Turns out, the world loves celebrating birthdays (who knew?!). There are tons of places that love to offer those celebrating free stuff or a discounted deal. So many people don't even know about all the good opportunities they're missing — at least, until now. We've done the legwork and compiled a solid list of the best birthday places for free stuff you and your friends can take advantage of year after year. Get everything from ice cream at Baskin-Robbins and chicken sandwiches from Chick-fil-A to popular lip balm and favorite skincare product samples at Sephora. Grab a few friends and get going on hitting all the shops.
No matter how old you get, there are a lot of things to look forward to when your birthday rolls around: well wishes, heartfelt cards, parties with friends and family and sweet treats. But the only thing better than getting a great gift or a big slice of birthday cake? Free stuff. Take advantage of all the best birthday freebies you can get from your favorite stores and popular restaurants near you in celebration of your big day.
The process for securing these offers typically involves joining a company's newsletter or rewards program. It is recommended to create a dedicated email address for these sign-ups to manage the influx of communications. Once registered, members can log into their email around their birthday to check for the free offers that have rolled in. It's important to note that all offers are subject to location participation, and availability may vary. Many of these birthday deals and coupons are delivered via email, so signing up in advance of your birthday is essential. Some companies not only send a free coupon on your birthday but also send a coupon the very day you sign up for the club and at every one-year anniversary of you signing up.
Best Food and Drink Birthday Freebies
A wide array of restaurants and food companies offer complimentary items to members on their birthdays. The eligibility for these freebies often requires enrollment in a loyalty program or rewards club, sometimes with specific conditions such as a minimum purchase or prior account activity. The following list details verified birthday offers based on the provided source material.
- 7-ELEVEN: Members can enjoy a free Slurpee anytime during their birthday month.
- AMC THEATRES: The birthday offer varies by membership tier. AMC Stubs Insider members receive a free large popcorn, while Stubs Premiere and A-List members get a free large popcorn and a large fountain drink, available during their birthday month.
- APPLEBEE'S: A free birthday dessert is available with a minimum purchase of $15 or more.
- ARBY'S: With the purchase of any sandwich, members can receive a free order of small curly fries and a small shake.
- AUNTIE ANNE'S: Members who spend more than $10 a year through the Auntie Anne's Rewards App will receive a free soft pretzel on their birthday.
- BASKIN-ROBBINS: By signing up for the Birthday Club, members can score a free 2.5-ounce ice cream scoop.
- BERTUCCI'S: A free reward is given to those registered for their e-club.
- BENIHANA: Members registered for The Chef's Table can receive a $30 complimentary birthday gift certificate.
- BUFFALO WILD WINGS: Members get six free wings during their birthday month.
- BURGER KING: Rewards members earn 2X the reward points throughout their birthday month, which can be used towards future free food and drink deals.
- CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN: Rewards members enjoy a free birthday dessert. Diamond members also receive a free entree.
- CARVEL: Members signed up for the Fudgie Fanatic loyalty program receive a free cone.
- TACO BELL: A free meal is offered on your birthday, provided you have made at least one purchase within the last year.
- TCBY: Members registered to receive rewards enjoy a free small fro-yo.
- TGI FRIDAYS: Members of the rewards program score a free birthday treat.
- THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY: Members can choose a complimentary slice of cheesecake from the menu's selection of over 60 flavors.
- TIM HORTONS: Rewards members get a free item on their birthday.
- WAFFLE HOUSE: Members of the Regulars Club get a free order of hashbrowns upon signup and a free birthday waffle.
- ZAXBY'S: Members can get three free cookies through the app, either via in-app ordering or by scanning a QR code in-store.
Many of these offers are valid for a limited time after your birthday. For instance, all rewards from the listed food and drink establishments are good for up to two weeks after your birthday.
Best Beauty Birthday Freebies
Beauty brands frequently provide birthday gifts to loyalty program members. These gifts often vary by membership tier and may sometimes require an additional purchase. The following offers are documented in the source material.
- ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS: Members of the ABH loyalty programs receive a birthday month gift in addition to other exclusive offers.
- ARMANI BEAUTY: By joining the Armani Signature VIP Program, members can score a special birthday reward or gift, which depends on their tier level.
- AVEDA: Members earn a birthday gift and double points with each purchase during their birthday month.
- BATH AND BODY WORKS: Members can get a free gift of their choice (with a value up to $9.95) with any purchase.
- BAREMINERALS: Rewards members are eligible for the free birthday gift only if they make an additional purchase online anytime throughout their birthday month. Although the gift is free in-store, online redemption requires a $25 spend.
- BOBBI BROWN: Members can enjoy a birthday gift of $10 off a $30 or more order, up to $50 off a $51 order.
- SMASHBOX: Members can score a free birthday gift during their birthday month, regardless of their rewards membership level.
- SOL DE JANEIRO: Members who spend $75 per year are eligible for a free birthday gift.
- TARTE: Offers free birthday gifts at any tier level for rewards members.
- THE BODY SHOP: Members of the Love Your Body Club can get a $10 Birthday Reward, valid for their birthday month.
- ULTA: As part of Ulta Rewards, members can choose a free gift from a selection of products during their birthday month. A key requirement is that the birthday must be in the member's profile by the 8th of their birthday month to be eligible.
- URBAN DECAY: Members of any UD Rewards tier are able to receive a free birthday gift.
- YSL BEAUTY: Members of the YSL loyalty club can score a birthday gift.
Best Clothing and Retail Birthday Freebies
Several clothing and retail brands offer birthday rewards, typically in the form of a discount coupon or a free gift. These offers are generally available to members of their loyalty or rewards programs.
- AERIE: Loyalty members enjoy a $5 birthday reward.
- AMERICAN EAGLE: Members enjoy a $5 birthday reward.
- ATHLETA: Loyalty members of any tier get a free "birthday bonus."
- BANANA REPUBLIC: A free gift is available to members through the reward program.
- DSW: Members get up to $10 off their next purchase.
- GYMBOREE: My Place Rewards members receive a 20% coupon during the month of their child's birthday. My Place Rewards Credit Cardholders will get a 25% off coupon.
Understanding the Birthday Freebie Landscape
A comprehensive list of birthday freebies can include over 300 verified offers from various companies, including restaurants, stores, and other businesses. These birthday rewards are generally available to all U.S. residents and continue year after year. It is noted that very few companies have stopped their free birthday offers over the years, indicating the enduring popularity of these programs.
The process is straightforward: join each company's newsletter or rewards program once. Afterward, each year, members can check their email around their birthday to discover all the freebies available to them. Many of these offers are regional, and a new feature on some platforms allows filtering results by state to find local offers. For those overwhelmed by the large number of options, some sources rank the top 25 best birthday freebies.
It is important to be aware of the terms. Some offers, like the one from A&W, provide a free small root beer float upon signup. Others, like Abuelo's, offer special birthday offers. Acapulco provides a free entrée up to $15. Ace Hardware offers a $5 off coupon on any purchase over $5. Adidas provides a "Birthday offer" for members at least at level 2 in their rewards club. Aerie offers a $5 off coupon. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema offers a free dessert, milkshake, or candy. These examples illustrate the variety of offers available across different sectors.
Conclusion
Birthday freebies represent a valuable opportunity for U.S. consumers to receive complimentary products and experiences from a wide range of brands. The key to accessing these offers is proactive enrollment in company-specific loyalty programs and rewards clubs, ideally well in advance of one's birthday. The offers span multiple categories, including food and drink, beauty, and clothing, with specific terms and conditions that vary by brand and membership tier. While most offers require no purchase, some do require an additional transaction to redeem the free gift. The reliability of these offers is high, with many companies maintaining these programs for years, making them a consistent annual benefit for members.