A discounted Target gift card offers a bigger saving than the Chase Freedom Flex’s standard cash-back rate on Target purchases.
Buy the discounted gift card: right now on Gift Card Zoo, a $100 Target card costs about $91 through CardCookie, versus an effective $99 for a $100 Target purchase earning 1% back on Freedom Flex. The gift card costs about $8 less, without requiring a members-only offer.
What does each payment option effectively cost?
The best generally available Target offer on Gift Card Zoo is 9% off through CardCookie—about $91 for a $100 gift card—with five open offers tracked as of September 23, 2026.
| Payment option for $100 of Target spending | Upfront cost | Cash back counted | Effective cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Flex paid directly at Target | $100 | $1 | $99 |
| Target gift card from CardCookie | About $91 | $0 | About $91 |
Buying the $100 Target gift card for about $91 beats the Freedom Flex’s $99 effective cost by about $8. Choose CardCookie’s generally available offer rather than treating a members-only price as available to everyone.
This comparison assumes the full $100 gift card balance is used, no additional purchase fees apply and the credit card balance incurs no interest. It counts no rewards on the marketplace purchase; any eligible rewards would be extra.
Live on Gift Card Zoo
4 offers tracked · updated Nov 1, 2026, 10:07 PM UTC
Compare Target gift card prices →Does Freedom Flex’s grocery bonus apply at Target?
No. Target is excluded from the card’s fourth-quarter 2026 grocery bonus category, so buying groceries at Target does not make those purchases eligible for that grocery rate.
Freedom Flex earns 1% on purchases outside its eligible bonus categories. Do not use a 5% grocery calculation to evaluate an ordinary Target purchase.
The discounted gift card replaces direct payment to Target with your credit card. This is not a stack of the grocery bonus and a gift card discount: a marketplace gift card purchase is not a direct grocery-store purchase.
How do you use the discounted Target gift card?
Target GiftCards can be used in Target stores and on Target.com. For an online purchase:
- Buy the Target gift card and obtain its card number and access number.
- At Target.com checkout, select the gift card payment option.
- Enter the gift card details and apply the balance to your order.
- Pay any remaining balance with another accepted payment method.
You may need to buy a larger card than your immediate order requires. The approximately $91 cost in this comparison buys $100 of Target value; unused value remains on the gift card.
Sources
- Chase Freedom Flex rewards and card details
- Chase quarterly bonus categories
- Target GiftCards and redemption information
The $91 Target gift card beats $99 after cash back
For $100 of eligible Target spending, the generally available CardCookie gift card costs about $91, versus $99 after Freedom Flex’s standard cash back. That makes the gift card about $8 cheaper.
Open the Target comparison above and review the available denomination before buying. Live marketplace prices and inventory can change.