While it might surprise you, there are plenty of companies that give away free food. This is a common marketing tactic used to attract more customers. And if you leverage tactics like loyalty programs, birthday freebies, giveaways, and BOGO deals, you can enjoy free food and drinks throughout the year to keep your stomach and wallet happy.
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20 Best Companies That Give Away Free Food
[table id=11 /]1. PINCHme
One of the easiest ways to get free food as well as other fun freebies is to sign up with PINCHme.
This “product discovery platform” sends out free samples to its members in exchange for their feedback. So, you can get exciting boxes full of free snacks, drinks, candy, beauty products, and other fun surprises sent right to your door.
The reason companies send free food and products is because they use consumer feedback to improve. And PINCHme adds new products and offers every day, so you have the chance to win a box of free stuff quite regularly.
2. IHOP
IHOP, or the International House of Pancakes, has an awesome rewards program that pays you with 1 PanCoin for every $5 you spend at IHOP. You can then redeem 3 PanCoins for a short stack of 3 free pancakes. Plus, you get free birthday pancakes from IHOP too and can use your PanCoins for other treats and food items as well.
3. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a leading rewards website that anyone looking for free food and restaurant deals needs to try.
For starters, Swagbucks lets you make money by completing a range of online tasks. You can then redeem your earnings for cash or gift cards to companies like Starbucks, Uber Eats, Subway, Walmart, and plenty of food and grocery partners.
On top of that, Swagbucks also pays you cash back when you shop at partner restaurants through its Dining Deals program. This is a fun way to check out different eateries in your neighborhood, all while getting paid to do so!
4. Starbucks
By joining Starbucks Rewards, you earn Stars everytime you shop at this coffee giant. Stars accumulate in your account and are redeemable for free food, coffee, drink upgrades, and even merch or items like Starbucks tumblers.
On top of that, some Starbucks locations provide free tea and coffee refills if you bring your own mug. And you also get a birthday freebie which is pretty sweet.
5. InboxDollars
Like Swagbucks, another super simple way to snag free food deals is to become a member with InboxDollars.
This site also pays you for completing online tasks and has gift card rewards to companies like McDonald’s, Starbucks, Dunkin, and many fast food chains. But the fun doesn’t stop there.
You can also explore a huge catalog of coupons to save money on dining and groceries. And InboxDollars will even pay you with bonus cash for buying certain products and then taking a quick photo of your receipt.
New members even get a $5 welcome bonus right now, so it’s the perfect time to try out InboxDollars!
Extra Reading – The Best Sign Up Bonuses For Free Cash.
6. Healthy Snack Boxes
How does a steady stream of healthy snacks, drinks, and essentials sound?
Pretty sweet, right? Well, this is exactly what you can get when you sign up for Healthy Snack Boxes.
Like PINCHme, this is another fun sampling site. Except Healthy Snack Boxes specializes in sending people healthy foods like granola, tea, protein supplements, energy bites, fruit chips, and other tasty items.
You have to “win” a box giveaway, so you won’t get one every day. But you can increase the odds you win a box by following Healthy Snack Boxes on social media.
7. McDonald's
As the largest fast food chain in the world, it’s no surprise that McDonald’s offers free food to people through its rewards program. You earn points for every $1 you spend and can redeem points for various menu items and upgrades.
Pro Tip: downloading the McDonald’s mobile app often comes with bonuses too. In my area, I got $4 off my first mobile order, which covered most of my meal.
8. Chuck E. Cheese's
Chuck E. Cheese's rewards program is a program that not a lot of people know about. But it has some pretty nifty perks. Right off the bat, you get a free gift after your first purchase and free birthday and half-birthday rewards. Plus, you earn 1 point for every $1 you spend and can redeem points for free food and other prizes.
9. Daily Goodie Box
Daily Goodie Box is another company like PINCHme and Healthy Snack Boxes that’s looking for product testers to try out free stuff.
Your goodie box can contain a wide range of samples, including free food, beverages, chocolate, coffee, tea, and more. And Daily Goodie Box works with over 500 brands, so there’s always something new and interesting to sample.
Signing up is also free, and you claim the boxes that interest you most. If you get lucky, Daily Goodie Box sends you a box, completely for free. And if you stack this company with the other free food offers on this list, you should be able to enjoy quite a few freebies per year.
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10. Einstein Bros. Bagels
Einstein Bros. Bagels' Shmear Society rewards you with a free bagel and schmear when you sign up for its program. You also earn points as you spend and can redeem those points for free food and beverages. And the company gives you an egg sandwich as a birthday reward.
11. Godiva
This one is for the chocolate lovers! When you register with Godiva's rewards club you get 15% off your first purchase. And the company has given out free pieces of chocolate to members at participating stores in the past.
12. Arby's
Arby's has a pretty unique free food rewards program because it mixes things up quite often. For example, in April 2024, it’s giving away one free sandwich per week with your regular purchase.
That’s some serious savings if you get four meals over April!
13. Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme's rewards program gives you a free donut when you sign up, which isn’t too shabby. But you also earn credits as you shop which are redeemable for even more free doughnuts.
14. Dunkin’
American runs on Dunkin’, and it’s no surprise when you consider its low prices and decent rewards program. For starters, you get a free medium drink once you sign up. You then earn 10 points for every $1 you spend and can redeem those points for free food and drink items.
Plus, Dunkin’ gives out triple the points on your birthday. And you earn even more points if you’re a regular Dunkin’ customer.
15. Burger King
Burger King's Royal Perks program pays you with 10 “Crowns” for every $1 you spend. You can then cash in those Crowns for free food and drinks.
It takes 250 Crowns to redeem most of the smaller burger items, which means you get a free burger every $25 you spend. Members also earn 2 times the Crowns on their birthday.
16. Auntie Anne's
Auntie Anne's Pretzel Perks program pays you 10 points for every $1 you spend. You then cash in 250 points to get a free pretzel. A free pretzel on your birthday is also another perk you can take advantage of.
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17. Panera Bread
The MyPanera program is another easy way to get free food and perks. New members get free pastry and free delivery as they sign up. From there, you get a birthday reward and exclusive member perks.
There’s also the Unlimited Sip club which grants unlimited free delivery and free drinks. This membership costs $14.99 per month plus tax however, so it’s not on the cheaper side.
18. California Pizza Kitchen
Sign up for CPK Rewards and get a free starter as a new member. You also get a free dessert on your birthday and 1 point for every $1 you spend. Cashing in 75 points gets you a free $5 off.
19. Jimmy John's
Subs are one of my favorite foods. If you’re similar, then you need to sign up for Jimmy John’s Freaky Fast Rewards program. You get a free sandwich after you place your first order using the program. Plus you get some birthday freebies and special coupons, deals, and offers.
20. Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A One members earn points for every dollar they spend. Specifically, you earn 10 points for every $1 and can redeem those points for free food and drink items.
You also get a birthday reward which is a nice touch. And this rewards program has tiers you unlock the more you spend, which grant even more perks and exclusive deals.
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Other Tips For Getting Free Food
If you're looking to expand your options for snagging free food, here are some suggestions that you can use the next time you’re getting a bit hungry.
- Join Loyalty Programs: As you can probably tell, loyalty and rewards programs are the key to getting free meals. So, always check to see if the establishment you’re visiting has offers.
- Use App Offers: Restaurant and fast-food chain apps frequently have exclusive offers for app users, including free items on your first order after joining or on special occasions like your birthday.
- Sign Up For Newsletters: By subscribing to a company's email list, you can stay in the know for exclusive deals, and some will even send you a voucher for a free item just for signing up.
- Attend Grand Openings: New establishments usually have grand opening events where they give out free food samples or meals to attract customers. A Chinese buffet in my area called Mandarin did this recently and gave everyone free lunch!
- Partake In Food Samples: Supermarkets and food expos are hotspots for free samples. Costco is another amazing way to get some free samples before checking out the affordable food court.
- Look For Delivery Deals: Companies like Uber Eats and DoorDash often send out coupons, BOGO deals, or other offers that are quite affordable, even when factoring in delivery fees and tips.
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Final Thoughts
There's no denying that food prices have gone up. This is true both at the grocery store, restaurants, or your favorite fast food chain. But, you don't have to pay full price; or anything at all, if you know how to get free food.
Our team will also be updating this article with current meal deals and other ways to save more money. So, let us know if there's a deal we should add to the list to help others!
Saving money at Starbucks? I don’t think so 🤔 Their prices keep going up! Can’t afford to be in the rewards program because everything is so expensive!