Great Card If
- You’re a frequent Target shopper seeking a discount.
- You don’t want to pay an annual fee.
- You want Target perks such as extended returns and free shipping.
Don’t Get If
- You want a card you can use beyond Target.
- You plan to carry a balance.
- You want to earn cash-back or travel rewards.
Target Circle Card: Is It Worth It?
The Target Circle card is a store credit card for Target shoppers. It offers an automatic 5% discount on all eligible purchases at checkout, and you can get Target perks such as an extended return window and free shipping on eligible orders. It has no annual fee.
The card has a high APR, so it can be costly if you carry a balance month to month. Although the Target benefits are helpful, this card can only be used at Target, not for everyday purchases with other retailers.
Hot Tip:
Target Circle Card Top Benefits and Perks
5% Discount
Cardholders receive an automatic 5% discount on eligible purchases at checkout in stores or at Target.com when paying with a Target Circle card. The discount stacks with Target Circle deals and offers, but some purchases are excluded, such as Target gift cards, prepaid cards, prescriptions, alcohol, shipping fees, and taxes.
No Annual Fee
There’s no annual fee with the Target Circle card, so it’s a low-cost option to keep open and use for Target discounts.
Welcome Offer
This card typically offers a welcome bonus of Target Circle Rewards when you meet minimum spending requirements on qualifying purchases. The reward is added to your Target Circle account and can be redeemed for Target purchases.
Target Circle cardholders get free standard shipping on most orders, and some items may offer free 2-day shipping, depending on the product and your delivery location. You also get an extra 30 days beyond Target’s standard return policy when you pay for eligible purchases with your Target Circle card. Cardholders may receive discounts, limited-time offers, and bonus perks.
Target Circle 360 Membership Discount
You can get $50 off a Target Circle 360 membership, which reduces the annual cost from $99 to $49. Membership includes same-day delivery, early access to sales, monthly gifts, and exclusive discounts.
Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Target Circle Rewards
The Target Circle card doesn’t earn rewards on all purchases, but it offers an automatic discount and a welcome offer. You can get 5% off eligible purchases at checkout when you pay with your Target Circle card at Target stores and on Target.com. New cardholders typically earn a welcome bonus of Target Circle Rewards when meeting minimum spending requirements on qualifying purchases. The rewards are added to the cardholder’s Target Circle account and can be redeemed for Target purchases. Target Circle cardholders may also be targeted for limited-time offers, such as promotional rebates or extra savings.
Alternative Cards to the Target Circle Card
Target™ Mastercard®
The Target Mastercard’s features are nearly identical to those of the Target Circle card, offering the same 5% discount and shopping perks with no annual fee. But unlike the Target Circle card, the Target Mastercard can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted. It also earns 2% back on dining and gas purchases and 1% on everything else outside of Target.
The Citi Strata Premier card is a Mastercard, which may categorize Target locations as grocery stores and supermarkets. You can earn 3x points on purchases at supermarkets, restaurants, gas stations, EV charging stations, air travel, and hotels, and 1x points on everything else. Although it has a $95 annual fee, it offers an annual hotel savings benefit of $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) through CitiTravel.com once per calendar year, World Elite Mastercard benefits, purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, and access to the Citi Concierge and Citi Entertainment.
