How Does The Target Circle Program Work?

Target Circle is a free rewards program available to all Target shoppers.

The program enables shoppers to earn 1% cash back on all qualifying Target purchases simply by entering their Target Circle account information at checkout. Target Circle shoppers also receive hundreds of deals and special offers throughout the year that can be redeemed both online and in store (formerly known as Cartwheel Deals).

Target Circle Rewards

Some other fun Target Circle perks include…

  • A free birthday gift from Target if you provide your birthdate in your account info
  • Voting rights to help guide Target’s community giving decisions
  • Deals and offers from other brands and retailers partnered with Target

The best thing about Target Circle is that it is completely free to use. 1% earnings are enjoyed by all Target Circle members, without the need for a membership fee or credit application. However, these earnings are not redeemable for cash and can only be used toward future Target purchases.

How To Sign Up For Target Circle 

To create a Target Circle account, simply visit this link and enter your information. Signing up is completely free, and all you will need is your name, email address, and a password.

You can also sign up for Target Circle in person at any Target location. This can be done through the self checkout kiosk or with a Target cashier or customer service representative. They may ask you to log onto Target.com on your smartphone to complete your registration process.

Benefits Of The Target Circle Program

The benefits of shopping with Target Circle include…

  • Receive perks, deals, and offers at zero cost to you
  • Earn 1% rewards on all qualifying Target purchases, in store and online
  • Receive deals on select items and services from Target’s partner brands
  • Receive a free birthday gift every year

By shopping with Target Circle, you save a minimum of 1% on every purchase. Plus, you can save even more by taking advantage of Target’s many Target Circle deals and offers throughout the year. As someone who shops at Target a lot, shopping with Target Circle is absolutely a no-brainer and has definitely saved me money.

Here is a look at a few of the current Target Circle offers available through Valentine’s Day…

Target Circle

Keep in mind that at any given time you will have access to upwards of 500 Target Circle offers. Right now, my account lists 692 individual offers.

As you can see, these offers are quite generous and can save you a decent amount on everyday purchases.

How To Earn Target Circle Rewards

All you have to do to earn Target Circle rewards is…

  1. Sign up for a Target Circle account (it’s free!)
  2. Shop online at Target.com while being logged into your account
  3. Shop at Target in person and scan your Target Circle membership at checkout (or enter your email address)

That’s it! Simply by shopping as a Target Circle customer, you will earn 1% rewards on your purchases.

To check on your earnings, simply log into your Target Circle account on Target.com at any time. Your earnings will be displayed at the top of your dashboard where it says “Available Target Circle Earnings.”

According to Target.com, each Target Circle offer may be used for a maximum of four qualifying items per transaction, unless otherwise noted. Some Target Circle offers can be redeemed again and again until they expire. The specific limitations of each Target Circle offer can be found online when you click on the individual offer details.

Eligible Purchases For Target Circle

There are only a handful of things that won’t earn you Target Circle rewards when shopping at Target. These things include alcoholic beverages (law prohibits offering deals and discounts on alcohol in most states), and Target RedCard purchases.

Because Target RedCard holders already receive 5% rewards on their purchases, they do not qualify for the additional 1% earnings. However, becoming a Target Circle member as a Target RedCard holder can still benefit you, as it will allow you to access Target Circle offers and vote on Target’s community giving programs.

Is Target Circle Worth Joining?

Regardless of how frequently or infrequently you shop at Target, signing up for Target Circle is worth it. It comes at zero cost to you and can save you quite a bit of money throughout the year if you’re a regular Target shopper.

Twice a year, during March and September, Target offers a promotional event called Target Circle Week, enabling shoppers to take advantage of even more unbeatable Target Circle offers both online and in person.

The only reason why someone might not want to sign up for Target Circle is if they do not want to provide their email address or if they literally never shop at Target. Aside from that, there is really no other reason why you shouldn’t do it.

Target Circle vs. Target RedCard

Target Circle and Target RedCard are two very different programs.

While Target Circle is a free rewards program available to all Target shoppers, a Target RedCard is a credit card or debit card requiring an application.

Here is a table listing all of the differences between Target Circle and Target RedCard…

Target Circle Target RedCard
Free rewards program (no application) Debit card or credit card
Access to exclusive deals and offers  Application required
No credit check required Credit check required for Target RedCard credit card
Can be used online and in person at Target Can be used on Target.com, in Target stores, and at any location that accepts major credit card carriers
1% rewards on all eligible purchases 5% rewards on all eligible Target purchases
Free birthday gift Free birthday gift
Voting rights in Target community giving programs
Deals and offers from Target partners

By combining your Target RedCard with a Target Circle account, you can maximize your rewards as a Target shopper. Just remember that you will not earn an additional 1% rewards on your purchases as a RedCard holder.

FAQs

Can you stack Target Circle offers?

No. Despite some inaccurate information online, only one Target Circle offer can be redeemed per item. However, if you have multiple Target Circle offers that apply to different items in your transaction, these can be combined. You can also apply the same Target Circle offer to multiple eligible items in a transaction unless otherwise noted in the offer details.

When it comes to combining offers, this is what Target’s official policy has to say…

“Only one manufacturer coupon (paper or digital), one Target coupon (paper or digital), and one Target Circle offer can be combined per item.”

Can you still use Target Circle after purchase?

Yes! If you forget to enter your Target Circle membership at checkout or if you shop on Target.com without being logged into your account, simply enter your receipt information on your Target Circle dashboard to make sure your rewards are tracked. 

Are Target Circle earnings redeemable for cash?

No. Target Circle earnings hold no cash value and can only be redeemed by applying them to Target purchases, in store or online.

Do Target Circle earnings expire?

Yes. If you do not use your Target Circle account for one year (meaning that you do not earn or redeem any rewards during this time), your existing Target Circle rewards will expire.

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