Best Buy vs Target

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Best Buy

US and Canadian electronics retailer's online store and app, with store pickup and Geek Squad support.

Free plan + paid

Visit Best Buy Best Buy profile

Target

US retailer's online store and app with same-day delivery, drive-up pickup and a free loyalty program.

Free plan + paid

Visit Target Target profile

The short answer

Best Buy is the better pick for electronics and appliances when setup, repairs or seeing a product first matter, thanks to Geek Squad and more than 1,000 stores. Target suits everyday shopping across home, clothing, beauty, toys and groceries, with drive-up pickup, same-day delivery and its own brands. The biggest difference is focus: Best Buy specialises in technology, Target is a general retailer that also sells electronics.

Best Buy or Target: our take

Best Buy's site and app sell laptops, phones, TVs, appliances, games and smart home gear. Orders can ship or be collected from a nearby store, often the same day, and returns can be made in person. Its distinguishing feature is service: Geek Squad handles repairs, setup and in-home installation, and stores let you try products before buying. Target sells the same range as its US stores, from home goods and clothing to beauty, toys, groceries and electronics, with a strong line of Target-only brands. Orders can ship, be picked up in store, collected through drive-up, or delivered same day through Shipt, which Target owns.

Both are free to shop, with optional memberships. Best Buy's paid My Best Buy memberships add extended return windows, protection plans and member pricing. Target Circle is free and gives personalised deals; the paid Target Circle 360 costs $10.99/month or $99/year and adds free fast shipping, unlimited same-day delivery on larger orders, an extra 30 days for returns and monthly freebies, with a lower price for card holders, teachers, students and military members. Same-day delivery through Circle 360 is only at select stores.

Reach differs too. Best Buy has more than 1,000 stores across the United States and Canada, with separate sites for each country. Target has more than 2,000 stores but trades only in the US. Both have narrower catalogues than Amazon or Walmart: Best Buy because it focuses on technology, Target because it carries fewer marketplace sellers.

For a new TV that needs mounting, a laptop you want to try first, or an appliance install, Best Buy is the more useful store. For a mixed basket of household items, clothes and the occasional gadget, with quick drive-up pickup, Target fits better. Shoppers in Canada only have Best Buy as an option of the two.

Choose Best Buy if…

US and Canadian shoppers buying electronics or appliances who want in-store pickup and setup help
More than 1,000 stores for same-day pickup and in-person returns
Geek Squad repairs, setup and in-home installation

Choose Target if…

US shoppers who like Target's own brands and want quick pickup or same-day delivery
Drive-up and in-store pickup are quick and free
Target-only home, kids and clothing brands

What is Best Buy?

Best Buy is the largest specialist consumer electronics chain in the US, and its website and app sell laptops, phones, TVs, appliances, games, smart home gear and accessories. Orders can be shipped or collected from a nearby store, often the same day, and returns can be made in person. What sets it apart from general marketplaces is the service side: Geek Squad staff handle repairs, setup and in-home installation, and stores let you see products before buying. Shopping is free, and paid My Best Buy memberships add perks such as extended return windows, protection plans and member pricing. It operates in the United States and Canada, with separate sites for each country. Prices are usually close to other big retailers, and it runs regular sales around holidays and product launches. The range is narrower than Amazon or Walmart because it focuses on technology and appliances.

What is Target?

Target.com and the Target app sell the same range as Target's US stores: home goods, clothing, beauty, toys, electronics and groceries, with a strong line of Target-only brands. Orders can be shipped, picked up in store, collected through drive-up without leaving the car, or delivered the same day through Shipt, which Target owns. Target Circle, the free loyalty program, gives personalised deals and member-only offers. The paid Target Circle 360 membership adds free fast shipping, unlimited same-day delivery on larger orders, an extra 30 days for returns and monthly freebies, at a lower price for Target Circle Card holders, teachers, students and military members. It runs on the web and in Android and iOS apps. Target trades only in the US, and its catalogue is smaller than Amazon's or Walmart's because it carries fewer marketplace sellers.

Side by side

Attribute	Best Buy	Target
Pricing	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, Android, iOS
Best for	US and Canadian shoppers buying electronics or appliances who want in-store pickup and setup help	US shoppers who like Target's own brands and want quick pickup or same-day delivery
Status	Active	Active

Verified facts, compared

Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.

Fact	Best Buy	Target
Stores	More than 1,000	More than 2,000 in the US