The best loyalty cards actually worth signing up for

(Image credit: Tesco)

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What are loyalty cards?
Best loyalty programmes to sign up to today

published 17 August 2022

All of us have been affected by the cost of living crisis. From energy bills to weekly food shops, everyday prices have become more expensive and many of us have had to cut back on spending or completely go without.

As Deals Writer & Shopping Expert at T3, I’m always looking for ways to save money to help our readers battle the cost of living price hikes – see my 5 biggest tips for saving money during the cost of living crisis for more. One of the best ways to save money is by signing up for loyalty cards and programmes.

Loyalty cards are typically free to sign up to, and can help you save money at your favourite stores or retailers. This is done by earning points for money off your purchases and other incentives are also available, including exclusive offers, members-only events and prize draws.

With so many loyalty programmes out there, it can be difficult to figure out which ones are actually worth signing up for and which are a waste of your time and commitment. That’s where I come in! Below, I’ve ranked the best loyalty cards and programmes that can help you save money, and offer you incentives that you’ll actually enjoy.

What are loyalty cards?

Before we get into the list, it’s important to understand what a loyalty card or programme is. A loyalty card is a customer incentive scheme which is issued by a retailer to encourage customers to continue shopping at their stores or on their website. When a customer spends money at the retailer, they’ll collect credits or points that they can use on future purchases. Typically, you’ll need to reach a certain amount of points to be able to spend them on your orders.

Loyalty cards come in the form of a plastic or paper card, or you’ll have to download the retailer’s app. Loyalty programmes also give customers many other benefits depending on the retailer, like double points on holidays, special discounts on your birthday, competition entries and more.

Overall, loyalty cards are a handy way to save money at your favourite retailers, much like using the best discount codes. Below, I’ve rounded up the best loyalty programmes that can actually help you cut your spending, and I’ve put them into categories so you can easily find loyalty cards for supermarkets, health & beauty, food and drink, and more.

Supermarkets & Fuel

Food & Drink

Mobile

Retail

Beth is Home Editor for T3, looking after style, living and wellness. From the comfiest mattresses to strange things you can cook in an air fryer, Beth covers sleep, yoga, smart home, coffee machines, watches, grooming tools, fragrances, gardening and much more. If it's something that goes in your house, chances are Beth knows about it and has the latest reviews and recommendations! She's also in the know about the latest deals and discount codes from top brands and retailers.

Having always been passionate about writing, she’s written for websites, newspapers and magazines on a variety of topics, from jewellery and culture, to food and telecoms. You can find her work across numerous sites, including Wedding Ideas Magazine, Health & Wellbeing, The Bristol Post, Fashion & Style Directory, TechRadar, CreativeBloq and more. In her spare time, Beth enjoys running, reading, baking and attempting craft projects that will probably end in disaster!