Target Circle: how the free loyalty program's offers work

Target Circle is Target's loyalty program. The basic tier is free, and it's where most of Target's digital deals live. There are also paid and card-based add-ons with similar names, which is where people get confused. This play is about the free tier and how its deals fit with ordinary coupons.

What the free tier does

According to Target, joining Target Circle for free gives you access to deals that are applied at checkout, along with personalized deals. You join through Target's website or app and then identify yourself at checkout, either by scanning your Target Circle barcode in the app or by giving the phone number on your account. Online, the deals apply when you're signed in.

Deals in Target Circle come in two broad shapes. Some are item-level, tied to a specific product or brand. Others are category-level, applying across a group of products. Target's help pages say that for any item, only one item-level deal and one category-level deal will apply.

Steps: using Target Circle deals

1. Join and sign in. Create a free account and sign in to the Target app.
2. Shop your list, not the feed. Open the deals section and search for items you already plan to buy. This keeps the program from turning into a reason to buy more.
3. Watch for an add button. Target describes Target Circle deals as applied automatically at checkout. If a particular deal in the app shows a button to add or activate it, tap it before you check out.
4. Add coupons separately. Paper manufacturer coupons are separate from Target Circle deals. Target's coupon policy explains how they combine.
5. Identify yourself at checkout. Scan your barcode or give your phone number before the transaction is finished.
6. Check the receipt. Applied deals show as separate lines.

How deals combine with coupons

Target's coupon policy describes how many discounts can apply to one item, including manufacturer coupons, Target offers and Target Circle deals. The wording of that section has changed over the years, so read the current version on Target's help site before planning a big stack. Two points have stayed consistent in the versions we read:

• You can't use two manufacturer coupons on one item. A Target Circle manufacturer coupon counts as a manufacturer coupon.
• Manufacturer coupons on a phone screen are not accepted, with the exception of Target Circle manufacturer coupons.

The parts that cost money

Target Circle Card is Target's payment card (credit, debit or reloadable). Target says cardholders get a discount on top of Target Circle deals, among other perks. It's a financial product with its own terms, so treat it like any other card decision.

Target Circle 360 is a paid membership with an annual fee. Target lists delivery-related benefits for members. The fee is not refundable and the membership renews unless you cancel before the renewal date, according to Target's help page.

Neither is required to use the free tier's deals.

Price matching and Target Circle

Target's price match policy lets you request a match on items it sells when the lower price is at Target, either online or in store, under the conditions in the policy. The same policy lists offers that cannot be combined with a price match, so check that list if you've used a Target Circle bonus or coupon on the item. We cover this in the price adjustment guide.

Bonus events and sign-up offers

Target periodically runs Target Circle events and limited sign-up offers. They're time-limited and their terms are announced with each event, so we don't list them here. If you see one advertised, read its terms page for the dates, the qualifying purchases and any exclusions.

Target Circle's benefits, tiers and rules change from time to time. Before you count on any of this at the register, check the current Target Circle terms and Target's coupon policy.