- Intro Offer
-
$40 Get a coupon for $40 off a qualifying purchase over $40 when you are approved for a debit or credit RedCard in-stores and at Target.com between 09/18/22 – 10/08/22
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 25.90% 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% Save 5% in store and online at Target; For each eligible purchase you make in gas or dining merchant categories, you earn rewards at a rate of 2% of the eligible purchase amount.; For each eligible purchase you make at a merchant that is not in a gas or dining category, you earn rewards at a rate of 1% of the eligible purchase amount.
The Target RedCard™ credit card is the best way to save on your Target purchases. Beyond that, you can also earn rewards on purchases outside of Target’s brand, a feature most retailer cards do not offer.
Your card membership also allows for a longer return period on Target purchases and free two-day shipping on hundreds of thousands of items, without having to pay a fee like with Amazon Prime. On the other hand, this card does not offer an interest-free financing option like many other retail cards.
If you’re an avid Target shopper, this card may be worthwhile as an everyday credit card since you can earn rewards toward Target gift cards. Occasional shoppers can still take advantage of instant savings with this card, but should look elsewhere for an everyday spending credit card. Read on to explore the benefits of the Target RedCard and see how it stacks up against competitors.
Rewards and redemption
You’ll get 5% off your Target purchases, whether online or in store. This rewards 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 remember to redeem your rewards later or meet any minimum redemption thresholds.
The Target RedCard 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 RedCard is pretty typical of retailer credit cards -- that is, its nominal value is pretty low -- and its use is limited within the Target brand. You earn $40 toward a future qualifying purchase of $40 or more when you’re approved.
While other credit card welcome bonuses can offer a value of $200 or more, the Target RedCard’s redeeming quality is that you earn the welcome bonus instantly. You don’t have to spend a certain minimal amount to earn it.
RedCard 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 RedCard 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
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
When compared to the RedCard, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card* 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 gift card when you get approved, up to $150. The biggest potential drawback is that you need to have Amazon Prime, which costs $139 annually. If you already have Prime though, this card might likely suit you better.
For more details, see our Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card 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 current spend category includes Grocery stores, drug stores and select streaming services, but Target has been available in the past. You’ll earn 1% on all other purchases outside of the select quarterly categories.
At the end of the first year, your rewards are essentially doubled 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 RedCard™ compares to other cards
- Intro Offer
-
$40 Get a coupon for $40 off a qualifying purchase over $40 when you are approved for a debit or credit RedCard in-stores and at Target.com between 09/18/22 – 10/08/22
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 25.90% 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% Save 5% in store and online at Target; For each eligible purchase you make in gas or dining merchant categories, you earn rewards at a rate of 2% of the eligible purchase amount.; For each eligible purchase you make at a merchant that is not in a gas or dining category, you earn rewards at a rate of 1% of the eligible purchase amount.
- Intro Offer
-
$150 Amazon Gift Card Up to a $150 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 18.74% – 26.74% 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% 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with eligible Prime membership*; 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores*; 1% back on all other purchases*
- Intro Offer
-
Cashback Match™ Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match – 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
- 16.49% – 27.49% 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 each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. ; Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
FAQs
If you’re making online purchases, there are two ways to get free two-day shipping from Target -- if you use the Target RedCard or if you spend over $35 on your order. Two-day shipping isn’t available on all items, but availability is shown on the product page, in your online shopping cart and at checkout. Taxes and handling fees may still apply.
Target Deal Days is an annual online sales event where hundreds of thousands of items get discounted. Discounted items span toys, household items, food, kitchen appliances, tech and more. You don’t need to pay a fee or be a member to take advantage of the Deal Days discounts, unlike with the competing Amazon Prime Day. In 2022, Target Deal Days lasted three days, taking place over July 11, 12 and 13.
If you opt for the Target RedCard debit card instead of the credit card, you will still get a 5% discount on your Target purchases, online and in-store. However, you won’t earn rewards on purchases outside the Target brand, unlike with the credit card.
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 RedCard, Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card and Discover it Cash Back has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
