6 best payment options to use at Target

Target offers products for almost any need, from groceries to home goods to clothes, making it easy to stock up on household items. Using the right payment method can make a big difference when it comes to maximizing your rewards and other discounts. Here’s our guide to smart shopping at Target and the best ways to pay. 

What to know

• To maximize rewards or cash back: Target offers branded credit cards with high rewards across many categories, giving you cash back for most of your shopping 
• For budgeting or payment flexibility: Alternative payment methods allow you to budget for larger purchase amounts over time
• To avoid overspending: Debit cards and gift cards help you stay on track. 

Best credit cards to use Target

Credit cards are a popular payment method for both online and in-person shopping. They’re convenient, they’re secure, and depending on what card you have, they can offer additional perks like cash back or points. Target accepts any card from the major credit card providers — Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. The retailer also accepts Apple Pay to pay for your purchases, and other contactless payment methods including Samsung Pay and Google Pay.

Because Target offers so many products across different spending categories, you’ll want to use a card that offers a variety of different rewards. You may also want to consider using a different card depending on your specific purchase. 

Target co-branded credit cards 

If you use Target for most of your purchases, you may want to consider using the Target RedCard. There are three RedCard options to choose from — a debit card, store credit card, or MasterCard. The MasterCard RedCard can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted, while the store RedCard can only be used at a Target location or at Target.com. 

While you won’t be able to earn cash back or points with the RedCard, you will get exclusive perks, including a discount on all Target purchases, free shipping on most online purchases, and an extended return window.  

‍Target RedCard

FICO: 670 - 850 
Annual fee: $0 
Introductory offer: N/a

Everyday Rewards: 

• 5% discount on all Target purchases, both in-store and online 
• 5% discount on any in-store Starbucks purchases 
• 10% discount on account anniversary 
• 30 extra days for free returns 
• Free shipping on most items 

Cash back credit cards 

If you don’t want to use a branded credit card to pay for your Target purchase, your next best bet is to use a cash back credit card. With so many different types of products available, choose a credit card that offers cash back on all purchases, or everything you buy on Target.

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

FICO: 670 - 850 
Annual fee: $0 
Introductory offer: $200 welcome bonus after spending $1,000 in the first three months 

Everyday Rewards: 

• 2% unlimited cash back 
• Bonus rewards on dining, drugstore purchases, and travel booked through Chase 

Discover It Cash Back

FICO: 670 - 850 
Annual fee: $0 
Introductory offer: Matched first year’s cash back 

Everyday Rewards: 

• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in eligible purchases in rotating quarterly categories 
• 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases  

Other ways to pay at Target 

Target offers more repayment flexibility when it comes to your shopping. If you want to spread your Target purchase out over time, there may be other (and sometimes better) ways to pay at Target besides credit cards — depending on your financial situation, it may make more sense for you to skip the credit card at check out. Here are some other options. 

Using Buy Now, Pay Later at Target

If you want repayment flexibility while shopping at Target, the retailer offers a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service that offers payment terms, usually in installment loans over a fixed period. If you are planning on making a bigger purchase and want to budget for that purchase over time, it may make sense to use Buy Now, Pay Later.

What’s more, qualifying for a Buy Now, Pay Later plan could be easier than qualifying for a credit card, especially if you don’t have an established credit history.

Using Affirm at Target

Shoppers can spread out their purchases over three to 48 months for orders over $50. You can apply for Affirm directly at checkout or on Target home page. Once approved, you’ll be able to select Affirm as your payment method at checkout and get tailored payment options. 

You can pay for your purchase in equal payments over 3-48 months, depending on the cost of your order:

• 3-6 months: $50+
• 12 months: $100+
• 18 months: $250+
• 24 months: $500+
• 36 months: $1,000+
• 48 months: $1,500+

Affirm has an APR of 10 - 30%, depending on your credit. There’s no minimum credit score to apply, but will perform a soft credit check. The company will determine your eligibility based on how long you’ve been using Affirm, the purchase price and if you have any outstanding loans with Affirm. 

Alternate payment options at Target

There are also third-party services that offer Buy Now, Pay Later via an app or browser extension. Here’s how to decide which one is right for you. 

Using Sezzle at Target

How it works: Generate your one-time virtual credit card in the Sezzle app and enter the card details into Target’s checkout. Your purchase is divided into four equal interest-free installments and each installment is due every two weeks, with the first payment due at checkout. 

Fees: You may be charged a late fee. All fees are capped at 25% of the purchase value.

How to qualify: There’s no minimum credit score to apply, but Sezzle will perform a soft credit check. The company will determine your eligibility based on how long you’ve been using Sezzle, the purchase price and if you have any outstanding loans with Sezzle. 

Klarna 

How it works: Klarna offers a few different payment options:

• Pay in 4: Your purchase is divided into four equal interest-free installments and each installment is due every two weeks, with the first payment due at checkout. 
• Pay in 30: You pay nothing for 30 days, then pay the full purchase price 
• Financing: You can pay for a purchase with a loan of up to 36 months. 

APR & fees: Interest rates for financing range from 0% to 24.99%. You may be charged a late fee of up to $7. 

How to qualify: There’s no minimum credit score to apply, but Klarna will perform a soft credit check. The company will determine your eligibility based on how long you’ve been using Klarna, the purchase price and if you have any outstanding loans. 

Zip 

How it works: Your purchase is divided into four equal interest-free installments and each installment is due every two weeks, with the first payment due at checkout. 

Fees: Zip charges a convenience fee of $1 for each payment. This means your purchase will cost an extra $4. Zip also charges late fees of $5, $7, or $10, depending on your state. 

How to qualify: Zip uses your information at checkout and most likely reviews if there’s enough money available on your credit or debit card and purchase size. Zip doesn’t do a hard credit check, which makes it easier to get approved. 

‍Other ways to pay at Target 

If you’ve received a Target gift card, it’s easy to redeem. Just upload the gift card number to your account once you’ve received it, and the balance will be available next time you shop.

Prepaid gift cards from credit card companies like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are also accepted. 

Unlike Amazon, Target does accept PayPal. You can use the service at Target.com by selecting PayPal Credit at checkout. Make sure you have a verified PayPal account with a linked bank account or debit card in order to complete the transaction. 

Using your EBT at Target 

Target allows you to use your EBT card at checkout online in most states. To pay with your EBT card, update your payment information online and save your information like you would with any other card. 

Once you add your EBT card, you can shop for groceries and deals by looking out for items labeled SNAP EBT eligible. Once you reach checkout and select your payment method, you can enter the amount of EBT cash you’d like to use and your EBT PIN. If there’s any amount leftover you can use a debit card or credit card.  

Which payment method should I use at Target?

Which method you use at Target depends largely on what you want to buy, your goal with the purchase, and your financial situation. 

If you’re focused on maximizing your rewards and cash back on your Target purchases, consider a Target-branded RedCard or cash back credit card. 

If you want to budget for a larger item over time, consider using a Buy Now, Pay Later service like Affirm.

If you want to pay for items without worrying about owing money down the road, you may want to stick to cash, checks, gift cards, or debit cards.

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