Target gift cards function exactly like cash in your wallet when you’re checking out at Target — and if you shop there regularly, getting your hands on some for free can seriously cut down your spending.
It’s no surprise this matters to so many people: 75% of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a Target store, meaning there’s a good chance you’ve got one nearby you visit often.
After years of using cashback and rewards platforms myself, I can tell you that paying with a gift card instead of your own cash is one of the most underrated ways to save. Combine that with Target’s already low prices, and you’ve got a genuinely effective way to save money at Target.
So how exactly can you get free Target gift cards? Target isn’t just giving them away at the door, obviously.
Thankfully, there are plenty of proven tips and tricks you can use to get free gift cards — and I’ve laid out all of them for you below.
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How to Get Target Gift Cards for Free
Here are real, legit ways to score totally free Target gift cards.
1. Get Free Target Gift Cards Just by Shopping at Target
Best for: Shoppers who already spend regularly at Target
Believe it or not, you can score free Target gift cards simply by shopping there. Target frequently runs promotions like “Get a free $10 gift card when you spend $50 on apparel” or “Get a free $5 Target gift card when you spend $30 on diapers and wipes.”
Here’s where to keep an eye out for these deals:
- Target app – Download it for your device here
- Weekly ads – Browse them online here
- Deals section – Check the Target website’s deals hub here
- In-store signage – Keep your eyes open for posted promotions while you shop
Stay alert to these promos and you could walk away with free cash to spend right back at Target.
2. Trade In Old Electronics for Target Gift Cards
Best for: Anyone with unused tech collecting dust
Target’s trade-in program lets you swap your old electronics for free gift cards. You get to declutter and get free cash to spend at Target — a win-win.
Items you can trade in include:
- Phones
- Tablets
- Consoles
- Wearables
- Speakers
Head to the Target trade-in site here to get a quote for your items. If you accept the offer, Target ships you a prepaid shipping label so sending your stuff in costs you nothing. The site also promises same-day processing and fast payment once your items are received.
3. Use Drop to Earn Target Gift Cards While You Shop
Best for: Shoppers who want to earn rewards without changing their routine
Drop is essentially a loyalty program with a twist. Instead of earning points at just one store, you rack up points every time you use your linked cards at any of Drop’s participating retailers.
Once you’ve built up enough points, you redeem them for gift cards — meaning you get free cash to spend at Target just from doing the shopping you were already going to do.
Here’s how simple it is: link your debit or credit cards to your Drop account, use those same cards to pay for purchases, and you’ll automatically start earning points.
- Sign up for Drop here.
4. Score Free & Discounted Gift Cards from Raise
Best for: Bargain hunters and gift-givers who want cashback too
Raise lets you buy discounted gift cards for up to 30% off face value. That means you could snag a $100 Target gift card for around $70 — putting an extra $30 in your pocket to spend for free.
But the savings don’t stop there.
Discounted gift cards are great on their own, but Raise also has a built-in way to get free Target gift cards: cashback on full-priced purchases. You’ll earn up to 15% back in Raise Cash, which you can put toward future purchases.
So whether you’re buying a gift card as a gift for someone else or treating yourself, you’re earning money back either way. That cashback can then be redeemed for free Target gift cards. Raise also regularly features promo codes and perks like free shipping.
As of this writing, you can even get $10 off your purchase of discounted gift cards on the site.
- Sign up for Raise here.
5. Use Fetch Rewards
Best for: Grocery shoppers who want to turn receipts into gift cards
Did you know your everyday receipts could actually earn you free Target gift cards? All it takes is downloading the Fetch Rewards app.
Fetch gives you points whenever certain products show up on your receipt. Just scan your grocery receipts to rack up points, then redeem them for free gift cards to a variety of retailers.
In short, it’s one of those apps that give you free gift cards for Target — just for doing the grocery shopping you were already doing.
- Join Fetch Rewards here.
6. Use Gift Card Granny
Best for: Shoppers who want both discounts and cashback
Gift Card Granny works a lot like Raise — it’s a marketplace where you can buy discounted gift cards.
But just like Raise, it also offers cashback that you can redeem for free gift cards to a range of retailers, Target included. Two ways to save on one site — pretty solid deal.
- Sign up for Gift Card Granny here.
7. Use Microsoft Rewards
Best for: Anyone who searches the web regularly
Microsoft Rewards is one of my go-to favorites for earning free gift cards. It’s a program that rewards you with points just for searching the internet using Bing or Microsoft Edge.
Those points can then be redeemed for gift cards to tons of retailers, including Target. That means you could be earning free Target gift cards just from your everyday internet searches.
Bonus: you also earn points for completing quizzes, which makes racking up points genuinely fun rather than a chore.
- Sign up for Microsoft Rewards here.
8. Sign Up for the Target RedCard for Tons of Savings
Best for: Frequent Target shoppers who want ongoing savings
If saving money at Target is your goal, the Target RedCard is a must. While it doesn’t hand you gift cards directly, it unlocks a steady stream of savings that add up fast.
You’ll earn 5% back on every purchase — including 5% off clearance items, which can really stack up over time. On top of that, you get free shipping on most Target.com orders, plus 5% off at Starbucks and on gift cards for travel, restaurants, movie tickets, and more.
The RedCard comes as either a debit card or credit card, so you can pick whichever fits your spending habits.
- Sign up for the Target RedCard here.
Be sure to check out my honest Target RedCard review for tips on maximizing your savings with the card.
9. Swagbucks
Best for: Anyone who wants to earn gift cards from everyday online activity
Swagbucks rewards you with points for doing things you’re probably already doing online, including:
- Playing games
- Shopping online
- Browsing the internet
- Taking surveys
- Watching videos
- Completing offers
Those points can be redeemed for free gift cards to hundreds of stores.
If you’ve been hunting for a free $5 Target gift card, Swagbucks is worth trying. It offers a wide range of gift card denominations, so you won’t be stuck waiting forever to cash out — you’ll find everything from $5 Target gift cards to $50 Target gift cards available.
- Sign up for Swagbucks here.
10. Scan Products for Free Gift Cards with Shopkick
Best for: In-store and online shoppers who want rewards without extra effort
Shopkick lets you earn completely free Target gift cards just for shopping. The app rewards you at popular retailers including Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, and more.
In-store, you can earn points simply by walking into a partner store, scanning select products, or making purchases. Online, you earn points by visiting Shopkick’s online partners, viewing select offers, and completing purchases.
Once you’ve built up enough points, redeem them for a gift card to Target. Essentially, you’re earning free gift cards just for shopping the way you normally would — hard to beat that.
- Sign up for Shopkick here.
Get the Shopkick app here:
11. Get Free Target Gift Cards Instantly with InstaGC
Best for: Shoppers who don’t want to wait to cash out rewards
InstaGC is a website where you can earn free gift cards instantly. All you have to do is complete simple tasks like:
- Completing surveys
- Watching videos
- Shopping online
- Searching the web
Each task earns you points, which you can redeem for gift cards. InstaGC offers more than 330 gift card options, Target included.
What makes InstaGC stand out is that there’s no waiting period to receive your cards — a huge plus if you want your rewards fast.
- Sign up for InstaGC here.
12. Use Target’s Price Match Policy to Get Money Back
Best for: Savvy shoppers who compare prices before and after buying
Target is one of the stores with a price match guarantee, and it’s a seriously underused way to get free cash back. Target price matches more than 35,000 items — and you don’t even have to catch the lower price before you buy.
You can actually request a price match after your purchase. So if you’ve ever bought something at Target only to spot it cheaper somewhere else later, you’re not out of luck.
Here’s how it works: if you paid $20 for an item at Target, and that same item is selling for $15 at Walmart, Target will refund you the $5 difference. That’s $5 of free money back in your pocket.
Target price matches items from local competitor ads, Target.com, and a long list of online competitors, including:
- DicksSportingGoods.com
- Gamestop.com
- JCPenney.com
- Kmart.com
- Kohls.com
- Macys.com
- Newegg.com
- OfficeDepot.com
- Amazon.com
- BedBathandBeyond.com
- Bestbuy.com
- Barnesandnoble.com
- Buybuybaby.com
- Costco.com
- CVS.com
- Diapers.com
- Petco.com
- Petsmart.com
- SamsClub.com
- Sears.com
- Staples.com
- Ulta.com
- Walgreens.com
- Walmart.com
- Wayfair.com
Yes — Target is even one of the few stores that price match Amazon, which is a big deal.
You have 14 days after purchase to request a price match. Just show the printed ad, or pull up the online price or digital ad on your phone. For a post-purchase price adjustment, you’ll need your original receipt or packing slip.
If your purchase was made on Target.com, call Target.com Guest Services at 1-800-591-3869 to request your price match.
- Learn more about Target’s price match policy here.
13. Install Ibotta
Best for: Grocery shoppers who want cash back on specific items
You can earn free gift cards to a variety of retailers just by using your receipts with Ibotta. This app pays you for buying specific items — all you need to do is snap a photo of your receipt as proof of purchase.
Ibotta regularly features generous rebate offers, with $1 to $3 or more back per product, and sometimes even higher. Get $2 back on just 5 items, and you’ve already earned $10 — small savings that add up fast.
Once you’ve built up cashback, you can redeem it for a Target gift card.
- Sign up for Ibotta here.
Get the app here:
14. Score a Target Gift Card for Dining at Restaurants
Best for: Foodies who eat out regularly
Get free Target gift cards just for dining out with Seated. Yes, this website actually pays you for eating at restaurants.
With Seated, you earn up to 30% cashback on every restaurant reservation you make — and that cashback can be redeemed for a Target gift card.
- Sign up for Seated here.
Get the Seated app here:
15. Install Embee Mobile Performance Meter on Your Phone
Best for: Anyone who’d rather not take surveys
Not a fan of taking surveys for gift cards? This one’s for you. You can earn free Target gift cards just for keeping the Embee Mobile Performance Meter app installed on your phone.
You’ll earn points simply for having the app installed, which you can redeem for gift cards to Target. The longer you keep it installed, the more you’ll earn — and answering the occasional survey boosts your earnings even further.
- Learn more about Embee Mobile Performance Meter here.
Get the app here:
- Download Embee Mobile Performance Meter here.
16. Watch Trailers with AppTrailers
Best for: Movie fans who want the easiest possible earning method
AppTrailers rewards you with points just for watching movie trailers — points you can then redeem for Target gift cards. It’s honestly one of the easiest ways to earn free cash to spend at the store.
Get the AppTrailers app here:
17. Take Surveys for Free Target Gift Cards with Survey Junkie
Best for: Anyone who wants to earn by sharing their opinion
Survey Junkie rewards you with free Target gift cards just for sharing your thoughts. Simply build your profile, and the site matches you with relevant surveys to complete.
- Sign up for Survey Junkie here.
Get the app here:
Using Your Target Gift Cards
Now that you know how to score free gift cards, let’s cover a few common questions about actually using them.
Do Target Gift Cards Expire?
No — Target gift cards never expire. That’s great news if you’d rather hold onto a card for a while before deciding what to spend it on. There’s no pressure to use it right away.
How Do You Use a Target Gift Card Online at Target.com?
Just follow these steps:
- Sign into your Target.com account.
- Go to the “Account/Name” section.
- Choose “Gift Cards.”
- Select “Save a new gift card” or the + sign.
- Enter your gift card number and access code, and it’ll be added to your account.
How Do You Use a Gift Card in the Target App?
Here’s how to redeem a Target gift card in the app:
- Sign into the Target app.
- Choose the “Wallet” tab.
- Select the “Payment” button.
- Enter your gift card number and access code, and it’ll be added to your account.
How Do You Redeem a Gift Card In-Store?
Good news: you can redeem a Target eGift card in-store, too. This is especially handy since most rewards sites, like Swagbucks, issue eGift cards rather than physical plastic ones.
Here’s how to use an eGift card in-store at Target:
- Save your gift card to your Mobile GiftCard account on your phone.
- Choose “My GiftCards” within the “My Target” section.
- Create a Mobile GiftCard account, or sign into your existing one, and save your eGift card.
- Visit your local Target store, and at checkout, a team member will scan the eGift card straight from your phone.
Free Target Gift Card Generator: Why These Sites Are Scams
If you’ve ever searched “how do I get free Target gift cards” or anything similar, chances are you’ve come across ads or sites claiming to offer a “gift card generator” or “Target gift card access number generator” that can supposedly whip up free gift card codes on demand.
Let’s clear this up right away: these sites are not real. They’re scams, plain and simple. There’s no secret “hack” that generates working gift card codes. (To be clear, there are legitimate gift card hacks that help you stretch the value of cards you already have — but that’s a completely different thing from what these generator sites falsely claim to do.) No legitimate gift card generator exists that can churn out fresh, working codes with the click of a button.
Here’s typically how these scam sites pitch it:
- You visit the site and select your device from a dropdown menu (Android, iPhone, PC, etc.).
- You choose the gift card amount you want ($10, $50, $100, and so on).
- You hit “Generate.”
The site then spits out a supposed gift card code for you to use just like a real one.
Except it doesn’t work. None of these codes are valid — ever.
Think about it logically: if this actually worked, stores like Target would go out of business almost overnight, since everyone would just generate free gift cards instead of paying with cash or a credit card. That alone should tell you everything you need to know.
Bottom line: avoid these sites entirely. Beyond the fact that they don’t work, many of them are also vehicles for malware, so it’s safest not to click on them at all.
Closing Thoughts
As you can see, there’s no shortage of ways to land free Target gift cards — whether it’s through taking a few quick surveys, cashing in on trade-ins, or simply doing the shopping you were already planning to do.
Give these tips a try, and let us know in the comments below if you’ve got any tips of your own for scoring free Target gift cards!
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