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Target REDcard™ Credit Card review
Earn 5% back on Target purchases along with valuable perks like free shipping.
- Get this card if you frequently shop at Target and want to earn big rewards on your purchases from the chain.
- Pick something else if you want to earn or redeem rewards in places other than Target.
- Apply with a fair credit score of 580 or higher.
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Up to 5%
Cash back
$0
Annual fee
22.9%
Purchase APR (variable)
580
Recommended credit score
Review by
Megan Horner
megan.horner@finder.comMegan Horner is the credit cards publisher at Finder. She's passionate about helping you find the best credit cards to meet your financial needs — whether that's earning great rewards or improving your credit score. Megan's expertise has been spotlighted on Lifehacker, CreditCards.com, American Banker and featured on news broadcasts across the country.
Expert review
The Target REDcard™ Credit Card is a $0-annual-fee store card that’s valid only at Target. Its key features are a 5% discount on in-store and online Target purchases, free two-day shipping on Target.com purchases and an extra 30 days to perform returns and exchanges. It does however lack a signup bonus and comes with a higher-than-average APR of 22.9% variable.
Effectively earning 5% back on a credit card is always noteworthy, as few cards offer this rate without at least a few restrictions. For example, you’ll find even higher rates with products such as the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, which earns 6% back on US groceries, but the card is saddled with a $6,000 earning cap. After you reach that cap, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns just 1% back on US groceries.
The only earning drawback on the Target card is that it’s closed-loop, meaning it can only be used at Target stores and Target.com. In addition to the 5% discount, the Target REDcard™ Credit Card offers free two-day shipping at Target.com, an extended return and exchange window, additional discounts and access to exclusive products. This makes it pound-for-pound the best card you can use on Target purchases.
On the downside, it has a high-interest rate — and you don’t have the opportunity to receive a lower rate even if you have strong credit. That said, you can avoid needing to worry about this interest rate if you pay off your balance in full each month. Otherwise, this is a great supplementary addition to your credit card toolbox if you frequently shop at Target.
How to apply for the Target REDcard™ Credit Card
- Go to the provider's site and click Apply now.
- Complete the application form with information such as your name, address and income.
- Review your details and submit your application.
What credit score do I need?
While many consumers have reported approval with scores of 620 and above, some consumers say they’ve been approved with scores in the high 500s.
As with all credit products, you have better odds of approval if you have a higher credit score. If you’re not sure your score qualifies you for the Target REDcard™ Credit Card, consider working on your credit for several months before applying.
Target REDcard™ Credit Card benefits
- Get a 5% discount. Your shopping cart could include clothes, video games, books and appliances and more — get a 5% discount on any of those eligible purchases. This discount is applied at checkout, and makes the Target REDcard™ Credit Card a good choice for grocery shopping. Only a few cards, such as the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, offer better reward rates. Pro tip: If you want to squeeze out the highest possible discounts, download the Target app. You can combine the Target REDcard™ Credit Card‘s 5% savings with the 5% to 50% discounts you can find through Target Circle.
- Get free two-day shipping on eligible Target.com purchases Standard shipping is three to five business days, and two-day shipping is always free if you spend $35 or more. The minimum shipping charge is $5.99. When you use your Target REDcard™ Credit Card, you get free two-day shipping at Target.com, regardless of order size. That means the card’s shipping benefit is most useful if you often make small purchases on the retailer’s website. Still, shipping rates offered by the Target REDcard™ Credit Card compare favorably to its rival, the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card. The latter doesn’t offer free shipping. Some products on Target.com might be designated with “Only ships with $25 orders.” That means you can buy those items only if your cart subtotal is at least $25. In this case, you won’t receive two-day shipping if you don’t meet the minimum — even if you have the Target REDcard™ Credit Card.
- Get an extended window for returns and exchanges. Target already has a lenient return policy: You can return most new, unopened products within 90 days of purchase. If you like having even more time for returns, however, the Target REDcard™ Credit Card offers an additional 30 days for returns and exchanges. At this time, Target lists only two exclusions for extended returns and exchanges: non-returnable items and Target Optical purchases
- Get regular discounts and special-access sales. According to Target, carrying a Target REDcard™ Credit Card affords you access to “exclusive extras, including special items, gifts and offers.” These benefits change throughout the year. A few examples from past promotions include periodic discounts, savings at Hotels.com, and a 10% off coupon on your birthday.
Target REDcard™ Credit Card drawbacks
- You can use this card at Target and nowhere else. The Target REDcard™ Credit Card is closed-loop, meaning it’s only valid at Target or Target.com. This is different from a card such as the Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard®, that can be used anywhere that accepts Mastercards. Accordingly, Target REDcard™ Credit Card might take up unnecessary space in your wallet if you rarely shop at Target.
- High interest rate. The Target REDcard™ Credit Card has just one purchase APR: 22.9% variable. While this rate is standard for a store card, it’s significantly higher than the average credit card APR of around 17%. Carrying a balance with a rewards card means you’ll effectively erase the rewards you earn if you pay interest.
- No signup bonus. Store credit cards aren’t known for their signup bonuses, though some cards offer a small bonus as you open your card. For example, the Kohl's Credit Card gives you an extra 35% off your first Kohl’s Charge purchase. Unfortunately, there’s no signup bonus with the Target REDcard™ Credit Card.
How does the Target REDcard™ Credit Card compare to similar cards?
To give you an idea of how the Target REDcard™ Credit Card performs, here it is stacked up against two other similar rewards cards on the market.
Target REDcard™ Credit Card
Not yet rated
| Find out more |
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Minimum credit score 580 |
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Annual fee $0 |
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Purchase APR 22.9% variable |
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Balance transfer APR N/A |
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Rewards 5% discount at Target stores and Target online |
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Welcome offer N/A |
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
★★★★★
| Go to site |
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Minimum credit score 740 |
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Annual fee $0 |
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Purchase APR 15.24% variable |
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Balance transfer APR 15.24% variable |
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Rewards 4% at gas stations on up to $7,000 annually (then 1%), 3% at restaurants and on travel, 2% at Costco and 1% on all other purchases |
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Welcome offer N/A |
Sam's Club® Mastercard®
★★★★★
Terms apply, see rates & fees| Go to site |
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Minimum credit score 670 |
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Annual fee $0 |
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Purchase APR 14.9% to 22.9% variable |
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Balance transfer APR 14.9% to 22.9% variable |
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Rewards Up to 5% at Sam's Club with Plus membership, 5% cash back on gas (on up to $6,000 annually, then 1%), 3% on dining and 1% on all other purchases |
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Welcome offer
Get a $30 statement credit when you open a new account and make $30 in Sam's Club purchases
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Compare even more credit cards
Target REDcard™ Credit Card reviews and complaints
Many customers say they enjoy having the card’s 5% discount. Cardholders rightfully point out that the card has a high purchase APR. They advise others to pay off their balances in full each month to avoid interest.
TD Bank, the provider of the Target REDcard™ Credit Card, has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 2002 and earns a B rating as of April 2021.
Customer reviews from Trustpilot rank the bank a 1.2 out of 5 as of April 2021, with many customer reviews complaining of poor customer service.
How to make the most out of your card
If you’re approved, here’s what to do to maximize your Target REDcard™ Credit Card:
- Shop at Target frequently. This goes without saying, but the more you spend at Target with this card, the more you save. Given the breadth of items featured at Target, you could do much of your shopping there, including your grocery runs if you have an eligible Target in your area. The card’s 5% discount can lead to significant savings.
- Shop at Target.com. This card not receives a discount on online Target purchases as well, but saves on shipping too. What’s more, you may find a wider variety of items available online than at your local Target store.
- Download the Target app. You can combine your card’s discounts with savings you’ll find through the Target app. While the app’s discounts may not be as consistent, they’re often steeper than the savings you’ll get with your card.
- Avoid interest. Unfortunately, you’ll be saddled with a high interest rate even if you have strong credit. This makes your value strategy easy: Pay off your credit card bill in full each month. This way, you’ll get the most out of your card’s discounts.
You asked, we listed: Top 5 Target REDcard™ Credit Card common questions
- Should I get the debit-card version of this product? The debit card might be valuable if you don’t want to deal with paying off your credit card bill. The card will draw funds directly from your linked bank account. You can also use it to get cash at checkout.
- What purchases are eligible for discounts?
Some Target purchases that also allow for a the card discount include:- Clearance items
- Target Top Deals of the week
- In-store Starbucks locations
- Specialty gift cards
- Subscriptions for items such as diapers, toilet paper and personal care items
- Target Drive Up orders
- Same-day delivery orders through Shipt when you order on Target.com
- Can I add authorized users or cosigners to the Target REDcard™ Credit Card?
You can add authorized users to your Target REDcard™ Credit Card account by calling your card’s support phone number. TD Bank, the card issuer, doesn’t allow cosigners. - Can I get prequalified for the Target REDcard™ Credit Card?
You can’t get prequalified for the Target REDcard™ Credit Card. However, you can gauge your approval odds by considering your credit score. - What purchases are excluded from the Target REDcard™ Credit Card discounts?
According to the card’s terms and conditions, ineligible purchases include:- Certain medical purchases, such as prescriptions and clinic services, over-the-counter items you buy at the pharmacy counter, and eye exams and protection plans from Target Optical.
- Target prepaid cards and gift cards, lottery gift cards and Gift of College cards.
- Purchases you’ve already made.
- Some restaurants in Target stores, including but not limited to Pret A Manger and D’Amico & Sons Italian Kitchen.
- Certain financial transactions such as payments on your credit card account or, if you’re upgraded, cash advances with the Target Mastercard®.
Bottom line
The Target REDcard™ Credit Card is an excellent choice if you’re a frequent shopper at Target, as you’ll receive a strong 5% discount on most purchases. If you rarely shop at the retailer, consider another rewards card that’s valid at a variety of merchants.
Images: Target