The Ultimate Guide to Target Circle Rewards
/Target Circle is a free loyalty program which offers Target shoppers a range of benefits including exclusive offers and cash back. In this ultimate guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know from earning and redeeming offers and cash back to the difference between Target Circle and Target RedCard.
The main benefits of Target Circle are the 1% cash back and 5% birthday coupon - Andrew Young (Deal Frontier Editor)
Target Circle is changing from April 7th 2024 - Learn More
Is Target Circle Free?
Yes, Target Circle is completely free. To join, just visit Target Circle or download the Target App (there isn’t a separate Target Circle app). Add an optional phone number at registration if you’d like to use that to earn/redeem Target Circle Rewards in-store.
Alternatively, sign up in-store by entering your phone number on the checkout keypad. You’ll need to complete registration online.
Target Circle Benefits Summary
Here’s a quick overview of the benefits of Target Circle membership:
1% Cash Back
Target Circle Offers (Up To 50% Off)
5% Birthday Coupon
Community Support Vote
Ultamate Rewards on Ulta Beauty Products
Now let’s look at each benefit in turn.
Target Circle Benefit - Earn 1% Cash Back
With Target Circle, you earn 1% cash back in-store and online.
How To Earn Target Circle Cash Back
Earn In-Store - Target App > Wallet > Scan Target Circle Barcode or Enter Phone Number At Checkout
Earn Online/In Target App - Sign in > Shop
How To Redeem Target Circle Cash Back
You have to redeem your entire Target Circle balance unless it’s worth more than the value of your cart. In that case, the remainder will be inaccessible until the transaction has completed processing.
Redeem In-store - Target App > Wallet > Scan Target Circle Barcode or Enter Phone Number At Checkout > Select Target Circle Balance or Ask Sales Associate
Redeem Online/In Target App - Sign in > Apply Target Circle Cash Back Earnings at Checkout
Target Circle Product Exclusions
You can neither earn nor redeem Target Circle cash back on the following (see full list):
Adult Beverages
Prescriptions/Behind Counter Pharmacy Items/In-Store Clinics/Target Optical
Shipt App purchases
Target Gift Cards/Prepaid Cards
Shipping/Delivery/Taxes/Bottle Deposits
Can You Claim Target Circle Cash Back From A Receipt?
Yes, if you’ve forgotten to scan at checkout, you can claim cash back up to 7 days after the transaction.
Claim In Target App - Discover Tab > Barcode Scanner > Scan Receipt
Claim Online - Target Circle > Scroll Down > Under ‘How It Works’ > Enter Your Receipt
Claim Via Customer Service - Call Target Customer Service
How To Check Your Target Circle Earnings
You can easily check your Target Circle Earnings online or via the Target app. There, you can view your available balance and lifetime earnings.
What Happens To Target Circle Earnings If You Return An Item?
If an item is returned, any Target Circle cash back earned on that item will be removed from your account. If you’ve already redeemed the cash back, your balance might turn negative, in which case you’ll have to wait until it reaches a positive balance before you can start redeeming cash back again.
Do Target Circle Earnings Expire?
Yes, Target Circle Earnings do expire but only if you’ve neither earned nor redeemed any Target Circle Earnings for 1 year. In other words, you just need to keep your account active so remember to scan every time you shop.
Target Circle Benefit - Offers
Target Circle members can save 5-50% with Target Circle Offers. Offers range from Target Store and Manufacturer coupons to Percentage/Dollar-Off coupons and Freebies.
Save up to 75 Target Circle Offers before or during you shop via the Target Website/App or Scan items with the Target App in-store to check for offers on that item.
Check the offer is eligible In Store, for Order Pickup, Same Day Delivery or Shipped by looking at the offer details then:
Use Offers In-Store - Find and Save Offers (Target Website/App) > At Checkout > Scan Target Circle Barcode (Target App Wallet) or Enter Phone Number
Use Offers Online - Find and Save Offers (Target Website or Individual Product Pages) > Checkout
Can You Stack Target Circle Offers With Coupons?
Yes! For every item, 1 Target Circle Offer can be stacked with 1 Manufacturer Coupon and 1 Target Coupon (e.g. ‘50% Off X Product’ Target Circle offer can be stacked with ‘$2 Off X Product’ Manufacturer Coupon).
Can You Use Target Circle Offers When You Pay By Gift Card?
Yes you can. However, you need to make sure any gift cards are added to your account and saved before you scan your Target Circle Barcode or provide your phone number at checkout.
Add Gift Card (App) - Wallet > Add Gift Card > Scan/Enter Number
Add Gift Card (Online) - Gift Cards > Save New Gift Card > Enter Number
Use Gift Card (In-Store) - App > Gift Cards > Select > Save > Scan Barcode
Use Gift Card (Online) - Checkout > Payment > Edit > Apply GiftCar
When Do Target Circle Offers Update?
Target Circle offers are usually updated every Sunday morning.
Target Circle Bonus Offers
You can earn Target Circle Bonus Offers when you make qualifying Target purchases. Personalized to you, these will typically be in the form of a Target Circle cash reward or gift card if you meet certain criteria (e.g. 2 qualifying purchases of $20 or more).
Target Circle Week
Target Circle Week is a week-long promotional event which usually takes place in Fall, exclusive to Target Circle members. Usually, non-RedCard members can take advantage of 2X Target Circle Cash Back (RedCard holders still save 5%), 2X Community Support Votes, exclusive offers and bonuses.
Target Circle Benefit - 5% Birthday Coupon
Target Circle members get a 5% Birthday Coupon valid for 30 days. This stacks with manufacturer coupons and the 5% RedCard discount but it doesn’t stack with Target Circle offers. Just add your birthday via the Target Circle dashboard to get the benefit.
The Target Birthday Coupon Exclusions (See Full List):
Tax/Used Gift Cards Not Included in Purchase Total
Target Plus Partner Items
Alcohol
Gift/Prepaid Cards
Select Toys (e.g. Hasbro Games, Hot Wheels)
Select Tech (e.g. Apple, Dyson, PlayStation/Xbox Consoles, Unlocked Phones)
Target Circle Benefit - Community Support Vote
Target distributes funding to select Nonprofits based on quarterly Target Community Votes by Target Circle members. Members earn 1 vote per in-store/online shop which can be cast on single/multiple organizations.
The Nonprofits you can select vary based on your location.
Target Circle Benefit - Ultamate Rewards on Ulta Beauty Products
You can earn Ulta Beauty Ultamate Rewards on top of Target Circle Earnings when you shop for Ulta Beauty products at Target as a Target Circle member.
Just sign up to Ultamate Rewards for free and link your account via the Target Circle Partners page.
You’ll earn 1 point/$1 on Ulta Beauty at Target (Platinum and Diamond Ultamate members earn 25% and 50% more points respectively) which can be redeemed from Ulta directly (not Target).
Shipping charges, coupon discounts, taxes and fees and Target Circle earnings aren’t eligible for Ultamate Reward points but Ulta Beauty items are eligible for the 5% RedCard discount and free shipping.
Target Circle Vs Target RedCard
Target Circle is Target’s free loyalty program. Target RedCard is their credit or debit card.
Target RedCard Benefits:
5% Off Target (Plus Select Brand Gift Cards - Excludes Prescriptions, Giftcards, Shipping, Taxes and More)
Free 2-Day Shipping (Limited Items)
Special Offers
No Annual Fee
Extra 30 Day Return Window
2% Back on Dining & Gas (Credit Card Only)
1% Back Elsewhere (Credit Card Only)
Cash Withdrawals (Debit Card Only)
Should Target RedCard Holders Join Target Circle?
Yes, Target RedCard Holders who are Target Circle members get access to Target Circle offers and Community Voting. Just be aware that you’ll get the 5% RedCard discount instead of 1% Target Circle Earnings and the 5% saving comes off after coupons are deducted.
Is Target Circle Worth It?
Definitely! The savings from Target Circle Offers, Target Circle Earnings (1% cash back) and the 5% Birthday Coupon can start to add-up rapidly if you’re a regular Target shopper. Even if you tend to shop elsewhere, it’s a free loyalty program so there’s nothing to lose by being a member.
Plus, it’s really easy to keep you Target Circle Earnings from expiring as the 1 year window resets every time you earn/redeem cash back at Target.
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