The Target Circle™️ Card: The Revamped Target RedCard

At a glance

The new Target Circle™️ Card* — which replaced the Target RedCard™️ in March — is available as a credit card, debit card or reloadable card. Each card version provides the same 5% off at checkout as the card’s previous iteration and offers cardholders standard store card perks including special saving offers, free two-day shipping and extended returns.

CNET’S PICK

5.4/10
CNET Rating

CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards

Intro Offer

Save $50 on a future qualifying purchase

Save $50 on a future qualifying purchase over $50 when approved for credit or debit Target Circle Card

Annual fee

$0

APR

29.95% Variable

Recommended Credit

A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.

670 – 739

Good

Rewards rate

1%
– 5%

5% off every day at Target and Target.com; Earn 2% on dining and gas purchases; 1% everywhere else outside of Target

5%

5% off every day at Target and Target.com

2%

Earn 2% on dining and gas purchases

1%

1% everywhere else outside of Target

The Target Circle Card — uniquely for a retail credit card — can be a credit card, a debit card or a reloadable card. 

That means you can use the credit version of the Target Circle Card to build credit and carry a balance if you need to, or you can link the debit version to your existing checking account. 

The prepaid version of the card is reloadable, which makes it useful for Target shoppers who don’t use credit cards or bank accounts, or for parents who want to give their kids some money to spend at Target.

As a welcome bonus, new debit and credit card holders receive a $50 coupon for a future qualifying Target purchase over $50, and reloadable card customers get a $50 statement credit after spending $50 at Target.

The credit card version can either be a closed-loop card — meaning it will only earn rewards with Target — or an open-loop Mastercard that also earns rewards for dining and gas. You may need a higher credit score to qualify for the Mastercard. Regardless of which card type you have, you can only redeem your rewards for Target gift cards.

If you already have the Target RedCard, you likely won’t notice much difference with the new Target Circle Card — it’s mostly just a brand refresh. 

However, all of the cards offer a $50 discount on a membership with the new Target Circle 360, which charges a $99 annual fee and is similar to Amazon Prime or Walmart Plus.

Pros and cons of the Target Circle Card

Who this card is good for

• If you shop at Target every week. If you’re frequently spending money at Target, the Target Circle Card could save you 5% off of your purchases.
• You want to score automatic deals. Consider getting the Target Circle Card (any version) if you want automatic deals and savings applied to your orders at checkout.
• You’re signing up for Target Circle 360. This card pairs well with the paid subscription service from Target. Members get $50 off the annual subscription cost.

Who should skip this card

• You rarely shop at Target. Target Circle Cards are for regular Target shoppers, especially since the closed-loop versions of the cards cannot be used at other stores.
• Reward flexibility is important to you. Target Circle Cards offer 5% off Target purchases instead of rewards you can redeem. Rewards earned with the Mastercard version of the card can be redeemed for Target gift cards only.

A closer look at the Target Circle Card

Rewards and redemption

You’ll get 5% off your Target purchases with any version of the Target Circle Card, whether online or in store. This reward rate is common for retailer cards within their own brand.

At the same time, Target’s in-brand rewards are unique because instead of earning cash back or points that you later redeem as a statement credit, your rewards come in the form of 5% savings right at checkout. You don’t have to redeem your rewards later or meet any minimum redemption thresholds.

The Target Circle Mastercard offers rewards from other spending outside of Target — 2% rewards on gas or dining, and 1% on all other purchases — but those rewards can only be redeemed for Target gift cards. You’ll need to have at least $10 in rewards to redeem a gift card or an e-gift card.

Welcome bonus

When it comes to the welcome bonus, the Target Circle Card is pretty typical of retailer credit cards — that is, its nominal value is pretty low. You earn $50 toward a future qualifying purchase of $50 or more when you’re approved. 

The only exception is with the Target Circle reloadable card, which gives you the $50 credit when you open an account and spend $50 at Target. 

Extended return policy

Return policies may differ from item to item, but generally, most items from Target are eligible for return within 90 days of purchase. The Target Circle Card offers an additional 30 days to return or exchange purchases, so as a cardholder you would have 120 days for returns, which is helpful for those of us with an especially busy schedule. 

Alternative cards

Prime Visa

When compared to the Target Circle Card, the Prime Visa offers simplicity. Your rewards aren’t limited to the Amazon ecosystem (you can earn your cash-back reward points in the form of a statement credit, for example), and if you want to get the 5% rewards rate, you’ll get a greater selection from Amazon brands. It also has a better welcome bonus — an instant $100 Amazon gift card when you get approved. The biggest potential drawback is that you need to have Amazon Prime, which costs $139 annually. If you already have Prime though, this card would likely suit you better.

For more details, see our Prime Visa review.

Discover it® Cash Back

The Discover it® Cash Back* earns 5% cash back on select categories on a quarterly rotating basis upon activation (on up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases, then 1%), which could make it a better offer if you want to earn rewards across multiple categories. The card’s upcoming bonus category includes Walmart and grocery stores (July to September 2024). You’ll earn 1% on other purchases outside of the select quarterly categories. 

At the end of the first year, your rewards are matched as part of Discover’s Unlimited Cashback Match™ welcome bonus. That means that Discover will match your total rewards earned, dollar for dollar.
For more information, see our Discover it Cash Back review.

How Target Circle™ Card compares to other cards

CNET’S PICK

5.4/10
CNET Rating

CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards

Intro Offer

Save $50 on a future qualifying purchase

Save $50 on a future qualifying purchase over $50 when approved for credit or debit Target Circle Card

Annual fee

$0

APR

29.95% Variable

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Recommended Credit

A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.

Good

Rewards rate

1%
– 5%

5% off every day at Target and Target.com; Earn 2% on dining and gas purchases; 1% everywhere else outside of Target

8.3/10
CNET Rating

CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards

Intro Offer

Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card

Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members

Annual fee

$0

APR

20.49% – 29.24% Variable

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Recommended Credit

A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.

Good – Excellent

Rewards rate

1%
– 5%

Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership; Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare); Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases

8.1/10
CNET Rating

CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards

Intro Offer

Cashback Match

Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.

Annual fee

$0

APR

18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR

Intro Purchase APR

0% for 15 months

Recommended Credit

A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.

Good – Excellent

Rewards rate

1%
– 5%

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.; Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.

FAQs

Our methodology

CNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles — with the understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different — and the designated function of a card. 

*All information about the Target Circle™️ Card and Discover it Cash Back has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.