12 food apps that gave me freebies and discounts just for signing up

My Burger King

Burger King's app offers over $25 in discounts and buy-one-get-one options right when you download it.

For example, this month they have deals for $3 chicken fries and large classic fries, or two grilled dogs and two small classic fries for $5.

Sign up here

My Chili's

Signing up for the Chili's rewards app gets you 60 points — enough for a free menu item. As you spend at Chili's, you rack up more points, which go towards more free menu items. You also get a free appetizer or dessert on your birthday.

Business Insider reporter Kathleen Elkins scoured New York City for more places that offer birthday freebies.

Sign up here.

Corner Bakery eCafe

Though the Corner Bakery app was difficult to navigate, my hard work paid off. I received an email for a free cookie just for signing up.

Sign up here.

MyDQ

Signing up for Dairy Queen's app will get you a coupon for a free small Blizzard, which is a soft-serve with toppings the fast food chain is known for.

Five visits to DQ will get you a free small item and 10 visits, a free item of any size (with restrictions.)

Dairy Queen also has a Blizzard Fan Club. You get a buy-one-get-one Blizzard offer just for signing up, emails about the monthly Blizzard flavor, and special coupons for your birthday.

Sign up here.

Jamba Insider

When I registered for the Jamba Juice app, I was awarded $3 off my next purchase.

Jamba Juice offers one point for every dollar spent, and 35 points gets you $3 off your purchase. You also get a free smoothie on your birthday.

Sign up here.

McDonald's

McDonald's offered many coupons and buy-one-get-one options when I signed up. These coupons vary by location and change every week.

McDonald's partners with professional sports teams throughout the US: If a team wins, the chain offers free food to the fans who live in that city the next day. I am from Brooklyn, so when the Brooklyn Nets won a recent game, I got free fries!

Sign up here.

MyPanera

Signing up for Panera Bread's app gets you a free pasty or "Sweet Welcome" reward and a treat on your birthday. You're rewarded by the number of times you visit Panera locations, but the amount of visits required towards your next rewards varies, and the rewards are different every time.

I have been a MyPanera rewards holder since 2012. I don't frequent it often, but I do use my app whenever I do. I have received free month-long offers twice: coffee and bagels. I have to admit this is the best reward I've ever gotten through a food app.

Sign up here.

Red Mango

When you register for this frozen yogurt joint's app, you get 50 points as well as $2 off your purchase as a "registration reward."

Every dollar equates to 10 Mango points and 500 ($50) of those gets you a $5 coupon. You also get a $5 reward on your birthday.

Sign up here.

Red Robin Royalty

Red Robin's app offers a free burger on your birthday, every 10th item free, and $20 towards your sixth visit.

For US customers, the burger chain will donate 1% of what you spend to a school of your choice.

Sign up here.

Rita's Italian Ice

Downloading the app for this Italian ice chain will get you one stamp towards a free regular Italian ice, frozen custard, or gelati, which you get once you reach eight stamps. You also get a free treat on your birthday.

Sign up here.

My Sonic

When you sign up for the Sonic Drive-In app, you get a complimentary treat. Mine was a free medium slush.

Sign up here.

My Taco Bell

Taco Bell's app gave me 25% off my first purchase when I signed up. It also has other "exclusive" rewards and offers, which you can unlock when you play their game "Taco Bell Explore."

Sign up here.

There are more food apps that don't give perks right when you download them, but might still be worth the time if you frequent these chains:

Sweetgreen

You can get a $9 credit after you spend $99 (10 salads) at Sweet Green.

There are also different loyalty statuses for the rewards program: Green when you spend $100 or more, qualifying you for a $10 credit on your birthday; gold status when you spend $1,000 or more, and black status when you spend over $2,500. Each status has their own set of rewards.

Sign up here.

Starbucks

The coffee chain's app offers a free drink or food item after getting a certain number of stars. With their new rewards program, you need 125 stars, equating to $62.50, to get a free item. The rewards program also allows you to get access to new products.

Sign up here.

Dunkin' Donuts

For this rewards app, you need to either have a registered gift card or purchase one to sign up. I didn't have one so I couldn't sign up, but was offered a free beverage after I enroll. You also get five points for every dollar spent, and every 200 points ($40) gets you a reward coupon for a free beverage.

Sign up here.