Target Credit Cards Work Only at Target and Its Partner Locations

The Target Credit Card (also called the Target RedCard) is a store card, not a general-purpose credit card. You can use it at Target stores and on Target.com, but nowhere else. If you try to use it at another retailer—a grocery store, gas station, or restaurant—the card will be declined.

Target also owns Simons stores in a few locations, and you can use your Target Credit Card there as well. But that is the full extent of where the card works. There is no Visa or Mastercard logo on the card, which is the clearest sign that it is restricted to Target's ecosystem.

If you need a card that works everywhere, you need a different product. Target does offer a Target Mastercard (a separate card from the store card), which carries the Mastercard logo and works at any merchant that accepts Mastercard. The two cards are different products with different terms, rewards, and restrictions.

Key Takeaways

  • The Target Credit Card works only at Target stores, Target.com, and Simons stores—it will be declined anywhere else.
  • The Target Mastercard is a separate product with a Mastercard logo and works at any merchant that accepts Mastercard.
  • Both cards are issued by Target, but they have different reward structures, interest rates, and annual fees.
  • If you want a card that works everywhere, you must open the Target Mastercard, not the store card.

The Difference Between the Target Store Card and the Target Mastercard

Target issues two separate credit cards, and the names are easy to confuse. The Target Credit Card (the store card) earns rewards only on Target purchases. The Target Mastercard earns rewards on all purchases everywhere, but at a lower rate than the store card earns at Target.

The store card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees (though you still cannot use it outside the US). The Mastercard also has no annual fee. The store card typically carries a higher APR than the Mastercard, and both cards' rates vary by creditworthiness.

You can hold both cards at the same time. Some people keep the store card for Target shopping (where it earns more) and the Mastercard for everywhere else. Others use only the Mastercard for simplicity. The choice depends on how often you shop at Target and whether you want a card that works outside Target.

What Happens If You Try to Use the Store Card Outside Target

If you swipe or insert the Target store card at a non-Target merchant, the transaction will be declined at the point of sale. The card reader will not recognize it because the card is not part of any payment network like Visa or Mastercard. You will know immediately that the card does not work there.

A declined card does not hurt your credit score, but it is inconvenient. If you are at checkout and the store card is declined, you will need to pay with a different card, cash, or another payment method. There is no way to override the restriction or use the card outside Target.

Online, the same rule applies. You cannot enter the Target store card number on Amazon, Walmart, or any other retailer's website. The transaction will fail during payment processing. Only Target.com will accept the card.

How to Know Which Card You Have

Look at the front of your card. If it has a Visa or Mastercard logo in the bottom right corner, you have the Target Mastercard and can use it anywhere. If there is no logo and the card just says "Target" or "RedCard," you have the store card and can use it only at Target.

You can also check your Target account online or call Target's customer service at the number on the back of your card. They can tell you which product you hold and, if you want, help you open the other card.

Your account statement will also make the distinction clear. The store card statement will show only Target and Simons transactions. The Mastercard statement will show purchases from any merchant.

Using the Target Mastercard at Target

If you have the Target Mastercard, you can use it at Target just like any other Mastercard. It will work at checkout, online, and in the Target app. However, you will earn a lower rewards rate at Target than you would with the store card.

The store card earns 5% back on Target purchases (for RedCard members). The Mastercard earns 1% to 2% back on all purchases, depending on the category. So if Target shopping is a big part of your spending, the store card earns more per dollar spent at Target, even though the Mastercard works everywhere.

Some people use both cards strategically: the store card for Target purchases and the Mastercard for everything else. Others prefer the simplicity of one card that works everywhere, even if it means earning less at Target.

International Use and Online Restrictions

Neither the Target store card nor the Target Mastercard works outside the United States. If you travel internationally, you will need a different card. The store card cannot be used abroad at all. The Mastercard can technically be used in countries that accept Mastercard, but Target's terms restrict it to US use, so attempting to use it outside the country may result in a decline or account review.

Online, the store card works only on Target.com. You cannot use it on any other website, even if that website accepts store cards from other retailers. The Mastercard, by contrast, works on any website that accepts Mastercard.

If you are planning to shop online at multiple retailers or travel internationally, the Mastercard is the better choice. The store card is useful only if your credit card spending is concentrated at Target.

How to Switch Cards or Open Both

If you have the store card and want a card that works everywhere, you can open the Target Mastercard as a separate account. You do not have to close the store card. Opening a new card will result in a hard inquiry on your credit report, which may lower your score slightly for a few months.

If you want to close the store card, you can do so by calling Target's customer service or through your online account. Closing a card does not hurt your credit score directly, but it does reduce your total available credit, which can raise your credit utilization ratio if you carry balances on other cards.

If you have the Mastercard and want the higher rewards rate at Target, you can open the store card without closing the Mastercard. Again, this will trigger a hard inquiry. You can then use each card where it earns the most.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Target card at Walmart or other stores?

No, the Target store card works only at Target and Simons. If you have the Target Mastercard, you can use it at Walmart and any other merchant that accepts Mastercard. Check your card for a Mastercard logo to know which one you have.

What if I have the store card but need to pay somewhere other than Target?

You will need a different payment method—another credit card, debit card, cash, or digital wallet. The Target store card cannot be used outside Target, and there is no way to override this restriction. Consider opening the Target Mastercard if you frequently need a card that works everywhere.

Does the Target Mastercard earn the same rewards as the store card?

No. The store card earns 5% back at Target for RedCard members. The Mastercard earns 1% to 2% back on all purchases depending on category. At Target, the store card earns more per dollar. The Mastercard's advantage is that it works everywhere and earns rewards outside Target.

Can I use the Target card internationally?

Neither card is intended for international use. The store card will not work outside the US. The Mastercard technically could work in countries that accept Mastercard, but Target's terms restrict it to US transactions. If you travel internationally, bring a different credit card.

If I close my Target store card, do I lose my rewards balance?

Any unused rewards in your account will be forfeited when you close the card. Redeem any remaining balance before closing. Contact Target customer service to confirm your balance and redeem it before you request account closure.