Short answer — the burger chains people most often get the best deals from (apps/promos/value menus + why):

• McDonald’s — frequent app-only coupons, rotating $1–$5 meal deals and value-menu items; lots of customers report regular freebies/BOGOs through the McD app. (people.com)
• Wendy’s — strong app rewards and regular limited promotions (e.g., two-for-$7, steep short‑term discounts and 1¢–$0.25 promos have appeared in 2025). (people.com)
• Sonic — regularly runs $1 or ~$2 burger / menu-item promotions via its app and value menu. (allrecipes.com)
• Checkers / Rally’s — widely-cited $4 (or similar) combo meals and persistent app coupons make it a top-value chain in many markets. (reddit.com)
• In-N-Out — very simple menu and low base prices (not app-driven deals, but consistently low cost for quality in many regions). (reddit.com)
• Burger King & Jack in the Box / Carl’s Jr. / Hardee’s — frequent app coupons, BOGO and combo deals; BK historically runs fries/side promos tied to small purchases. (reddit.com)
• Shake Shack — occasional holidays/limited-time BOGO or promo codes through the Shack app (less frequent than big QSRs but notable for pop-up deals). (people.com)

Quick tips to get the best savings

• Install restaurant apps and enable notifications — most chains hide their best coupons there. (people.com)
• Join rewards programs (points + free-item sign-up offers). (reddit.com)
• Look for BOGO/$1 promos and limited-time value menus (they rotate; check apps daily). (allrecipes.com)
• Use third‑party promos: delivery apps, grocery-store discounted gift cards (Costco, etc.), and occasional carrier promos (T‑Mobile Tuesdays) can stack with deals. (reddit.com)
• Check regional chains (local Checkers/Rally’s, regional discount chains) — they often beat national chains on price. (reddit.com)

If you want, I can:

• Look up current (today’s) app coupons for the 3 chains nearest you — I’ll need your city/ZIP to fetch real-time offers.