The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Deals
Amazon, Target and Walmart all have big October sales, but which one is the best?
Lyndsey Matthews is the managing editor on TPG's points and loyalty programs team. She has 17 years of experience in digital media, predominantly in the travel industry.
October 5, 2026 • 10 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: This article will be updated with ongoing deals and offers throughout the week.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Related stories
Quick summary
Three major retailers—Amazon, Target and Walmart—are hosting fall sales this week, each with different membership requirements and discount structures.
Amazon's event is exclusive to members and features daily deal drops, while Target's sale is open to its free loyalty program members and Walmart's sale requires no membership.
Notable discounts include electronics, travel accessories and home goods, with some products offered at similar prices across retailers.
Shoppers can maximize savings by stacking rewards from shopping portals and targeted credit card offers, especially at Target and Walmart.
What to consider
Amazon's sale is only accessible to members, making it less flexible for non-subscribers.
Target offers early access and extra perks to paid loyalty members, with a limited-time reward for new annual sign-ups through Oct. 10.
Walmart's event is the most accessible, running the longest and requiring no membership, plus it supports additional cash back through shopping portals.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of specific product deals and strategies to combine rewards for maximum savings across each retailer.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
If you want to get an early start on your holiday shopping, three major sale events are happening this week. A few years back, Amazon launched a fall Prime Day, which it has since rebranded as Prime Big Deal Days. It runs from Oct. 6 to 7 this year.
Not to be left out, Target and Walmart are also running their own fall sales this week. Each retailer is offering slightly different discounts on electronics, luggage and more. Here, we’ll break down how to maximize your existing memberships and credit card offers to determine which sale is best for you to shop.
The Prime Big Deal Days event kicked off at 12:01 a.m. PDT on Oct. 6 and runs through 11:59 p.m. PDT on Oct. 7. Keep an eye out for three daily drops at midnight, 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. PDT each day from brands like Shark and Anker.
At $139 per year (or $14.99 per month), Amazon Prime is the most expensive of these three retail memberships. It offers perks like free delivery, a free Grubhub+ membership and access to Prime Video streaming. Because this sale is the only one of the three mentioned sales unavailable to nonmembers, it’s best for existing Prime members, especially those looking for discounts on Amazon devices.
TPG tip: The no-annual-feePrime Visa offers cardholders 5% back on Amazon purchases and can also earn 10% or more back on select brands during Prime Big Deal Days (terms and conditions apply). In my Amazon account, I’m currently seeing Prime Visa bonus deals with 10% back on items, including select Canon cameras and lenses, Ring doorbells and Amazon Ember TVs.
The information for the Prime Visa has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Target Circle Deal Days
JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY IMAGES
The Target Circle Deal Days event also runs from Oct. 6 to 7 and requires a membership to access the deals. However, Target’s deals are available to members of its free Target Circle loyalty program.
Members of the paid Target Circle 360 membership tier got early access to the sale on Oct. 5. A Target Circle 360 membership costs $99 per year (or $10.99 per month) and includes free shipping and same-day delivery, as well as an extra 30 days for returns. (The free membership mainly offers targeted bonus deals.) Those who enroll in an annual Target Circle 360 membership between Sept. 27 and Oct. 10 will receive $50 in Target Circle Rewards. If you’ve been considering a paid membership, now would be a great time to sign up because these limited-time offers make the annual membership fee much cheaper.
TPG tip: The no-annual-fee Target Circle™ Mastercard offers a 5% discount on Target and target.com purchases. Those who apply for a Target Circle card between Sept. 27 and Oct. 10 and are approved will receive $75 in Target Circle Rewards.
The information for the Target Circle Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Walmart’s Deals & More event kicked off at midnight EDT on Oct. 5 and runs through Oct. 11. In addition to being the longest sale, it’s also the only one where no membership — free or paid — is required to access its deals.
That said, Walmart+ members get perks like free delivery on orders of at least $35, free shipping with no order minimum and a complimentary Paramount+ Essential or Peacock Premium subscription. An annual Walmart+ membership costs $98 per year (or $12.95 per month). (Remember, if you have the American Express Platinum Card®, you get up to $155 back each calendar year as an up to $12.95 monthly statement credit to cover a monthly Walmart+ membership, subject to auto-renewal; Plus-Ups are excluded, and enrollment is required.)
The sale offers up to 40% off tech, up to 50% off home, up to 30% off toys and more. We're seeing Apple AirPods 4 for $79 (normally $129.99) and Dyson V8 cordless vacuums for $299.99 (normally $449.99), among other deals.
TPG tip: If you’re a Walmart+ member, theOnePay CashRewards Card* earns 5% cash back** on Walmart purchases (online or in-store). Nonmembers earn 3% back on Walmart purchases with this card.
*The OnePay CashRewards Card is issued by Synchrony Bank pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.
**Cash back is earned as points on purchases made with your OnePay CashRewards Card, which can be redeemed as a statement credit or as a deposit into a OnePay Cash account. See OnePay Reward Terms at www.onepay.com/rewards-terms for details.
On top of the rewards you may earn on your credit card, shopping portals like Rakuten and American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping let you stack additional cash back, airline miles or transferable points at various online retailers, like Target and Walmart. (Unfortunately, Amazon doesn’t participate in programs like this.) To earn the rewards, you must click the portal’s link, but it’s easy to check which offers the highest rates through an aggregator like Cashback Monitor.
It’s also worth checking in your credit card app to see if you have any targeted credit card offers for statement credits at these retailers. Just be sure to opt in and use the right card when you go to pay at the retailer’s site.
If you don’t have the retailer’s store card or any other credit cards with targeted offers, then your best bet is to pay with a credit card that offers either bonus points or miles at online retailers or simply a multiplier on all purchases.
In most cases, the best sale to shop this week is at the retailer where you already pay for a membership or have a store credit card to maximize savings through free shipping perks or cash-back rewards.
If you don’t yet participate in any of these programs, you’ll likely save the most by shopping at Target or Walmart since you don't need to pay for membership to shop these sales — plus, you can stack cash back through various shopping portals while shopping online at these stores.
However, if you have a specific item in mind you’re hoping to purchase, it’s worth taking the time to compare prices at each store and see which offers the best discount.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
