Emily Thompson specializes in beginner content as a credit cards editor. She taps into her prior experience as a high school English teacher to help others demystify credit scores and unlock experiences that credit card rewards can make possible.
Olivia Mittak Credit Cards WriterOlivia Mittak is a credit cards writer at TPG. She specializes in maximizing earn for points and miles, finding the best sign-up bonuses and choosing the right credit cards for your wallet.
June 06, 2024 8 min read
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The Target Circle™ Mastercard is a solid store card. It features a 5% discount on Target and Target.com purchases, 2% back on dining and gas station purchases and 1% back on everything else. This is a strong contender for those who spend big at Target — but not elsewhere. Card rating*: ⭐⭐½
With everything from clothes and electronics to diapers and groceries, shopping at Target is as close to one-stop shopping as possible. If you spend much of your budget here, you can benefit from the savings and benefits the Target Circle card credit card offers.
The Circle card has no annual fee, and TPG recommends a credit score of 690 or higher for the best chance of approval.
Let's break down the Circle Mastercard's perks and earning structure to help you decide if it's a good fit for you.
The information for the Target Circle Card credit card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Target Circle card offers a decent welcome offer for a store card. After approval, you'll get a coupon in the mail for $50 off a qualifying purchase of more than $50. Once you receive the coupon, you must upload it to the Target app and redeem it within 30 days.
Daily Newsletter Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s expertsUnfortunately, this coupon has a long list of exclusions — including Apple products, dairy milk, Dyson, gift cards, limited-time designer partnerships, PlayStation products and more. Still, this welcome offer doesn't have a spending requirement, so you can get value from it with minimal effort.
As a Target Circle cardholder, you'll get free two-day shipping on online Target orders without the usual $35 order minimum, an additional 30 days for Target returns and exchanges and access to Circle card exclusive special offers and items.
Cardholders also enjoy a 5% discount at in-store Starbucks and on certain services. You'll also receive a 5% discount on specialty gift cards, drive-up orders and same-day delivery.
Additionally, this card has no foreign transaction fees, which is unusual for a no-annual-fee, cash-back card.
The Circle card's earning structure is different from most reward cards.
Instead of earning points or cash-back rewards at Target, this card's most valuable benefit is a 5% savings on most in-store and online Target purchases (exceptions apply, such as prescriptions and certain gift cards). This structure is especially great for anyone who doesn't want to keep up with earning rewards since these savings are automatic.
Apart from the discount on Target purchases, you'll earn 2% cash back on dining and gas purchases and 1% on all other purchases outside of Target, allowing you to earn rewards everywhere you spend.
Note that there is also a version of the Circle card that isn't a Mastercard and doesn't earn rewards on purchases outside of Target.
You'll get a 5% automatic discount on most purchases when shopping in-store or online with Target.
However, spending elsewhere is more complicated. You must first earn at least $10 in rewards. To redeem them, you'll need to go online or call to request an electronic or physical gift card to use at Target. This is a more complicated process than most other cash-back cards, which offer statement credits as the easiest method to redeem rewards.
Target states that if your account is closed for any reason, you will have 135 days from the date the account was closed to redeem your rewards. Aside from this circumstance, rewards do not expire.
If you don't spend the majority of your budget at Target, you should consider a different card.
For additional options, check out our full list of best store credit cards and best cash-back cards.
The Target Circle Card doesn't carry an annual fee and earns 5% back on Target purchases. However, getting it can mean sacrificing greater earnings you would receive with a different card. Plus, redeeming your rewards is a more complicated process than with most other cash-back cards. Calculate your expected savings before applying for this card and compare them with what you would earn on other cash-back and store cards.
It's worth noting that there is a debit card version of the Target Circle card which enjoys many of the same perks as the Target Circle Mastercard. We generally recommend putting all your spending on a credit card, but if you're a frequent shopper at Target, it may be worth considering the Circle debit card for the Target savings and perks without a hard inquiry on your credit report.
The Target Circle card is a great option for regular Target shoppers who want a simple rewards structure. However, compare the rewards you'll earn on it against those you could earn on an alternative card. This card is aimed at loyalists who want to hit the bull's-eye at Target — and not elsewhere.
Featured image by STEPHEN ALLEN/TARGETEditorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
