12 food apps that gave me freebies and discounts just for signing up

Bagels are a staple in New York City, and I got a free one every day for the entire month of February.

If you have to pay for them, like most people do, a bagel a day can be expensive. With one smartphone app, I saved over $30 on bagels alone (but not the cream cheese, which I had to pay for).

I noticed this delightful offer as I was checking my email and saw a message from Panera Bread with the subject line:"Jessica, start your day free all month long."

How could I resist anything free? I opened the email to the offer of a free bagel every day in February.

This is not the first time I've received such great news from Panera Bread. As a member of their rewards program, MyPanera, last year I received a similar deal: free coffee every day in September.

According to the Wall Street Journal, many restaurants and franchises have loyalty programs as a way for them to engage, interact, and get feedback from customers. It's also a good way to get customers to keep coming back knowing they'll be rewarded for their purchases.

A month of free bagels was so great that I wanted to see what other offers were out there.

Here are 12 food apps I downloaded and got discounts or rewards just for signing up:

SEE ALSO: 12 tricks to save money on groceries, from a woman who wiped out almost $24,000 in debt

My Burger King

Burger King's app offers over $25 in discounts and buy-one-get-one options right when you download it.

For example, this month they have deals for $3 chicken fries and large classic fries, or two grilled dogs and two small classic fries for $5.

Sign up here

My Chili's

Signing up for the Chili's rewards app gets you 60 points — enough for a free menu item. As you spend at Chili's, you rack up more points, which go towards more free menu items. You also get a free appetizer or dessert on your birthday.

Business Insider reporter Kathleen Elkins scoured New York City for more places that offer birthday freebies.

Sign up here.

Corner Bakery eCafe

Though the Corner Bakery app was difficult to navigate, my hard work paid off. I received an email for a free cookie just for signing up.

Sign up here.