August 2026 Food Deals & Freebies: Save Big All Month

August 2026 Food Deals & Freebies: Save Big All Month

If July was the freebie party of the summer, August is the sweet, syrupy encore. School shopping is picking up, back-to-school lunches are coming, and the big chains know your wallet is stretched thin. That is exactly why so many of them are dropping value menus, app-only freebies, and food holiday deals all month. And most of them do not need a birthday, a coupon book, or a secret handshake. You just need the right app open at the right time.

I sat down and pulled together the August 2026 deals that are actually worth your while, so you do not have to jump between a dozen apps trying to find them. Let me walk you through it holiday by holiday, then we will hit the everyday app deals you can lean on all month long.

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day (Tuesday, August 4)

Nothing says August like a warm cookie. The first big food holiday of the month lands on Tuesday, and the cookie chains go all in.

• Insomnia Cookies: Insomnia Rewards members can grab a free Classic cookie with any in-store or online purchase, plus a $1 Deluxe cookie upgrade if you want to go big.
• Subway: Watch the Subway app for a free footlong cookie or free cookie six-pack with qualifying delivery orders through DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub.
• Potbelly: Potbelly Perks members can score a free cookie with any entree purchase using the app.
• Great American Cookies: Rewards members can pick up a free regular cookie in store on the holiday, plus keep an eye out for a BOGO Cookie Cake slice.
• Tiff's Treats: Tiff's Treats runs cookie week promo codes on Instagram, so give them a follow the week of August 4.

National S'mores Day (Monday, August 10)

Summer camp vibes, minus the mosquitoes. National S'mores Day gives the dessert spots an excuse to roll out limited-time treats and app deals.

• Wendy's: Look for a Frosty-related promo through the Wendy's Rewards app, since S'mores flavors have been in rotation the last few summers.
• Dairy Queen: DQ Rewards members should check the app for Blizzard of the Month deals and BOGO Blizzard offers that usually line up with the s'mores craze.
• Krispy Kreme: Rewards members can watch for limited-run s'mores doughnuts and a free doughnut day promo, since Krispy Kreme has leaned into the theme in past summers.

National Waffle Day (Monday, August 24)

Waffle Day is a Monday this year, and honestly, that is the best possible way to start a week.

• Waffle House: Waffle House Regulars Club members usually get a coupon for a free waffle or a discount off breakfast around August 24, so make sure your email is signed up.
• IHOP: IHOP International Bank of Pancakes members should check the app for bonus PanCoins or free waffle promos on the day. Kids 12 and under also eat free with any adult entree, 4 to 10 p.m. daily.
• Denny's: Denny's Rewards members can watch for 20 percent off or a free stack promo through email. New sign-ups also get 20 percent off their next visit.
• Bob Evans: BOGO breakfast entrees are a Waffle Day tradition here, so grab a friend and split the tab.

National Banana Split Day (Tuesday, August 25)

If you did not get your fill on National Ice Cream Day in July, August has your back too.

• Baskin-Robbins: Baskin-Robbins Rewards members get 2X points and app-only discounts on sundaes and splits through the celebration week.
• Dairy Queen: Watch the DQ Rewards app for a BOGO Blizzard or a Banana Split deal on August 25.
• Carvel: Fanatics rewards members typically see an app-exclusive coupon for a discounted sundae or ice cream cake.
• Cold Stone Creamery: My Cold Stone Club members can score BOGO deals and free Create Your Own creations through the app in late August.

National Bacon Day and Eat Outside Day (Sunday, August 30 and Monday, August 31)

August closes out with a bang, because who does not love bacon and eating on a patio.

• Wendy's: Check the Wendy's app for Baconator deals and Biggie Bag combos, which usually get a bacon-day boost.
• Denny's: Watch for a free side of bacon or a discounted Grand Slam through the Denny's Rewards app.
• Applebee's: The 2 for $25 deal is running with a new Bacon Cheeseburger Wonton Tacos appetizer option through August 16, so late-August patio hangs pair perfectly with an app and two entrees for a flat price.

Ongoing August App Deals Worth Bookmarking

Even outside the holidays, the apps are stacked. These deals run through most or all of August, so you can lean on them anytime you need an easy win.

• 7-Eleven: The $1 Slurpee Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., valid through August 25 for 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards members. Grab a large Slurpee in any flavor for a buck, no promo code needed.
• McDonald's: The Under $3 Menu, $4 breakfast Meal Deals, and $5 Lunch and Dinner Meal Deals are still going strong. Free Fries Friday and app-exclusive Rewards deals are also live all month.
• Popeyes: The $5 Faves Menu is back through August 31, so three pieces of chicken with two sides or a sandwich for a fiver.
• Applebee's: All You Can Eat Boneless Wings, Riblets, and Double Crunch Shrimp is $15.99 dine-in, endless fries included. The 2 for $25 menu is also still going with an appetizer plus two entrees.
• Chipotle: Summer of Extras is still active through the Chipotle Rewards app, unlocking bonus points, exclusive drops, and free entrees when you hit purchase milestones.
• Taco Bell: Tuesday Drops keep dropping through the app, with limited $1 boxes and the occasional free menu item, so set a weekly reminder.
• Wendy's: The $4, $6, and $8 Biggie Bag deals are still the reliable go-to. A full combo for around $6 is hard to beat.
• Pizza Hut: $3 Tuesdays get you a 1-topping Personal Pan Pizza for just three bucks with carryout.
• Domino's: Watch the app for the $9.99 Best Deal Ever on any pizza, any crust, any toppings.
• Burger King: Royal Perks members can find rotating BOGO Whoppers and free item add-ons all month.

Kids Eat Free August Roundup

Back-to-school stress is real. These kids-eat-free deals help stretch your family dinner budget without cooking.

• IHOP: Kids 12 and under eat free with any adult entree, 4 to 10 p.m. daily at participating locations.
• Denny's: Denny's Rewards members get free kids' entrees with a $6 adult entree, 4 to 10 p.m., days vary by location.
• Chili's: My Chili's Rewards members can find free kids' meal coupons in the app or by email throughout August.
• Applebee's: Free kids' meal with any adult entree at participating locations on select nights.
• Outback Steakhouse: Free Joey kids' meal every Monday with an adult entree, use code JOEYFREE online or in the app.
• Smashburger: Kids 12 and under eat free every Wednesday with an adult meal purchase.

A Few Tips to Stretch Every August Deal

• Download the apps early: Almost every deal above lives inside a loyalty app. Sign up now so you are ready the second a freebie unlocks.
• Turn on notifications: These deals move fast, and some are single-day only. A push alert is the easiest way to not miss one.
• Stack a small purchase: Pair a free item with a cheap qualifying purchase to hit the minimum without overspending.
• Check participating locations: Not every store joins every promo, so peek in the app before you drive out.
• Watch the fine print: A few deals are dine-in only, and a few need a rewards membership, so know before you go.

You can find fresh food deals every day of the month over at DealSeek, where we round up the best freebies, discounts, and app drops so you never miss one.

Bottom line, August is quietly one of the best food deal months of the year. Between cookie day, waffle day, banana splits, and the everyday app deals that just keep running, you can eat well for less almost any day of the month. Sign up for the apps, keep a soft spot for national food days, and treat yourself without wrecking your budget.

Never Miss an August Food Deal

Why bounce between a dozen loyalty apps when we can hand you the best food deals in one place? Download the DealSeek app and let us track every freebie, discount, and limited-time drop this August!