How To Score Steak N Shake Birthday Freebies And What Rewards Offers Beyond The Free Shake

Nov. 7, 2025, 11:37 a.m.

Tags: shake birthday steak

Introduction

Steak ‘n Shake offers two distinct ways to receive birthday benefits, and they are both free to join. The first is the Steak ‘n Shake eClub, a free email program that, according to third‑party coverage, provides a free specialty milkshake on a member’s birthday. The second is the Steak ‘n Shake Rewards program, a mobile app‑based loyalty platform that gives members points for purchases and unlocks occasional free offers. Unlike the eClub, the official Rewards FAQs do not state that a birthday free milkshake is a standard benefit. Consumers can join both programs, and the two operate independently, which means a birthday treat can be accessed through the eClub while ongoing deals are accessed via the app.

Below is a detailed guide that pulls together what the official Steak ‘n Shake Rewards FAQs confirm, what third‑party sources say about the eClub, and the practical steps a U.S. consumer should follow to claim the birthday milkshake and use the app’s rewards. Where information is missing or third‑party reports conflict, the article will state the uncertainty so readers can make informed decisions.

What Are the Birthday Benefits and How They Differ

The eClub and the Rewards app are two separate programs with different access points and benefits. The eClub is an email program, while the Rewards app is a mobile loyalty platform. According to third‑party sources, the eClub provides a free specialty milkshake for a member’s birthday. In contrast, the official FAQs for Steak ‘n Shake Rewards do not list a birthday free milkshake as a standard member benefit. However, the app does provide “exclusive deals and offers” to members, which may include time‑bound promotions that could be relevant around a birthday, but such offers are not explicitly tied to a birthday in the official documentation.

This difference matters because consumers often plan their celebrations in advance. If a free specialty milkshake is the goal for a birthday, the eClub is the path highlighted by unverified sources. If the goal is to accumulate points and unlock periodic deals, the Rewards app is the path confirmed by the brand.

How to Join the Steak ‘n Shake eClub and Claim the Birthday Milkshake

Third‑party sources describe a straightforward process: join the free Steak ‘n Shake eClub online, provide an email address and a birthdate, and then a free specialty milkshake is issued on the member’s birthday. According to these sources, once enrolled, members also receive a welcome coupon for a free Double ‘n Cheese ‘n Fries, and the birthday free specialty milkshake is delivered on the designated day. The same sources advise that the eClub and the Rewards app are independent, and that consumers can join both on the same day to receive the welcome coupon immediately and the birthday milkshake later.

The third‑party coverage also points to a quick sign‑up path: the eClub is described as “free,” and it is associated with the same brand ecosystem that offers the mobile app. Because the official eClub sign‑up URL is not present in the source data, readers should check the brand’s official site for the eClub enrollment page. Readers should also be aware that third‑party pages often include affiliate disclosures and promotional language, which suggests they are not official Steak ‘n Shake sites. As a result, the birthday milkshake claim through the eClub should be treated as a third‑party report, not an official offer confirmation.

For consumers deciding whether to sign up, there is no indication in the provided sources that the eClub requires any purchase for the birthday milkshake. If enrollment is free and the birthday milkshake is credited automatically, then no cost is needed to claim the benefit. However, only a confirmed enrollment and receipt of a birthday coupon would verify that status for an individual member.

How Steak ‘n Shake Rewards Works: Points, Offers, and Redemptions

Steak ‘n Shake Rewards is a mobile app that enables members to earn points, order ahead, pay, find locations, and receive exclusive offers. The app’s structure is defined by a simple points‑for‑spend model and a clear reward redemption mechanic. The following sections summarize the official rules and capabilities.

Earning and Reward Structure

Members earn one point for every dollar spent on qualifying purchases. Once a member accrues 20 points, a $2 reward is issued. The reward can be used on any menu item, which makes the program flexible across a wide selection of food and beverages. Points are calculated on the pre‑tax amount, and tips and sales tax do not contribute to point accrual. This detail matters because it affects the pacing of point accumulation. Members who frequently make smaller purchases will see points accumulate more slowly compared to those who place larger orders.

The FAQ clarifies that the app requests location information to locate nearby restaurants, speed up search results, and ensure orders are hot and fresh for pickup. The brand states that it does not share personal or purchase information and that purchase data is used internally to provide relevant offers and exclusive deals. This position may matter to privacy‑focused consumers considering the value of personalized offers against the benefit of faster, location‑aware ordering.

Offers, Notifications, and Member Exclusives

According to the official FAQ, the brand provides exclusive deals and offers for Rewards members. The FAQ explicitly advises that members should sign up for email and push notifications to receive those offers. This is an important operational detail: even if a birthday free milkshake is not a formal app benefit, members who enable notifications can still receive time‑bound promotions that could be relevant around their birthday. The notification channels function as the primary delivery method for exclusive deals, so enrolling in both email and push notifications is a recommended step to maximize value.

How to Redeem Rewards

The app supports redemption at multiple touchpoints. Members can click on the “Rewards” icon in the app’s tray, press “Redeem Rewards Balance,” and scan a reward while placing a drive‑thru order. Rewards can also be applied at an in‑store kiosk, or selected and applied during a mobile order before the payment step in checkout. Members can hold multiple rewards, but the FAQs do not state whether all rewards can be used simultaneously. The guidance implies flexibility, but a clear policy on stacking multiple rewards is not provided in the source material. Practically, it suggests that consumers can apply available rewards as they prefer across orders unless the brand limits stacking in a given transaction.

The redemption flow is straightforward and does not require any special verification beyond the app. The only notable requirement is applying the reward before payment during a mobile order. If a member fails to apply the reward at checkout, the app may require a subsequent transaction to redeem the value.

The “Free Double ‘n Cheese ‘n Fries” Welcome Offer: What the Sources Say

Third‑party reports describe an immediate welcome coupon for a free Double ‘n Cheese ‘n Fries for new eClub members. Some coverage even suggests that joining both the eClub and the app on the same day could yield a combined welcome set of coupons—free shake and burger combo today, then a repeat set on the birthday. The official Rewards FAQs do not confirm a matching free burger combo welcome coupon within the app. As a result, readers should treat the “free Double ‘n Cheese ‘n Fries” as a third‑party claim pending verification on the brand’s official site or within the app.

In practical terms, the welcome coupon—if it exists—functions as an instant incentive. Consumers interested in trying Steak ‘n Shake’s burgers and fries can enroll in the eClub and the app, then check the app’s “Rewards” section or their email for a welcome coupon. If a coupon does not appear, the consumer should verify their enrollment status or contact the brand’s support using the information available on the official site.

Can You Use Both the eClub and the Rewards App at the Same Time?

Multiple third‑party sources assert that the eClub and the Rewards app are independent. This matters because a consumer seeking both a birthday milkshake and ongoing points‑based deals can, in principle, pursue both. Independence means that a free milkshake credited via the eClub does not interfere with points earned in the app, and vice versa.

However, the source data does not provide a formal brand statement confirming that the two programs are independent. The claim comes from third‑party coverage and should be treated with caution. If a member notices that their birthday milkshake is not delivered, or if points are not credited as expected, it could be because the programs are connected in a way not visible to the consumer, or because certain conditions need to be met for each program to function. Practically, the safest path is to join both, confirm enrollment through official channels, and verify that the app and email notifications are active.

Practical Steps to Maximize Birthday Freebies and App Benefits

Readers can adopt a simple set of actions to capture the reported birthday milkshake and use the Rewards app effectively:

Verify the eClub sign‑up: Find the official eClub enrollment page on the Steak ‘n Shake website. Provide a valid email address and the birthdate required for a birthday benefit. Because the official eClub URL is not included in the source data, consult the official site directly. This step ensures the claim is processed through the brand’s primary channel.
Activate the Rewards app: Download the app, create an account, and enable both email and push notifications. The brand’s FAQ emphasizes that exclusive offers rely on these notifications. Without them, members may miss promotions that could enhance a birthday celebration.
Confirm points and rewards: Use the app to review earned points and redemption options. The app shows the “Rewards” icon and the “Redeem Rewards Balance” button. Members can apply rewards during a mobile order before payment, scan a reward at the drive‑thru, or redeem at a kiosk. Check the pre‑tax total to understand how points accrue, and adjust orders accordingly.
Monitor coupons: If a welcome coupon for a free Double ‘n Cheese ‘n Fries appears in the app or via email, save it for redemption. If no welcome coupon appears, treat the benefit as unconfirmed and focus on the eClub birthday milkshake and the app’s regular offers.
Plan the birthday order: On the birthday, claim the eClub specialty milkshake if the coupon appears. If the app has exclusive offers, they can be applied to other items in the same order. Because the official FAQs do not confirm a birthday free milkshake in the app, consumers should rely primarily on the eClub for the free specialty shake and treat the app as a supplement for broader deals.
Verify availability: The app’s “find locations” feature helps locate nearby restaurants. For in‑store experiences, the kiosk supports reward redemption, and the drive‑thru supports scanning a reward during the order process. Before heading out, confirm that the chosen location participates in the program and that any coupons are still valid.

Eligibility and Participation: What’s Clear and What’s Unclear

Eligibility rules for the eClub and the Rewards app are not detailed in the source data. There is no explicit statement that these programs are limited to U.S. residents, nor is there a statement that they are available internationally. Readers should therefore confirm geographic eligibility on the official website or in the app. Similarly, while third‑party sources refer to “free specialty milkshake” and “free Double ‘n Cheese ‘n Fries,” the official FAQs do not define the exact menu items covered by the eClub birthday benefit or any welcome coupon.

The app clarifies that points are earned on pre‑tax amounts only, and rewards can be used on any menu item. The eClub’s sign‑up requirement is described as free, and no purchase is indicated to trigger the birthday milkshake in third‑party reports. However, until an official eClub page is consulted, consumers should treat any third‑party claim as tentative and verify the details before planning a celebration.

Making the Most of the App: Locations, Ordering, and Payment

The app is designed to streamline the ordering experience. Location services help members find the nearest restaurants, and the app supports ordering ahead, paying, and applying rewards. For members with multiple rewards, the app allows selection and application of available rewards during mobile checkout. For drive‑thru and kiosk orders, the “Redeem Rewards Balance” button enables scanning and redemption. Because the brand states that it uses purchase data to provide relevant offers, members can expect promotions that reflect their order history. Enabling push notifications and email is therefore a practical step to receive those offers as they are published.

Privacy and data use are covered in the official FAQs: personal and purchase information is not shared by the brand, and purchase data supports internal targeting of offers. Location information is needed to locate nearby restaurants and ensure hot and fresh pickup orders. This operational approach balances convenience with data privacy, though members should review the brand’s broader privacy policy for full details.

Known Gaps and Uncertainties

Several facts are not confirmed in the provided source material and should be treated as unknown:

The official eClub sign‑up URL is not included. Third‑party pages report a free eClub with a birthday milkshake, but this claim is not tied to an official Steak ‘n Shake page in the source data.
Eligibility rules such as age and geographic availability are not specified for either the eClub or the Rewards app.
The specific menu items covered by the eClub birthday milkshake and any welcome coupon (e.g., “Double ‘n Cheese ‘n Fries”) are not described in official terms. A third‑party report mentions a free specialty milkshake, but no official confirmation is present.
Whether the eClub and Rewards are truly independent programs is asserted by third‑party sources. An official brand statement confirming independence is not present in the source data.
The availability of birthday freebies is mentioned by third‑party coverage, but the official Rewards FAQs do not list a birthday free milkshake as a standard benefit.
Any connection between eClub enrollment and the app’s welcome offers is not documented in official materials.

Given these gaps, the most reliable approach is to verify program details on the official website and within the app, and to treat third‑party sources as suggestive rather than definitive.

Conclusion

Steak ‘n Shake offers consumers a clear path to earn and redeem points through its mobile Rewards app and an apparent path to a birthday free specialty milkshake through the eClub. The app confirms one point per dollar spent, with 20 points unlocking a $2 reward applicable to any menu item, and clear instructions for redeeming rewards at the drive‑thru, kiosk, or during mobile checkout. The brand emphasizes the importance of push and email notifications to receive exclusive deals.

In contrast, the birthday free specialty milkshake for eClub members is reported by third‑party sources, along with a welcome coupon for a free Double ‘n Cheese ‘n Fries. Because those claims are not tied to an official page in the provided materials, they should be treated as unverified reports. Nonetheless, many consumers find it practical to join both programs—eClub for the birthday milkshake and the app for ongoing points and deals—since third‑party sources describe them as independent.

For U.S. consumers who want to plan a birthday treat or a low‑cost meal, the app provides transparent mechanics and a reliable redemption flow, while the eClub, if it delivers a birthday milkshake, adds a celebratory element that complements the app’s broader benefits. The most effective strategy is to verify enrollment on the official site, enable notifications in the app, and monitor coupons carefully. If any expected benefits do not appear, consumers should confirm eligibility, review the app’s rewards section, and, if necessary, reach out to Steak ‘n Shake through official support channels.