Savings Guide
Are Store Rewards Programs Worth Joining?
Most retail loyalty programs are free, but they're not all equal. How to tell which ones pay you back and which ones just fill your inbox.
Nearly every large retailer now has a loyalty program, and most are free to join. Signing up for all of them isn't automatically smart, though. Here's a quick way to decide which are worth your email address.
The three kinds of programs
- Points programs earn points per dollar spent that convert into rewards or discounts later. Examples: Sephora Beauty Insider, Ulta Beauty Rewards, CVS ExtraCare.
- Member-pricing programs give lower prices or personalized deals to members, with no points to track. Examples: Target Circle, IKEA Family.
- Paid memberships charge an annual or monthly fee in exchange for perks like free shipping or delivery. Examples: Walmart+, DashPass, Instacart+.
Is a free program worth it?
For a store you shop at regularly, almost always yes. The cost is mostly marketing email, which you can filter or unsubscribe from while keeping the account. Free programs commonly include birthday rewards, member-only sales and early access to seasonal events.
For a store you visit once a year, it's usually not worth creating another account unless the program unlocks a discount on the purchase you're about to make.
Is a paid membership worth it?
Do the arithmetic. Add up what you spent on delivery fees or shipping at that retailer over the last few months and compare it with the membership cost. If the membership doesn't clearly pay for itself, skip it, or use a free trial to test it and set a reminder to cancel before it renews.
Getting more out of the programs you join
- Stick to a few. Points spread across ten programs rarely add up to a reward. Points concentrated in two or three do.
- Check expiration rules. Some points and rewards expire if unused or if your account goes inactive.
- Time big purchases. Bonus-point events and member sales can make a planned purchase noticeably cheaper.
- Look for shared programs. Gap Good Rewards works across Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta; One Key works across Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.
Browse every program we track on our Rewards Programs page.