Save Money or Earn Cash-Back on Food and Dining with These 10 FREE Apps

Businesses are clamoring for our attention with special offers and discounts on their products, services or food, making it quite possible that [if you play your cards right] you might never have to pay full price again.

Whether it was a coupon clipped straight from the Sunday paper, or a voucher you downloaded online, you’re already aware that coupons can reduce the overall cost of — or add sweet incentives to — your everyday purchases. 

But did you know that some of the best (and tastiest) deals around, can only be accessed via a mobile app on your smartphone? Continue reading to learn about 10 popular apps that’ll save you money (or give you cash-back) on your next food bill!

10 Taco Bell

Taco Bell operates over 5,600 stores in the U.S. alone, and is arguably the epitome of "cheap and cheerful" as far as Mexican fast food is pertinent, especially when it’s time to satisfy those late-night cravings, right?

By signing up for a free account online, Taco Bell mobile app users will receive access to occasional deals, including BOGO coupons and, my personal favorite, $1.00 off the cost of a Cheesy Gordita Crunch. Customers can also order food ahead-of-time and schedule pickup at their convenience. Download FREE for iPhone or iPad here.

9 Favado Grocery Sales

Among the trove of self-described “grocery bill savings apps” available today, Favado Grocery Sales is the only one promising to “cut your grocery bill in half.” And thanks to its expansive network of over 65,000 food-service retailers nationwide, including Target, Kroger, Publix, Walmart, CVS and others, Favado actually does offer users more sales and more stores to shop at than any other service of its kind.

What’s more, Favado further promises to cut hours off your weekly grocery planning time, not only by locating the best sales available in your area, but also by consolidating active offers into a single, easy-to-navigate interface, so you can quickly sift through and pinpoint where the best deals are at.

Featured by media outlets including The Today Show, Fox & Friends, USA Today and more, Favado was also christened 'Best New App of The Year' by Consumer Reports back in 2014! Download FREE for iPhone or iPad here.

8 Subway

By far the world’s largest fast-food mega-chain, with over 44,000 stores currently in operation, Subway offers by far one of the best mobile app experiences for its fans and sandwich lovers.

Upon downloading, the Subway app automatically signs you up for the sandwich-maker’s signature ‘MyWay Rewards’ program, which converts every dollar you spend at participating restaurants into four tokens. And once you’ve accumulated 200 tokens (by spending $50 on sandwiches, drinks and those impossible-to-resist soft-baked cookies), a $2 reward will be applied to your account for future purchases. 

The app also allows customers to order in advance for pickup or delivery (at participating locations), and save ordering preferences for easy re-ordering. Subway also offers occasional app-exclusive coupons and opportunities to earn bonus tokens. Download FREE for iPhone or iPad here.

7 Food Coupons, Fast Food by BuyVia, LLC.

Food Coupons is the most comprehensive app offering deep, daily discounts and coupons at over 50,000+ nationwide restaurants, including Applebee’s, Chipotle, Domino’s, Olive Garden, Papa Johns, Starbucks, McDonald’s and many more.

Lauded by media outlets like The New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes, TechCrunch and CNN, Food Coupons offers the widest assortment of eateries and coupons to choose from, and conveniently displays other great third-party offers from money-saving websites like Groupon+, Restaurant.com and more, all within the same app. Download FREE for iPhone or iPad here.

6 ShopKick: Holiday Shopping

While it’s not considered a couponing app, Shopkick is nevertheless a gold-mine for savvy shoppers, and allows you to earn free gift cards to a wide range of stores and restaurants for simply doing the shopping you already do. 

After downloading the app and signing-up for a free account, simply walk into a participating retailer and fire it up to start earning ‘kicks’. By scanning the barcodes of eligible items throughout the store, or making purchases and scanning your receipt through the app, you’ll rack up the kicks, which can then be redeemed for FREE gift-cards to major retailers like Target, Walmart and Amazon. Download FREE for iPhone or iPad here.

5 SnipSnap Coupon App

SnipSnap is a robust coupon app which seeks to eliminate the handiwork of clipping paper coupons, allowing users, instead, to simply snap a picture of the printed offer with their smartphone, and watch as the app automagically converts it into a mobile-optimized offer — complete with text, images and scannable barcodes for seamless redemption on your smartphone at the register. 

Even if you have no physical coupons to scan, SnipSnap has your back with its built-in discovery tool, allowing you to easily find and download offers from a growing list of national retail stores, restaurants and big-name brands. Download FREE for iPhone or iPad here.

4 Krispy Kreme

With over 1,000 locations across the U.S., Krispy Kreme’s arguably among America’s favorite doughnut shop. And while they’re undeniably sweet, even sweeter than the doughnuts themselves are the fantastic money-saving offers available via their mobile app.

Not only does it provide access to your Krispy Kreme rewards account, allowing you to earn your way to rewards like free doughnuts, dozens thereof, or even coffee and signature drinks — plus a free doughnut just for signing up!

You’ll also have exclusive, front-row access to the treat-chain’s beloved Hot Light feature, allowing you to locate your nearest Krispy Kreme location, rush down there and receive a hot, fresh doughnut whenever they’re rolling off the production line. Download FREE for iPhone or iPad here.

3 McDonald’s

With nearly 37,000 locations spanning 120 countries, McD's is arguably among the leaders in fast food innovation — and their mobile app is a clear reflection of that. 

Not only does downloading McDonald’s app give you access to a revolving list of awesome daily deals, including $$ off, BOGO offers on sandwiches, drinks and more, but you can even order your food ahead of time through the app — with convenient curbside pickup as an added perk, upon request. Download FREE for iPhone or iPad here.

2 Burger King

Burger King is likewise now offering its patrons the ability to manage their ‘BK Rewards’ accounts via the company’s mobile app. Sign-into your account directly through the app, or register online for a free BK News membership — upon which you’ll receive a bonus of 350 ‘BK Crowns’ after spending just $5 at the restaurant. 

Thereafter, you’ll earn seven (7) BK Crowns for every $1 you spend on food, and those can be redeemed for free menu items in increments of 210, 350, or 490, depending on the value of the item. 

The app also offers you access to exclusive, limited-time and location-based coupons to use whenever you’re within the vicinity of a participating Burger King location. Download FREE for iPhone or iPad here.

1 Dosh

Dosh is a fantastic app offering automatic cash back rewards when you shop, dine out, or even pump gas at thousands of participating retailers, restaurants and merchants nationwide.

Upon downloading the app, simply and securely connect your credit and debit cards and, every time you use them to shop, Dosh searches its database of thousands of offers which, if available, will automatically be applied to your transaction!

The difference in savings is then deposited straight into your Dosh Wallet, which you can deposit into your bank account after accumulating $25 in cash back. Download FREE for iPhone or iPad here.