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Mobile ordering guide

Starbucks App

The Starbucks app handles ordering, payment and Rewards in one place. It is also the only reliable way to see what a drink actually costs, because Starbucks sets prices store by store.

13,513

US stores

282

Menu items

Free

App cost

iOS + Android

Platforms

Setting Up the Starbucks App

1

Install and create an account

Download from the App Store or Google Play, then sign up with an email address. An account is required for mobile ordering and for Rewards; browsing the menu is not.

2

Set your store

The app finds nearby stores and remembers the last one you used. The right store matters here, because prices, menu availability and pickup times are all set per store.

3

Add a payment method

Link a card, add a Starbucks Card balance, or set up Apple Pay or Google Pay. Payment from a preloaded Starbucks Card is what earns Stars at the higher rate.

4

Build the order

Pick the drink, then the size, then work through the customisation screens for milk, syrup pumps, shots and toppings. Each change updates the price shown before you pay.

5

Send it and collect

The app gives an estimated ready time and the store starts making it immediately. Orders cannot be cancelled once sent, so check the store before confirming.

What the App Does

Mobile Order and Pay

Order ahead and skip the queue. Not offered at every location, and busy stores sometimes pause it.

Full customisation

Every syrup pump, shot and milk option the in store menu offers, with the price impact shown as you go.

Real prices per store

The app is the only reliable source for what a drink costs, since Starbucks sets prices per location.

Rewards tracking

Star balance, tier progress and available redemptions in one place.

Store finder

Hours, amenities and current mobile order availability for nearby stores.

Order history

Past orders saved for reordering, which is the fastest route for a regular drink.

Mobile Order Timing

The estimated ready time is a genuine estimate, not a reservation. Stores work a single queue that mixes mobile orders with the counter and the drive through, so a mobile order placed into a morning rush lands behind whatever is already in the queue. Four minutes out during a quiet hour works. Four minutes out at 8am on a weekday usually does not.

Food adds time because it goes through the oven, and blended drinks add time because the blender is a single point of contention. A Frappuccino and a warmed sandwich in the same order will take noticeably longer than two brewed coffees.

Settings Worth Changing

Turn on location access so the app resolves the right store automatically. A wrong store is the most common cause of a mobile order collected in the wrong place, and there is no undo once sent. Set the pickup method deliberately as well, since in store, drive through and curbside are handled differently by the barista.

Save a favourite drink with its full customisation. A reorder from history takes two taps and avoids the customisation screens entirely, which is where most ordering mistakes happen.

What the App Will Not Tell You

Full nutrition panels side by side, complete ingredient trees and allergen detail across the menu are all easier to read here than in the app, which shows one item at a time. Start from the full menu, use the calculator to total an order, and check the allergen guide before ordering around an allergy.

Independent site. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Starbucks Corporation.

Starbucks App FAQ

Is the Starbucks app free?
Yes. The app costs nothing to download or use, and creating an account is free. You pay only for what you order.
Do I need the app to see Starbucks prices?
Effectively yes. Starbucks sets prices per store and publishes no national list, so the app is the reliable way to see what a drink costs at the store you plan to visit. That is why this site publishes calories and nutrition rather than prices.
Can I mobile order at any Starbucks?
No. Mobile Order and Pay is enabled per store, and many licensed locations inside grocery chains, airports and campuses do not offer it. Busy stores also pause it during peak periods. The store cards in the store directory show which locations list mobile ordering.
Can I cancel a Starbucks mobile order?
No. The store begins making the order the moment it is sent, so there is no cancel button. The only safeguard is to check the store and the pickup method before you confirm.
Does the app show calories?
It shows calories for the size and build you have configured, which is genuinely useful while ordering. For comparing items side by side, the nutrition facts page and the calculator on this site are faster.
Why does the app show a different price than last time?
Almost always because the selected store changed. Prices are set per location, so switching from a company operated store to a licensed one inside an airport or grocery chain moves the price.