Starbucks Rewards Program: Our Ultimate Guide to Maximizing Your Stars

As a former Starbucks barista, I’ve seen the evolution of this loyalty program and have used it almost since its inception in 2008 (though at that time, I was still a Partner and got free Starbucks drinks every shift). The Starbucks Rewards program — which has gone from a modest paper punch card to a complex and convenient app — is one of my favorite ways to save money at Starbucks.

From the quickest ways to earn extra Stars to maximizing your free drinks, here’s everything I’ve learned about the Starbucks Rewards program (and why I think you’re missing out if you don’t join). Trust me, you’ll want to take advantage of the best Starbucks offers this summer, like BOGO free Starbucks drinks and Starbucks Triple Star Days. 

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How to Sign Up for Starbucks Rewards

It’s pretty dang simple to join. Download the free Starbucks app — available for iOS or Android — or visit starbucks.com/rewards to sign up for Starbucks Rewards. 

The app is a better experience all around. It’s so easy to use and convenient — especially since you’ll likely order your Starbucks on the go.

Here’s what they’ll ask for:

1. First and last name.

2. Email address (which becomes your login).

3. Password.

4. (Optional) Your birthday.

You should definitely enter your birth date. You’ll earn a free Starbucks birthday drink each year, so it’s worth that extra step.

How to Earn Starbucks Rewards

Starbucks makes it pretty easy to earn rewards — aka Stars. Once you have a Starbucks Rewards account, you scan your unique bar code on every visit to earn Stars.

Earning Stars: The Basics

There are two easy-to-earn Starbucks Stars:

1. Cash or Credit/Debit Card: 1 Star for every $1 spent when you choose “Scan only” in the app.

2. Starbucks Gift Card: 2 Stars for every $1 spent when you add a Starbucks gift card to your Rewards account and use the “Scan & pay” option in the app.

   

If you’re a Starbucks regular, there's no reason not to reload a Starbucks gift card and earn two Stars per dollar. You put your credit card information into the app and reload it with a pre-selected amount automatically. Or you can even set it up to reload automatically. 

Think about it this way. A free drink at Starbucks is 200 Stars. If you earn one Star per dollar, you have to spend $200 to earn a free drink. Instead, you could use a Starbucks card and spend just $100 to earn a free drink. 

Starbucks Star Days — Earn Double or Triple Stars

Throughout the year, Starbucks Rewards members get access to Starbucks Star Days where you can earn double or even triple Stars on your purchases. You need to activate these offers in your app before placing your order, but you’ll rack up Stars 2x or 3x faster. 

For example, my typical drink is $4.95 on a regular day. If I paid with a debit card, I’d earn 4.9 Stars. But since I pay with a Starbucks card in the app, I earn 9.9 Stars on that order. But on Triple Star Day, that same drink order nets 14.85 Stars — nearly 10 Stars more than paying with a debit card on a standard day.

If you’re a regular Starbucks customer, always pay with a reloaded Starbucks card in your app — especially on Double or Triple Star days. 

You’ll get other perks with the Starbucks Rewards program too. More on that coming up later. 

Starbucks Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy Collaboration

As of June 18, 2024, eligible members signed up for both Starbucks Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy can enjoy two earning perks.

1. Double Star Days — Starbucks Rewards members who are also enrolled in Bonvoy will get Double Stars on qualifying Starbucks purchases throughout their stay at participating Bonvoy hotels.

2. Marriott Bonvoy Weeks — Starbucks Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy members earn 100 Marriott Bonvoy points with qualifying transactions at participating Starbucks locations during designated Marriott Bonvoy Weeks throughout the year. The first Marriott Bonvoy Week begins July 8, 2024, and runs through July 14.

Marriott Bonvoy has also launched an exclusive sweepstakes available to Starbucks Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy members with linked accounts. The Grand Prize was a trip to visit each of the Starbucks Reserve Roasteries in Seattle, Milan, and Tokyo with a stay in a participating hotel and round-trip air transportation fare included.

Bank of America x Starbucks Partnership

Bank of America cardholders can also score some extra Stars by simply adding their Bank of America credit card as their payment source in the Starbucks Rewards app. 

Cardholders should link their Bank of America eligible card with their Starbucks Rewards account to earn 2% cash back and 1 Star for every $2 spent on qualifying Starbucks in-app purchases.

The 1 Star for $2 spent may not seem as lucrative as the 2 Stars per $1 you get with a Starbucks card, but the cash back is where you’ll see the most value from this partnership. The 2% cash back is on top of the 1.5% back you earn on everyday purchases. So your trip through the Starbucks drive-thru earns you 3.5% cash back on your purchase. And that has a better value than a handful of Star rewards. 

Redeeming Stars

Here’s what you can get with your Starbucks Stars:

The key here is to maximize your value when you redeem your Stars. Since you can customize drinks (and get bigger sizes) — you’ll want to aim for at least 5% cash back on your initial spend.

Here’s an example of maximizing your Starbucks freebie.

Earn 100 Stars when you spend $50 using a pre-loaded Starbucks card in your Starbucks app. Since 100 Stars gets you a free iced coffee of any size, opt for a trenta (regularly $4.95) and add a few modifications to make it into a specialty drink.

• Trenta Iced Coffee: $4.95

  • Add an espresso shot: $1.25

  • Add cold foam: $1.45

  • Add Caramel sauce: $0.80

  • Add Caramel Crunch Topping: $0.50

  • Add cream: Free

• Drink total: $8.95

• Total back on $50 spend: 18%

Starbucks Rewards Perks

Alright, we’ve covered Starbucks Stars, but that’s not all you get with Starbucks Rewards. Here are 10 more reasons you should sign up for this free rewards program.

1. Exclusive Monday Deal Drops.

2. Mobile ordering and pickup in store or the drive-thru.

3. Personalized in-app offers (like half-off drinks, $3 Grande drinks, and more).

4. 25 Bonus Stars and a $0.10 discount when you bring your own cup.

5. A free birthday drink.

6. Free refills of hot or iced brewed coffee or tea when you pay with your registered Starbucks card or with the app during the same in-cafe visit.

7. Starbucks Double and Triple Star Days: select days where you can earn extra Stars on purchases.

8. Access to member-only games throughout the year.

9. Balance protection for your Starbucks card if it's lost or stolen.

10. Earn Delta SkyMiles on Starbucks Card reloads of $25 or more, plus Double Stars on travel days.

Seriously, Join Starbucks Rewards — It’s Free

If you visit Starbucks at least once per year, you’re missing out if you don’t join this free loyalty program. It costs nothing to join, but you earn Starbucks deals and Stars and get access to exclusive offers.

Rack up 100 Stars for a free drink and customize it to your heart’s content, take advantage of the Starbucks refill policy, or hoard your Stars and get $20 off the new Starbucks x Stanley Tumbler. How you use this rewards program is up to you, but you’re missing out on saving money at Starbucks if you don’t take advantage of it.