How to Order Ahead and Earn Rewards With the Starbucks App

The Starbucks app lets you skip the line by ordering from your phone — and every purchase earns Stars toward free drinks. Here's how to get started.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Download and Create an Account
2.Add a Payment Method
3.Place a Mobile Order
4.Earn and Redeem Stars
5.Check for Offers and Happy Hour

Download and Create an Account

~15s

Search for "Starbucks" in the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). Download the free app. Open it and tap "Join Now" to create a Starbucks Rewards account. Enter your name, email, and create a password. Starbucks Rewards membership is free.

Add a Payment Method

~18s

Tap "Account" (or the person icon) → "Add payment method." You can add a credit or debit card, or load money directly onto a Starbucks card within the app. Either works for mobile ordering. Starbucks Card (stored-value card in the app) earns Stars at twice the rate of credit/debit, but requires loading money in advance.

Place a Mobile Order

~27s

Tap the "Order" tab at the bottom. Browse categories (Drinks, Food, etc.) or search for your usual order. Tap a drink to see all customization options. Set size, milk type, extra shots, syrups, temperature, etc. Tap "Add to Order." When ready, tap "View Order" → confirm your store location → tap "Place Order" → pay.

Quick Tip

The app remembers your "Favorite Orders" — after placing an order, tap the heart to save it. Future orders can be placed in seconds by tapping your saved favorites.

Earn and Redeem Stars

~17s

Stars are automatically added to your account after each purchase. Check your balance by tapping the person icon. To redeem: when you have enough Stars, tap "Redeem" during checkout. You'll see what free items are available at your current Star balance. Select what you want and it's applied to your order.

Check for Offers and Happy Hour

~25s

Tap the "Offers" tab (or the star icon) to see current bonus Star promotions, limited-time deals, and any Happy Hours. Happy Hours typically run for a few hours on specific days and offer buy-one-get-one deals or discounted beverages — these are only available to Rewards members and are announced through the app.

Quick Tip

Turn on app notifications to get Happy Hour alerts before they start — they're time-limited and sometimes only a few hours long.

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The Starbucks app is one of the most-used restaurant apps in the country. It lets you order ahead so your drink is ready when you arrive (no waiting in line), pay directly from your phone, and automatically earn Stars toward free drinks and food with every purchase.

Mobile Order & Pay is the most popular feature. You browse the full menu, customize your drink exactly how you like it (size, milk type, number of shots, extra syrup, temperature, etc.), choose a pickup time, pay through the app, and walk in to pick up your order at the mobile pickup shelf — usually in 5-15 minutes. At busy locations, this saves significant time.

The Starbucks Rewards program is built into the app. Every dollar you spend earns Stars. Accumulate enough Stars and you can redeem them for free drinks, food, or merchandise. 25 Stars gets a free food item upgrade; 150 Stars gets a free handcrafted drink. The rate is roughly one free drink per $25-30 spent.

Stars also earn from purchases made in-store by showing your app barcode — you don't have to mobile-order to earn rewards. Show the barcode before the cashier charges you.

The app also gives access to Starbucks promotions: bonus Star opportunities, limited-time offers, and seasonal drink launches. Notifications alert you to current offers, though you can turn these off if you prefer.

Starbucks frequently runs "Happy Hours" visible in the app — promotional times when drinks are discounted or bonus Stars are available. The app makes it easy to know when these are happening at your local store.

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