It doesn’t take a genius to understand why shoppers in search of affordable and high-quality goods would want to find some other stores like Target.
The big advantage of shopping at Target stores is that their products and designs tend to be higher quality than other discount stores.
And fans of the retail giant love that it’s basically a grocery store, fashion outlet, and home decor retailer all in one, making it a one-stop-shop for most of your everyday needs.Â
But Target is far from perfect.
Their brand selection is a little bit limited in some categories, and while they usually offer some pretty reasonable prices, that sometimes comes with issues like poor quality or items being out of stock.Â
(Plus, their customer service is hit or miss, depending on which of their team members you happen to be dealing with.)
The good news is that they’re hardly the only game in town.
In this post I’ve rounded up 19 great options for stores like Target that provide great products, great value, and in a lot of cases, a great combination of both.
Top Picks ↓
I’ll explain more about what makes each store great below, but here’s a quick rundown of the best Target competitors:
- Best Discount & Off-Price Stores Like Target:
- Best Higher-Priced Target Alternatives:
17 Stores Similar to Target
Rounding Up the Best Target Alternatives for Affordable, High-Quality Products
The Best Discount & Off-Price Stores Like Target
Walmart
Easily one of the biggest and best Target competitors, Walmart carries products in pretty much all the same categories as Target.
It’s one of the best places for everything from clothing and electronics to household and grocery items, all at lower prices than other department stores and supermarkets.
But where Target strives to be a slightly more upscale discount department store, with Walmart the emphasis is on the discount:
The products, clothing in particular, might not be quite as stylish, but you really can’t beat their low prices.
Amazon
Amazon has grown from an online bookstore to the world’s biggest online store, and now dominates other major retailers in just about every category.
That makes it a close competitor of stores like Target and Walmart, which carry a wide variety of similar products.
But even with the rise of online orders and curbside pickup, physical stores like Target and Walmart struggle to compete with Amazon’s online retail expertise and all the advantages it offers, the biggest of which is probably Amazon Prime.
In addition to free shipping and fast delivery, Prime members get access to Amazon’s streaming platform, which has a ton of great movies and TV shows you can’t get anywhere else.
TJ Maxx
TJ Maxx is a lot like Target in that you can go in for one or two items but end up leaving with a cart full of treasures.
While their main focus is clothing, they also offer a wide variety of products, including home decor, furniture, and gourmet food items.
(Hot tip: Check out the HomeRefresh section of their online store for great deals on home essentials.)
Admittedly, the stores can be a little haphazard, with overstocked shelves and an overwhelming amount of merchandise — so don’t expect much, in terms of the best in-store shopping experiences.
But you can find some huge discounts on name brands and designer labels if you’re willing to do a little digging (and isn’t that part of the fun?).
Dollar Tree
If you never thought of Dollar Tree as an alternative to Target, think again:
The discount variety store chain has exploded in popularity recently (thanks to several bargain-savvy Tik Tok creators), but it’s always been a good option for cheap groceries, personal care products, school supplies, and everyday household items.
With their wide selection of products and over 8,000 locations in the US, it’s a convenient and reliable place to score great savings.
(And if you can’t find what you need, their sister store Family Dollar likely has what you’re looking for.)
Big Lots
For many American bargain hunters, Big Lots is a go-to for great deals on furniture and electronics, although they also sell clothing, footwear, home decor, and (for some reason) food items.
Like many discount stores, they specialize in buying off-season and closeout items at wholesale, which is how they’re able to offer such affordable prices.
It’s a good alternative to Target because they actually offer several Target brands and at much lower prices (up to 70% less!), along with many other name brands.
While some consumers have complained of damaged goods and cheap craftsmanship, it’s still worth checking out, especially if you’re on a budget.
Overstock
If you buy a lot of your furniture at discount department stores like Target or Walmart (and you don’t mind online shopping), then you should definitely check out online retailer Overstock.
Since they’re furniture-specific, they offer a much wider variety of styles and products for your home than most department stores.
But their prices are comparatively much lower, and they often offer the best deal available on brand name furniture.
Costco
When it comes to wholesale and bulk retail at reasonable prices, Costco is the OG.
(I mean, where else can you buy a six-month supply of toilet paper for under $30?)
They pioneered the membership model and basically invented the idea of a wholesale department store, with massive amounts of merchandise packed into warehouses averaging 146,000 square feet.
The clothes they carry definitely aren’t as nice as what you’ll find at Target, but it’s a great alternative across most other categories, especially electronics, jewelry, household essentials, and even optical.
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club is basically what happened after Walmart noticed that Costco’s business model was a good idea, and decided to leverage their massive supply chain to try it themselves.
The result is a warehouse-style, no frills department store where you have to sign up for a membership, but once you do you can score some big savings on a wide variety of merchandise.
Marshalls
Owned by the same parent company as TJ Maxx (TJX Companies), Marshalls is a chain of off-price department stores known for its brand-name merchandise and discounted prices.
They offer a wide selection of brand-name clothing and accessories for the whole family, as well as a decent home goods department with decor and furniture.
So while it may not be a one-stop-shop like Target, it’s a great place to go for quality items for your wardrobe or home at fantastic prices.
Best Higher-Priced Target Alternatives
Kohl’s
Kohl’s is an American department store known for its selection, affordability, and frequent discounts.
They carry a pretty wide selection of name brand and designer merchandise that includes everything from clothes and jewelry to housewares and furniture.
Kohl’s isn’t quite as big a company as most of Target’s competitors, so they have fewer brick and mortar local stores across the United States, but their website is well stocked and easy to use.
JC Penney
Like many traditional department stores in the retail industry, JC Penney has struggled since the rise of online shopping, but don’t let that fool you:
Not only do they carry a wide range of products and name brands, but they offer some deep discounts and run regular sales, making it a good option for shoppers who covet a bargain.
It’s considered a lower-end store compared to say, Macy’s, so quality is often lacking, but if you’re looking to save a buck it’s a good place to widen your wardrobe selection.
Macy’s
Macy’s is along the same line as Kohl’s, Dillard’s, and other middle-end department stores in that there’s pros and cons to shopping there:
On one hand, there’s a ton of merchandise, multiple departments, and some great deals on everything from jewelry to mattresses.
On the other hand, the racks are often crowded and the quality can be spotty, meaning you might have to dig to find a diamond in the rough (or skip the in-store experience and shop online).
All that said, it’s a decent Target alternative if you like department store shopping or just want a change of scene.
Nordstrom Rack
Where do you shop when you want higher quality products than Target or Macy’s offers, but don’t want to pay insanely high prices?
Nordstrom Rack has entered the chat.
The off-price sister to the luxury flagship store carries similar designer labels and high-end items as Nordstrom, but with far less sticker shock.
So while you likely won’t find a lot of crossover in terms of brands, Nordstrom Rack is a great alternative when you want to upgrade from Target.
Dillard’s
Dillard’s is another example of a good place to turn when you’re ready to graduate from the fashion they have at Target and spend a little more money on some bigger name brands.
(Note to the ladies: This is an especially good option for women’s fashion, beauty, and skincare brands.)
It’s more of an upscale department store, like Nordstrom or Macy’s, so their prices are definitely higher, but so is the range and the quality of the clothes they sell.
Sears
Before big-box retailers like Target and Walmart came along and changed the game, Sears was America’s go-to for a one-stop shop that carried just about everything.
It’s lost a lot of market share since those days.
But it’s still a good Target alternative for everything from home appliances and household products to clothes and accessories.
CVS
One of the biggest drug store chains in the United States, CVS Health acquired Target’s pharmacy department years ago, which is why you’ll find a CVS in every Target.
But CVS’s brick and mortar stores have a lot more to offer than their store-within-a-store locations, so it’s worth checking out as a Target alternative (particularly if you don’t have a Target near you).
Like a lot of major drug store and pharmacy chains, CVS has expanded its offerings in recent years, and now competes with stores like Walmart in everything from pharmacy needs to beauty products, toys, and health food.
Kroger
The largest traditional supermarket chain in the United States, Kroger is one of Target’s biggest competitors in one category only: Groceries.
While there are certainly many options out there for affordable groceries (Walmart being the most popular), Kroger’s diverse selection of products, loyalty program, and customer service keep customers coming back.
Plus, they offer a private label that includes hundreds of items, allowing them to cut out the middleman and charge less for those products.
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Kirstyn Brown
Kirstyn describes herself as a “coffee lover and cat lady,” but don’t let her humility fool you:
As the co-creator and former Editor-in-Chief of Strong Fitness Magazine, she’s a highly respected writer and editor with more than a decade of experience, whose work has appeared in top publications like Strong, Oxygen, Clean Eating, Girls Gone Strong and more.
