkin’

Dunkin’ gives users 10 points per $1 spent in their app, and customers can earn a free donut after spending $25. Earning a more substantial reward such as a breakfast sandwich requires $80 worth of menu-price purchases.

Dunkin’ also features coupons and exclusive offers in the app regularly.

• Rewards program overview:
  • Points earned per dollar spent: 10 ($0.10 value per point)
  • Average reward points needed to earn a free item: 550.0 ($55.00 worth of points)
  • Average menu item cost of items evaluated: $3.42
  • Average return on spend (“cash back”) rate: 6%

12. Chipotle

Chipotle has one of the least rewarding programs of any app we looked at, giving just 5% “cash back” on average to users in the form of rewards points. That means that earning enough points to earn a free entree item of your choice (which costs $9.10 at the regular menu price) requires users to spend over $160 at the chain.

• Rewards program overview:
  • Points earned per dollar spent: 10 ($0.10 value per point)
  • Average reward points needed to earn a free item: 925.0 ($92.50 worth of points)
  • Average menu item cost of items evaluated: $4.98
  • Average return on spend (“cash back”) rate: 5%

13. Starbucks

Starbucks features a 1:1 dollar to reward-point system, with items such as brewed coffee and tea or bakery items costing 100 points to redeem, while things like sandwiches require 300 points.

On a base level that makes the Starbucks rewards program the least rewarding of any chain, but it is worth noting that Starbucks frequently gives app users exclusive coupons and offers that provide big savings, including times when they double or triple the number of reward points users earn.

• Rewards program overview:
  • Points earned per dollar spent: 1 ($1.00 value per point)
  • Average reward points needed to earn a free item: 200.0 ($200.00 worth of points)
  • Average menu item cost of items evaluated: $4.82
  • Average return on spend (“cash back”) rate: 2%

Data note: The above breakdowns and calculations are based on the base-level rewards users can earn according to each chain’s official rewards program website. Depending on the chain, customers may be able to earn additional points or multiply their rewards earnings thanks to special promotions or by unlocking different rewards tiers. For example, Starbucks frequently offers users limited-time opportunities to double or triple their rewards points on purchases, and Taco Bell customers can unlock a higher rewards tier that gives them 11 points per dollar spent instead of 10.

Get rewarded when ordering your favorite fast food

• Get more rewards when you make in-app purchases. While you’re shopping for deals through your favorite fast food chain’s loyalty program, make sure to add the right credit card as your preferred payment method. Some of the best credit cards for dining out offer cash-back options and 3X-5X points on qualifying purchases.
• Explore a delivery side hustle to increase your dining budget. If you frequently eat fast food, read our ultimate guide to Uber Eats to see how you can make extra cash delivering orders for others.
• Plan your spending. Ordering fast food can get expensive if done frequently enough. Luckily, there are popular budgeting apps to help you track your spending so you can dedicate a pre-set amount each month and avoid limiting yourself entirely.

Methodology

FinanceBuzz pulled the official rewards program details from the official websites of each chain to determine how much points “cost” at each (i.e. if a chain rewards customers with 10 points per dollar spent on food, $1/10=$0.10 per point). Calculations were based on the base-level terms of each reward program, and do not account for special promotions that may offer customers the opportunity to multiply the amount of points they earn or earn large one-time point bonuses.

We then found how many points users would need to redeem for a “signature” entree item (such as Big Mac), a “value” entree item (such as a McChicken), and a side item such as fries and compared the value of those points to the menu price of each menu item. Using that data we were able to determine the average return on spend or “cash back percentage” customers earn in the form of rewards points at each restaurant.

Menu prices and coupons were found via the official app of each chain and were accurate as of August 2024.

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