In the wake of the promotions by Starbucks and by Dunkin’ Donuts over their loyalty programs, let’s take a look at how they compare.
Which rewards program is better – Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? Let’s chart it out.
| Starbucks | DunkinÂ’ Donuts | |
|---|---|---|
| Spend for Reward | $62.50 | $40.00 |
| Reward Value | Free item | Free drink |
| Signup Freebie | None | Free drink |
| Other Perks | Free refill, Double-Day | None |
| Immediate Earn | Earn after $150 spend | Immediate earn |
| Birthday | Free item | Free drink |
| Referrals | 1/2 drink | ? |
| Online Earn | Earns online | DoesnÂ’t earn online |
Contents
Spend per Reward
Starbucks needs $62.50 in spend (125 stars) to get a free item. DD needs just $40 in spend (200 stars).
Winner: DD
Value of Reward
DD gives you a certificate for a free beverage of any size. Starbucks allows you to get a free drink or free item.
Winner: Starbucks
Signup Bonus
The standard bonus when signup up with DD is a free beverage (we’ll discount temporary bonuses). Starbucks doesn’t give out any freebie for signing up.
Winner: DD
Other Perks
Starbucks gives free refills on coffee or tea for Star members. Starbucks also gives Gold members one double-day per month on which all purchases earn double points.
Winner: Starbucks
Immediate Earn
DD begins earning points toward a free drink immediately. Starbucks only starts getting points toward free rewards after spending $150 (300 stars).
Winner: DD
Birthday Present
Both DD and Starbucks offer a free birthday reward. For DD, it’s a free drink of any size. For Starbucks, it’s “a free beverage or treat” so it sounds like you can get a food item as well. Starbucks also gives 15% off at StarbucksStore.com as a birthday present.
Winner: Starbucks
Referral Bonus
Starbucks currently gives 60 Stars for referring a friend, or about a half of a reward. Bear in mind that there is a limit of 2 referrals you can do per day and 8 per month. (HT: VFTW)
In the past, DD has had an offer to refer a friend and get a free drink; not sure if that offer is currently available.
Online Earn
Starbucks also gives points for online purchases while DD does not.
Winner: Starbucks
Final Thoughts
In the end, most people will choose a coffee shop based on preference and location, but it’s fun to see how they compare side-by-side.
Disclosure: I’m not a coffee drinker. No doubt there are lots of things missing in the above comparison and probably some errors too, please add/correct in the comments below.
