Subway is desperately trying to climb out of the rut it’s found itself in, with continuously declining sales and a shrinking national footprint after closing thousands of locations. It still can’t seem to get traction.
Two months after reviving its beloved rewards program, Sub Club, the chain is already making changes to the digital loyalty reboot and scrapping some of its main features, including the free footlong after every third purchase.
The sandwich chain notified members via email that, starting February 23, only full-priced subs will be eligible for stamps. The “buy three footlongs, get one free” offer will also be discontinued beginning April 1.
“We’re excited that millions of people have joined Sub Club and that the program’s bold offer reignited conversation around value,” the company said in a statement sent to Nation’s Restaurant News. “On April 1, Sub Club’s reward structure will be updated, continuing to provide guests flexibility in how they earn and redeem rewards. Looking ahead, we’re exploring additional reward opportunities, including potential partnerships and more dynamic ways to recognize and engage members.”
Customers who earned free subs before Feb. 23 can redeem them within 12 months of issuance. Those who earn free subs between Feb. 23 and March 31 will have about two months to redeem them, the company said.
Subway brought back Sub Club in December 2025 as a digital version of the old stamp-card program that ran for decades before ending in 2005. Instead of paper stamps, purchases were tracked in the app, but the reward structure followed the same basic idea.
That free fourth sandwich is now being replaced with a standard points system. Members get 10 points for every dollar they spend, and once they’ve spent $40, they earn $2 in Subway Cash.
Loyalty members are not happy about the changes, with some saying the update will slash their rewards by as much as 80%.
“The new setup gives you 10 points per $1 spent, and 400 points equals $2 in Subway Cash. So you have to spend $40 to earn $2. That’s effectively 5% back,” said one customer on Reddit. “So they went from a 25% return to 5%. That’s not a minor adjustment, that’s an 80% cut in rewards.”
Other members said they weren’t surprised by the changes, arguing the deal seemed too good to be true from the start. One Redditor wrote, “When they first introduced the Sub Club I thought it seemed too good to last.”
“It really was too good to be true. I was essentially getting $5 meals. Since I only get Subway with coupons I guess I never get a free sub again,” said another.
Franchisees were never a fan of the revived Sub Club, calling the perk way too generous. The company reimbursed franchisees for part of the cost of the free subs.
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