Food costs add up fast. Whether you’re stretching a tight budget, cutting back on takeout or just looking for small ways to save, there are plenty of legitimate apps to get free food.

In this guide, you’ll find some of the best apps to help you score free meals, discover where to grab free food coupons and other handy resources to rely on when times get tough. 

Best Apps to Get Free Food

While some apps on this list give you free meals or snacks directly, others help you earn cash or rewards that can go toward your next bite.

1. KashKick

When you order food out, it’s always such a relief being able to whip out a gift card to cover your meal. That’s where KashKick can help. All you need is your phone.

With KashKick, you can earn gift cards to your favorite food spots just by playing games, taking surveys, trying new apps and earning cash back. You’ll never get bored—and you’ll collect money for each task you complete.

As soon as you earn $10, you can cash out through PayPal or for a gift card to 100+ brands—including restaurants. These range from Domino’s to Burger King to Chipotle. Even DoorDash is an option if you’re in the mood for takeout!

And unlike similar apps that might require you to subscribe to services or pay to level up in games, KashKick offers plenty of ways to earn money without spending a dime—so you can truly say you earned free food!

Pros:

• Variety of ways to earn money toward free food
• Low $10 withdrawal minimum
• Easy-to-use and highly rated apps
• Quick 1-3 days to process payouts
• Lucrative referral program 

Cons:

• Only available in the U.S.
• Offer availability can change

🌮 Start earning on KashKick today.

2. Domino’s

If you’re a frequent flyer at Domino’s, make sure you’re a member of the Piece of the Pie Rewards program. Each time you place an order of $10 or more, you’ll earn 10 points. Here are a few free items you can get at each points level:

• 20 points can get you a free dip cup, 16-piece bread bites or 20-ounce drink
• 40 points can get you a free 32-piece bread bites or stuffed cheesy bread
• 60 points can get you a free medium two-topping pizza, oven-baked sandwich or three-piece lava crunch cakes

You’ll also get access to members-only deals, chances to score bonus points and special discounts.

Pros:

• Free rewards program
• Claim points for any orders in the past 30 days by submitting your order number

Cons:

• Requires making purchases
• Points can expire
• Limited points per order (10)

3. Fetch

Fetch is a simple cashback app that rewards you anytime you shop online or in-store. 

Here’s what you’ll do: download the browser extension, shop through the app or connect your email so Fetch can view your receipts. Then you’re done!

For each receipt, you’ll get 25 points—no matter the products you buy or where you shop. Once you earn 3,000 points, you can cash out for a $3 gift card to your favorite food spot.

Pros:

• Low $3 minimum to cashout
• Additional ways to earn, including playing games
• No product or brand limitations

Cons:

• Low base earnings (just 25 points per receipt)

4. Ibotta

Ibotta is a free app that gives you cashback on groceries.

Before your next trip to the store (or grocery delivery order), add cash-back offers to your “List” in Ibotta. Note specific brand and quantity requirements. After you checkout, upload a photo of your receipt to earn cashback on your items.

Once you earn $20, you can send your earnings to your bank account or get a gift card to your favorite eatery.

Pros:

• Earn money back on groceries (plus find online shopping offers, too)
• Stack with other saving tools like coupons and cash-back cards
• Works with tons of grocery stores

Cons:

• Not truly free since it requires spending money on groceries
• Earnings are limited to cashback
• Higher cashout minimum at $20

5. InboxDollars

InboxDollars is similar to KashKick in that you can earn rewards by playing games, shopping online and taking surveys. Once you earn $15, you can request your first cashout for PayPal cash or a gift card. After, your cashout minimum decreases to $10.

Pros:

• Multiple ways to earn
• Transparent system (operates on dollars like KashKick, not points)

Cons:

• Can take up to 10 days for payouts to process
• The minimum for your first cashout is higher, at $15

6. OLIO

Olio is a local sharing app that makes it easy for neighbors to list free items. This includes local businesses and restaurants that need to get rid of excess items and food.

Within the app, you can search for food and non-food items, making it easier to find what you need. Each listing has a pick-up location—either on a doorstep, public location or hidden in a safe space—so you can pick it up.

Use the map feature to see what free food is closest to you. 

Pros:

• Find free food nearby
• Help reduce waste
• Opportunity to help your neighbors

Cons:

• Inconsistent availability

If you don’t have luck on Olio, similar apps worth checking out include Too Good To Go: End Food Waste and BuyNothing (check out your local Buy Nothing Facebook group, too!).

7. SampleSource

SampleSource is a marketing agency that offers “try before you buy.” That means you can order free samples of makeup, beauty care, household cleaning supplies—and even food and snacks.

Take note this isn’t a whole meal, but it could be interesting to test out new products to see if you like them!

Pros:

• Choose free samples to try
• 100% free (even shipping)

Cons:

• Limited quantities
• Samples are based on profile questions you answer

8. Shopkick

Shopkick is another cashback app. You’ll earn points (or what they call “kicks”) when you upload receipts, watch videos and shop through the app.

What’s different about Shopkick is that you can earn points without having to spend money—just for walking into a store! It’s not a ton of points, so it’ll take a while to add up, but it’s a nice way to get rewarded without making a purchase.

For context, 250 kicks gets you $1. You can cash out for a gift card starting at 500 kicks, or $2. When you cash out, most rewards appear instantly in your Shopkick profile.

Pros:

• Quick rewards
• No purchase necessary
• Low payout minimum

Cons:

• Location-dependent offers
• Lower ratings on Trustpilot (3.8 stars) and Google Play (3.8 stars)

9. Starbucks

If you find yourself at Starbucks a little too often, no judgment here. But make sure you’re signed up for the Starbucks Rewards program. For each order, you’ll earn Stars, which you can redeem for free food, drinks and more. (You can start redeeming at just 25 stars).

The rewards app also makes it super easy to order ahead, and you can connect your credit/debit card to pay through the app and automatically get Stars. You’ll actually get more Stars (2 Stars per dollar vs. 1 Star per dollar) if you preload your account.

And be sure to stop by Starbucks on your birthday for a free drink or food item of your choice.

As an alternative to the rewards program, check out 5 steps to earning $7.25 to buy your next latte.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use app
• Saves time when you order ahead

Cons:

• Requires (and incentivizes) spending money

10. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is similar to KashKick and InboxDollars in that it rewards users for completing surveys, shopping online and playing games. Users earn points (called SBs), which can be exchanged for gift cards for food. 

Pros:

• Variety of ways to earn
• Trusted brand

Cons:

• Up to 10 days to receive rewards
• Higher cashout minimum

Where to Get Free Food Coupons and Rewards

Beyond free food apps, there are plenty of ways to save on food with coupons. To find free food coupons, check:

• Coupon and deal websites: BuyVia food coupons, Deals Finders, RetailMeNot
• Restaurant apps and websites: Chipotle (get free guac when you join), Wendy’s, Burger King Royal Perks, Dunkin’ Rewards
• Cashback and reward apps: Rakuten, Upside, inKind

For more, check out this massive list of restaurant rewards programs from The Penny Hoarder.

Get Free Food Using Apps Online—and Beyond

There are a number of apps to help you score free food and even free food coupons—and apps like KashKick make it easy to earn money online and earn gift cards for free food.

If you need additional resources, don’t hesitate to:

• Locate your local food bank
• Dial 211 for local resources, including food assistance
• Visit FindHelp.org to search for verified food pantries, meal sites and delivery in your ZIP code
• Look into government programs, like SNAP