Loyalty cards compared: supermarket member prices explained
Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.
A loyalty card is a free membership scheme that gives you lower "member" prices, points or personal offers in return for the shop recording what you buy. At several big supermarkets the best shelf prices are now reserved for members, so if you shop there regularly it usually pays to have the card.
How loyalty schemes save you money
Schemes reward you in three main ways, and most use a mixture.
- Member-only prices. The shelf label shows two prices: the standard one and a lower one for cardholders. You get the lower price when your card or app is scanned at the till.
- Points. You collect points on what you spend and exchange them for money off or vouchers later.
- Personal offers and coupons. Money-off offers chosen from what you usually buy, sent through an app, by email or in the post.
The main supermarket schemes
This table describes how each scheme generally works. Details, point values and offers change often, so check the retailer's own website or ask in store for the current terms.
| Retailer | Scheme | How it generally works |
|---|---|---|
| Tesco | Clubcard | Member-only "Clubcard Prices" on selected products, plus points that are turned into vouchers |
| Sainsbury's | Nectar | Member-only "Nectar Prices" on selected products, plus Nectar points that can also be collected at partner companies |
| Morrisons | Morrisons More | Member prices on selected products, with points and personal offers |
| Asda | Asda Rewards | An app-based scheme that builds a "Cashpot" of money to turn into vouchers |
| Lidl | Lidl Plus | An app with weekly coupons and rewards |
| Co-op | Co-op Membership | Member prices and personal offers; there is a small one-off charge to join |
| Waitrose | myWaitrose | Personal offers and member benefits |
| Marks & Spencer | Sparks | Personal offers and occasional treats |
| Iceland | Bonus Card | A card you can also save money onto; Iceland has also run a discount day for over-60s, covered in our supermarket discounts guide |
Away from food, the Boots Advantage Card is one of the longest-running points schemes on the high street, and Boots has offered extra benefits to members aged over 60. Details of age-related offers are in supermarket discounts for over-60s and high street discounts for over-60s.
You do not need a smartphone for most of them
Schemes are increasingly built around a phone app, but several of the biggest still offer a plastic card or key fob that works at the till for member prices. Ask at the customer service desk, or apply by phone or on the retailer's website. You may miss some app-only coupons, but you will still get the lower shelf prices.
A few schemes work only through an app. If you would like to try one, a relative can set it up in a few minutes, and our guide to smartphones for over-60s explains how apps work.
What you give in return: your data
Loyalty schemes are not charity. The retailer records what you buy, when and where, and uses it to decide which offers to send you and how to stock its shops. Some share anonymised information with suppliers.
- You can usually limit marketing emails, texts and post in your account settings, or by ringing the scheme's helpline.
- You have a legal right to ask what information a company holds about you.
- If you are uncomfortable with it, you can simply not join. You will pay the standard price.
Getting the most from a card
- Join the schemes for the shops you already use. They are free, apart from the Co-op's small joining charge. Do not change where you shop for the sake of points.
- Always scan the card, even on a pint of milk, and at the self-service till before you pay.
- Check where points are worth most. Some schemes give better value when points are exchanged with partners, for days out or meals for instance, than when spent in store.
- Use points before they expire. Vouchers and points often have an expiry date printed on them or shown in the app.
- Ignore bonus-point offers on things you do not need. Points are worth a small fraction of what you spend to earn them.
- Protect your account. Points are a target for thieves. Use a password you do not use elsewhere; see passwords made simple.
Are they worth having?
If you shop regularly at a supermarket that has member-only prices, yes: without the card you are simply paying more for the same basket. Where a scheme offers only points, the saving is modest but costs nothing. What matters far more is the price you pay in the first place, so combine a card with the habits in shopping and cooking for one, and remember that the discount supermarkets can be cheaper on many basics than member prices elsewhere.
Common questions
Do loyalty cards cost anything?
The main supermarket schemes are free to join. The Co-op makes a small one-off charge for membership. Check the retailer's site for the current terms.
Can I get member prices without a mobile phone?
At several major supermarkets, yes, with a plastic card or key fob. Ask in store. A few schemes are app-only.
Can someone else use my card when shopping for me?
Yes. Hand them your card or key fob, or ask the scheme for a second card on your account.
Is it worth holding several different cards?
Yes, if you use several shops. There is no cost and no commitment. Just avoid shopping somewhere dearer only to collect points.