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97 Best Birthday Freebies for the Happiest of Birthdays

Treat yo'self! Here's the most comprehensive, up-to-date list of places where you can score freebies on your birthday.

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Score these freebies on your birthday

Birthdays are a time for celebration. In addition to receiving heartfelt happy birthday messages and birthday gifts from your nearest and dearest, there’s another way to make your special day even better: by scoring freebies on your birthday. Yes, you read that right—there are tons of companies willing to celebrate your birthday with an extra-special treat. And since we would never arrive to the party empty-handed, we’ve compiled a list of all the things you can score for free on your big day.

If you’ve been trying to figure out how to save money this year, then taking advantage of birthday freebies is a great pace to start. But first, it’s important to note that in order to claim any of the freebies on our list, you’ll have to join the company’s loyalty or rewards programs. You can do this by downloading their app or visiting their website. As an added bonus, many of these programs will also give you a free gift just for signing up, which means you’ll get to celebrate another trip around the sun with two special treats! So go on and treat yourself this year with the best birthday freebies of 2023.

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Food-related birthday freebies

It’s your day, so you get to have your birthday cake and eat it too! Not feeling birthday cake? How about free popcorn, pretzels, burritos, waffles or wings? Yes, please! But before you dive in, a quick note: If you don’t see some of your favorites listed here, it’s not because we forgot about them. Businesses are constantly reevaluating and changing their rewards programs. McDonald’s, Jersey Mike’s and Dunkin’ Donuts, for example, have paused their birthday freebies for now, but the offerings below are sure to make up for that.

1. AMC Theatres: Free large popcorn

2. Auntie Anne’s: Free pretzel

3. Barnes & Noble: Free cafe treat for your child’s birthday, and a special offer for your birthday

4. Bonefish Grill: Free order of Bang Bang Shrimp

5. Buffalo Wild Wings: Free wings

6. Cheesecake Factory: Free slice of cheesecake

7. Chick-fil-A: Free chocolate chunk cookie or chocolate fudge brownie for Chick-fil-A One Members. Free chocolate chunk cookie, chocolate fudge brownie, small milkshake, small frosted lemonade, small frosted coffee, small ice cream cone or small ice cream cup for Chick-fil-A One Silver Members. Free grilled or regular sandwich or 8- and 12-count nuggets for Chick-fil-A One Red Members. Free choice of entrée for Chick-fil-A One Signature Members.

8. Chipotle: Free order of chips and guacamole with a $5 purchase

9. Crumbl Cookies: Free cookie

10. Dairy Queen: BOGO Blizzard coupon

11. Denny’s: Free birthday Slam breakfast

12. Edible Arrangements: Free dipped fruit box with minimum of $29 purchase in the previous calendar year

13. Firehouse Subs: Free medium sub with any purchase

14. IHOP: Free full stack of buttermilk pancakes

15. Krispy Kreme: Free doughnut

16. Mellow Mushroom: Free pretzel bites with your next purchase

17. Milkbar: Free cookies (you’ll choose your preferred flavor when you sign up)

18. Moe’s Southwest Grill: Free burrito

19. Panera Bread: Free pastry

20. Pinkberry: Free small yogurt

21. Regal Cinemas: Free small popcorn; free large popcorn and soft drink if you upgrade to their paid Regal Unlimited membership

22. Sprinkles: Free birthday cupcake or cupcakes, depending on your tier status

23. Waffle House: Birthday coupon for a free waffle

24. Wetzel’s Pretzels: Free pretzel

Delicious strawberry cream drink
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Drink-related birthday freebies

Enjoy freebies on your birthday in the form of a free coffee, smoothie or other birthday beverage at these locations. We’ll drink to that—and so will you! If you need the right words when you raise a glass, check out this list of toasts for birthdays and more.

25. 7-Eleven: Free Slurpee

26. A&W Restaurants: Free root beer float

27. ABC Fine Wine and Spirits: Birthday coupon for $7 off your next purchase of $35 of more

28. Arby’s: Free birthday milkshake

29. Au Bon Pain: Free coffee and bakery item

30. Biggby Coffee: Free drink

31. Caribou Coffee: Free beverage of your choice

32. Cinnabon: Free 16-ounce cold brew

33. Del Taco: Free regular-size shake

34. Duck Donuts: Free medium coffee and free doughnut once you reach your first Fantasduck status

35. Jamba Juice: Free smoothie

36. Juice It Up: Free medium classic smoothie

37. Peet’s Coffee: Free beverage

38. Planet Smoothie: Free $6 birthday reward

39. Sheetz: Free fountain drink or coffee depending on your status

40. Sonic: Free small classic shake

41. Starbucks: Free drink or food item of your choice

42. Taco Bell: Free regular Mountain Dew Baja Blast Freeze

43. Tropical Smoothie: Free smoothie

44. Wawa: Free hot coffee, fountain drink or Icee

Cosmetic products on pink background. Set of luxury decorative cosmetics with copy space, flat lay, top view, mockup, template
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Beauty-related birthday freebies

If you’ve had your eye on products from your favorite beauty and skin-care brands but didn’t want to pay full price, now is the time to buy! The companies below will give you free sample products or coupons to use on whatever your heart desires.

45. Aveda: Free 30ml nourishing composition oil for bath, body and scalp

46. Bare Minerals: Free sample-size birthday gift

47. Bath & Body Works: Free birthday gift worth up to $7.50

48. Benefit Cosmetics: Free brow arch (not valid at Ulta Benefit Beauty BrowBar beauty lounge locations)

49. Blue Mercury: Free birthday gift and in-store birthday treatment

50. The Body Shop: Free $10 reward voucher

51. Clinique: Free birthday gift

52. CVS: $3 ExtraBucks Rewards

53. European Wax Center: $10 coupon for your next waxing

54. Kiehl’s: Free lip balm and deluxe sample

55. L’Occitane: Free limited-edition birthday gift with $50 purchase

56. Mac Cosmetics: Free birthday gift and double points on purchases during your birthday month

57. Rituals: Free shower oil with in-store or online purchase

58. Sephora: Free must-have mini set with $25 purchase (if ordering online)

59. Smashbox: Free birthday gift

60. Supergoop: Free birthday gift for SPF Devotee and SPF Obsessed members

61. Tarte Cosmetics: Free birthday gift

62. Ulta: Free sample-size birthday gift

63. Urban Decay: Free birthday gift

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Retail-related birthday freebies

Have you been wanting a pair of Cozy Earth pajamas since you read how much our editors love them? Or maybe you need to stock up on some new work clothes or your home needs a seasonal refresh? There are a million things you probably need … and more than 20 stores where you can get these essentials for less on your big day.

64. Ace Hardware: $5 coupon

65. American Eagle/Aerie: 15%, 20% or 25% discount, depending on your RealRewards status

66. Anthropologie: 20% off coupon

67. Build-a-Bear: Not entirely free, but during the month of their birthday, your child can make a Birthday Treat Bear, and the age they are turning is how much it will cost

68. Catbird: Free birthday treat

69. Container Store: 15%, 20% or 25% off, depending on your tier status

70. Cost Plus World Market: Birthday coupon

71. Cozy Earth: 50 reward points

72. DSW: $5 coupon

73. Famous Footwear: $5 reward cash and double points during your entire birthday month

74. H&M: 25% off an item of your choice

75. Ikea: Family Birthday Coupon to be used in-store only; you’ll also get a free coffee or tea while you shop

76. JJ Winks: Up to 200 birthday points ($10), depending on your VIP Club status

77. Kendra Scott: 50% off one item during your birthday month and Jolie earrings or necklace for just $25 when you redeem your birthday discount

78. Kohl’s: $10 Kohl’s Cash

79. Madewell: $25 coupon

80. The Paper Store: 20% off your entire purchase for both your birthday and half-birthday

81. Petco: 10% off your online order

82. Petsmart: Coupon valid for a toy or treat

83. Target: 5% off your entire purchase

84. Tractor Supply: $10 coupon

85. Victoria’s Secret: $10 reward

86. White House Black Market: Free reward coupon, though the amount depends on your member status

87. Yankee Candle: Free small candle

Clapperboard, 3D glasses and popcorn on yellow background
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Entertainment-related birthday freebies

You might think you’re too old for a birthday party, but we say there’s no such thing. Even if your celebrations are limited to your favorite people—or just you—these freebies on your birthday will put a big smile on your face. Invite your besties or have a family day, and while you’re at it, have a good laugh with them over these birthday puns.

88. Chuck E. Cheese: Birthday and half-birthday rewards, plus 500 tickets when you sign up

89. Dave & Buster’s: Free $10 game play

90. Disneyland: Free birthday button

91. Disney Movie Insiders Club: 25 birthday bonus points

92. Disney World: Free birthday button

93. Harkins Theatres: $5 birthday-treat award

94. Legoland: Free birthday button

95. Medieval Times: Free admission during your birthday month

96. Nickelodeon: Free birthday phone call for your kids (or your kid at heart) from their favorite character

97. Redbox: Free $2 reward

Marisa Hillman
Marisa Hillman is a freelance writer and product expert covering product reviews, gift guides and sales for RD.com. She is a former educator turned professional shopper dedicated to finding the best sales and products on the market. When she's not on deadline, she can be found exploring the East Coast or curled up at home with her nose in a book. She lives in New England with her husband, three children and two dogs.