As one of the largest retailers in the United States, Target is a go-to destination for everything from groceries and household essentials to electronics and apparel. And with the increasing popularity of digital payment methods, many Target shoppers are wondering: Can I use PayPal to check out?
The short answer is yes — but there‘s a lot more to know about using PayPal at Target, both online and in-store. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything from step-by-step instructions for paying with PayPal to troubleshooting common issues and maximizing your rewards. Plus, we‘ll take a deep dive into the benefits and potential drawbacks of using PayPal, and how it fits into Target‘s broader digital payment strategy.
Whether you‘re a committed PayPal user or just curious about your options, read on for the ultimate resource on using PayPal for all your Target shopping needs.
Target‘s PayPal Policies: What You Can (and Can‘t) Do
Let‘s start with the basics: Target does accept PayPal as a payment method, both on Target.com and in physical Target stores. This includes PayPal Credit, which is a line of credit that allows you to pay for purchases over time (more on that later).
However, there are a few exceptions and limitations to be aware of. According to Target‘s website, you cannot use PayPal for the following:
- Purchases from Target Plus™ Partners (third-party sellers who offer products on Target.com)
- Target Subscriptions orders
- Reserving certain video games and entertainment titles
- Buying Target GiftCards or other prepaid/reloadable cards in-store
- Using "Scan and go" quick checkout in the Target mobile app
Aside from these special cases, you can freely use PayPal to pay for eligible items on Target.com, the Target app, and at in-store checkouts. This flexibility is a key advantage of using PayPal — unlike store-specific gift cards or certain credit cards, it‘s accepted across a wide variety of online and offline merchants. (More on PayPal‘s broad retail partnerships in a bit.)
How to Check Out with PayPal on Target.com and the Target App
If you‘re shopping on Target‘s website or in the Target mobile app, paying with PayPal is a quick and straightforward process. Here‘s a step-by-step breakdown:
- When you‘re ready to check out, click on your cart in the upper right corner and select "Checkout."
- On the next page, look for the "PayPal" button under "Payment methods." Make sure your billing address is entered correctly, then click "PayPal Checkout."
- You‘ll be redirected to log into your PayPal account. (If you don‘t have one, you can sign up for free at this point.) Choose which linked payment source you want to use for the transaction — this could be your PayPal balance, a bank account, or a credit/debit card.
- Review your order details and shipping information, then click "Agree & Continue" to confirm the payment.
- You‘ll be returned to the Target website to finalize the checkout process. Once your order is complete, you‘ll receive a confirmation email from Target with the order details and shipping information.
That‘s it! The whole payment flow usually takes less than a minute. As long as your PayPal account is set up correctly with a valid funding source, checking out on Target.com is as seamless as any other payment method.
A few things to keep in mind:
- You can‘t split a payment between PayPal and another method in a single transaction. If your PayPal balance doesn‘t fully cover the order total, you‘ll need to have a linked backup payment option.
- Recurring Target Subscriptions orders can‘t be paid for with PayPal. If you have a Target Subscription for an item like diapers or pet food, you‘ll need to use an alternative payment method.
- According to PayPal‘s terms of service, your purchase may be eligible for PayPal Purchase Protection, which can offer a refund if an item doesn‘t arrive or doesn‘t match the seller‘s description. This protection only applies to certain categories of goods, and comes with claim limits and other restrictions.
Using PayPal In-Store at Target: A Contactless Payment Revolution
While PayPal started as an online-only payment platform, it‘s increasingly being accepted for in-person transactions at major retailers, including Target. This is made possible through contactless payments — a technology that lets you check out by tapping or hovering your smartphone or smartwatch over a compatible payment terminal.
Contactless payments are powered by near-field communication (NFC) technology, which allows for a secure wireless data exchange between your device and the payment terminal. Essentially, it turns your mobile device into a digital wallet, with all your payment credentials securely stored and ready to use.
To pay with PayPal in a physical Target store, you‘ll need to add your PayPal account to one of the contactless payment apps accepted at Target. Currently, this includes:
- Apple Pay (for iPhone and Apple Watch)
- Google Pay (for Android devices)
- Samsung Pay (for certain Samsung Galaxy devices)
Here‘s how to set it up and pay with PayPal in-store:
- Open the digital wallet app on your mobile device (e.g. the Wallet app on iPhone).
- Follow the prompts to add your PayPal account. You may be asked to log into PayPal to confirm the connection.
- At checkout, let the cashier know you‘ll be paying with your phone or smartwatch.
- When the payment terminal is ready, hold your device near the contactless symbol (it looks like a sideways Wi-Fi symbol). Your device may prompt you to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
- Wait for a confirmation on both your device and the payment terminal to indicate the transaction has gone through. Collect your receipt, grab your bags, and you‘re all set!
The beauty of contactless payments is that they‘re not only more convenient, but also more secure and hygienic compared to swiping a physical payment card. Your actual PayPal credentials are never shared with the merchant, and there‘s no need to touch a potentially germy payment terminal.
The adoption of contactless payments has skyrocketed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a 2020 survey by the National Retail Federation, 69% of retailers in the U.S. now accept some form of no-touch payment, up from 40% in 2019. And on the consumer side, a Mastercard study found that 41% of respondents worldwide say they have swapped out their top-of-wallet card for one that offers contactless functionality.
"Contactless payments have been gaining popularity for years, but the pandemic has accelerated that shift dramatically," says Stephanie Martz, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at the National Retail Federation. "Consumers are prioritizing safety and hygiene, and retailers are responding by offering more touch-free payment options like PayPal."
Target itself has seen a significant jump in contactless payment usage. In the second quarter of 2020, CFO Michael Fiddelke noted that the percentage of contactless payments in Target stores increased by double digits compared to the previous year.
Target‘s Digital Payment Strategy: How PayPal Fits In
The integration of PayPal is just one facet of Target‘s broader push into digital payments and mobile commerce. Over the past few years, Target has rolled out a suite of features designed to merge its in-store and online shopping experiences, with a particular focus on the Target mobile app.
Some notable examples:
- In 2017, Target introduced Wallet in the Target app, which allows customers to pay for in-store or online purchases, plus redeem digital coupons and gift cards, with a single scan of their phone.
- Target was one of the first retailers to enable Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay for in-store use, starting in 2019.
- The Target Circle loyalty program, launched nationwide in 2019, is integrated directly into the Target app and allows shoppers to earn rewards on every purchase.
Accepting PayPal, both online and in-store, is a logical extension of this digital-first approach. As one of the world‘s largest payment platforms, PayPal brings a massive built-in user base and a trusted brand name to the table.
"We know many of our customers already use PayPal as their preferred online payment method," said Mike McNamara, Target‘s Chief Information Officer, in a 2019 press release announcing the PayPal partnership. "Offering PayPal as a seamless payment option within the Target mobile app and on Target.com offers our customers more flexibility and choice."
Indeed, PayPal‘s reach is staggering. As of Q2 2021, PayPal had 403 million active registered accounts, with a total payment volume of $311 billion. And it‘s not just for online shopping — in Q4 2020, PayPal processed over $60 billion in mobile payment volume, a 70% year-over-year increase.
For Target, tapping into that immense user base and transaction volume is a smart strategic move. Not only does it offer more convenience and choice for existing Target shoppers, but it also has the potential to attract new customers who already use and trust PayPal for their online shopping.
Maximizing Your Rewards and Security with PayPal
One of the benefits of using PayPal is that it can act as a conduit for your other payment methods, allowing you to toggle between funding sources without having to update your information across multiple sites and apps. This comes in handy for maximizing credit card rewards — by linking your go-to rewards card with your PayPal account, you can effortlessly rack up points, miles, or cash back on your Target purchases.
For example, let‘s say you have the Target REDcard, which offers 5% off every Target purchase. You could add the REDcard to your PayPal wallet and select it as your default payment method. Then, whenever you check out at Target using PayPal, you‘ll automatically earn that 5% discount without having to enter your REDcard details separately.
The same principle applies for any rewards credit card. If you have a card that earns bonus points on online purchases, make sure it‘s linked to your PayPal account and selected as the funding source when you shop on Target.com or in the Target app. For in-store shopping, you can still earn rewards by using PayPal‘s contactless payment functionality with your linked rewards card.
Another advantage of using PayPal is the added layer of security it provides. When you pay with PayPal, your sensitive financial information (like your credit card number) is never shared directly with the merchant. Instead, PayPal acts as a secure middleman, processing the payment on your behalf without exposing your data.
This extra level of protection is especially valuable when shopping online, where the risk of fraud and data breaches is higher. If a merchant‘s website were to be compromised, your PayPal account would still be safe, since the hackers wouldn‘t have access to your actual payment details.
Of course, no payment method is completely immune to fraud. It‘s still important to practice good security hygiene, like using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly monitoring your account activity. If you do notice any suspicious transactions on your PayPal account, be sure to report them to PayPal immediately — many transactions are covered by PayPal‘s Purchase Protection policy, which can reimburse you for unauthorized charges.
PayPal Alternatives and Competitors
While PayPal is arguably the biggest name in digital payments, it‘s far from the only option available to Target shoppers. Here‘s a quick rundown of some notable PayPal alternatives and how they compare:
- Venmo: Owned by PayPal, Venmo started as a peer-to-peer payment app but now offers a debit card and mobile payment functionality. It‘s accepted anywhere that takes PayPal, including Target. One key difference is that Venmo has a social feed where users can see and comment on each other‘s transactions (though this can be turned off for privacy).
- Cash App: Formerly known as Square Cash, this app also started as a person-to-person payment service but has since expanded to include a debit card, mobile payments, and even the ability to buy and sell Bitcoin. While not as widely accepted as PayPal, Cash App can be used at any merchant that accepts Visa contactless payments.
- Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay: These are the proprietary mobile wallet and contactless payment systems for their respective device ecosystems. They don‘t have quite the same online shopping functionality as PayPal, but they‘re widely accepted for in-store use, including at Target.
- Affirm: This is a financing option that allows shoppers to pay for purchases in installments over time. While not a direct PayPal competitor, Affirm is accepted as an alternative payment method on Target.com and in the Target app for purchases over $100.
Ultimately, the best PayPal alternative for you will depend on your specific needs and shopping habits. If you frequently send money to friends and family, for example, Venmo or Cash App might be a better fit. If you‘re loyal to a particular mobile device brand, using that platform‘s native payment system (like Apple Pay) could offer a more seamless experience.
It‘s also worth considering merchant acceptance. While Target is fairly inclusive in its digital payment partnerships, some retailers are more selective. Amazon, for instance, doesn‘t accept PayPal directly (though you can use your PayPal Cash Card or link a PayPal-connected bank account). Walmart, on the other hand, recently ended its partnership with Affirm and now promotes its own financing option, Affirm+ by Walmart.
As digital wallets and contactless payments continue to evolve, it‘s likely we‘ll see even more options emerge in the coming years. For now, PayPal remains a solid choice for Target shoppers, thanks to its wide acceptance, user-friendly interface, and robust security features.
Conclusion
As we‘ve seen, using PayPal at Target is a convenient, secure, and rewarding way to shop, both online and in-store. With a few taps on your smartphone or computer, you can breeze through checkout without having to fumble for your wallet or enter your payment details over and over.
But beyond just convenience, the PayPal-Target partnership reflects a larger shift in the way we shop and pay. As digital wallets and contactless payments become the norm, retailers are racing to adapt, forging alliances with fintech companies and building out their own mobile payment infrastructure.
Target, for its part, has proven to be an early adopter and innovator in this space. From its in-app Wallet feature to its support for multiple contactless payment options, Target is clearly committed to giving its customers a more seamless and flexible shopping experience.
As a shopper, understanding your payment options — including PayPal — can help you make more informed decisions, maximize your rewards, and protect your financial data. Whether you‘re a die-hard Target fan or just an occasional visitor to the bullseye boutique, adding PayPal to your payment repertoire is a smart move.
Of course, as with any financial tool, it‘s important to use PayPal responsibly. That means keeping your account secure, monitoring your transactions for any suspicious activity, and avoiding overspending just because checkout is a breeze.
But used wisely, PayPal can be a valuable asset in your Target shopping toolkit — one that offers added peace of mind, convenience, and value. So the next time you‘re ready to stock up on essentials or splurge on that new designer collab, consider giving PayPal a try. Your wallet (and your rewards balance) will thank you.
