{"id":257097,"date":"2026-08-12T15:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T15:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/12\/im-lovin-it-mymcdonalds-rewards-is-an-easy-way-to-save-on-a-fast-food-favorite-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T15:00:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T15:00:22","slug":"im-lovin-it-mymcdonalds-rewards-is-an-easy-way-to-save-on-a-fast-food-favorite-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/12\/im-lovin-it-mymcdonalds-rewards-is-an-easy-way-to-save-on-a-fast-food-favorite-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I’m lovin’ it’: MyMcDonalds Rewards is an easy way to save on a fast-food favorite – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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I’m a wizened road warrior who flies more than 175,000 miles a year and spends about 200 nights a year at hotels. I also have elite status<\/a><\/span> with four airlines and five hotel programs (including top-tier status with American Airlines AAdvantage<\/a><\/span> and World of Hyatt<\/a><\/span>).<\/p>\n

But one of my favorite loyalty programs is one that doesn’t touch travel at all: MyMcDonald’s Rewards.<\/p>\n

Despite a devaluation this year that made it a bit less rewarding \u2014 most items now require 500 more points \u2014 it’s still a super valuable program that anyone who regularly gets McDonald’s should join.<\/p>\n

Will you be able to fly business class to Tokyo<\/a><\/span> with your points? No, but you can save some of your hard-earned cash for those trips by using the MyMcDonald’s Rewards program.<\/p>\n

Here’s everything to know about the fast-food program \u2014 and why it’s one I turn to time and time again.<\/p>\n

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CLINT HENDERSON\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What is MyMcDonald’s Rewards?<\/h2>\n

The MyMcDonald’s Rewards program allows you to earn points on all your McDonald’s purchases made within the U.S.<\/p>\n

You can earn points by ordering in the mobile app ahead of time or by scanning a QR code at the drive-thru or at the register in stores. You can also earn points for McDelivery orders placed through the app.<\/p>\n

As you accumulate a stash of points, you can redeem them for items like ice cream cones, breakfast biscuits, a medium order of french fries and even burgers.<\/p>\n

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\"MyMcDonald's<\/div>
MCDONALD’S<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What you can redeem for is constantly changing (and some selections are also unavailable during certain times of the day). You’ll need to check the app to see what’s available for redemption at any given time.<\/p>\n

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\"McDonald's<\/div>
The McDonald’s app home screen showing rewards. MCDONALD’S<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Membership also gives you access to the deals and promotions tab in the app, where savings can really stack up quickly. For example, while writing this story, I noticed a pretty nifty promo offering a free Big Mac just for signing up<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

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\"Landing<\/div>
MCDONALD’S<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unlike travel rewards programs, MyMcDonald’s Rewards doesn’t have elite tiers. Instead, similar to other dining programs like Domino’s Rewards<\/a><\/span>, MyMcDonald’s Rewards is best for quickly earning and redeeming points for items, making some of its most valuable redemptions its more affordable items.<\/p>\n

I tend to use my points for cheeseburgers and ice cream cones, the latter of which is one of the more valuable ways to redeem your points \u2014 but I’ll touch on that more below.<\/p>\n

Related: Why I got top-tier status with Starbucks and enjoy it \u2014 despite the reduced earnings for some<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

MyMcDonald’s Rewards value breakdown: Here’s why ‘I’m lovin’ it’<\/h2>\n
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McDonald’s menu in Japan. CLINT HENDERSON\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With MyMcDonald’s Rewards, you earn 100 points for every dollar you spend at McDonald’s. You can start redeeming points for items after accruing 1,500 points (or spending $15).<\/p>\n

Similar to the Chipotle Rewards program<\/a><\/span>, cash prices for items sold at McDonald’s vary by location, but MyMcDonald’s Rewards points redemptions are at fixed rates, meaning you’ll need the same number of points for, say, a cheeseburger, no matter which U.S. location you’re visiting.<\/p>\n

The following shows which menu items you can cover with points, plus what they cost (in points and cash) at locations in New York City (where I live) and Bozeman, Montana (a city I visit often) and their redemption rates:<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Item<\/th>\nPoints cost<\/th>\nTypical cost<\/th>\nRedemption rate<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
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1,500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/p>\n
    \n
  • New York City: Up to $3.79<\/li>\n
  • Bozeman: Up to $2.50<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/p>\n
    \n
  • New York City: Up to 0.25 cents per point<\/li>\n
  • Bozeman: Up to 0.17 cents per point<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\n

2,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/p>\n
    \n
  • New York City: Up to $3.49<\/li>\n
  • Bozeman: Up to $2.85<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n

\n
<\/p>\n
    \n
  • New York City: Up to 0.17 cents per point<\/li>\n
  • Bozeman: Up to 0.14 cents per point<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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3,500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/p>\n
    \n
  • New York City: Up to $5.59<\/li>\n
  • Bozeman: Up to $5<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/p>\n
    \n
  • New York City: Up to 0.16 cents per point<\/li>\n
  • Bozeman: Up to 0.14 cents per point<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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4,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/p>\n
    \n
  • New York City: Up to $3<\/li>\n
  • Bozeman: Up to $3<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n

\n
<\/p>\n
    \n
  • New York City: Up to 0.08 cents per point<\/li>\n
  • Bozeman: Up to 0.08 cents per point<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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5,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n
<\/p>\n
    \n
  • New York City: Up to $6.59<\/li>\n
  • Bozeman: $6.75<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n

\n
<\/p>\n
    \n
  • New York City: Up to 0.13 cents per point<\/li>\n
  • Bozeman: Up to 0.14 cents per point<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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7,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/p>\n
    \n
  • New York City: Up to $7.59<\/li>\n
  • Bozeman: Up to $8<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/p>\n