Scan your card or order through the MyMcDonalds app to collect points which you can redeem for free food!
If you’re ordering McDonald’s without scanning the app, then you’re missing out on free burgers, fries and McFlurries! Keep reading to find out how the MyMcDonald’s Rewards scheme works and whether it’s actually worth collecting points.
What is MyMcDonald’s Rewards?
MyMcDonald’s Rewards is McDonald’s UK’s loyalty scheme that lets customers earn points every time they spend money through the McDonald’s app.
The scheme is completely free to join and rewards members with points that can be redeemed for free food and drinks.
Unlike Pret Perks and Costa Club which use Stars and Beans, McDonald’s uses a traditional points system. The more you spend, the more points you’ll earn.
How can I join?
Joining MyMcDonald’s Rewards is easy. Simply download the McDonald’s app, create an account and opt into the rewards programme.
Once you’ve done that, you’ll automatically start earning points whenever you order through the app or scan your app code before ordering at the kiosk, drive-thru or counter. The app is available on both Apple and Android devices.
How do I earn points?
The earning rate is refreshingly simple.
You earn 1 point for every penny you spend on eligible menu items. That means:
- £1 spent = 100 points
- £10 spent = 1,000 points
- £20 spent = 2,000 points
Points can be earned on orders placed through the app, at the kiosk, at the counter and in the drive-thru provided you’ve scanned your app code first.
You can also occasionally earn bonus points through promotions and app-exclusive offers. Currently new members can earn a bonus 1000 points on their first purchase.
What rewards can I get?
McDonald’s uses a tiered rewards system.
The latest reward structure starts at 2,000 points and increases depending on the item you’d like to claim.
Examples of rewards include:
2,000 Points (£20 spend)
- Small Fries
- Hash Brown
- Mini McFlurry
- Regular Tea
- Americano
- Soft Drink
3,500 Points (£35 spend)
- Cheeseburger
- Mayo Chicken
- Medium Fries
- Apple Pie
- Regular McFlurry
- 4 Chicken McNuggets
Higher Reward Tiers
As you save more points, you’ll unlock larger rewards including Big Macs, McCrispys, McPlant burgers, McMuffins and larger Chicken McNuggets portions.
The exact rewards available can change from time to time.
How much are the points worth?
Let’s do some McMaths.
Since you earn 1 point per penny spent, you’ll need to spend £20 to unlock the first reward tier of 2,000 points.
If you redeem those points for a Small Fries or Mini McFlurry worth roughly £2, you’re effectively getting around 10% of your spending back.
That’s actually pretty strong for a free loyalty scheme.
Let’s use a more realistic example.
Say you spend £8 on a meal each visit.
After three visits you’ve spent £24 and earned 2,400 points, enough to unlock a free reward from the first tier.
Compared to coffee shop loyalty schemes, McDonald’s rewards accumulate surprisingly quickly because you’re earning points on the entire order value rather than individual items.
Do points expire?
Yes.
This is probably the biggest downside of the scheme.
Points now expire six full calendar months after they’re earned, so if you’re saving up for a large reward you’ll need to make sure you’re actually using your points regularly.
For regular McDonald’s customers this shouldn’t be a problem. For occasional visitors, it could mean points disappearing before you’ve built up enough for a bigger reward. I’ve personally lost thousands of MyMcDonald’s points over the years as I always forget to scan the app and actually use my rewards… reward fail!
Can I redeem rewards and still earn points?
Yes.
One of the nice features of the programme is that you can redeem a reward and still earn points on the rest of your purchase in the same transaction.
So your free fries don’t stop you collecting points towards your next reward.
Any extra benefits?
Absolutely.
The rewards programme is only part of the value of the McDonald’s app.
Members regularly receive:
- Weekly app-exclusive offers
- Discounted menu items
- Bonus point promotions
- Special event offers
- Monopoly promotions when available
In many cases, the app offers are worth more than the points themselves.
A heavily discounted burger or nuggets deal can save more money than you’d earn through rewards alone.
MyMcDonald’s Rewards vs Burger King Rewards
McDonald’s isn’t the only fast food chain offering rewards.
Burger King’s app also includes a loyalty programme where customers can collect points on purchases and redeem them for free food, alongside a steady stream of app-exclusive deals and offers.
The two schemes work in a fairly similar way, but there are some important differences.
| Feature | MyMcDonald’s Rewards | Burger King Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Reward currency | Points | Crowns |
| Earn rate | 1 point per penny spent | Points per £1 spent |
| Rewards | Food and drinks | Food and drinks |
| App-exclusive offers | Yes | Yes |
| Points expiry | 6 months | Varies by reward programme terms |
| Best for | Frequent McDonald’s customers | Frequent Burger King customers |
For most people, McDonald’s has one major advantage: locations.
There are significantly more McDonald’s restaurants across the UK than Burger King restaurants, making it easier to consistently earn and redeem rewards. If you’re only visiting Burger King occasionally, it can take much longer to build up meaningful rewards.
That said, Burger King’s app is well known for offering some very strong discounts and meal deals. Many customers find the app offers themselves provide more value than the points they collect.
Is MyMcDonald’s Rewards worth it?
If you’re already eating at McDonald’s then yes, absolutely.
The scheme is free, easy to use and the rewards build up relatively quickly.
Unlike some loyalty schemes where you spend hundreds of pounds before seeing any value, most customers can unlock their first reward after just a handful of visits.
The app-exclusive offers can also provide excellent value alongside the points system.
The main downside is the six-month expiry period, which means occasional customers might struggle to accumulate enough points for the bigger rewards.
But if you’re visiting McDonald’s even semi-regularly, there’s very little reason not to join. Free fries are still free fries.
FAQs
Let’s answer a few frequently asked questions about MyMcDonald’s Rewards…
How many points do I earn?
You earn 1 point for every penny spent on eligible menu items. £1 spent equals 100 points.
What’s the minimum reward?
The first reward tier starts at 2,000 points. This is the equivalent of £20 spend. Or with the current sign up offer of 1000 bonus points, you only need to spend £10 to unlock your first reward.
Can I earn points in the drive-thru?
Yes. Simply scan or provide your app code before completing your order.
Do points expire?
Yes. Points expire six months after they’re earned.
Can I use rewards and still earn points?
Yes. Redeeming a reward doesn’t stop you earning points on the rest of your order.
Is MyMcDonald’s Rewards worth it?
Definitely. It’s one of the stronger free loyalty schemes available and rewards build up much faster than many coffee shop programmes.
Find out more about MyMcDonald’s Rewards and join through the McDonald’s app.