Last updated: October 2026 · Panera switched MyPanera to a points program on August 19, 2026, and capped Sip Club at 30 drinks a month. Rewards and prices can change, so check the app before you order.
- How MyPanera rewards work: Since August 19, 2026, MyPanera is points-based. You earn 10 points per $1 on food and drinks. Rewards start at 250 points (a bagel or mini bakery treat) and go up to 2,000 points (a whole entrée).
- Sign-up perk: New members get 500 points after a food or drink purchase made within 14 days of joining.
- Birthday: Regular members get a free bakery treat. MyPanera+ members get a free You Pick Two meal (up to $18 off). Each is valid for 7 days.
- MyPanera+: Spend $300 in a calendar year to unlock it. You also earn 12 points per $1 on delivery orders placed in your account.
- Sip Club: $14.99 a month or $119.99 a year, plus tax, for up to 30 select drinks per period. Through December 31, 2026, new and lapsed subscribers can pay $5 a month for 5 months.
MyPanera is Panera Bread’s free loyalty program. It has more than 70 million members, according to Panera. In August 2026 Panera dropped the old surprise-style rewards for a clear points menu. This guide explains how to earn and spend points and what the paid Sip Club gets you. It also covers the fine print that can cost you points.
MyPanera rewards at a glance (October 2026)
| Feature | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free. Must be 13+ and a U.S. legal resident | Confirmed (panerabread.com) |
| Earning rate | 10 points per $1 of food and drink subtotal, after discounts | Confirmed (panerabread.com) |
| Reward range | 250 points (bagel or mini bakery treat) to 2,000 points (whole entrée) | Confirmed (panerabread.com) |
| Welcome bonus | 500 points with a purchase within 14 days of joining | Confirmed (panerabread.com) |
| Birthday reward | Bakery treat (MyPanera) or You Pick Two up to $18 (MyPanera+) | Confirmed (panerabread.com) |
| MyPanera+ status | Spend $300 in a calendar year; 12 points per $1 on delivery | Confirmed (panerabread.com) |
| Point expiration | After 180 days with no purchase or redemption | Confirmed (panerabread.com) |
| Sip Club price | $14.99/month or $119.99/year, plus tax; 30 drinks per period | Confirmed (panerabread.com) |
| Military or student discount | Not listed on official pages | Not verified |
How the new MyPanera points program works
Panera launched the new program nationwide on August 19, 2026. Before that, members got rewards that showed up after visits, and you could not choose them. Now every eligible dollar adds to a points balance you can see in the app. Existing members moved over automatically.
You earn 10 points for each verified $1 of food or drink, counted after rewards and discounts. Some things never earn points, according to Panera’s terms:
- Taxes, fees and tips
- Catering orders and orders on third-party delivery apps
- Gift cards, Panera at Home grocery items and Panera Shop purchases
- Sip Club subscription fees
There are three levels. MyPanera is the free base level. MyPanera+ unlocks when you spend $300 or more in one calendar year. It lasts for the rest of that year and the next one. MyPanera+ Sip Club is the paid drink subscription, and it includes the MyPanera+ perks while you stay subscribed.
How to earn and redeem MyPanera points
- Join free in the Panera app or at panerabread.com, and add your birthday (month and day).
- Order while logged in on the app, website or kiosk. In the cafe, give the cashier your MyPanera phone number. Panera says it can’t add points to purchases made without logging in.
- Wait for points to load. Panera says to allow up to 24 hours.
- Open the reward catalog in your account and pick a reward you have enough points for.
- Apply it to a later order. Points from a purchase can’t be used on that same purchase.
Only one reward can be used per transaction, and each reward covers one item. Once you pick a reward, the points come off your balance and you can’t change your mind. Your balance stops growing at 50,000 points, so spend points before you get close to that.
MyPanera reward chart (October 2026)
Panera’s official launch release confirms the bottom and top of the chart. The middle levels below come from news coverage of the launch, and Panera’s public pages don’t list them. Check the reward catalog in your app for the current menu.
| Points | Example rewards | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 250 | Bagel or mini bakery treat | Confirmed (panerabread.com) |
| 500 | Energy Refresher, Fresca, bakery treat, self-serve drink or fruit cup | Reported (The Points Guy); Panera says 500 points equals a Refresher or Fresca |
| 1,000 | Cup of soup, breakfast entrée, oatmeal, parfait or barista drink | Reported (The Points Guy) |
| 1,500 | Half sandwich, half salad, half bowl, cup of mac and cheese or kids meal | Reported (The Points Guy) |
| 2,000 | Whole entrée of your choice, such as a sandwich or salad | Confirmed (panerabread.com) |
Quick math: at 10 points per $1, a 2,000-point entrée takes about $200 of spending. The 500-point welcome bonus covers a 500-point reward right away.
Birthday reward and sign-up bonus
To get a birthday reward, add your birthday in your account before the day comes. Regular MyPanera members get one free bakery treat. MyPanera+ and Sip Club members get one free You Pick Two meal, with a discount of up to $18. Lobster items are excluded. Both birthday rewards last 7 days after they load. You have to select them when you order, and they don’t work on catering or third-party orders.
The welcome bonus is 500 points. You get it when you make a verified food or drink purchase within 14 days of joining. It is limited to one per member. Panera’s terms also mention a separate 500-point offer within 14 days of reaching MyPanera+ or Sip Club, with some exceptions.
Sip Club: price, drinks and limits
The paid drink plan used to be called Unlimited Sip Club. In July 2026 Panera said the plan would drop “unlimited” and cap drinks at 30 per period starting in August. Its terms now call it the Sip Club Subscription Program, also known as MyPanera+ Sip Club.
| Plan | Price | Drink limit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $14.99 + tax every 30 days | 30 drinks per billing cycle |
| Annual | $119.99 + tax per year | 30 drinks per rolling 30-day period (final period: 35) |
| Promo (Sept 23 to Dec 31, 2026) | $5/month + tax for 5 months, new or lapsed subscribers | Same as monthly |
Included drinks are drip hot coffee, plain cafe blend iced coffee, hot tea, fountain soda and select bubbler drinks. Milk, half and half, and sweeteners are free. Not included: Energy Refreshers, Frescas, bottled drinks, smoothies, frozen drinks, hot chocolate, specialty iced coffee, and espresso drinks. Add-ons like syrups, cold foam or extra espresso cost extra.
You can get one drink every two hours. Your next drink unlocks two hours after the last one is picked up or delivered. Subscribers also get Sip Club Saturday offers on select Saturdays. You must be 18 or older, and you sign up online or at a kiosk. Plans renew automatically. To stop the next charge, cancel at least 24 hours before your next billing cycle. There are no prorated refunds.
Fine print that can cost you
- Expiration: Points expire after 180 days without activity. A purchase, a points redemption or a Sip Club drink resets the clock.
- Delivery apps: Orders on third-party apps earn no points. Order delivery through Panera’s own app or site instead. MyPanera+ members earn 12 points per $1 that way.
- Deleting your account ends a Sip Club subscription right away, with no refund.
- Students and military: Panera’s official pages list no student or military discount for MyPanera. Some local cafes may run their own deals, so ask at your cafe.
Troubleshooting missing points or rewards
- Points not showing? Wait 24 hours, then check that you were logged in or gave your phone number at checkout.
- No birthday reward? Make sure your birthday is saved in your account before the day arrives.
- Reward won’t apply? Remember the one-reward-per-order rule, and check that it isn’t a catering order.
- Sip Club drink locked? Check the two-hour timer and whether you’ve used all 30 drinks this period.
- Still stuck? Contact Panera customer care at panerabread.com/customercare or call 1-855-3-PANERA.
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Frequently asked questions
how many points do you get per dollar at panera
You earn 10 MyPanera points per $1 of food and drink, after discounts. MyPanera+ and Sip Club members earn 12 points per $1 on delivery orders placed in their Panera account. Taxes, tips, catering and gift cards earn nothing.
how many points for a free sandwich at panera
A whole entrée, such as a sandwich, costs 2,000 points, which is about $200 of spending. News coverage of the launch reports a half sandwich at 1,500 points. Check your app’s reward catalog for current prices.
do mypanera points expire
Yes. Points expire after 180 days without activity. Any eligible purchase, points redemption or Sip Club drink resets the 180-day clock.
what is the panera birthday reward
Regular members get a free bakery treat. MyPanera+ members, who spend $300 a year, and Sip Club members get a free You Pick Two meal worth up to $18. You must add your birthday to your account, and the reward lasts 7 days.
how much is panera sip club now
Sip Club costs $14.99 a month or $119.99 a year, plus tax, for up to 30 select drinks per period. New and lapsed subscribers can pay $5 a month for 5 months through December 31, 2026.
CouponVPS is not affiliated with Panera Bread. Program details, prices and rewards can change at any time and may vary by cafe. Always check the Panera app before ordering. Sources: Panera Terms of Use (MyPanera program terms), https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/legal/terms-of-use.html (checked October 2026); Panera press release on the points-based MyPanera program, https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/press/press-room/panera-unveils-all-new-points-based-mypanera-rewards-program.html (checked October 2026); Panera Sip Club page, https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/mypanera/subscription.html (checked October 2026); Sip Club terms, https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/mypanera/subscription/terms-and-conditions.html (checked October 2026); The Points Guy and Nation’s Restaurant News launch coverage (August 2026) for the middle reward levels.
