McDonald’s BOGO and Dollar Deals Explained: App Offers and Rewards

When people search for a McDonald’s “buy one get one” or “one dollar” offer, they are almost always looking for something in the McDonald’s app. There is no printable coupon sheet or universal promo code behind these deals; the offers live in the app’s Deals section, change often, and differ by account and by restaurant. Reporting also shows that a headline such as “BOGO for a dollar” on a coupon site usually describes a new-user freebie, in which a first purchase of a minimum amount unlocks a free menu item, and not a permanent two-for-one. This guide explains how these offers work, what MyMcDonald’s Rewards adds, and how delivery changes the math.

Quick answer

• Open the McDonald’s app and check Deals. Offers there rotate, and some are personalized.
• Third-party coverage describes a new-user offer, a free menu item with a minimum first purchase, that can take up to two days to appear after you register. Which item it is varies by source and by time.
• Recurring deal formats reported in the past include free fries or a drink with a small minimum purchase and buy-one-get-one-free sandwiches, but they change and may differ by location.
• MyMcDonald’s Rewards is described as earning 100 points per dollar spent, with the lowest reward tier at 1,500 points. The exact tiers reported by sources differ.
• Delivery through third-party services adds fees, and some points and deals may not apply there.

Ways to save at McDonald’s

Why a typed code is rarely the answer

McDonald’s is a franchise system, with most restaurants run by independent operators. National promotions are delivered through the app so that they work across participating restaurants, and the app generates a one-time code or QR code for each offer. When you see a “promo code” on a coupon site for the brand, it is typically an app-offer name or a summary of a current deal, not a code you type into a website. The practical advice is to ignore the code lists and spend your time in the app.

That also explains why offers differ. Two people can open the same app and see different deals, because some are personalized by history or location, and because individual restaurants decide whether to take part in a national promotion. If a deal you read about does not appear, it may simply not be available to you or at your restaurant.

Using app deals, step by step

1. Download the official app and create an account, which also enrolls you in the rewards program.
2. Pick your restaurant. Deals depend on the participating location.
3. Open the Deals section and read the terms of each offer, including minimum purchase and the days it applies.
4. Add the deal to your mobile order or generate the code to scan at the counter, drive-thru or kiosk.
5. Check the order summary before paying to confirm the discount was applied. If the discount is missing, ask the staff before you finish paying.
6. Note that a deal may be limited to one use per day or one redemption per account.

The new-user offer

Several deal sites describe a new-user offer in which downloading the app and joining the rewards program entitles you to a free menu item with a first purchase of a small minimum. Sources disagree on the item, naming a signature burger in some and nuggets or another sandwich in others, and one says the offer can take up to 48 hours to show up and is limited to one per new user. This variation is typical of promotions that change monthly. Treat the item as unknown until you see it in your own app.

How to avoid missing it

• Create the account with the email you actually use, since duplicate accounts defeat the “new user” rule.
• Check the Deals section a day later if the offer does not appear immediately.
• Read the end date and the redemption conditions.
• Use it at a participating restaurant and order through the app if required.

Recurring formats: BOGO and one-dollar deals

Reports of past app promotions include a free side with a minimal purchase, a discounted large side on certain days and buy-one-get-one-free sandwiches. A recent app store review suggests at least one weekly deal has ended and that discounts are capped, which is why you should not plan around a deal you read about on a blog. Offers rotate on a monthly or even weekly basis.

Using BOGO offers well means thinking about what you will do with two of an item. If you are dining alone, a BOGO is useful when you want to take the second item home or share it. If it is for a group, it is an effective way to lower the cost per item. Do not buy two just because the second is free if you would waste it.

MyMcDonald’s Rewards

Coverage describes a points program where members earn 100 points for each dollar spent in the app or when scanning a code at the restaurant. Redemption begins at a lower tier and rises to a top tier, usually a premium sandwich, a McFlurry, nuggets or a Happy Meal. The sources disagree on the top tier, giving different point values, so check the reward menu in the app. One source says points expire after a set period: on the first day of the month after six months from earning.

1. Always scan the rewards code or pay through the app so that each purchase earns points.
2. Check the reward list before ordering. If you are close to a tier, adding a small item can unlock a reward.
3. Redeem points before they expire. Set a monthly reminder.
4. Remember that some app deals and rewards cannot be combined in the same order. Read the conditions when you add them.

Delivery and the third-party question

Delivery is handled through partner platforms, and the fees are set by those platforms. Reporting suggests that the fees and menu markups can add several dollars to an order. The brand’s own app sometimes offers a lower or zero delivery fee on orders above a minimum, even when a partner makes the delivery, though this depends on your area. There is no evidence in the reviewed sources of a McDonald’s-specific discount coupon on those delivery platforms, so any promotional code you see for them should be treated as a platform promotion.

If you want to save, compare the final total of a delivery order with the cost of picking it up, and consider whether a mobile order for pickup gives you the same deal without delivery fees. Rewards and some deals may not apply to every delivery channel, so check before you place the order.

Game promotions and limited-time events

The brand periodically runs game promotions in which game pieces are scanned in the app to win food, points or other prizes, and a recent report notes that a board-style game returns in October. These can be fun and provide small wins, but they should not change what you buy. Read the official rules to see how to get pieces and the odds of winning.

Ordering smart: mobile order, kiosk, drive-thru

The channel you use changes both what deals you can redeem and how easy it is to get a mistake fixed. Mobile ordering in the app lets you add a deal before you arrive, check the total and see which items qualify. Kiosks inside restaurants usually accept the app code through a scanner. Drive-thru works too, but you need to show the code on your phone at the window, which is easier if you have it open before you reach the speaker.

Check the bag

Whatever channel you use, check the bag before you leave. If the free item is missing, it is much simpler to fix at the window than after you have driven away. Keep the receipt or the in-app order confirmation, which also helps if you need to contact customer support.

Mind the clock

Some deals apply only at certain hours, such as breakfast items before the morning cutoff. If you are ordering near the changeover time, check whether the offer applies to the menu you want. An offer redeemed at the wrong time can fail, and you may have to reorder.

Customize carefully

Adding extra items or custom changes to a deal item can change the price or make the deal invalid. If you want a modification, try it in the app first and look at the updated total.

Family, group and budget tactics

For families, the most effective approach is for each adult to have an account. Each account has its own deals and its own rewards points, and a new-user offer is available per person, not per household. Do not share one account across a family, because it concentrates points but loses the personalized deals and can lead to confusion over who uses which offer.

For groups, one person can place the whole mobile order and apply the deal that covers the largest items, while others use their own offers on separate orders. Splitting the orders is sometimes better than combining them, since a single order usually allows only one deal.

When budgeting, decide before you open the app what you actually want to eat. Deals are designed to nudge you toward particular items, and a discount on something you did not plan to buy is not a saving. Treat the app as a way to pay less for what you would have ordered anyway.

One more habit helps: keep a short list of the three or four items you order most, and look for deals on those specifically. Scrolling through every offer is how people end up buying things they did not want. If your regular order is a particular sandwich or a coffee, glance at the Deals tab before each visit, and if nothing relevant appears, simply order as usual and still scan your rewards code so the purchase earns points.

Privacy and account safety

• Use a strong, unique password for the account, since it holds your payment methods and points.
• Download the app only from the official app store listing for your phone.
• Ignore text messages or social posts claiming you have won a free meal and asking for card details; the brand’s offers arrive in the app.
• Review the permissions the app asks for, such as location, and decide whether to allow them.
• If you notice unfamiliar orders or points activity, change the password and contact support.

Stacking and timing

• Most checkouts allow one deal per order, though you can place multiple orders if each uses a different deal.
• Rewards redemption and a deal may or may not be allowed on the same order; the app tells you.
• Deals tied to the lunch or breakfast menu have time restrictions.
• Offers can end early at a restaurant if supplies run out.
• Check the deals section at different times of the week, since new ones can appear without warning.

Coupon and promo code mistakes to avoid

• Believing a coupon site’s “verified” promo code for a restaurant app.
• Ordering through a delivery app expecting the same deals as the McDonald’s app.
• Buying extra items just to reach a minimum and then wasting food.
• Letting reward points expire.
• Creating several accounts to repeat the new-user offer, which can lead to the offers being voided.
• Sharing your account or screenshots of one-time codes, which can be redeemed by someone else.

How we researched this

This guide is based on the brand’s official pages and independent reporting named below; offers change, so confirm on the brand’s site or app before ordering. We do not publish unverified codes.

Sources

• McDonald’s official Deals page and app listing
• Eat Drink Deals McDonald’s coverage
• CouponCabin and GrabOn McDonald’s pages
• Slickdeals and MacMenus app deal summaries

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a McDonald’s buy one get one offer?

BOGO deals have appeared in the app, but they rotate and may not be available at every restaurant. Check Deals in the app.

What is the new-user offer?

Sources describe a free menu item with a minimum first purchase after you register in the app. The item varies, so check your own account.

Do I need a promo code?

Usually no. Deals are activated in the app and applied by scanning a code or adding to a mobile order.

How do rewards points work?

Coverage says members earn 100 points per dollar and redeem them from a lower tier. Points expire, so check the rules in the app.

Are delivery orders cheaper with a coupon?

Not usually. Delivery platforms add fees, and the savings from deals may be offset.

Can I use two deals at once?

Generally one per order. Read the conditions in the app.

Why does my friend see different deals?

Offers can be personalized or depend on the restaurant, so two accounts may differ.

Last updated: October 2026