Whether online or in-person, Target is a one-stop shop for groceries, pet supplies, tech, home goods, beauty products and more. To help customers save while shopping, the retailer offers a free loyalty program, Target Circle, and a paid membership, Target Circle 360. The latter typically costs $99 a year, but now through March 29, you can sign up for $49 — that's 50% off your first year of an annual membership.
Below, I break down everything you need to know about Target Circle and Target Circle 360. Plus, learn about the Target RedCard.
What is Target Circle?
Target Circle, which launched in 2019, is the retailer’s free loyalty program. Once you sign up, you can earn 1% in Target Circle rewards every time you make eligible purchases (purchases made with a Target Circle Card do not receive these earnings). Over time, your Target Circle rewards build up in your account’s wallet, and you can use them toward future purchases.
One of the biggest Target Circle perks is access to exclusive deals. The retailer automatically applies relevant discounts at checkout online, in its app or in-stores, so you don't need to search for them beforehand. This is similar to how Amazon, which owns Whole Foods, automatically applies exclusive deals when Prime members check out at the grocery store.
More Target Circle benefits to know about
- Target Circle Bonus: A Target Circle Bonus unlocks deals and games the retailer personalizes based on your shopping habits. It allows you to earn extra rewards by making qualifying purchases or completing specific actions at the retailer. When you’re signed in, you can find your active Target Circle Bonus offers online or through the retailer’s app.
- Annual birthday gifts: For your birthday, Target gives Circle members 5% off a single purchase. The offer is valid for 30 days after your birthday.
- Community support votes: Target Circle members can cast votes for select local and national nonprofits, which impacts how much the retailer donates to different charities. You earn votes per qualifying transitions in-store and online.
- Target Circle partnerships: Target partners with various brands to offer Circle members exclusive deals and free trials. Target Circle partners include Apple and Ulta Beauty, both of which are Target shop-in-shops, meaning the companies have their own branded shops within Target stores.
What is Target Circle 360?
Target Circle 360 is Target’s paid membership. It costs $99 a year or $10.99 per month — for comparison, an Amazon Prime membership costs $139 a year and a Walmart Plus membership costs $98 a year. College students and those who participate in certain government assistance programs are eligible for a discounted membership, which costs $4.99 per month, once they verify their enrollment status online.
Target Circle 360 expands on the retailer’s free-to-join Circle membership. Those who join Target Circle 360 get all the benefits of Target Circle, plus other perks like:
- Same-day delivery in as little as an hour through Shipt, which Target acquired in 2017, and its 100+ retail partners like Sephora, CVS, Petco and PetSmart. Delivery is free on unlimited orders over $35.
- Free two-day shipping on eligible items
- An additional 30 days to return purchases beyond the standard 90-day return policy
What is the Target Circle Card?
Previously known as the Target RedCard, the Target Circle Card is a store card that can only be used at Target. The Target Debit Card, Target Credit Card and Target Mastercard are each considered a Target Circle Card (though you can use the Target Mastercard at any merchant that accepts Mastercard).
When you pay with a Target Circle Card, you save 5% on eligible purchases in stores and online, including during sales events. You also get free two-day shipping and an additional 30 days to return purchases beyond the standard 90-day return policy.
Cardholders get special pricing on a Target Circle 360 membership — it’s $49 rather than $99. They can also sign up for a free Target Circle account instead (note that since Circle Card holders save 5% on Target purchases, they’re unable to earn 1% in Target Circle rewards while shopping).
Why trust NBC Select?
I'm a reporter at NBC Select who has written about retailer loyalty programs since 2020. For this piece, I researched Target Circle and referenced NBC Select’s other Target coverage.
Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
