How to Get Free Food at McDonald's

McDonald's is the most profitable fast food chain in the world, and as such, they provide dozens of ways to get free food.

Since the food costs them so little to produce, they care more about winning over customers and staying relevant. 

Use Points from the McDonald's App 

The first and most important thing you can start doing is ordering through the app. You can order your food before arriving at the restaurant to pick it up immediately, and more importantly, you will collect loyalty points and get access to the best deals. 

• The McDonald's app is free to download and does not require verification with a phone number. 
• As you order through the app, you can automatically collect points, which you can redeem for free food.

• The McDonald's loyalty program is very generous compared to most; you earn approx. $1.00 per $20.00 spent. 

You can also find great deals on the app, as McDonald's are so desperate to get customers ordering directly from their phones. 

Create Endless New McDonald's Accounts to Enjoy Free Hamburgers Whenever You Spend $1 

This second tip uses the app again, however it won't be for everyone as it prevents you collecting points, but it will allow you to get free hamburgers whenever you go to McDonald's and spend $1. 

• When you open a new account in the McDonald's app, you get offered a free hamburger when you spend $1.
• As the McDonald's app does not require phone verification, you can create new accounts whenever you order, guaranteeing that you can always enjoy the free hamburger deal.
• There are no rewards for long-term users of the app, besides points, so there's really not much to lose and everything to gain (hamburgers). 

Need helping to get that first $1? Here's how to earn $5 online fast. 

Enjoy Free Food on Your Birthday (in the US & UK) 

McDonald's used to offer free food on your birthday in almost every country, but since covid, they've stripped it back to the United States and the United Kingdom. 

• Although only available in select countries, you can get free medium fries on your birthday, if you're registered with the app. Simply head to the Rewards section of the app on your special day. 
• McDonald's UK also offer a 'half-birthday deal', which allows you to get medium fries and a select sandwich for £2.49, exactly six months after your birthday each year. 

Get Gift Cards to Spend at McDonald's from Freecash 

If you like playing mobile games, you can get paid to test new mobile games on Freecash, which is one of the easiest ways to earn cash and gift cards online. This method allows you to get McDonald's as a treat without spending your primary income. 

1. To get started is easy, simply use Google or Facebook to login. It's completely free, but you need to be at least 16. 
2. You can choose the game you want to test, then simply complete the in-game tasks set by Freecash. 
3. Once you have enough funds to withdraw, head to the cashout page, and choose from one of 19 withdrawal options. 

The average user earns 29,76 per day, and review the platform highly (it currently has a 4.8 on Trustpilot from over 217680 reviews). 

Check for McDonald's Discount Codes in Your Region

For older audiences not using the app, McDonald's still provide lots of discount codes, which they advertise in local newspapers and magazines. They aren't as extreme as promos, normally just one-off deals like a cheap Big Mac, but it's worth looking for discount codes in your area before visiting McDonald's. 

• There are hundreds of websites dedicated to finding discount codes like this, and it only takes a few minutes to get the codes you want. 
• Your best bet is to search "McDonald's Codes [Your State/City]" rather than trying a nationwide search for codes. 

You can use these codes when ordering at the til, at a self-service kiosk, and even via the app. 

Keep an Eye on McDonald's Promotions in Your Region 

Taking a step up from mere discount counts, McDonald's also provide the most generous promos in fast food, and it's not close. 

• To check for ongoing promos in your area, go to the official McDonald's website for your region. 
• Also, check the McDonald's social media channels for your region.  

One of the best I've ever seen was a promo in the UAE, back in 2022, where five customers had a chance to win a year of free meals simply for entering a raffle. Imagine that, a whole year of free food?

Add Extra Toppings for Free 

If you order via the app or via a self-service kiosk, you can choose to add more of the vegetable or sauce ingredients already included in your meal for free (i.e. no free cheese or bacon). For instance, if you order a Big Mac, you can add extra lettuce for free.

• When adding items to your order, simply press the Customize button. 
• If an item you want to add has no price next to it, this is free to add. 

Obviously, it would be nice if you could get every extra topping for free, but you can at least double up on veggies. 

Work at McDonald's to Enjoy Free Food on Your Shift 

Looking for work? If you work at McDonald's, which is apparently a better employer than the vast majority of fast food chains, you will probably get free food on your shift. 

• The majority of locations allow employees to get a free meal while working shifts longer than 6 hours. 
• There are a few locations that only provide a discount (franchise owner discretion). 

To get a job at McDonald's simply go to the careers page on your region's McDonald's website. 

Bonus McDonald's Tip: Always Customize Your Order

A final tip for anyone looking to get McDonald's today: Never buy default menu items, always customize. 

• By customizing any part of your order, perhaps simply getting a burger without pickles, they have to make your order fresh. 
• Customization is free, unless you choose to add premium items like bacon. 

This will guarantee that, free or not, your McDonald's food tastes the best it possibly can.