The Best Starbucks Hacks to Save Money

Indulge on a budget with these insider Starbucks tips

Co-authored by Wayne Dang and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: June 3, 2025 Fact Checked

What can you say? Starbucks is your obsession, and while you may love it, your wallet sure doesn’t. If your love for Starbucks is draining your bank account, have no fear—there are tons of ways you can save money at Starbucks without sacrificing your daily caffeine kick. Take a look at these money-saving hacks and tricks to learn how to get free stuff at Starbucks.

1

Sign up for Starbucks' rewards program.

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Use the Starbucks app for each purchase to earn Stars. The best way to save money at Starbucks is to become a loyal user of their app. You can earn points or Stars when you make an account and sign up for their rewards program. Every purchase earns you more Stars, eventually leading to free drinks, food, and more.^{[1]
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- You’ll earn 1 Star for every dollar.
- Once you earn 25 Stars, you can start cashing in those freebies!
- The Starbucks app occasionally has seasonal games and sweepstakes that can help you earn extra Stars, so keep an eye out for those.
- Forget to use the app to make your purchase? No worries! Scan your Starbucks receipt in the app to make sure you get your Stars.

2

Earn a free drink or food item on your birthday.

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Sign up for the Starbucks rewards program for free birthday goodies. Once you become a Starbucks rewards member, the discounts and benefits just roll in! These include a free drink or food item on your birthday. Simply keep an eye on your email or the app on your special day. Then, head to a Starbucks to cash in your free gift.^{[2]
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- This reward must be used within 7 days of your birthday.

3

Get free in-store drip coffee and tea refills.

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Use your Starbucks account to get free refills. You may be eligible for unlimited free refills if you order a brewed coffee or tea in-store. Simply order your beverage, drink it at your leisure in-store, and then head back to the counter and ask the barista for a refill (just be prepared to show them your rewards account).^{[3]
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- This hack only works for plain drip coffees and teas. It doesn’t apply to iced tea lemonades, cold brews, or blended beverages (like Frappuccinos).
- Try this hack the next time you visit a Starbucks inside a Target. Do your shopping, and then get a free drink refill on your way out!
- Keep in mind that refills aren’t offered in every store.
- Similarly, you can order French press coffee (if your location offers it) and drink it in-store.

4

Bring your own cup.

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Save $0.10 and get bonus rewards with a cup of your choice. Starbucks encourages their customers to bring their own cups to fill up. Why? Because it saves the environment and saves you money! By bringing your own reusable cup, you’ll get a $0.10 discount and earn 25 extra Stars.^{[4]
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- You’ll be charged for the closest cup size to your cup.
- This hack can be used once per transaction and up to 3 times a day.

5

Take advantage of happy hour.

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Every few weeks, Starbucks hosts a happy hour event for loyal customers. BOGO drinks are typically offered to reward members on Thursdays from 2 to 7 p.m.

6

Ask for light ice.

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More often than not, Starbucks likes to fill their cups over halfway with ice. This means you’re typically getting more ice than beverage in iced drinks. To avoid this, ask for light ice while ordering in-store or with the app.^{[5]
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7

Order a venti to share.

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Split a coffee with a friend and save $1. A 24-ounce venti latte costs around $4.95; a 12-ounce tall latte costs around $3.95. To save money, order a venti drink of your choice and ask the barista to split it into 2 tall cups. This way, you’ll have 2 12-ounce drinks for the price of 1 drink.^{[6]
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- This hack can only be done in-store, as the app doesn’t give you the option to split a drink.
- Find out even more money-saving hacks at the wikiHow forum post, "What're your fav secret Starbucks hacks for cheap coffee?"

8

Ask for 2 tea bags.

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Order a second tea bag for free. When you order a hot tea at Starbucks, the barista typically gives you 1 tea bag; however, you can ask for a second one to make a stronger brew. Request the same tea bag twice, or try mixing 2 tea flavors to make your own delicious concoction.
- Consider asking for the second tea bag on the side. This way, you can steep a second cup later.

9

Order whipped cream instead of cold foam.

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While cold foam is delicious, it can get rather expensive. Starbucks charges around $2 for additional cold foam, whereas whipped cream is free. Consider ditching the foam for whip. After all, they’re both tasty and have similar consistencies!^{[7]
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10

Ask for no water in iced tea.

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Starbucks pre-makes their teas, diluting them with water once ordered. For a stronger tea and more bang for your buck, ask for an iced tea with no water. This way, you’ll get the original premade tea rather than the watered-down version.

11

Order a cup of water rather than a bottle.

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Water bottles can cost up to $3 at Starbucks, whereas a cup of ice water is completely free. So, the next time you need some H2O, ditch the plastic bottle and ask the barista for some ice water.^{[8]
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12

Get Chai Tea with bags instead of concentrate.

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There are 2 types of chai available at Starbucks: Chai Tea and Chai Lattes. Chai Tea Lattes cost around $6 and are made with milk and concentrate; meanwhile, Chai Teas are around $4 and are made with water and tea bags. Believe it or not, ordering a regular Chai Tea with a splash of milk is cheaper than getting a Chai Tea Latte (plus, they taste very similar).

13

Order a Blended Iced Mocha over a Mocha Frappuccino.

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A Blended Iced Mocha and Mocha Frappuccino are almost the same thing. The only difference between them? How fine the ice is. Frappuccinos have finer ice and cost around $6, while blended iced drinks are about $5. If you don’t mind a slushier consistency, consider ordering a blended drink over a Frappuccino to save a buck.

14

Order a Puppuccino for your dog.

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Puppuccinos (or small cups of whipped cream) are free at Starbucks. Order a Puppuccino along with your drink so your dog can have a treat as well.^{[9]
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15

Check for Uber Eats discounts.

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Get $5 off your order using Uber Eats. If you order Starbucks delivery through Uber Eats, you may be eligible for a $5 discount. Use the code COFFEE4U at checkout, and check the app regularly for Uber Eats-specific sales and offerings.
- Uber Eats regularly runs promotions for new-time users or free delivery. To find even more coupons, search “Uber Eats discounts” online.

16

Consider working at Starbucks.

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Starbucks employees get free food and drinks. If you’re an avid Starbucks customer looking for a job, becoming a barista may be the perfect hack for you! Not only will you get to learn the ins and outs of making your favorite drinks, but you’ll also earn free drinks before and after your shifts.^{[10]
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- Starbucks employees also receive a 30% discount on their days off and 1 free pound of coffee beans or box of tea per week.
- As another bonus, employees can also apply for the Starbucks College Achievement Plan and earn free tuition.^{[11]
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Save even more money by making your coffee at home.

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Looking for fun and interesting drinks to try? Consider ordering off of the Starbucks Secret Menu.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

I get iced tea at Starbucks but they dilute it, so I always ask for no water and no ice to give me the most tea possible. Then I go home and dilute it myself. You get more bang for your buck!
If you are a Starbucks rewards member, you get 25 extra stars if you bring your own cup into the store instead of using one of theirs. Plus, it's a good way to reduce waste.

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