How to get free McDonald’s: offers, rewards and hacks

Being on a budget doesn’t mean you need to deprive yourself of nice things. That’s why we’re here to pass on all our money-saving wisdom when it comes to getting cheap and free McDonald’s.

This guide has everything you need to know about how to save on your next Maccies, with 15 different tricks. We’ve split them into promotional offers and ‘cheat the system’ hacks.

We’ve even got an exclusive £5 cashback offer for new TopCashback members spending £10 or more with Just Eat.

McDonald’s menu offers and promotions

There are lots of different McDonald’s deals and special promotions for fans of the Golden Arches, which means it’s easy to get free and discounted food and drink. Here are our favourites.

#1 Earn MyMcDonald’s Rewards through the McDonald’s app

With MyMcDonald’s Rewards, you’ll earn 1 point for every 1p you spend at McDonald’s. These points can be put towards freebies ranging from a Mini McFlurry to a Double Quarter Pounder with cheese.

Rewards are unlocked at 1,500, 2,500, 4,000 and 5,500 points, with bigger and better items on offer when you have more points saved up. Here are a few examples of the freebies you could earn (correct at the time of writing):

 1,500 points:
Mini McFlurry, regular soft drink, regular McCafé drink
= £1.29–£1.99 in value

 2,500 points:
Double Cheeseburger, Mayo Chicken, Veg Deluxe, medium fries
= £1.49–£4.59 in value

4,000 points:
Big Mac, McPlant, McChicken Sandwich, six McNuggets
= £4.59–£5.09 in value

 5,500 points:
Double Quarter Pounder with cheese, McCrispy, nine McNuggets
= £5.19–£6.29 in value

You can also earn bonus points on selected McDonald’s menu items, which means you’ll be able to enjoy freebies like a Cheesy Bacon Flatbread, Double Cheeseburger, or six Chicken McNuggets even quicker. Customers ordering a McDonald’s delivery on the app can unlock delivery-only offers like a £6.99 McDelivery Meal Deal.

Keep an eye out for exclusive offers in your app on McDonald’s Mondays, where you could get deals such as a £1.39 McChicken Sandwich.

To join, download the McDonald’s app from the App Store or Google Play Store and set up your account. You can then earn reward points by ordering straight from your mobile or scanning the QR code in your app when you order at the kiosk.

#2 Take part in McDonald’s promotions throughout the year

McDonald’s are famous for their competitions where customers can win free food and cash prizes.

They often announce them at the last minute, which means, in theory, there could be a new McDonald’s game drop at any time. With that in mind, it’s worth keeping an eye out for updates. Here are a few of the most popular games from recent years.

Loved all over the world since the 1980s, McDonald’s Monopoly offers customers the chance to win huge prizes when they collect stickers on their food and drink items during the game.

With Instant Win and Collect to Win prizes, there are loads of chances to unlock fantastic rewards. The latest McDonald’s Monopoly game started on 10th September 2025.

What can you win? 2025 prizes ranged from free fries to £100,000 cash

 When was the last game? 10th September 2025, until 21st October 2025

 McDonald’s Winning Sips

New to McDonald’s in 2023, we’ve seen this fun peel-to-win game twice, although there wasn’t a 2025 game. During Winning Sips, customers can buy a qualifying drink and scan the code on their sticker for the chance to earn Instant Win and App Game prizes.

What can you win? 2024 prizes went from hash browns up to £10,000 cash

When was the last game? 13th March 2024, until 16th April 2024

 McDonald’s Surprize Fries

The newest and perhaps the most short-lived McDonald’s peel-to-win game, Surprize Fries ran only once, but we’re hopeful we might one day see its return. During Surprize Fries, medium and large portions of McDonald’s French Fries came with stickers that corresponded to Instant Win and App Game prizes.

What can you win? 2024 prizes ranged from a Big Mac to £200 cash

When was the last game? 29th May 2024, until 2nd July 2024

#3 Get the Wrap of the Day for £1.99

Each day at McDonald’s, you can get a discounted wrap for £1.99. The flavour of the wrap depends on the Wrap of the Day:

* As the name suggests, seasonal wraps vary throughout the year. The seasonal wrap at the time of writing is The Fajita Chicken One. Check the McDonald's app for the latest information.

#4 Order from the Saver Menu

McDonald’s offer some of their menu staples at bargain prices, so you can fill up without overspending.

When we last checked, you could buy a Double Cheeseburger for £2.49, or make it a meal and pay £4.99 total. When a Double Quarter Pounder With Cheese sets you back £6.29 (£8.09 as a meal), it could make sense to keep things simple and save your money.

That doesn’t mean you have to have a boring meal. We’ve got tips for jazzing up the Saver Menu later on.

Prices correct at the time of writing.

McDonald's discounts

Here are a few easy ways to get a discount on your next McDonald's order. Most of these discounts are available to all customers, except for the NHS deal.

#5 Get a £2.99 meal with the McDonald’s Food for Thoughts hack

Next time you’re buying food or drink at a McDonald’s restaurant, keep an eye out for a Food for Thoughts survey invite on your receipt, which will include a unique 12-digit code.

If you fill out their customer satisfaction survey on the Food for Thoughts website, you’ll receive a McDonald’s discount voucher.

This voucher allows you to buy either a Big Mac, Filet-o-Fish, McChicken Sandwich, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, McPlant, or six Chicken McNuggets, with either one medium fries or one side salad, for £2.99.

You can only complete one survey and earn one discount voucher per receipt, but you’ll get a unique Food for Thought survey participation code every time you order at McDonald’s. This means nothing is stopping you from completing the survey after every single trip to McDonald’s.

It also doesn’t matter how small your order is – you could buy some small fries for £1.29, fill out the survey, and earn your £2.99 voucher.

Make sure you fill out this quick survey within 60 days of your visit.

#6 Sign up to TopCashback and get a portion of your spend back

If you’re ordering your McDonald’s using an app like Just Eat, Uber Eats or Deliveroo, you can earn a portion of your spend back when you go through TopCashback.

Our cashback works like a handy post-purchase discount, without any discount codes. We’re currently offering new members £5 cashback on a £10+ spend at Just Eat when they sign up to TopCashback using the button below.

#7 Get a discount if you work for the NHS

There isn’t a McDonald’s Blue Light Card deal, but if you work for the NHS, you can unlock 20% off all main menu items.

You'll need a valid NHS email address to link to your MyMcDonald’s app. Once you’ve linked your account, you’ll be able to use this 20% off once a week, although it can’t be used alongside any other offers or promotions.

#8 Check your bus tickets for McDonald’s vouchers

Remember back in the day when your bus ticket would essentially pay for itself in McDonald’s discounts? Well, we’ve heard that some UK bus tickets still come with McDonald’s vouchers on the back. Have a look next time you travel, as you may find a £1.99 burger and fries coupon.

Cheat the system

While the following McDonald’s money-saving hacks aren’t official deals or promotional offers, they still offer sneaky ways to save. You might have to get a little inventive with these, but that’s all part of the fun, right?

#9 Order together to save money

McDonald’s offer a range of share boxes that can work out cheaper than buying multiple smaller portions. So, if you’re eating with someone else, it could work out better value for money to share.

For example, a sharebox of 20 chicken nuggets might cost you £7.19, whereas two boxes of nine chicken nuggets will cost you £11.58 (and you’ll only get 18 McNuggets!). That’s equivalent to 64p a nugget, whereas a 20-box works out to 36p per nugget.

Prices correct at the time of writing.

#10 Add free toppings and sauces

Looking for a quick and cheap way to spice up your Saver Menu items?

We’ve heard that each food purchase at McDonald’s comes with a set number of sauce packets that are free. You may have seen that you can add two free sauces to a nine-nugget box, but four to a 20-nugget box.

If you try to add extra packets of sauce on the order screen in-branch, you may be charged for each one (this will vary between branches). To save a few pennies, try your luck asking for extra sauces at the service desk – they’ll probably give you a few for free.

Many menu items come with free extra toppings if you request them using the Customise menu on the in-store screen. While you’ll often have to pay extra for things like cheese and bacon, you can usually add extra pickles, lettuce and sauce at no extra charge.

#11 Order your drink with no ice

There’s a rumour that if you ask for your McDonald’s drink without the ice, you’ll get more drink in your cup. We’re nothing if not scientists here at TopCashback, so we put this myth to the test.

And… It’s true! We ordered two medium Cokes, one with ice and one without. Both cups were filled to the same level, which meant the cup without ice contained more Coke.

In fact, when we measured the amount of liquid in the two cups, the one without ice (right) came in at just under 500ml, whereas the iced drink (left) was lower, at 475ml.

#12 Avoid paying extra for sugary drinks

Since the so-called Sugar Tax was introduced in 2018, sugary drinks like Coca-Cola Classic cost more than sugar-free alternatives like Diet Coke and Coke Zero.

If you don’t mind a diet fizzy drink, this is an easy way to save a few pence. Here’s how much you could save:

 Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, Sprite Zero, Fanta Orange, Oasis

Cost of a medium: £1.79
Cost of a large: £2.29

 Coca-Cola Classic

Cost of a medium: £1.92
Cost of a large: £2.45

Bear in mind that prices will vary between McDonald’s locations. Your drinks may cost more or less than the prices shown.

#13 Compare branches to get the cheapest price

Did you know McDonald’s food and drink prices can vary between restaurants? And we’re not just talking about some cities having pricier restaurants than others; there can be price differences between branches just a couple of miles apart.

Bear this in mind if you have a few McDonald’s within a reasonable distance. If you can get your McDonald’s cheaper without having to travel much further, it could be worth it.

#14 Go for a McDonald’s alternative

Get that iconic McDonald’s taste at home and save money by giving a supermarket alternative, like Iceland’s Snacksters range, a go.

This range includes chicken nuggets, chicken tenders, a Big Stack burger, and even a Smile in a Box meal that sounds remarkably like a Happy Meal…

To get that truly authentic, delicious fast-food taste, why not air fry your goodies at home?

If you’re a regular Iceland shopper, we’ve got a whole guide about how to save money using the Iceland Bonus Card. TopCashback members can also earn Iceland cashback, which means you can earn a portion of your grocery shop back as cashback.

McLovin’ those savings...

Whether you’re a lunchtime nibbler, a late-night snacker, or you’re all about those early McDonald’s breakfasts, there’s no reason to pay full price for your next meal.

With our McDonald’s hacks, saving money is easy. Remember to keep an eye out for future promotions like McDonald’s Monopoly, where not only can you win free food, but huge cash prizes too.

Don’t forget you can save on your next McDonald’s order from Just Eat when you take advantage of our sign-up bonus.