Beyond the McDonald’s gift card draws, there are several other ways to save on dining out and everyday food costs in Canada. From free giveaway apps to restaurant loyalty programmes and coupon platforms, these resources can meaningfully reduce your monthly spending without changing what you eat.
Weekly Gift Card Draws (BestDeals)
BestDeals is a free app that runs weekly gift card giveaways from popular retailers and restaurant chains. Users enter the draw each week at no cost — no purchase required, no subscription fee, and no credit card needed to participate.
The app also features a curated deals section highlighting current discounts, limited-time offers, and seasonal promotions from well-known brands. For Canadians already looking to cut food costs, it puts several useful tools in one place.
Download BestDealsYou will be redirected to the App StoreFree Food Deals and Savings Programs
1. McDonald’s Canada App (MyMcDonald’s Rewards)
The official McDonald’s Canada app runs a loyalty programme where every dollar spent earns points redeemable for free menu items. The app also features daily deals, app-exclusive bundles, and limited-time offers that are not available in-store. Recent promotions have included free medium fries with any purchase over $1, BOGO on select sandwiches, and $1 any-size coffee through the app.
The programme is free to join and requires no minimum spend to start accumulating points. McCafé Rewards runs separately — every seventh hot beverage is free when you scan the app at checkout.
Visit Best DealsYou will be redirected2. Flashfood — Grocery Deals Up to 50% Off
Flashfood is a Canadian app that sells grocery items approaching their best-before date at 50% off or more. Available at Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Maxi, and other Loblaw-banner stores across the country. Users browse discounted items on the app, pay directly, and pick up their order at the store’s Flashfood zone.
Typical savings include $3–$5 produce boxes, discounted dairy and bakery, and marked-down meat and seafood. The app is free and payouts are immediate — no points or rebates to track.
3. Too Good To Go — Surprise Bags
Too Good To Go is a food waste reduction app that lets you purchase “surprise bags” of unsold food from restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and grocery stores at 60–70% off retail price. In Canada, participating locations include Starbucks, local bakeries, grocery chains, and independent restaurants.
Bags typically cost $4.99–$6.99 CAD and contain food worth $15–$20 at regular prices. The app is free to download, and new bags are posted daily. For anyone on a budget, this is one of the most consistent ways to eat well for less.
4. Fast Food Loyalty Programs Worth Joining
Several major chains in Canada offer free loyalty programmes similar to McDonald’s Rewards:
- Tim Hortons Rewards: earn points on every purchase, redeemable for free drinks, baked goods, and meals. The app features daily challenges and surprise offers. Tims is the single most-visited restaurant chain in Canada.
- A&W Burgers to Go Rewards: earn stamps on select items, with free items after a set number of purchases. The app frequently runs bonus stamp events and limited-time deals.
- Wendy’s Rewards: earn 10 points per dollar spent. Free items start at 150 points (Jr. Frosty). The app is known for aggressive daily deal rotations.
5. Grocery Store Loyalty Programs
For everyday food savings, Canadian grocery loyalty programmes remain among the most valuable free tools available:
- PC Optimum: Canada’s largest loyalty programme. Earn points at Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, and Esso stations. Personalised offers load weekly and points are redeemable for groceries at a rate of 10,000 points = $10.
- Scene+: earn points at Sobeys, FreshCo, Safeway, IGA, and Cineplex. Points work across groceries, movies, and dining — one of the most versatile programmes in Canada.
- Triangle Rewards (Canadian Tire): while primarily for hardware and automotive, Triangle points are also earned at gas bars and can be used at Mark’s, Sport Chek, and Atmosphere — reducing other household costs and freeing up food budget.
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Quick Guide: 5 Ways to Save on Food in Canada
Programs and tools worth checking today
1. BestDeals — Free app with weekly gift card draws. No purchase required, no credit card needed.
2. McDonald’s App — Daily deals, loyalty points, and McCafé Rewards. Free to download and use.
3. Flashfood — Grocery items at 50%+ off at Loblaws, No Frills, and Superstore locations.
4. Too Good To Go — Surprise bags from restaurants and stores at 60–70% off retail price.
5. PC Optimum — Canada’s biggest loyalty programme. Personalised deals at Loblaws, Shoppers, and Esso.
Coupon and Discount Tools
Several free platforms aggregate current deals, promo codes, and cashback offers for the Canadian market:
- Reebee — a Canadian flyer aggregation app that compiles weekly deals from grocery stores, pharmacies, and restaurants. Search by item to find the lowest price across all nearby stores.
- Flipp — similar to Reebee, with coupon clipping and price-match functionality built in. Particularly strong for grocery and household items.
- Rakuten Canada — a cashback platform offering 1–10% back on purchases at over 750 Canadian retailers. Payouts quarterly via cheque or PayPal. Popular categories include food delivery, grocery delivery, and restaurant gift cards.
- RetailMeNot Canada — aggregates promotional codes from Canadian restaurants, delivery services, and retail chains. Frequently features BOGO deals and discounted meal offers.
Tip: combining PC Optimum points with Flashfood deals and a cashback app like Rakuten can reduce your monthly grocery bill by 20–30%. Add the free McDonald’s gift card draws on top, and you are saving from multiple sources without changing your routine.
Start Saving Today
Every app and programme listed on this page is free to use. Download BestDeals to enter the weekly gift card draws, and combine it with Canadian loyalty programmes and discount tools to get the most out of your food budget each month.
Download BestDealsYou will be redirected to the App StoreThis page is for informational purposes only. Programme details, eligibility requirements, and availability are subject to change. Verify current terms directly with each provider. This page contains links to partner sites.