McDonald’s Rewards July 2026 | Redeem Points in US & UK

MyMcDonald’s Rewards is McDonald’s official loyalty programme. Members earn points on every order placed through the McDonald’s app and redeem those points for free food. In the UK, you earn 1 point per penny spent and can redeem starting at 2,000 points. In the US, you earn 100 points per dollar spent and can redeem starting at 1,500 points. In both countries, points expire 6 full calendar months after they’re earned. Membership is free, there’s no physical card, and everything runs through the McDonald’s app.

This guide by McDonald’s Official covers both versions in full: how to join, how to earn and redeem, what changed in 2026, and how to get the most value out of your points before they expire.

	UK	US
Earn rate	1 point per penny spent	100 points per dollar spent
Minimum to redeem	2,000 points	1,500 points
Points expiry	6 full calendar months from the date earned	6 full calendar months from date earned
Top tier	6,500 points	7,000 points
Unique perk	Charity donation option, Snapchat+ redemption	Booking.com travel credit redemption

McDonald’s Rewards UK Guide

MyMcDonald’s Rewards is McDonald’s UK loyalty programme. You earn 1 point for every penny you spend at participating restaurants through the McDonald’s app, and once you hit 2,000 points, you can redeem them for free food, drinks, or a charity donation. It’s free to join, runs entirely through the app, and takes about two minutes to set up.

• Earn rate: 1 point per penny spent
• Minimum to redeem: 2,000 points
• Points expiry: 6 full calendar months from the date earned (changed from 12 months as of 30th December 2025)
• Where it works: App orders, Drive Thru, Kiosk, and Front Counter at participating restaurants
• New in 2026: Faster point expiry, a Snapchat+ redemption option, and refreshed reward tiers

What Is MyMcDonald’s Rewards?

MyMcDonald’s Rewards rewards you for orders you were already planning to make. There’s no separate loyalty card and no punch card at the till. Your McDonald’s app is the whole system: it tracks your points, generates your codes, and shows you what you can redeem right now.

The appeal is that it costs you nothing extra. You don’t pay more to earn points, and you don’t need a subscription. You just need the app and a habit of using your code.

McDonald’s Rewards Login and Sign In

There’s no separate McDonald’s rewards login to remember. Your rewards account is the same as your regular McDonald’s app account. Download the app, register, and opt in to MyMcDonald’s Rewards during setup. From then on, your McDonald’s rewards sign in is just your normal app login, points balance included.

Already have the app but never opted in? Open your account settings inside the app. The toggle to join MyMcDonald’s Rewards sits there, and switching it on takes seconds.

Getting Started With the McDonald’s Rewards App

Joining takes three steps.

1. Download the app. Get it from the App Store or Google Play, then register and opt in to MyMcDonald’s Rewards.
2. Order and earn. Order through the app for pickup or delivery and points post automatically, 1 point per penny. Ordering at a Kiosk, Front Counter, or Drive Thru instead? Open the app, go to the Code section, and give your one time code before you pay. Skip this step and the order won’t earn anything.
3. Redeem and enjoy. Once you reach 2,000 points, select your reward in the app, tap “add to code,” and give that code when you order.

New members also get 1,000 bonus points after their first order, which puts you halfway to your first reward before you’ve even finished settling in.

How Do McDonald’s Rewards Points Work?

The maths is simple and there’s no rounding trickery. Spend £5 and you earn 500 points. Spend £20 and you’re at 2,000 points, enough for your first reward. Spend £65 in a month across a few visits and you’re already within reach of the 6,500 point tier.

A few purchase types don’t count toward your total: bag charges, delivery fees, driver tips, charitable add on donations, and topping up a gift card. Everything else you order does earn points, including McDelivery orders placed through the McDonald’s app itself.

Your balance has a ceiling too. MyMcDonald’s Rewards caps your total balance at 100,000 points, and you can only collect points on your first 10 orders each day, up to 40 orders a week. Almost nobody bumps into that limit, but it’s worth knowing it exists.

McDonald’s Rewards Points Table | What Can You Get?

Points Needed	What You Can Choose	Good to Know
2,000	Regular Soft Drink, Regular Tea, Americano, Espresso, Mini McFlurry, Hash Brown, Small Fries, Side Salad, or £2 to charity	Fastest tier to unlock, ideal for topping up a regular order
3,500	Sausage Sandwich, Regular Latte, Cappuccino, Flat White, Cheeseburger, Medium Fries, Mayo Chicken, Cheesy Bacon Flatbread, Apple Pie, Regular McFlurry, 4 Chicken McNuggets, or £3.50 to charity	Best value if you’re a regular McCafé drinker
5,000	Large Fries, Cheese Side, Caramel Frappe, Brownie, 6 Chicken McNuggets, Double Cheeseburger, Sausage & Egg McMuffin, McChicken Sandwich, Crunchy Cheese Bites, Filet-O-Fish, Chicken Salad, Medium Milkshake, or £5 to charity	Where the bigger sandwiches start appearing
6,500	3 Chicken Selects, McCrispy, Big Mac, Double Sausage & Egg McMuffin, 9 Chicken McNuggets, McPlant, Double Filet-O-Fish, or £6.50 to charity	Top tier, worth saving for if you eat here often

The rewards menu can change, so check the app before you plan a redemption around a specific item.

A practical tip: since points now expire after 6 months instead of 12, don’t sit on a growing balance hoping to reach the top tier. If you’re close to expiry with 4,800 points, redeeming a 3,500 point item today beats losing all of it in a week.

How to Claim McDonald’s Rewards (UK)

Claiming a reward follows the same basic pattern everywhere.

At a Kiosk, Front Counter, or Drive Thru: select your reward in the app, tap “add to code,” then read out or scan that code before you finish ordering. The crew member applies it at the till.

Ordering through the app: go to Rewards & Offers, choose your item, and tap “add to your mobile order” or “add to your McDelivery order” before checkout.

Pull up your code before you start talking to the crew or the kiosk screen. Codes can’t be applied retroactively, so a forgotten code means a missed reward on that visit, not a delayed one.

Understanding McDonald’s Rewards Codes (UK)

Your McDonald’s rewards codes both live in the same place: the Code section of the app, bottom right of the screen. There are two types.

Your one time code earns points on orders placed at the counter, kiosk, or drive thru. Your redemption code claims a reward you’ve already unlocked. You can use both in the same transaction: give your points code so the full purchase counts, then add your reward code to claim a free item at the same time.

Can You Use McDonald’s Rewards Twice in One Day? (UK)

Yes, within limits. Nothing stops you from redeeming rewards on more than one visit in a single day, as long as you have enough points banked for each one. What is capped is how many orders earn you new points: only your first 10 transactions each day count toward your balance.

So two McDonald’s runs in one day both work fine for earning and redeeming, right up until you hit that daily transaction limit.

McDonald’s Birthday Reward (UK)

McDonald’s UK runs a birthday fries offer for app members, delivered through the Deals section around your birthday. It’s a one time treat, valid at participating restaurants only, and it must be redeemed through a mobile order rather than at the counter.

You can use it for eat in between 11:00 and 22:00, or through the drive thru up until 23:59. Check the expiry date on the voucher in your Deals tab, since it doesn’t sit there forever. Like most app deals, it can’t be combined with other offers or discounts.

To make sure you see it at all, keep your birthday updated in your app profile well before the date, not the morning of.

McDonald’s Monopoly Rewards (UK)

When Monopoly at McDonald’s UK returns, it plugs directly into your rewards account rather than running as a separate system. Peel a physical game piece off eligible packaging, or collect a digital one through the app, then scan it to see where you land on the in app board.

Landing on Community Chest wins you bonus MyMcDonald’s Rewards points. Landing on Passing Go can win you a cash prize. Collect a full property set and you’re in the running for bigger prizes tied to that colour group. Any bonus points you win drop straight into your normal balance, so they’re usable toward standard redemptions immediately.

What’s New With McDonald’s Rewards in the UK for 2026

Points now expire faster. As of 30th December 2025, points last 6 full calendar months from the date earned, down from the previous 12 months. This applies to points already banked, so check the View History tab rather than assuming an old balance has more time left than it does.

A new redemption partner. McDonald’s has teamed up with Snapchat, letting members redeem points for a month of Snapchat+ instead of food.

Refreshed reward tiers. The point requirements shifted slightly this year, so glance at the current menu before saving toward something specific.

How to Get the Most Value From Your Points (UK)

• Redeem before you save up too much. With the new 6 month expiry, it’s often smarter to cash in a 2,000 or 3,500 point reward regularly rather than holding out for the 6,500 tier and risking a chunk of your balance timing out.
• Check the Deals tab for bonus point offers. McDonald’s periodically runs promotions on specific menu items that earn extra points. These stack with your normal earn rate, so they’re free value if you were ordering that item anyway.
• Use the app for every order, even small ones. A £2 hash brown run still earns 200 points. Skipping small orders because “it’s not worth it” adds up to a slower climb toward your next reward.
• Track your expiry dates. The View History tab shows exactly when each batch of points expires. Check it monthly if you order often, so nothing lapses unnoticed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (UK)

• Forgetting your code before ordering. This is the single most common reason people miss out on points. Get in the habit of opening the Code section as soon as you pull up to the drive-thru or walk in.
• Assuming points carry over indefinitely. The old 12-month window is gone. Treat your points balance like something with a shelf life, not a savings account.
• Trying to redeem two rewards in one transaction. Redemptions are processed one at a time. If you want two free items, plan for two separate orders.
• Not updating your birthday in time. The birthday reward won’t retroactively appear if you add your birthday after the date has passed. Set it once and forget it.

FAQs About McDonalds Rewards UK 2026

What is MyMcDonald’s Rewards?

It’s McDonald’s UK loyalty programme, run entirely through the app. You earn 1 point per penny spent and can redeem points for free menu items or charity donations once you reach 2,000 points.

Is MyMcDonald’s Rewards free to join?

Yes. There’s no membership fee and no subscription. You just need the McDonald’s app and an account.

How many points do I need for a free Big Mac?

6,500 points gets you a Big Mac in the UK, the top redemption tier.

Do McDonald’s points expire?

Yes. Points last 6 full calendar months from the date you earn them, expiring on the first day of the following month after that window closes. This changed from a 12 month window as of 30th December 2025.

How do I check my points balance and see when they’ll expire?

Open the Rewards & Offers section of the app. Your balance sits in the top right corner, and the View History tab breaks down what you’ve earned and when each batch expires.

My points didn’t show up after my order. What do I do?

Wait 48 hours first, since points can occasionally take that long to appear. Still missing after that? Contact McDonald’s through the app’s Virtual Assistant under Customer Service, and include your order number and total. You need to do this within 30 days of the purchase, since claims after that window can’t be investigated.

Can I donate my points to charity instead of redeeming food?

Yes. Go to Rewards & Offers, choose a charity partner from the Rewards Menu (currently Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, FareShare, and BBC Children in Need), and follow the checkout process. Donations start at £2 for 2,000 points.

I lost my phone. Are my points gone too?

No. Your points are tied to your account, not your device. Once you’re logged back into the app on a new phone, your balance will be exactly where you left it.

Can the reward menu change without notice?

Yes. McDonald’s can update which items are available at each tier, so it’s worth checking the app rather than assuming last month’s menu still applies.

McDonald’s Rewards US 2026 Guide

MyMcDonald’s Rewards is McDonald’s official US loyalty programme. You earn 100 points for every dollar you spend at participating locations through the McDonald’s app, and once you hit 1,500 points, you can start redeeming free food. It’s free to join, lives entirely in the app, and takes about two minutes to set up.

Quick facts:

• Earn rate: 100 points per dollar spent
• Minimum to redeem: 1,500 points
• Points expiry: 6 full calendar months after the date earned
• Where it works: App orders, Drive Thru, Kiosk, and Front Counter at participating locations
• New in 2026: A Booking.com points redemption option and the return of Monopoly at McDonald’s

What Is MyMcDonald’s Rewards?

MyMcDonald’s Rewards rewards you for orders you’d be placing anyway. There’s no physical card and nothing extra to carry besides your phone. The app tracks your points, generates your codes, and shows you exactly what you can redeem right now.

It costs nothing to join and nothing to use. You just need the app and the habit of pulling up your code before you order.

McDonald’s Rewards Login and Sign In

There’s no separate McDonald’s rewards login to remember. Your rewards account is simply your regular McDonald’s app account. Download the app, register, and opt in to MyMcDonald’s Rewards when prompted. After that, your McDonald’s rewards sign in is just your normal app login, points balance included.

Already have the app but skipped the rewards opt in? Head into your profile settings. The toggle to join is right there, and switching it on takes seconds.

Getting Started With the McDonald’s Rewards App

New members get a strong welcome. On your first purchase of $1 or more through the app, you get a free Ranch or Spicy Snack Wrap. Link a payment card to your account for the first time and you’ll pick up an extra 1,500 bonus points on top, putting you halfway to a free McDonald’s Big Mac before you’ve finished a single full order.

Earning from there is straightforward. Order through the app and points post automatically. Ordering at the counter, kiosk, or drive thru? Open the Earn Points tab, pull up your 4 digit code, and give it before you pay.

How Do McDonald’s Rewards Points Work?

Every eligible dollar you spend earns 100 points. Spend $15 and you’ve got 1,500 points, enough for your first reward. Spend $70 and you’re at 7,000 points, McDonald’s top redemption tier.

A handful of charges don’t count toward your total: taxes, bag or bottle fees, other surcharges, loading a gift card, and delivery fees on app orders. Everything else you order does earn points, including delivery placed directly through the McDonald’s app. Delivery through a third party service like DoorDash or Uber Eats earns nothing, since it doesn’t run through McDonald’s own system.

McDonald’s Rewards Points Table (US): What Can You Get?

Points Needed	What You Can Choose	Good to Know
1,500	Hash Browns, Apple Pie, small Premium Roast Coffee, or Vanilla Cone	Fastest tier to unlock, good for a quick top up
2,000	McChicken, Cheeseburger, or Sausage Biscuit	First real sandwich tier
3,500	Medium Fries, Sausage Burrito, 6 pc. Chicken McNuggets, large Iced Coffee, or Sausage McGriddles	Solid mid tier, good variety across meal types
4,000	$3 off any order of $3 or more	The only flexible option, useful when nothing on the fixed list sounds good
5,000	Large Fries, Sausage McMuffin with Egg, Filet-O-Fish, large Frappe, or Hotcakes	Where full sandwiches start showing up
7,000	Big Mac, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Happy Meal, Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit, McFlurry, 10 pc. Chicken McNuggets, or Sausage Egg & Cheese McGriddles	Top tier, best value if you eat here regularly

A practical tip: the 4,000 point discount tier is the one people overlook. If none of the fixed items across any tier sound appealing that day, $3 off still beats letting points sit and edge closer to expiration.

How to Claim McDonald’s Rewards (US)

Redeeming works slightly differently depending on how you’re ordering.

Ordering in the app, whether for pickup or McDelivery: select your reward under Rewards & Deals and tap “Add to Mobile Order” or the matching delivery option before checkout.

Ordering in person or at the drive-thru: Select your reward in the app first, then choose “Use at Restaurant” to generate your 4 digit code. Give that code to the crew before you order, or use “Use Restaurant Code” once you’re inside at a kiosk.

One rule to plan around: only one reward can be redeemed per transaction. If you’re hoping to claim two free items, that means two separate orders.

Understanding McDonald’s Rewards Codes (US)

Every code you’ll use lives in the same place: the Earn Points tab, bottom menu of the app. Two types matter here. Your everyday 4 digit code earns points on whatever you buy. Your reward code, generated once you select an item from the Rewards Menu, claims that specific free item.

You can combine both in one transaction. Give your earning code so the full purchase counts toward points, then hand over your reward code to redeem the free item at the same time.

Can You Use McDonald’s Rewards Twice in One Day? (US)

Yes, with one caveat. McDonald’s doesn’t cap how many separate orders you can place and earn points on in a single day. What’s limited is redemption: only one reward per order. So two trips to McDonald’s in one day means two chances to redeem, as long as each order is separate and you’ve got the points banked for it.

McDonald’s Birthday Reward (US)

McDonald’s US gives app members a free medium fries on their birthday. It shows up automatically in the Deals section once your birthday is saved in your profile, so it’s worth entering it a few days ahead rather than the morning of.

A few things to know before you go. It’s mobile order only, meaning you can’t redeem it at the counter. It’s one time use and can’t be stacked with other deals or promotions. Not every location honors it, so if your regular spot doesn’t show the offer, that’s more likely a store level exclusion than a problem with your account.

McDonald’s Booking.com Reward (US)

One of the more unusual additions to MyMcDonald’s Rewards is a travel redemption option. Members can convert 15,000 points into $50 off a qualifying Booking.com stay of $150 or more. It’s a limited time offer, available on select accommodations only, and it can’t be stacked with other McDonald’s Coupons or promo codes.

It’s a niche option, and food rewards will usually stretch further if you’re a regular customer with a modest balance. But if you’ve got a large points total sitting close to expiration and no appetite for more McDonald’s that week, converting it toward a hotel stay beats losing it entirely.

McDonald’s Monopoly Rewards (US)

When Monopoly at McDonald’s returns, it runs on top of your regular rewards account rather than replacing it. Pre-registering ahead of launch typically earns a batch of bonus MyMcDonald’s Rewards points just for signing up early.

Once the game starts, ordering select menu items gets you a game piece, either a physical peel off on the packaging or a digital one through the app. Peeling a piece can win instant food prizes, bonus points added straight to your account, or a property piece that counts toward the bigger prize sets. Collect a full property set and you’re eligible for major prizes tied to that group. Any Monopoly bonus points land directly in your normal MyMcDonald’s Rewards balance, so they’re immediately usable toward standard redemptions too.

What’s New With McDonald’s Rewards in the US for 2026

Booking.com redemption added. As covered above, points can now go toward hotel stays, not just food, giving frequent members a genuinely different way to spend a large balance.

Monopoly returned. After nearly a decade away, the Monopoly promotion is back, layering extra chances to win on top of the standard points system.

Faster point expiration remains in effect. Points expire on the first day of the month following the sixth month after you earn them. That’s a real window to track if you’re saving toward a higher tier reward instead of redeeming as you go.

How to Get the Most Value From Your Points (US)

Don’t chase the top tier at the cost of expiring points. If you’re sitting on 6,200 points with an expiration date approaching, redeeming a 5,000 point item now beats losing the whole balance while you wait for 800 more.

Link a card early. The 1,500 bonus points for linking a payment card on your first use are the single easiest points boost in the entire programme. Do this on day one.

Watch for bonus point promotions. McDonald’s periodically runs limited time offers with extra points on specific items or during specific hours. These stack with the standard 100 points per dollar rate.

Use the app for every order, even small ones. A $2 coffee run still earns 200 points. Skipping small orders because “it’s not worth scanning” slows your climb toward the next tier for no real reason.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (US)

• Forgetting your code before ordering. This is the most common reason people miss out on points entirely. Pull up the Earn Points tab as soon as you’re in line or approaching the drive thru speaker.
• Ordering through a third party delivery app and expecting points. DoorDash and Uber Eats orders don’t connect to your rewards account. Order through the McDonald’s app directly if points matter to you.
• Trying to redeem two rewards in one order. The system allows one reward per transaction. Plan for separate orders if you want more than one free item.
• Adding your birthday late. The birthday fries offer won’t retroactively appear if your birthday is added to your profile after the date has already passed.

FAQs About McDonald’s Rewards in USA 2026

What is MyMcDonald’s Rewards?

McDonald’s official US loyalty programme, run through the app. You earn 100 points per dollar spent and can redeem starting at 1,500 points.

Is MyMcDonald’s Rewards free to join?

Yes. There’s no cost to sign up, and no subscription is required to earn or redeem points.

How many points do I need for a free Big Mac?

7,000 points, the top redemption tier in the US programme.

Do McDonald’s points expire?

Yes. Points expire 6 full calendar months after you earn them, on the first day of the following month once that window closes.

How do I check my points balance and expiration dates?

Open the app and check the Rewards & Deals section, where your current balance, available rewards, and upcoming expiration dates are listed.

Can I earn points on delivery orders?

Only if you order McDelivery directly through the McDonald’s app. Orders placed through third party services like DoorDash or Uber Eats don’t earn points, since they don’t route through McDonald’s own rewards system.

I made a purchase and my points aren’t showing. What now?

Wait 24 hours first, since points can take a little time to post. If they’re still missing, go to More, then Add Missing Points from Receipt, and submit your restaurant number, visit date and time, order number, and total. You’ll need the physical receipt for this, and submissions must happen within 7 days of the purchase.

Can I share my points with someone else?

Points stay on your account and aren’t transferable. Once you’ve redeemed food, though, sharing the actual meal is entirely up to you.

I lost my phone. Did I lose my points too?

No. Your points live on your account, not your device. Log back into the app on a new phone and your balance will be exactly where you left it.

Do all McDonald’s locations honor every reward?

No. Rewards, including the birthday offer, are only available at participating locations, and a small number of restaurants opt out of specific promotions. Check the app if a reward doesn’t appear at your usual spot.