Restaurant reward programs have become a requirement to keep loyal fans from jumping ship to fast food competitors. To keep their user base (or potentially grow), fast food restaurants quickly jumped into the app space to offer rewards for purchasing the food offered on their menus. While this used to be an angle or advantage for the early adopters, a majority of the major fast food chains have mobile apps that allow you to track transactions, redeemable points, and exclusive rewards.
Restaurant Loyalty Apps
Restaurant reward apps are taking over the Apple and Android with high download counts. According to the Google Play Store, check out how many downloads some of these top fast food chain mobile apps have gathered:
- McDonalds: +10 Million Downloads
- Starbucks: +10 Million Downloads
- Subway: +10 Million Downloads
- Burger King: +10 Million Downloads
- Taco Bell: +10 Million Downloads
All of this restaurant app talk is making us hungry. So, we put together a list of our 6 favorite restaurant rewards programs that you should join if you don’t have them downloaded already.
Starbucks Rewards
The Starbucks rewards app promotes a variety of features that make it easy for you to get your daily cup of Joe. The mobile app offers the ability to order and pay using a credit card stored in the app, collect Stars and rewards to use at participating locations, locate Starbucks near you, and much more.
Some other unique features offered in the app include the ability to send digital gift cards to friends and family and to customize your pickup order. For users that choose to order on the app, they can even skip the line and directly pick up their order without waiting in the often lengthy line.
Starbucks App
Some positive reviews on the app stores for the Starbucks app include:
- The app is user-friendly and intuitive in its design/layout.
- The app displays nutritional information about the menu items which is helpful to know.
- You can save your customized menu items and then quickly re-order those.
- Rewards are quick and easy to earn.
Some negative reviews on the app stores for the Starbucks app include:
- If an order is unavailable or unable to be made, users are not notified prior to going to the restaurant.
- The store locator feature of the app runs slowly.
- Select store hours aren’t always reflected accurately.
Download on Android | Download on Apple
Red Robin Rewards (Red Robin Ordering)
The Red Robin rewards app releases a handful of options when it comes to the features of the app. They highlight faster ordering, exclusive rewards, customizing and saving rewards, and the option to pickup or deliver at your local restaurant.
If you are looking for unique features that most other restaurant reward programs offer, the Red Robin App offers opportunities such as a free birthday burger during your birthday month, every 10th burger or entrée free, and military & teacher rewards. As an added reward for new users, you can take $20 off your 6th visit when you visit 5 times in the first 5 weeks.
Red Robin App
Some positive reviews on the app stores for the Red Robin app include:
- The ordering process is easy, and the food is often times correct based on what you ordered.
- The app is very easy to navigate, and the ordering process is simple.
- Reward options are shown in the cart, making it easy to select.
Some negative reviews on the app stores for the Red Robin app include:
- The app doesn’t update if menu items are unavailable.
- The app doesn’t detect locations every time, even if you are physically at the location.
- There are frequent app crashes.
Download on Android | Download on Apple
Chick-fil-A Rewards (Chick-fil-A One®)
The Chick-fil-A mobile app allows you to earn points with every order. In the app, you can order ahead at your local restaurant, customize menu items to how you like them, and save your orders for future pickup or delivery.
The app lists popular features such as the ability to use your points to redeem available rewards of your choice, including: free food rewards, birthday rewards, meal donations and more. You can also share rewards with friends if you are feeling generous. As an added feature, you can occasionally receive free menu item redemptions at your local Chick-fil-A if they are offering.
Chick-fil-A App
Some positive reviews on the app stores for the Chick-fil-A app include:
- The app is easy to use, and the customization feature is super easy to work with.
- The orders are typically right when you pick them up.
- Generous reward system.
Some negative reviews on the app stores for the Chick-fil-A app include:
- The app often times requires you to log in again and sometimes provides an error when signing in.
- The app will say that items are not available, even when they are.
- When redeeming rewards, occasionally they do not save to your phone.
Download on Android | Download on Apple
Chipotle Rewards
The Chipotle mobile app offers 10 points for every $1 spent when you scan your rewards app during checkout. You are able to redeem your loyalty points for food, drinks, and even merchandise from Chipotle. You are able to use the app for pickup or delivery food options.
The app boasts a reward for your birthday, exclusive early access to new menu items, and faster food pickup than waiting in line. You can save your favorite menu items for quick re-ordering and customize your order to your liking. Lastly, if you are ordering with friends, you can start a group order so that everyone can choose what they like.
Chipotle App
Some positive reviews on the app stores for the Chipotle app include:
- The app is easy to navigate when placing an order.
- The app displays a calorie counter for your order.
- The app makes it easy to scan for rewards and redeem rewards.
Some negative reviews on the app stores for the Chipotle app include:
- The app limits you on the number of toppings you can add with your order.
- The app requires location services before you can use.
- The app will log you out randomly.
Download on Android | Download on Apple
Dunkin’ Rewards
The Dunkin’ mobile app runs a similar reward system to many fast food chains. They advertise that members earn 10 points per $1 spent on qualifying purchases in-store or when they order ahead in the app. The app also states that members who visit 12 times in a calendar month unlock Boosted Status to earn 12 points per $1 spent for the next 3 months.
Alongside the features mentioned above, the app also rewards the member with a gift on their birthday and displays special offers for their app users. You can customize your order and choose delivery or pickup.
Dunkin’ App
Some positive reviews on the app stores for the Dunkin’ app include:
- The app is minimal and easy to navigate.
- You can save your favorite drinks for quick re-order.
- Very convenient for mobile walk-in orders.
Some negative reviews on the app stores for the Dunkin’ app include:
- The drink options are not very customizable.
- The new rewards program is not very rewarding.
- Card and payment functionality does not work consistently.
Download on Android | Download on Apple
Chilis Rewards (MY CHILI’S REWARDS®)
The Chili’s rewards program takes on a unique approach to the standard fast food loyalty programs. To kick things off, you can take advantage of free chips & salsa (or a non-alcoholic beverage) on every visit. Chili’s also lists personalized rewards for their users, including; free kids meals, free delivery, free appetizers, free desserts and more!
The app showcases a handful of additional features that help them compete against other restaurant apps in the space. Some of these features include free dessert on your birthday, 1-Tap reorder of your favorites, and curbside pickup.
Chilis App
Some positive reviews on the app stores for the Chilis app include:
- There are a lot of customization options for ordering food.
- The restaurants coordinate well with the app and have the food ready when you pick up.
Some negative reviews on the app stores for the Chilis app include:
- The design of the app is not as intuitive as other food apps.
- The location portion of the app isn’t very accurate.
