Best Credit Cards For Shopping At Target in July 2022

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Target may have the most loyal shoppers out of any big box department store chain. Enthusiasts talk often about how they go into Target to buy one thing and leave with much more. There is even a phrase for it dubbed “The Target Effect.”

Though many are happy to shop its name brands and good prices any day of the year, its big online-only sale event Target Deal Days is taking place July 11 through July 13. For those planning to take advantage, knowing the right way to pay can help you maximize every purchase.

To help you, Select analyzed dozens of credit cards to find the top picks for Target purchases. Here are the details of the benefits you should know about before you place your next Target order.

You can typically pay for Target purchases with a credit card, debit card or a Target gift card, though credit cards are often one of the best forms of payments since they provide excellent benefits including rewards and consumer protections.

Here are a few of the best cards to use when shopping at Target:

Best card for discounts

You won’t receive cash back or rewards points, but the Target RedCard™ does offer a 5% discount on every purchase made (excluding some items like prescriptions and Target Optical™ eye exams; read our review of the Target RedCard for the full list of exclusions). So, every time you make purchase from Target, you’ll automatically receive the discount when you pay with the RedCard. Online shoppers will also receive free two-day shipping without the $35 minimum purchase amount required for non-cardholders. Just keep in mind that if you upgrade your shipping method, shipping fees will apply.

Best card for cash back

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card allows cardholders to earn 2% cash rewards on all eligible purchases and there’s no limit to how much in cash rewards you can earn. Because of this, the card can be a great way to maximize your earnings for purchases you need to make whatever the season. Plus, there’s also a welcome bonus without spending too much money: You’ll earn $200 in cash rewards after you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening. And to top it all off, the card has no annual fee so it won’t cost you anything to own.

Best 0% APR period

For those looking to finance their purchases with no interest, consider a credit card with an introductory 0% APR period. The Wells Fargo Reflect℠ Card gives cardholders an introductory 0% APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for the first 18 months from account opening. You can receive an intro APR extension of up to three months with on-time minimum payments during the intro and extension periods (totaling 21 months). After the introductory period, the interest rate will increase to 14.49% to 26.49% variable APR thereafter. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee.

Best card for travel rewards

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a luxury travel card that comes with a ton of benefits, including TSA PreCheck®/Global Entry credits, airport lounge access, travel credits and more. The $695 annual fee may be costly for some (see rates and fees), but the card’s benefits pretty much make up for it. New cardholders can also take advantage of the generous welcome bonus: You’ll earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Plus, the Platinum card offers great purchase and return protection.

Rakuten is one shopping portal that gives shoppers the chance to earn cash back when shopping on Target.com (and hundreds of other websites). Cashback Monitor is another shopping portal aggregator you can use for finding rewards opportunities at Target and other retailers.

Credit card shopping benefits

Unfortunately, there are cases where items purchased from Target are damaged, defective or they’re stolen from your doorstep when ordering online. In these cases, there are credit cards with shopping protections which can help consumers who find themselves with lost or damaged gifts. These benefits include purchase protection, return protection and extended warranty.

However, for coverage to kick in, the purchase must be made with the credit card that offers the benefits. Check with your credit card provider to see what protections your card offers. A few examples of credit cards with these benefits are The Platinum Card from American Express, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

BNPL with Target

Target offers buy now, pay later services through Affirm and Sezzle, which might come in handy for those who want a little more repayment flexibility when shopping. With Affirm, shoppers can spread out their payments over three to 48 months for orders over $50. While there are no hidden or late fees when using Affirm, you could be charged up to 30% interest when financing purchases.

Sezzle, on the other hand, splits each purchase into four interest-free payments over the course of six weeks. And for even more flexibility, the service allows you to reschedule one payment date for free so you can create a repayment schedule that works with your finances. However, if you…