Scoop Up Savings with These 9 Ways to Earn Free Ice Cream
We may all scream for ice cream, but free ice cream is the holy grail of desserts. If you’re looking to cool off on a hot day, there are tons of ways to enjoy a free scoop, from racking up rewards to birthday benefits.
As sweet treats go, ice cream can be an expensive indulgence, especially if you’re heading into scoop shops daily. But it’s cheap compared to the most expensive ice cream in the world, which tops out at $6,119 per scoop. The secret ingredient in this decadent gelato? Truffles, natural cheese and lots of gold leaf.
Fortunately, you don’t have to shell out thousands for a satisfyingly creamy dessert.
9 Ways to Get Free Ice Cream This Summer
Americans love ice cream so much that one day of celebration wouldn’t cut it. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau says the average American spoons up four gallons of ice cream every year. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared July National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of July National Ice Cream Day.
Make Easy Money to Buy More Ice Cream
Getting free ice cream is a pretty sweet bargain, but once your birthday and the summer is over, there aren’t as many deals. Here are some of our favorite ways to make easy money so you can keep buying up sweet treats.
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Here are 9 ways you can score a free (or discounted) scoop this summer.
1. Get a Free Dilly Bar at DQ
On July 20, 2025, DQ Rewards members will receive an exclusive treat deal in-app for a free Dilly Bar. You will have to spend at least $1 to claim the deal.
2. Score Free Dippin’ Dots
Visit participating locations on July 20, 2025 to score a free mini cup of Dippin’ Dots! Each location will only be running the promotion for two hours, so you’ll want to call ahead to pin down when, exactly, that window will be for yours.
Ideally you’ll visit at the start of the two hour window. That’s because the first 100 visitors will also get a free collectible cup in addition to their frozen freebie.
3. Great Ice Cream Deals at Marble Slab Every Sunday in July
Loyalty members can expect push deals from Marble Slab Creamery every Sunday in July. While the July 20 deal hasn’t been announced quite yet, you can expect it to be the best one of the month. In years past, the National Ice Cream Day deal has been a completely free small serve.
4. Free Soft Serve at Burger King
Celebrate National Ice Cream Day on July 20, 2025 at Burger King with a free soft serve when you spend $1 on anything else. This deal is reserved for Royalty Perks members, so join up today.
5. Get Free Frozen Yogurt Early at Menchie’s
Menchie’s isn’t waiting until July 20 to hook you up with free sweet treats. Be one of the first 50 visitors at 3p on July 10, 2025 to nab a free 5 oz serving of frozen yogurt.
There may be additional deals on July 20, too, but if they’re coming, they haven’t been announced quite yet.
6. Don’t Sleep on 7/11 Day
7/11 famously gives out free slurpees on July 11 every year. This year, if you’re a member of 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards, you’ll get a little something extra. In addition to a second free slurpee coupon (which you’ll be able to use through the end of the month,) you’ll get a free temporary tattoo for your tongue. When you drink your slurpee, watch your tongue change colors!
7. Dunkin’ isn’t Doing Free, But it is Doing Deals
Unfortunately, Dunkin’ Donuts hasn’t announced any freebies for National Ice Cream Month, but you can score some deals throughout July:
- July 7 – 28: 100 bonus points when you place an order-ahead mobile order on a Monday.
- July 16 – 31: Get $2 off an Iced Strawberry Lemon Loaf when you purchase a beverage.
- July 20: Earn 3x points when you order frozen treats.
You’ll also get 150 bonus points if you do drive thru on July 24. If you buy a beverage on or before July 15, you’ll get $3 off a Ham & Cheese croissant stuffer.
8. Win Free Ice Cream for a Year from Bruster’s
For National Ice Cream Month, Bruster’s runs a sweepstakes where you can win free ice cream for an entire year. You can enter here through July 31, 2025.
9. Keep an Eye Out On These Creameries
As July 20 approaches, keep an eye out on these retailers. They’ve offered free or discounted ice cream for National Ice Cream Day in the past. The deal is most often offered to members of each store’s rewards program, so it’s worth signing up now so you can get the discounts as they’re announced:
- Baskin Robbins
- Carvel
- Crispy Cones
- Cold Stone Creamery
- Culver’s
- Friendly’s
- Insomnia Cookies
- McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams
- Salt & Straw
- Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream
- Talenti
- Wendy’s
- Yonutz
How to Get Free Ice Cream Year-Round
If scooping up your favorite flavors will take more than an entire month, don’t despair. We’ve gathered ways to save on ice cream, leverage special offers and try new flavors on a regular basis long after the hot days of summer have faded away.
Scoop Up Ice Cream on Free Cone Day
Whether you prefer a light crispy cake cone, an old-fashioned sugar cone or a chocolate-dipped waffle cone, there’s no doubt cones are a delicious ice cream delivery device.
National free cone day is a little hard to lock down as each shop seems to celebrate on a different day. Dairy Queen usually offers a free ice cream cone in March, while Ben & Jerry’s celebrates in April. Some Häagen-Dazs shops also offer free cones once a year, so mark your calendar accordingly.
Cash in on Free Frosties All Year Long
If you were clever enough to grab a $3 Wendy’s Frosty Key Tag last year, you’d be enjoying a free Frosty with every purchase all year long. If you didn’t, you can still earn free frosties (and other food items) when you join the reWards program.
Ask for Samples at Your Local Ice Cream Shop
Free samples are a standard offering at most scoop shops, so don’t be shy. Step up and ask for a spoonful or two of a new flavor or just stick with a classic – because you can never go wrong with chocolate.
Be sure to sign up for the shop’s newsletter, while you’re there. It’s a good way to learn about special events and get discount codes.
Babies (Including Fur Babies) Get Free Ice Cream at Bruster’s
Pop into a Bruster’s location where the kids (and dog) can get a taste for the flavor of ice cream. Free baby cones are limited to kids who are 40 inches or shorter, but doggie sundaes are provided for all four-footed family members of the canine variety.
Welcome the First Day of Spring with Free Italian Ice
On the first day of spring, Rita’s Ice opens its stores to celebrate with free Italian ice for everyone. The next free Italian ice promotion for Rita’s enthusiasts will arrive on March 20, 2026.
Dig Into Free Ice Cream Coupons
Last but not least, if you live pretty far from the sugar rush of a local scoop shop, you can still snag a free pint. Many brands like Alden’s put the cherry on top with store coupons for National Ice Cream Month.
Free Ice Cream on Your Birthday: Here’s Where to Go
Whether your birthday falls during the summer months or not, there are plenty of restaurants and scoop shops that will give you a free, sweet treat for your special day.
A&W
Join the Mug Club to get a free root beer float on your birthday.
Applebee’s
Get a free dessert (including ice cream) on your b-day when you join Club Applebee’s. Just note that there’s a big asterisk with this one – you have to spend at least $15 on the rest of your order to qualify for the freebie.
Baskin Robbins
Download the Baskin Robbins app and input your birthday to get a free scoop. Plus, if you officially join Baskin Rewards, you’ll get another free scoop after your first purchase.
Ben & Jerry’s
Flavor Fanatics get free ice cream every time they blow out the candles.
Big Boy
Join the I Love Big Boy email club to get a free dessert on your birthday – be it ice cream if you so choose!
California Pizza Kitchen
CPK Rewards members get a free dessert on their birthday – and most of their desserts come with a healthy scoop.
Carvel
Fudgie Fanatics get a “free birthday reward” to celebrate their birthday.
Chili’s
My Chili’s Rewards members also get free dessert (including ice cream) on their big day.
Cold Stone Creamery
Cold Stone used to give out BOGO coupons for your birthday, but over the past year or so the birthday promise has been downgraded to be a little more vague. Now it’s just a birthday “reward.” Given that most of what they sell is ice cream, though, you can expect that’s what your reward will be in some way, shape or form.
Culver’s
Culver’s doesn’t just hook you up with a free, one-topping scoop for your birthday. When you add family members to your account, they’ll get in on the free birthday ice cream, too.
DQ
The DQ Rewards offer is a little nondescript – you’ll get a “birthday offer” as a member. Whether or not that’s free ice cream varies, but it’s worth a shot!
Friendly’s
Join Friendly’s Club Fun to get free birthday ice cream.
Marble Slab Creamery
Sign up for the rewards club to receive “birthday offers”.
Menchie’s
Get a free, birthday frozen yogurt treat worth up to $5 when you sign up for mySmileage Rewards.
Olive Garden
Plenty of Olive Garden’s desserts are laden in ice cream, and you’ll get one of them for free when you tell the waiter it’s your birthday.
P.F. Chang’s
Members of Chang’s Ca$h get a free dessert (or appetizer) on their big day. Pick a dessert that comes with ice cream to sweeten the deal.
Rita’s
Get free Italian ice for your birthday when you sign up for Rita’s Birthday eClub. Bear in mind that Rita’s is only open for half the year – if you’ve got a winter birthday, you’ll get your coupon for your half birthday instead.
TCBY
You can get a birthday treat worth up to $5 when you sign up for TCBY’s Froyo Club Rewards.
TGIFridays
TGIFridays is another restaurant that rewards you with a free birthday dessert (like ice cream) when you sign up for their rewards club.
Wahlburgers
Get a free homemade shake for your b-day when you sign up for the WahlClub.
Tips to Maximize Your Free Ice Cream Haul
Many of the freebies offered for National Ice Cream Day are one-per-order. That means rather than banking on the whole family getting free sweets only to be disappointed, it may be best to have everyone place their own order and sign up with their own rewards account.
Bear in mind that some of these promotions are limited to a set number of customers. That means you’ll want to triple-check when opening hours are for the freebie deal so you don’t get caught empty handed after standing in line. The early bird gets the ice cream.
Avoid the Gotchas: How to Claim Freebies Without Overspending
Why do businesses give away free stuff? It’s almost always because they’re hoping you’ll spend more while you’re there. If you’re headed into your ice cream haul with children, psych them up for the freeness of it all and prepare them for the fact that they won’t be able to order anything on the menu – just what’s free.
Some National Ice Cream Month promotions also come with purchase requirements. For example, to get free ice cream at Burger King this year, you have to spend at least $1. Order one of the cheapest things on the menu – like a tiny-sized fry or a single cheeseburger – rather than a full combo meal to keep your costs ultra low.
If those are too expensive, check how much they charge for a bag of ice. At some locations, they can be under $2, and can help preserve your sweet treats a little longer on the car ride home.
Kaz Weida is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder covering saving money and budgeting. As a journalist, she has written about a wide array of topics including finance, health, politics, education and technology for the last decade.
Pittsburgh-based writer Brynne Conroy is the founder of the Femme Frugality blog, DISABILIFINANCE and the author of “The Feminist Financial Handbook.” She is a regular contributor to The Penny Hoarder.
