Guide to Saving Money at McDonald’s

Attention McDonald’s fans: If you are ordering straight off the McDonald’s menu—and paying with cash or an unlinked credit/debit card, you are paying more than necessary. You can make your money go further at McDonald’s—and earn cash back on your purchases—with the help of a few useful shopping apps.

Tip #1: Use the McDonald’s App

On May 29, 2024, Joe Erlinger, President of McDonald’s USA, described the McDonald’s app as “the greatest way to unlock all the value we offer.” He’s right. There are many valuable deals in the McDonald’s app that help you get more food for less money.

Now, not everyone who downloads the app sees the same deals and the same pricing. But in general, you are likely to find long-running “buy one get one free” deals, a la “but one breakfast sandwich, get one free.” You might also see 20% off any purchase of, say, $12 or more. Or 40% off a particular burger. And free fries or hash browns with a minimum purchase of $2. Plus, free medium fries (on Fridays only) with a minimum purchase of $1. And so forth.

Check the McDonald’s app before you order off the regular menu; using the app you should be
able to save money every time.

Tip #2: McDonald’s Can be a Great Place to Buy Tea, Soft Drinks

The app also makes McDonald’s one of the most economical places to buy soft drinks or tea. It’s common to find a “$1 any size soft drink, sweet tea, or unsweetened tea” in the app, a deal that is typically good 4x a day.

You might find a better deal on individual fountain drinks at select convenience stores or a Big Box store like Costco, but likely nowhere else.

Tip #3: McDonald’s Rewards Points

Another benefit of using the McDonald’s app is the ability to accumulate McDonald’s reward points. By creating an account in the app, you can earn rewards points (100 points for each dollar spent) that can be redeemed for free food and drinks.

Better yet, you can unlock a new double points offer each week (double points on any breakfast purchase, for one), which can help you accumulate points faster.

One can argue that McDonald’s Rewards Points aren’t especially valuable. As of this writing, it takes 1,500 points ($15 in spending) to get a free cheeseburger or vanilla cone.

And it takes 3,000 points ($30 in spending) to get a free medium fries or large iced coffee. Or 6,000 points ($60 in spending) to get a free Quarter Pounder® with Cheese or Big Mac®. But if you have the chance to accumulate points, you may as well accumulate them.

Tip #4: Your McDonald’s Receipt is Worth Money

If you make a purchase at McDonald’s, keep your paper receipt. Every McDonald’s receipt—at least every receipt we have seen—includes a “buy 1 get 1 free” survey offer. Simply go online to complete the customer service survey highlighted on your receipt; then record your survey confirmation number on the receipt and use the receipt to redeem the buy 1 get 1 free offer on your next visit to McDonald’s.

You can also submit your McDonald’s receipts to a variety of receipt scanning apps, including Fetch, CoinOut, Receipt Pal and Receipt Jar, among others.

Tip #5: McDonald’s and Upside, Other Shopping Apps

Likewise, there are other shopping apps and dining rewards programs that may allow you to use coupons, or earn cash back or gift cards when you spend at McDonald’s.

For example, Upside (which pays you cash back when you buy gasoline, eat at restaurants and shop at convenience stores) has been known to feature select McDonald’s restaurants.

We’ve also seen McDonald’s locations featured in Marriott’s dining rewards program, which allows you to earn Marriott hotel points when you eat at restaurants.

And you can find McDonald’s coupons in the Coupon Cabin and BeFrugal apps.

Last but not least, you can purchase McDonald’s gift cards at a discount in popular gift cards apps, if you want to go that route.