Starbucks Is Changing Their Rewards Program Again

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Starbucks is dramatically reshaping its Rewards loyalty program starting March 10, 2026 — with new perks, status tiers and ways to earn and spend Stars. The changes aim to give members more flexibility and reward higher engagement, but loyal customers (including myself) are not happy.

What’s Changing with the Starbucks Rewards Program?

Under the updated structure, Starbucks Rewards will feature three membership levels — Green, Gold and Reserve — with benefits tied to engagement and Star earnings. Every member gets perks like Free Mod Mondays (one free drink customization per month) and new options like redeeming 60 Stars for $2 off any order. I’m curious why they’re calling it “Free Mod Mondays” when you can only use it once a month. The name clearly implies a weekly free mod, not monthly.

Stars can also be easier to keep from expiring with monthly qualifying activity for Green members, while Gold and Reserve members enjoy Stars that never expire. I wasn’t even aware that stars expire, but apparently they do if you don’t use them within six months.

Old vs. New: Earning & Redemption Comparison

Earning Stars (Old Program)• Most members earned 1 Star per $1 spent at Starbucks.
• Using a Starbucks app or registered Starbucks card often meant 2 Stars per $1 via pre-loaded Starbucks cards.
• Stars accrued toward free drinks and food rewards at established levels.

Earning Stars (New Tiered Program)
• Green Members: 1★ per $1 spent.
• Gold Members: 1.2★ per $1 spent (after 500 Stars in a year).
• Reserve Members: 1.7★ per $1 spent (after 2,500 Stars in a year).
• Members also earn Bonus Stars with qualifying Starbucks Card reloads.

Redeeming Stars (Old Program)
• Classic tiers often started lower, like 25 Stars for small customizations and 200 Stars for free handcrafted drinks.

Redeeming Stars (New Program)
• 25 Stars — drink customization.
• 60 Stars (NEW) — $2 off any item.
• 100 Stars — brewed coffee, pastry, snack.
• 200 Stars — handcrafted drinks or hot breakfast.
• 300 Stars — lunch items or at-home coffee.
• 400 Stars — select merchandise.

Existing Stars carry over, but you’ll need to use them within the new structure. Starbucks says the reimagined program rewards loyalty more meaningfully and gives frequent visitors a clearer path to perks.

Personally, I don’t see it that way. Now I have to spend ~$18 more to get the same amount of stars as before to redeem my usual drink. How is that making it more meaningful?

Customer Feedback: Backlash From Loyal Members

While Starbucks says the redesigned program is meant to deliver “more meaningful value,” early customer reaction online has been overwhelmingly critical.

Across Reddit, X and Instagram, many longtime Rewards members argue the new tiered structure feels like a devaluation, especially for customers who previously maximized 2 Stars per dollar through app reloads. Under the new system, only higher-tier members earn above 1 Star per dollar, and reaching those tiers requires significant annual spending.

Frequent complaints include:

• Rewards feeling harder to earn unless you spend substantially more.
• A perception that the new tiers primarily benefit heavy spenders while casual customers lose value.
• Frustration that recent years have already seen Star redemption thresholds increase, making this update feel like “another cut.”
• Confusion over the added complexity compared to the old, simpler structure.

Some users have described the overhaul as “punishing loyalty” and “shrinkflation for rewards,” with several saying they plan to scale back visits or switch to competitors offering simpler programs.

I have already cut back on my Starbucks spend over the past year or so due to price increases. I think this will make me visit even less going forward, but I probably won’t stop completely. Our forum discussion on this topic hasn’t picked up yet, but if you have an opinion, please share it in the thread!