Kohl's Cash vs. Target Circle: Which Loyalty Program Saves You More?

You close the dressing room door, shop for more items, check out at the register, and gasp at the total, wondering if you could have saved more. 

One way to save money at retail stores is to join loyalty programs. Kohl's and Target Circle programs offer shoppers more value, but the savings and programs can differ significantly.

Discover Next: Is Target Circle Worth It? Here's What Members Get for Free

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Using a $150 monthly budget, MoneyLion compared Kohl’s Cash earning rates and redemption windows with Target Circle app offers, 5% card savings and Deal Days events to tell you which offers better returns. Here’s which program came out ahead.

How Kohl’s Cash Works

Shoppers receive $10 Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent per transaction. The reward is given after coupons and discounts are applied. However, it’s only available during certain earning periods printed on the coupon, per Kohl's. This means you cannot redeem the reward before or after the dates. The store also limits shoppers to six Kohl’s Cash coupons per transaction. 

That means if you spend $149 during an earning event, you would only receive $20 in Kohl’s Cash. Pay another dollar and your reward increases to $30. This makes your benefit grow with larger purchases timed around promotional periods. Note: Gift cards and Sephora purchases are excluded from Kohl’s Cash benefits.

Kohl’s Rewards members also earn 5% in rewards on qualifying purchases, and if you use a Kohl’s credit card for purchases, you can earn an additional 7.5%. However, the rewards are converted into $5 increments of Kohl’s Cash, which are awarded the following month. However, by signing up for a new Kohl’s card, you may receive up to 40% off your purchase, however, certain brands are not eligible, such as the Columbia brand.

How Target Circle Works

Target Circle gives members access to exclusive sales, app deals and personalized bonuses, and it’s free to join. Shoppers receive them instantly by entering their phone number at the register, on the Target app or when shopping online. However, they may require you to reach a spending threshold or buy specific products.

However, shoppers with a Target Circle Card receive an instant 5% benefit off eligible purchases. Target also allows shoppers to add the card discount on top of any qualifying Target Circle deals.

Target also holds Target Circle Deal Days, which are short- and long-term sales events throughout the year, such as Back to School and Summer Deal events. They had a four-day sale from June 23 through June 26, 2026, where customers could save 40% to 45% on select brands and get $100 off when signing up for a Target Circle Card.

How Much Can You Save on a $150 Monthly Budget?

If you spend $150 at Kohl’s during a standard Kohl’s Cash earning period, you could earn $30 in Kohl’s Cash and as a free Kohl’s Rewards member, you could also receive $7.50 in regular rewards, giving you as much as $37.50 in potential future value.

However, the full $37.50 is not taken off the original $150 purchase. You must return to Kohl’s during the redemption periods to spend the Kohl’s Cash.

If you spend $150 at Target using a Target Circle Card, the standard 5% discount would save you $7.50 at checkout. At the same monthly spending level, that would amount to $90 in annual savings before any additional Target Circle deals.

If $30 of that Target cart also qualified for a 15% Target Circle deal, it would reduce the price by $4.50. The Target Circle Card’s 5% discount would save approximately $7.28 on the remaining balance, for a combined savings of about $11.78.

Which Program Benefits Big-Ticket Buyers?

Kohl’s Cash generally offers more potential value to shoppers making larger purchases, especially when they can plan their spending around an earning event. So you would earn $30 if you spend $150 on a $200 purchase, and $40 on a $200 purchase. Which Program Benefits Everyday Essentials for Shoppers?

Target Circle may provide more value to shoppers on regular purchases, such as groceries, household necessities and other staples that Kohl’s doesn’t offer. Plus, the discount applies immediately, and you don't have to return to the store to redeem the rewards. 

Target Circle vs. Kohl’s Cash: Which Saves More?

On a perfectly timed $150 purchase, Kohl’s could provide up to $37.50 in combined promotional deals, Kohl’s Cash and Kohl’s rewards, according to an Instagram post by Kohl's. A Target Circle Card would provide a guaranteed $7.50 discount on a $150 eligible purchase, with the possibility of additional savings from Circle deals, as shared on an Instagram post by Target.

Editor’s note: discounts and savings are subject to change. 

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.