Free stuff at any time of the year is a lovely treat for most students.
But free birthday stuff just hits a little harder, ya know? It doesn’t matter what time of the year your birthday lands, birthday freebies are always welcome – especially when your student loan is drying up.
So, if you’re feeling hungry, you’re gonna wanna read on and find out how to nab that free meal, free sweet treat or coffee on the way to uni.
Luckily for us, hundreds of companies have realised that birthday freebies are beneficial for their brand and are trying to take advantage of it.
For you, that means a chance to get loads of freebies on your special day.
But how do you get free stuff on your birthday? And where can you get it?
Whether a free meal, free birthday burrito or a free doughnut to soak up your hangover, we’ll be giving you the goss on the best places to find free birthday stuff and how to nab it. Let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like a free sweet treat.
Those are the questions Unifresher will be answering…
Freebies anytime of the year is the best treat for students after a long day of lectures.
But birthday freebies on your birthday feels even more special. No matter when your birthday is, birthday freebies are always excited, especially when student loan begins to stop covering a sweet treat!
If you’re feeling peckish, then stay with us to find out how to get a free sweet treat, coffee, or meal on your birthday!
How do they work?
There are two different kinds of freebies that you can get on your birthday; discounts and entirely free treats.
Some companies like Greggs, Krispy Kreme and M&S Sparks Card will give you a treat on your birthday without you needing to pay for anything additionally to unlock your reward. Those are the best ones, as we all love a good free treat!
Other places like Frankie and Benny’s offer deals such as buy one get free or some form of discount. While these are decent deals, we’re all definitely more likely to look at those that don’t have a minimum spend catch so that you can collect freebies like Pokemon on your special day.
It’s worth signing up for newsletters and apps as soon as possible so that they have your birthday on file ready. Some rewards are sent out a few days before your birthday, so if you leave it too late, the rewards won’t roll into your inbox for your birthday.
So, with that said, here’s our guide to some of the best birthday freebies that you can get from UK shops and brands.
Where can I get free stuff on my birthday?
This is the part I’m sure you’ve been waiting for, the only reason you clicked on the article: where do you get freebies?
Loads of companies want to lure you into their shops on your birthday hoping for that £10 you got in a card from an auntie you haven’t seen since you were six!
We’ve divided the freebies into sections so that you can easily find the offers that you want.
Free food
The best kind of food is free food. Whether it’s a free birthday meal, or a free sweet treat. Free food is definitely the priority when it’s your birthday!
This is your reminder that some companies require you to sign up a few weeks ahead of your birthday, so sit back and sign up for them quickly!
Krispy Kreme
- What: On your birthday, you can claim a free Original Glazed doughnut
- Rules: Make sure you’re signed up to the Krispy Kreme Rewards program. You’ll receive a voucher to be used in-store on your birthday.
- What: A free sweet treat
- Rules: Register with the loyalty scheme on the Greggs app, they’ll load a voucher to your Greggs wallet on your birthday.
- What: A free treat.
- Rules: The reward depends on your rank. Rising Star is a treat, Hot shot gives you a choice of a treat, and The Boss is a big treat. Just sign up to their loyalty scheme on the app and on your birthday you’ll have access to a treat.
- What: A free slice of cake (excludes pastries)
- Rules: Download the app and sign up to their loyalty scheme. The voucher will come through for your birthday and you’ll have two weeks to use it.
- What: Free Whopper or plant-based Whopper
- Rules: Download the Burger King Rewards app and add your birthday in your account information.
- What: A free slice of cake
- Rules: Sign up to the Costa Club using the app, make sure you enter your date of birth and then you’ll get a free slice of cake on your birthday.
- What: Free doughnut
- Rules: Download and sign up for the Lidl Plus app, and then your doughnut will show up as a voucher!
- What: A free birthday box of noodles
- Rules: Sign up for the newsletter and download the app.
- What: A free snack
- Rules: Download the app and sign up!
- What: Free 200g truffles
- Rules: Sign up for MyLindt Rewards
- What: Free dessert
- Rules: Download and sign up for the app
Free drinks
Free drinks are equally as great, alcoholic or not! Here’s a list of some free drinks you can get:
Slug and Lettuce
- What: A free cocktail
- Rules: Sign up to their newsletter. Book a table for you and at least one friend, show the voucher code to a bartender upon arrival.
- What: A free healthy drink
- Rules: Sign up to their vibe club and have earned at least one point.
- What: Free glass of fizz (and 10% off the bill)
- Rules: Sign up for Masters of Steak Club.
Cosmetics
Cosmetics can add up quite quickly, from free gifts to vouchers, there’s definitely a lot you can take advantage of!
Aveda
- What: A mystery gift and double points
- Rules: sign up to their rewards program
Bare Minerals
- What: 50-150 points
- Rules: The thoughtful Bare Minerals team will give you a free gift based on the types of things you have bought from them before. Just sign up as a Friends And Benefits member to claim your freebie.
Space NK
- What: A mystery gift
- Rules: Join the N.Dulge club and you’ll receive an email on your birthday with a code for a free mystery gift. Exciting.
The Body Shop
- What: A free £5 The Body Shop gift voucher
- Rules: Sign up to the Love Your Body Club and you’ll receive a free £5 gift voucher with no minimum spend.
Hobby Craft:
Not quite a cosmetic, but if you sign up to their loyalty program, you can get a £5 voucher for your birthday!
Discounts
Frankies and Benny’s:
- What: free meal
- Rules: Sign up for newsletter and buy another main course.
ASOS
- What: tier-specific discount
- Rules: Sign up to their loyalty program at least one whole day before your birthday.
Bella Italia
- What: £15
- Rules: sign up to their newsletter, and spend at least £30
So, are you ready to take advantage of these freebies?
Once you start to look, birthday freebies are left, right, and centre. While some need you to have a minimum spend, when your birth month rolls around, there are so many free or discounted treats that you can access!
Many of them have a grace period for you to use your voucher (usually a week or two), so don’t worry about collecting them all in one go.
Make sure you sign up as soon as possible to take advantage of as much as you can!
FAQs on How to Get Free Birthday Stuff
Most birthday freebies in the UK are available when you sign up for a brand’s loyalty programme or newsletter in advance. Around your birthday, you’ll receive a voucher or code—usually by email or app—that can be redeemed for a treat, either in-store or online.
Top birthday freebies in the UK include a free doughnut and coffee from Krispy Kreme, a free sweet treat from Greggs, a cookie from Subway or Millie’s Cookies, and a free burrito from Barburrito or Tortilla. Pizza Express, Burger King, and Las Iguanas also offer generous birthday meals or snacks through their apps or loyalty schemes.
Yes, most brands require you to sign up at least a few days—sometimes weeks—before your birthday. It’s best to register early to make sure your voucher or offer arrives in time to be used on your birthday or during your birthday week.
Definitely! Popular drink deals include free coffee from Benugo and a free pint or gin and tonic from Nicholson’s pubs. For beauty, you can get a £5 voucher from The Body Shop, a free gift from Aveda, or a brow wax from Benefit if you're signed up in advance.
Create a separate email account for freebie sign-ups to keep things organised. Always read the terms—some offers require a minimum spend, while others are truly free. Sign up early and plan your route if you're collecting multiple offers in one day.