Update: Target Cartwheel is now Circle, and while Circle offers are comparable to Cartwheel offers, there are some notable differences, like the ability to earn 1% cash back on every purchase. Learn how Target Circle works.
The Target Cartwheel app (technically now just Target app) is one of our top couponing apps for 2019.
If you’re wondering how Cartwheel works, we’ve got answers (and shenanigans. . . which is pretty typical around here).
Make sure to check out all the best Target deals from KCL. And check out our essential post on how to coupon at Target.
What is Target Cartwheel?
Cartwheel used to be a stand-alone coupon app until Spring 2018, when Target absorbed it into its own app. Today, Cartwheel offers are accessible from the home screen of the Target app.
How does Target Cartwheel work?
Cartwheel offers are organized by category in the Target app. Do this:
- Just click “+” to add any Cartwheel offer to your wallet.
- Click “wallet” when you’re ready to check out, and a barcode will appear on your screen for the cashier to scan.
If you’re a dinosaur and you don’t have a smartphone (or if you typically live dangerously with your phone on low battery) you can even print your barcode at home and the cashier can scan it just the same.
You can sign up for Cartwheel offers through Target.com. Once logged in you’ll find Cartwheel offers under “deals.”
May I use Target Cartwheel for online purchases?
In fall 2018, Target announced it would accept Cartwheel store offers for online purchases with in-store pickup. Unfortunately, Cartwheel is unavailable for orders shipped from Target.com.
OK, now that we got the basics answered, here’s how to use Target Cartwheel for your biggest benefit and best savings:
TOP 16 TARGET CARTWHEEL TIPS
1. Stack digital manufacturer offers ($ off) with store offers (% off).
Target hosts manufacturer coupons through Cartwheel, which means that you can see manufacturer coupons and %-off Cartwheel offers all in one place. And you can use them at the same time, too.
In Cartwheel app, you’ll find both manufacturer and store offers. Add both to your wallet and redeem with one scan of your Cartwheel barcode.
If you see a manufacturer and store offer for the same item, you can even use them together on one item. Manufacturer offers are dollar-off values and have a limit of one. Store offers may be redeemed four times per transaction.
2. Sort offers by discount.
Cartwheel lets you sort your offers in four different ways: Newest, Discount, Trending, and Expiring.
“Discount” is my go-to because I wanna see the biggest savings first.
3. Sort offers “near me” when shopping in store.
On your home screen, tap the button that says “Cartwheel Near You.”
You’ll be able to see any offers that are located in or around the aisles near you.
4. Scan items to see if a Cartwheel coupon is available.
And if that particular item doesn’t have any coupons or offers, then Cartwheel will show you any related items that do have offers.
If there’s a matching offer, add it to your wallet. If there isn’t, Cartwheel will show you related items with available Cartwheel offers.
5. Use Cartwheel on clearance items for even bigger savings.
Read the fine print before you assume that you can score a deal on top of clearance, but unless the fine print specifically says clearance is excluded, you can snag the biggest savings (or even freebies).
6. Hundreds of new Cartwheel offers go live every Sunday.
Sure, they’ll pop up other days, but the vast majority of new offers (hundreds!) drop on Sunday.
In the past we’ve seen 50% off Hormel bacon, Voortman cookies and — GASP! — Lindt chocolates.
7. Save 50 Cartwheel offers at a time to your wallet.
Add up to 50 Cartwheel coupons or offers in your wallet, and remember they’ll all redeem with one barcode.
8. Redeem any percent-off Cartwheel 4x per transaction.
Every percent-off Cartwheel may be redeemed four times per transaction and six times per day. Yes, that means if you do six transactions, you can buy 24 items per day.
Note: Manufacturer coupons in Cartwheel can only be used one time. Once you use them, they go away.
9. Link RedCard in the Target app for exclusive coupons.
Target keeps track of your purchases through your RedCard debit card and rewards you for using shopping with even more offers. These are marked “exclusive” in the list of offers.
10. Use Cartwheel at self-checkout.
Couponing anxiety? Redeem both paper coupons and Cartwheel offers at self-checkout. Follow the prompts and use the handheld Star-Trek scanner to scan your Cartwheel barcode.
11. Use Cartwheel for online orders with in-store pickup.
Each Cartwheel offer specifies whether it is available in store only, or in store+order pickup+drive up. At this time, no Cartwheel offers are available for home delivery. Target drive up is available in select regions.
12. You can’t use %-off Cartwheel offers when you price match.
Target is one of many major retailers who price match competitors as well as their own online prices at Target.com. But, once you price match, you cannot use a percent-off Cartwheel offer to lower the price further. You can, however, use manufacturer offers with a price match.
13. You can’t use two phones in one transaction.
Nope, you can’t stack offers by using your friend’s Cartwheel.
14. Target won’t let you stack paper manufacturer coupons with Cartwheel manufacturer coupons.
Only one manufacturer coupon per item — period. It doesn’t matter if the coupon is coming through Target’s app. If the coupon says manufacturer, then you can only use one per item. You’d have to buy two detergents to redeem both coupons pictured.
15. You can only use Cartwheel manufacturer coupons once per transaction.
For maximum savings, stack that single-use manufacturer coupon with a Target percent-off Cartwheel offer.
16. Percent-off Cartwheels stacked with gift card promos aren’t as valuable as they used to be.
As of January 2019, Cartwheel discounts are worth less when combined with Target gift card promos. That’s because Target acts like the gift card is a store discount before calculating the gift card. Buy two $10 items to get a $5 gift card and use a 10% Cartwheel. Ten percent off a $20 subtotal used to be $2.00 off. But now Target subtracts the $5 gift card from the subtotal, so a 10% Cartwheel is only worth $1.50 off.
See more examples of how to calculate Target Cartwheel discounts.
UP NEXT: 16 Things You Should Be Doing on Your Smartphone While Shopping
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