Embedded Files
First-Time Signup and Birthday Bonuses For Travelers That Don't Require You To Spend A Dime
by Ryan Vagabundo
We live in an attention and data economy, and that stuff is almost as valuable as oil these days.
Your "mind share" and your contact info are so valuable to companies, they'll give you some pretty substantial freebies to get at it. Free meals, free stock, no-risk gambling opportunities, even free cash.
These usually work either through a simple email signup to a "loyalty program", or use of an app. The most common pattern is to give you a pretty decent signup bonus, and then a really good freebie every year on your birthday.
They almost never check IDs, though, so your "birthday" can be whenever you feel like celebrating it.
So what do they get in return? Well, usually your email address, so they can send you marketing messages. Usually lots of them. So maybe use a special Gmail or somesuch that you create just for this purpose.
Most allow you to sign up with email through a web browser, but a few insist that you use an Android or iOS app. These ones you have to watch a little more closely, because they could be tracking your location or pipelining some personal data back to the company.
I've collected the most useful ones for travelers here. They're great for saving some money on the road, or filling in those periods where income is a little short.
Important Notes About These Signup Bonuses
The ones I've listed here are truly free - you don't have to spend money to get money back. "Buy one get one free" or "free after your first purchase" offers don't qualify for this list, but I've made note of a couple when good ones are attached to an otherwise free offer. A few do ask that you fund them with a certain amount, but you don't lose that money, just have to move it to that account for a limited time.
Also, keep in mind these offers can change or end at any time. They're current as of the most recent publication of this page, but always check the current terms on the company page to make sure things haven't changed.
FREE MONEY
Acorns: A micro stock trading platform. Offers a free $5 just for signing up. However, note that there is a $1 monthly account maintenance fee, UNLESS you're under 24 and in college (use your .edu email to sign up)
Chime: "Bank substitute" that is 100% online and gives you a physical VISA debit card. If you have a regular automatic payroll deposit (paycheck from an employer) of at least $200, you get $50 for creating an account and sending the deposit to it. Seeing unconfirmed reports you can also use Cash App to do this.
Dosh: Automatic cash-back program by linking your debit or credit card to their app and paying with it at participating merchants. Get $1 free for signup and linking a card, and $5 for each friend you refer. Also get $25 back on your first hotel booked through their app.
DraftKings and FanDuel: Various fantasy sports for money, they have all sorts of things. There are also very frequently free games and contests that don't require a deposit or a wager. Worth keeping an eye on as you can win actual money from those.
InboxDollars: One of those wide-ranging microtask sites that has stuff like taking surveys, watching videos, playing games with ads in them, etc ... pays in cash and offers a $5 bonus just for signing up.
RobinHood: You get a free stock on signup that will most likely be worth $2.50 to $10, but there is a small chance of getting one worth as much as $200. You can invite friends to get more of these free stocks, up to $500 total. Basic accounts don't have a monthly maintenance fee. You do need a US SSN and to send them a bank statement photo to sign up for this though (since it's technically a registered banking entity so it has to comply with all that federal anti money laundering hooha).
ShopKick: An app that has tasks (called "kicks") for you to complete at retail stores, like scanning a barcode or just doing an app checkin there. You get paid a little for each kick. Download and install the app, do a kick within the first seven days, and you get a $3.50 bonus.
SoFi Active Investing: Another micro stock trading platform. Offers $50 to new customers if you fund an investment account with at least $25. No monthly maintenance fees. You can also get $50 if you open a checking/savings account with them and deposit at least $100 to start.
Vindale Research: A "pay to take surveys" site that pays in cash, they offer a free $1 for signing up. Has some other paid opportunities like offer walls and taking photos of receipts and such.
FREE FOOD
7-Eleven (browser or app): Choice of one free taquito, donut, coffee, Big Gulp, brownie or small bag of chips on signup
AM/PM (app): Get three free scratchers upon signup plus three additional every 24 hours by activating app inside a store, scratchers have a variety of prizes including free food
B. Good (app): Free side on signup, free birthday meal
Back Yard Burgers (browser): Free Back Yard Classic Burger
Baja Fresh (browser or app): One free taco on signup, free burrito on your birthday
Benihana (browser): Free $30 in-store gift card in your birthday month
Black Angus Steakhouse (browser): Free birthday steak dinner
Bruegger's Bagels (browser): Free bagel w/ cream cheese at signup and on your birthday
Buca di Beppo (browser): Free pasta dish
Caribou Coffee (browser): Free medium beverage, free birthday beverage
Checkers / Rallys (phone text message required, but is through web browser): One free Big Buford (double cheeseburger) - requires purchase but they have lots of stuff for $1, free shake on your birthday
Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (browser or app): Free birthday drink
Del Taco (browser): Two free grilled chicken tacos at signup, free shake on your birthday
Dennys (no signup, show ID at store): Free build-your-own Grand Slam on your birthday (technically free, though you should probably at least tip a couple bucks)
Dunkin Donuts (app): Free drink on your birthday
El Pollo Loco Rewards (browser or app): One Original Pollo Bowl
Firehouse Subs (browser or app): Free medium sub on your birthday
IHOP (browser): Free pancake stack on signup, on your birthday and on the anniversary of your signup every year
Jersey Mike's (browser): Free sub and drink on signup, free sub on your birthday
Johnny Rockets (browser): Free burger
Moe's Southwest Grill (browser and app): Free nachos on signup, free burrito on your birthday
Noodles & Company (browser and app): Free noodle bowl on your birthday
Panera Bread (browser or app): One free pastry
Peet's Coffee (browser and app): Free drink on your birthday
Quiznos (Facebook or app): One free small (4") sandwich
Raising Cane's (get free Caniac Club card in store then sign up via browser): Free Box Combo
Red Robin (browser): Free birthday burger and endless fries
Ruby Tuesday (browser): Free salad bar or burger on your birthday
Schlotzsky's (browser or app): Free small sandwich
Starbucks (browser with a linked gift card, or app): Free birthday drink
Steak 'n Shake (browser): Free double cheese and fries on signup, free shake on your birthday
Taco Bell (browser or app): One Doritos Locos Taco
Whataburger (browser): Free Justaburger on your birthday
Which Wich (browser and app): Free drink on signup, free birthday sandwich
Wingstop (browser): Free fries for signup, ??? on your birthday
Zaxby's (browser): Free sandwich meal for signup, free Nibbler on your birthday
* If you have kids, McDonalds and Burger King do a free birthday kids meal each year
FREE USEFUL TRAVEL STUFF
Au Bon Pain (browser): Free travel mug on signup, free lunch on your birthday
Catalina Express (browser): Free ride to Catalina from the LA area on your birthday
Redbox (browser): Free 1-night rental for signup, free 1-night rental on your birthday, opt into text club (have to receive text message ads) to get more periodic free movie offers
Check back as I'll update this page over time with new offers!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse