The McDonald's $5 Meal Deal Is Here — Along With a Ton of Other Discounts

McDonald's is giving its fans a few more ways to save on a meal out this summer.

On Thursday, the fast food giant announced that in addition to its much-hyped $5 Meal Deal and its Free Fries Friday, it's also offering local exclusive discounts on the app too.

“We heard our fans loud and clear – they’re looking for even more great value from us, and this summer, that’s exactly what they’ll get,” Joe Erlinger, the president of McDonald’s USA, shared in a statement provided to Food & Wine. “Value has always been part of our DNA. We’re focused on living up to that legacy and offering delicious, affordable options customers can enjoy any time they walk through our doors, go through our drive-thru thru, or place an order through our app.”

The deals begin on June 25, when McDonald's drops its $5 Meal Deal that includes a choice of a McDouble or a McChicken sandwich, small fries, a four-piece Chicken McNugget, and a small soft drink. However, this deal does come with some fine print, as it's only available for a limited time and only available at participating McDonald's restaurants. (Fun fact for those who didn't know, most pricing is set by franchise owners, not corporate, hence the wild swing in prices you see from McDonald's locations across the nation.) 

McDonald's will also bring back its Free Fries Friday promotion, an exclusive treat for those who have the McDonald's App. Customers can get a free medium fry with any $1 minimum purchase through the end of 2024. 

And, the company shared that franchisees across the U.S. will also offer neighborhood deals, including discounts like the Buy One Get One for $1 breakfast sandwiches in Memphis, Tennessee, or a Double Cheeseburger and small fries pairing for $3.50 in Columbus, Ohio, or a mix and match McChicken and McDouble deal for $3.99 in Western New York. 

“Affordable prices and creating memorable moments are what McDonald’s is all about,” John Palmaccio, a McDonald’s owner-operator and Operator’s National Advertising Fund Chair. “As small business owners, it’s our responsibility to deliver great value to our local communities when they need it most. The $5 Meal Deal is the perfect complement to the everyday local deals customers can find in-store and on the app, like the 25% off any purchase of $10 or more deal that I'm offering at my restaurants in Savannah, Georgia.”

The deals are likely a welcome sight for many Americans. In May, Food & Wine reported on the LendingTree survey of 2,025 Americans, which revealed that a whopping 78% of respondents said they now consider fast food a luxury. An additional 65% said they had been "shocked" by a recent high bill at a fast food restaurant. And in that same survey, 16% of respondents said they viewed McDonald's food as "high-end" due to its pricing.

But, at least for now, you can score a pretty solid deal. McDonald's noted that the best way to find them all is to get the app. You can double down by earning points, which can be used on free food in the future. Even after the limited-time deals run out.