Target Circle, Card and 360: What Each One Gets You
By Laura Jordana · Editor
Published Oct 8, 2026 · 5 min read
In this guide
Target sells three things under the Circle name, and they are easy to mix up. One is a free loyalty program, one is a payment card that takes 5% off, and one is a paid delivery membership. This guide lays out what Target’s own pages say each one includes, what it costs, and who it suits.
Target Circle (free): deals, Bonuses and a birthday reward
Target Circle is the free tier. Target’s terms say you need a Target account with your first and last name and a valid email. At checkout you identify yourself by signing in online, or in store by entering your mobile number or scanning the Wallet barcode in the Target app.
What you get:
- Target Circle deals. Personalized discounts that apply automatically when you identify as a member.
- Target Circle Rewards. These now come mostly from Target Circle Bonuses, personalized offers you activate and then complete with a qualifying purchase. When you redeem, the whole balance goes to your next purchase; you can’t use part of it. Rewards expire if you go a year without earning or redeeming any.
- A birthday reward. Target’s help page describes it as 5% off a future purchase, issued on your birthday and valid for 30 days. Save your birth month and day in your account first; it is one per account per year.
- Group discounts. Target’s Circle page lists discounts for verified military members, college students and teachers.
- Community giving votes. Each eligible purchase gives you one vote on which nonprofits Target donates to. It costs you nothing.
One change worth knowing: the old flat 1% back is gone. Target’s terms say members stopped earning Target Circle Earnings on April 7, 2024. If an older article promises 1% on every trip, it is out of date.
Target Circle Card: 5% off at checkout
The Target Circle Card is a payment card, and it comes in two versions:
- Debit: linked to your existing checking account, no credit check.
- Credit: issued by TD Bank and subject to credit approval. Target also offers a Target Mastercard version that earns 2% on dining and gas and 1% elsewhere.
Target’s card page lists the same core perks for both:
| Perk | What Target’s page says |
|---|---|
| 5% off | At Target in store and online, on top of Circle deals; some exclusions apply |
| Fees | No monthly or annual fee |
| Shipping | Free 2-day shipping on hundreds of thousands of items at Target.com |
| Returns | An extra 30 days to return items bought with the card |
| Circle 360 | 50% off the membership ($49/year or $4.99/month) |
The 5% is only a saving if you pay the credit version in full every month. Card interest wipes out a 5% discount fast. If you are not sure you will pay in full, the debit version gives the same 5% without a credit line.
Target Circle 360: the paid delivery tier
Target Circle 360 is the membership you pay for. It is built around same-day delivery.
| Target Circle 360 | |
|---|---|
| Annual | $99/year |
| Monthly | $10.99/month |
| With a Target Circle Card | $49/year or $4.99/month |
| Verified students and government assistance recipients | $4.99/month |
| Same-day delivery | Unlimited on orders of $35+ from Target, nearby grocers, pet stores and more, with no markups |
| Other perks | Monthly freebies, free 2-day shipping, an extra 30 days for returns |
Without a membership, Target’s help page says same-day delivery costs $9.99 per order over $35. Divide the fee by that to find your break-even: the $99 annual plan pays for itself at about 10 delivery orders a year, and the $10.99 monthly plan at about 2 orders a month. If you mostly use Drive Up or in-store pickup, you probably don’t need 360 at all.
The 360 free trial and how to cancel
Target’s help page offers a 14-day free trial of Target Circle 360. Two catches:
- Trials have limited benefits. Target says trial members are not eligible for Target Circle 360 Bonuses, and some other perks may be held back.
- It converts to paid. Target’s membership terms say you must cancel before the trial period ends, or Target charges the first membership fee. The terms also say the fee is non-refundable once charged.
To cancel, go to the Membership section of your Target account page (target.com/account/memberships). Cancelling 360 does not close your free Target Circle account or your Circle Card; those are separate. Put a reminder on your phone for day 12 when you start the trial.
Which one should you get?
- Everyone who shops at Target: the free Target Circle. There is no cost, and the birthday reward and deals apply automatically.
- Regular Target shoppers who budget well: the Circle Card, debit or credit, for the 5% off. It also halves the price of 360.
- Households that order delivery weekly: Target Circle 360, ideally at the cardholder price.
If you are comparing memberships, our guides to the Walmart+ trial and Amazon Prime’s trial use the same break-even approach. For more birthday perks across stores, see retail birthday rewards, and for cash back on top of store programs, see the best cashback apps.
Sources checked October 2026: Target Circle, Target Circle membership terms, Target birthday reward help, Target Circle Card, About Target Circle 360, Target Circle 360 membership terms, CBC on Target’s exit from Canada.
Frequently asked questions
Is Target Circle free?
Yes. Target Circle itself costs nothing to join. You need a Target account with your name and email, and you get member deals, Target Circle Rewards from personalized Bonus offers and a birthday reward.
What is the Target Circle birthday reward?
Target's help page describes it as 5% off a future purchase, issued on your birthday and valid for 30 days. Your birth month and day must be saved in your Target Circle account, and it is limited to one per year.
Does Target Circle 360 have a free trial?
Target's help page offers a 14-day free trial. Trial members do not get every benefit (Target Circle 360 Bonuses exclude trials), and you must cancel before the trial ends to avoid the membership fee.
Do Target Circle members still earn 1% back?
No. Target's Circle terms say members stopped earning the 1% Target Circle Earnings on April 7, 2024. Rewards now come mainly from personalized Target Circle Bonus offers you activate in the app.
Can I use Target Circle in Canada?
No. Target closed its Canadian stores in 2015, and Target Circle runs only in the US. Canadian shoppers should look at programs like PC Optimum or Scene+ instead.
