| Changes to Program | Delta SkyMiles | Earning | Earning Internationally | Enrolling | Perks | Program Limits | Using Your Stars |
Everyone from veteran parents who need a shot of espresso to start their morning to puppies eager for a sweet little “Pup Cup” treat can find a reason to get something at Starbucks. But if you frequent the coffeehouse, you should definitely sign up for the Starbucks Rewards program to get the most bang for your buck.
The Starbucks loyalty program first launched in 2008 with the classic, humble punch card that gave you your 10th drink for free. Many of us will remember the days when we’d order a frappuccino, hand over our worn card from the depths of our wallet, and count down the visits to when we’d be rewarded our free drink. It was a reason to always come back. Now, however, everything is done with the convenience of our phones. And the Starbucks program has evolved accordingly. It’s also gotten a bit more complex, but that gives you even more reasons to go back to Starbucks.
Today’s Starbucks Rewards program is based on “stars” and comes with multiple levels of discounts and benefits. Think free customized drinks, refills on coffee and tea and an annual birthday reward. Plus, Starbucks now has a partnership with Delta that allows its rewards members to earn Delta SkyMiles through Starbucks purchases. In 2024, we’ve seen increased value in the Starbucks Rewards program, as Starbucks has been rolling out special 50% off discounts and BOGO offers that are only for members.
If you’re hoping to optimize and maximize your Starbucks visits, read along for a deep dive into the Rewards program.
How To Enroll in Starbucks Rewards
The Starbucks Rewards program is entirely free and easy to sign up for.
Create a Starbucks.com account: All you need is your name and email address to begin earning stars for your purchases. Then, download the Starbucks app. Available on iOS and Android, the Starbucks app is the hub where you can best see your current rewards and benefits, in addition to placing mobile orders.
When setting up your account, add your birthday to your account to snag your free birthday reward.
How To Earn Starbucks Rewards
How many Stars you’ll earn depends on how you pay:
- 1 Star per dollar: Starbucks purchases where you pay with a debit or credit card.
- 2 Stars per dollar: Starbucks purchases where you pay with money you’ve preloaded onto your Starbucks Card (or with a Starbucks gift card that you’ve loaded onto your Starbucks Card).
- 3 Stars per dollar: Starbucks purchases you make with your Starbucks Rewards Visa card.
All purchases made by scanning your Starbucks card earn you two stars for each dollar. You also get two stars per dollar when paying with a gift card. We recommend transferring the gift card balance to your main Starbucks card to keep things tidy and have a composite balance.
If you opt to scan and pay with a separate credit card, debit card, cash or mobile wallet, you’ll earn 1 Star per dollar spent.
If you want to earn the most — three stars for each dollar — you can open up a Starbucks Rewards Visa Card. New card members earn 4,500 bonus stars when spending $500 in the first three months of opening the account. The intro annual fee is $0, then $49 after the first year. You’ll also earn an additional 300 Bonus Stars the first time you use your Starbucks Rewards Visa Card to reload money to your Starbucks account.
The easiest way to manage your Starbucks card’s funds is directly through the app. You can turn on the auto-reload option, where the app will automatically add money to your Starbucks card when it hits below a certain balance. You also have the option to manually reload money onto the card by choosing exactly when and how much you want to add.
Tip: If you’re paying directly with a card (inserting a chip card or tapping to pay), make sure to scan your Starbucks card before paying. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on earning stars.
Starbucks Rewards Program Perks
Originally, the Starbucks Rewards program allowed customers to get free drinks only after earning 125 stars under the Gold Tier status. But in 2019, Starbucks revamped the program to allow any member to use rewards to their liking.
Benefits include:
- A free birthday drink.
- Free refills on hot or iced brewed coffee or tea that was purchased with your registered Starbucks card or with the app during the same store visit.
- Special offers are sent to members by email — make sure to opt in for promotional emails.
- Balance protection for your Starbucks card if it is lost or stolen.
- Double Star Days: Starbucks chooses days where you can earn double stars on purchases.
- Star Days (only through the app): Starbucks chooses a week of exclusive offers and games to earn additional stars.
- Rewards begin at 25 stars.
- Earn Delta SkyMiles.
Starbucks Birthday Rewards
On your birthdays, you’ll get one free beverage OR one free food item OR one free ready-to-drink bottled beverage at participating Starbucks stores only. Your Birthday Reward is automatically added to your account on your birthday and is valid only on that date.
To qualify for your Birthday Reward:
- Join Starbucks Rewards at least seven days before your birthday.
- Add your birth date to your Rewards account.
- Make at least one Star-earning transaction prior to your birthday each year.
Exclusive Deals
Over the past year or so, we’ve seen Starbucks offer freebies that are only for members: BOGO deals, 50% off select drinks, etc. We saw a slew of deals around the holiday season and even more for the summer.
How To Use Your Stars for Starbucks Rewards
Note: The program changed on Feb. 13, 2023.
So you’ve racked up some stars. Here’s how you can apply your Stars toward your drinks and food:
- 25 Stars: An espresso shot, added syrup or sauce (like caramel syrup) or a dairy alternative option (soy milk, almond or coconut milk), valued up to $1.
- 100 Stars: Hot brewed coffee or hot steeped tea, iced brewed coffee or iced brewed tea, OR a bakery item OR a packaged snack.
- 200 Stars: Handcrafted beverage (such as a latte or Frappuccino blended beverage) OR any hot breakfast item (such as a breakfast sandwich or oatmeal).
- 300 Stars: A packaged salad or lunch sandwich, a packaged protein box, or a packaged coffee item (like whole bean coffee).
- 400 Stars: A select merchandise item with a value of up to $20 (pretax). Availability may vary by store location.
How To Earn Delta SkyMiles at Starbucks
In October 2022, Starbucks announced a partnership with Delta, allowing Starbucks Rewards members to earn Delta SkyMiles by making Starbucks purchases:
Here’s how it works:
- Starbucks members can create a Delta SkyMiles account (if you don’t already have one) and link their accounts.
- Then, members earn 1 Delta SkyMiles per $1 spent on eligible Starbucks purchases.
- If you hit a Starbucks on a day you have a scheduled Delta flight, you’ll earn double Stars.
How To Earn Starbucks Rewards Internationally
Yes, you can use your Starbucks card internationally. Currently, you can continue collecting Starbucks stars in participating stores in Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Mexico and Australia.
While your Starbucks card balance will show you the currency from where you initially bought your Starbucks card, the transaction will automatically be converted from the country you are visiting to the base currency. No additional fees or charges will be made to your Starbucks card. However, if you are reloading your Starbucks card internationally with a U.S. card, your bank or card provider may charge a separate fee.
Limits to Starbucks Rewards Program
Do Starbucks stars expire? Yes. Stars expire six months after the calendar month in which the stars were earned. You can find a detailed breakdown of what stars expire when through the app and online. So while you may be tempted to keep compiling your stars to use toward a bigger purchase, we recommend you use them as they reach each tier of rewards.
Starbucks cafes that are inside stores like Barnes & Noble and Target do not accept the Starbucks app as a payment form, which means you can’t earn stars. Make sure to go to an actual Starbucks storefront (you can check online or in the app for a participating store) to earn stars and use your rewards.
Starbucks Rewards Program Changes
Starbucks changed its rewards program, adjusting the number of stars needed to redeem for free items. These are the new redemption amounts as of February 2023:
For historical reference, these were the redemption requirements before Feb. 13, 2023:
- 25 Stars: Customize your drink with an extra espresso shot, and add a dairy substitute or a pump of special syrup.
- 50 Stars: A brewed hot coffee, hot tea or bakery item.
- 150 Stars: A handcrafted drink like a caramel macchiato, a hot breakfast sandwich, oatmeal or a parfait.
- 200 Stars: A lunch salad, sandwich or protein box.
- 400 Stars: Select merchandise or at-home coffee that includes a signature cup, a bag of coffee or your choice of select coffee accessories.
Can You Earn Stars on Starbucks Products at Grocery Stores?
Not anymore. Starbucks used to let rewards members verify their receipts (via email, text or online) and earn stars when they purchased Starbucks coffee at grocery stores. However, that program ended in Sept. 2022.
The post Everything You Need to Know About the Starbucks Rewards Program appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
