Restaurant Chains with Free (or Cheap) Food Delivery: 2024

Discover the best restaurant chains offering free or cheap food delivery in 2024. From pizza to fast food and casual dining, find out how to enjoy delicious meals without the extra delivery costs, with tips on promotions and deals.



You might be curious about how to dodge those pesky delivery charges. Well, it's not as hard as you might think. A lot of chain restaurants run promotions and fast food coupons that waive delivery fees, or they'll drop the fee once your order hits a certain price point.

Therefore, keep your eyes peeled and your options open when choosing to order from a fast food chain within your community – you could snag yourself a sweet deal on delivery costs.

If you want cheap or free food delivery, these local restaurants are serving it up

Pizza Chains with Delicious Deals

• Domino's Pizza: Frequently offers promotions that may include free delivery or discounts on larger orders.

• Papa John's: Keep an eye out for their special deals that often come with a waived delivery fee.
   

Fast Food and with a Side of Savings

• McDonald's: Through their food app, they often provide deals that reduce delivery costs.

• Burger King: Offers promotional codes that might include free food delivery options.

• Wendy’s: If your Wendy’s order through their app is $20 or more, you’re in for a treat with a $4 discount. This deal may not make the delivery entirely free, but it's a pretty good hack to slash those delivery costs.

• Popeye’s: Spend $20 or more on the Popeye’s app, and get your food delivered for free.
   

Casual Dining That Won’t Break the Bank

• Applebee's: Sometimes has free delivery promotions, especially during special events or holidays.

• Panda Express: Order Panda Express through DoorDash, and delivery is free for your first order.

• Subway: Order through the Subway app or website, and get it delivered for free. You can even get the Subway BOGO deal and score a free footlong!

• Chili's: Get your meal delivered for free when you spend over $15 and sign up for a 30-day free trial with Uber One, Uber Eats custom subscription program.

• Shake Shack: Order Shake Shack through DoorDash, and delivery is free for your first order.

• Cheesecake Factory: DoorDash program offers free delivery on your first order. Simply download the DoorDash app and select Cheesecake Factory for your inaugural order to enjoy zero delivery fees.

• Bob Evans: Enjoy complimentary delivery every Friday when you order through the Bob Evans website or mobile app, with the delightful bonus of no minimum spend required.

• Noodles & Company: You can get free food delivery if you earn 350 points via the Noodles & Company rewards program.

• Bojangles: Sign up for Postmates Unlimited 30-day free trial and get free delivery at Bojangles when your order is $15 or more.

• Buffalo Wild Wings: Enjoy BOGO wing deals on Tuesdays and Thursdays with no delivery charge on Grubhub+ orders over $12.

• McAlister’s Deli: As rewards members are in for a treat with complimentary delivery through the McAlister’s Deli app or website from July 2nd to 4th. Please be aware that a convenience fee and a service fee will still be applicable.

• Taco Bell: Order Taco Bell through DoorDash, and delivery is free for your first order.

• California Pizza Kitchen: Order through DoorDash, and delivery is free for your first order.

• Cinnabon: Newbies ordering through DoorDash can enjoy their first delivery without a fee on orders exceeding $15, though a small convenience charge applies. Additionally, Cinnabon periodically offers free delivery for orders placed via their app or website, so it's worth checking for current promotions before placing your order.

• Del Taco: Use the code DELTACONOW when ordering through Postmates, and you’ll get free delivery.

• Chipotle: Get free delivery on orders over $15 at Chipotle with Uber Eats.

• Carl’s Jr.: When you sign up for Postmates Unlimited 30-day free trial, you get free delivery on orders $15 or more at Carl’s Jr.

• O’Charley’s: Get free delivery on orders of $40 or more, ordered directly from ocharleys.com.

• Panera: Panera's $1 delivery on any order placed online or via their mobile app. Keep in mind that orders must exceed $5 and are subject to an additional convenience charge. Panera Sip Club members can also score two months of free unlimited drinks when they join!

• Sweetgreen: Offers seasonal promotions that can include free delivery for their fresh, healthy meals.

• Tropical Smoothie Cafe: Enjoy zero delivery fees for orders exceeding $25 through the Tropical Smoothie Cafe app or website. Note that this promotion is limited to certain areas within the delivery radius and may not be combined with other rewards, offers, or discounts.

• P.F. Chang’s: Subscribe to the Platinum rewards program at $6.99 per month for unlimited free delivery on all orders placed via the P.F. Chang’s website or app. This initiative is a part of a growing trend where restaurants are offering complimentary delivery services through their own subscription models.

Remember, these deals are subject to change and may vary by location, so always check the latest offers on the restaurant's official app or website. Additionally, signing up for their newsletters can be a great way to stay informed about the latest deals, including those coveted free delivery codes!

How to Get Free Food Delivery from Delivery Apps?

Many local restaurants have embraced the food delivery revolution by partnering with major delivery platforms. Now, families can conveniently place orders through popular apps like DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates, and Uber Eats to have their favorite meals delivered straight from the closest establishment in their community. Plus, Amazon Prime Members can score Grub Hub+ for a year for free!

Here's a handy guide to help you navigate the world of delivery apps and score free delivery from your favorite fast food chains:

• Promotional Codes: Keep an eye out for promo codes offered by delivery apps. These can often be found on the app's homepage, through email newsletters, or on social media.

• First-Time User Offers: Many delivery apps entice new users with a free delivery offer on their first order. So if you're new to an app, take advantage of this welcome gift.

• Minimum Order Discounts: Some apps will waive the delivery fee if your order exceeds a certain amount. It's worth bundling your orders to hit that sweet spot.

• Restaurant-Specific Deals: Certain restaurants partner with delivery apps to offer free delivery. These can be limited-time offers or ongoing promotions for select menu items.

• Subscription Services: Consider subscribing to a delivery app's premium service, which often includes free delivery as a perk. For example, DoorDash's DashPass offers unlimited free delivery on orders over a certain amount for a monthly fee.

• Referral Programs: Refer a friend to a delivery app, and both of you could receive a credit that can be used towards delivery fees.

• Pickup Option: While not technically delivery, choosing the pickup option when ordering through an app can save you the delivery fee altogether.

Other Strategies for Scoring Cheap or Free Food

While the tips above are a great starting point, there are more strategies you can employ to save on your next meal by scoring cheap or even free food from your favorite local chain restaurants:

• Loyalty Programs: Many restaurants offer loyalty programs where you can earn points for every purchase. These points can often be redeemed for free meals or significant discounts.

• Birthday Freebies: Don't forget to sign up for restaurant newsletters or loyalty programs that offer free birthday stuff! It's a common practice for chains to give you a little birthday treat.

• Social Media Contests: Follow your favorite restaurants on social media platforms. They often run contests or giveaways where you can win gift cards or free food.

• Survey Participation: Look out for receipts that offer a free item or even a free gift card towards your next visit in exchange for completing a survey about your experience.

• Holiday Promotions: Many chains offer special deals during holidays or themed events. These can range from buy-one-get-one-free offers to free delivery.

• Student and Military Discounts: If you're a student or a member of the military, you might be eligible for special discounts at certain chain restaurants.

By combining these tactics with any restaurant coupons mentioned earlier, you're well on your way to scoring free food on your next meal.

- Vanessa