Best Credit Cards for Target
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You’re a true fan if you're prompted to go on a Target run whenever you see someone wearing a red shirt and khakis. At that level of loyalty, it's worth exploring credit cards that can offer more value for your purchases.
Whether you’re splurging or playing it safe in the $3 bin section, the right credit card can give you cash back, points or miles to use for certain goals, or offset the cost of your next Target purchase. The most obvious choice — and a good one — is Target’s very own credit card, but plenty of other options can offer decent rewards with the retailer and beyond.
Here are some credit cards that can help you make the most of your Target purchases.
If you shop at stores inside of Target like Starbucks, your purchases may not earn the elevated rewards rate offered in certain categories by some credit cards. Rewards are issued based on how the purchase is categorized by the merchant. With some cards, a purchase may only earn the base rate.
Target Circle™ Credit Card
Our pick for: Target loyalists
CARD DETAILS
Annual fee: $0.
APR: The ongoing APR is 29.95% Variable.
Welcome offer: N/A.
Rewards: 5% discount on all eligible Target purchases (in store and online).
Why we like it for Target: If you shop at Target often enough that it merits having a credit card specifically for those occasions, you can’t beat the 5% rewards rate, exclusive offers, free shipping and extra return time for purchases you'll get with the Target Circle™ Credit Card. You can take that 5% further by applying it to gift cards for travel, restaurants, movie tickets and more. If you qualify for the Mastercard version of the card, you can also earn 2% off on dining and gas purchases and 1% everywhere else.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Our pick for: Simplicity
CARD DETAILS
Annual fee: $0.
APR: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 15 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR.
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Rewards: Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Why we like it for Target: The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers a triple whammy of benefits that includes a sizable bonus, breathing room on interest charges and a decent ongoing rewards rate regardless of where you shop. It's the ideal option if you want an all-purpose card that will reward you handsomely at Target and everywhere else you shop. Rewards are redeemable for a statement credit, a withdrawal from Wells Fargo ATMs (in $20 increments) if you have a Wells Fargo debit card, a direct deposit into a Wells Fargo checking or savings account or a mailed paper check.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Our pick for: Online shoppers
CARD DETAILS
Annual fee: $0.
APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.24%-29.99% Variable APR.
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Terms Apply.
Rewards:
3% back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 spent per year.
3% back at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 spent per year.
3% back on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 spent per year.
1% back on other purchases.
Terms apply.
Why we like it for Target: If you want to earn rewards on other everyday purchases beyond Target, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express can deliver. You’ll earn a decent 3% cash back rate when you shop with U.S. online retailers, including Target. However, the store is not considered a U.S. supermarket by the issuer, so you’ll only earn a 1% base rate when you shop in store. Still, the healthy rewards across different everyday categories make it easy to snag cash back quickly. You can redeem it for a statement credit or Amazon.com purchases at checkout.
BankAmericard® credit card
Our pick for: A lengthy 0% APR
CARD DETAILS
Annual fee: $0.
APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 16.24% - 26.24% will apply
Welcome offer: None.
Rewards: None.
Why we like it for Target: To finance a large purchase, consider the BankAmericard® credit card. It can offer a lengthy interest-free window to pay down your purchases at Target or any other store. You won’t earn any rewards with this card, but there’s long-term value to be had when saving on interest costs. It's a great deal, especially considering that the average interest rate for credit cards assessed interest is 22.77% as of the third quarter of 2023, according to Federal Reserve data.
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card
Our pick for: Dedicated rewards seekers
CARD DETAILS
Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $95.
APR: The ongoing APR is 19.74%-29.74% Variable APR.
Welcome offer: Get a $250 bonus after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
Rewards:
6% cash back on your first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter at two retailers you choose (from a list of 24).
3% cash back on your first $1,500 in eligible purchases each quarter in your choice of one everyday category among wholesale clubs like Sam’s and Costco, gas and EV charging stations and bills.
1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
5.5% cash back on prepaid car and hotel reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center.
Why we like it for Target: The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card offers 6% cash back with two retailers of your choice from a list of options that includes Target. If you can spend enough annually to offset the cost of the annual fee — $0 intro for the first year, then $95 — that’s a lot of value. It requires a little more work than other cards since you'll have to choose your categories and watch the quarterly caps. But if you ever feel like venturing outside of the big red circle, you can change your preference of retailers and the everyday category quarterly. Having this option is useful if your spending and needs change throughout the year. Unlike other credit cards, this one also offers a rare 1.5% base rate that can add up faster.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Travelers
CARD DETAILS
Annual fee: $95.
APR: The ongoing APR is 19.99%-29.99% Variable APR.
Welcome offer: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Rewards:
2 miles per dollar spent on purchases.
5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
Why we like it for Target: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card merits consideration if you’ve been stung by the travel bug and the Target bug. It offers a simple way to earn rewards at a decent rate toward the next vacation whether you’re shopping at Target or anywhere else. It can also help you save time waiting in line at the airport. The card offers a credit of up to $100 toward the application fee for Global Entry or TSA Precheck when you use it to cover the cost.
Instacart Mastercard®
Our pick for: Instacart shoppers
CARD DETAILS
Annual fee: $0.
APR: The ongoing APR is 20.24%-28.99% Variable APR.
Welcome offer: Get a free year of Instacart+ and a $100 Instacart credit automatically upon approval. Membership auto-renews. Terms apply.
Rewards:
5% cash back on Instacart app and Instacart.com purchases, including Instacart memberships and subscriptions.
5% cash back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel Center.
2% cash back on restaurants, gas stations and select streaming services.
1% cash back on all other purchases.
Why we like it for Target: If you generally outsource all of your shopping with Instacart, the Instacart Mastercard® offers a solid rate of 5% cash back wherever you shop in the app or website — Target included. Outside of Instacart, you’ll also earn a decent rate when you eat out, fuel up or use select streaming services. You can further maximize rewards if you use Instacart pickup to save on costs like tipping. Cash back redeems for a direct deposit into a bank account, statement credit, travel or Instacart purchases.
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
