The Key Take-Aways

Benefits of the Lowe's Advantage Card include:

The 5% discount cannot be combined with special financing or six-month deals. The cardholder is required to make the minimum monthly payments and complete the entire purchase within six months. If the cardholder does not pay the minimum payment on time each month, then the interest-free period is cancelled and the interest will be applied. The 84-month special financing offer is structured with fixed monthly payments at a reduced APR of 7.99%.

The company also offers new cardholders with certain perks. If you opened an account prior to Jan. 31st 2022 you could receive 20% off your first $100 purchase.

If you're interested in applying for the Lowe's Advantage Credit Card, you can do so at any Lowe's store. The credit decision takes only minutes. You can also apply online. You can also apply online if prequalified. The prequalification doesn't affect your credit score.

The cardholder can use the card to make purchases at Lowe's, up until a credit limit is set based on their creditworthiness. The Lowe's card is not accepted at any other retailer or at automated teller machines (ATM's).

Lowe's doesn't indicate the minimum score required in order to be approved for the Advantage Card. But it's always a good idea to check your credit score before you apply. You're more likely to qualify for a loan if your credit is good. Experian says that's 670 or higher.

Because the Advantage Card is a store credit card, you can only use it at Lowe's locations. You can also use it on the company's website to make purchases. You can't use it like a regular credit card to make everyday purchases at other retailers.

The Bottom Line

Both stores offer a wide range of low-cost home improvement products.

Choosing the right one for you comes down to your preferred brand range. Behr paints and Andersen Windows are only available at The Home Depot, while Lowe's is the exclusive retailer of popular competitors like Pella Windows.

Our expert advice on tools, equipment and savings deals for DIY and home products will help you shop smarter. Subscribe to the Stuff We Love Newsletter.

The Home Depot'S Sales

Both stores do their best to lure customers with enticing deals and irresistible doorbuster offerings for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Lowe's, and The Home Depot are known to offer significant discounts and even free upgrades such as delivery and the removal of older appliances. Expect to see a lot of seasonal offers, such as electrical equipment for Christmas trees and outdoor lighting displays.

The Home Depot has early Black Friday deals for DeWalt power tools, Samsung fridges and Google Nest home smart devices. Lowe's has a Cyber Deals Section, where new offers are released daily. Be sure to bookmark the page to stay updated on each day's product selections.

Customers may not realize the Lowe's Last Chance Deals and The Home Depot Savings Center sections are also brimming with rock-bottom pricing on items from previous seasons. These products may be offered at up to 70 percent off retail pricing.

What's the difference between Lowe's and Home Depot?

Both Lowe's and The Home Depot offer just about everything one might need to improve, beautify or fix up their home. But each retailer features nuances only they can claim.

Only Lowe's carries in-house brands like Stainmaster carpet, allen + roth home decor and Project Source kitchen cabinets. The Home Depot, on the other hand, is known for its proprietary brands, including Behr Paint, ChemDry carpet stain removers and Ryobi tools.

Both provide skilled tradespeople and staff experts to guide customers needing extra help and information. Your preference may come down to the store atmosphere and the brands you like most.

 

Choosing between Lowe's and The Home Depot can be daunting as the differences between the two mega-retailers can be difficult to discern. Both offer an exceptional variety of home improvement products and are in constant competition over pricing and perks.

The Home Depot

Shopping at The Home Depot is similar to Lowe's, though reviewers and shoppers report The Home Depot employees seem to be slightly more attentive to customer needs and requests.

It's also for a very good reason. Home Depot's employees are part of a stock-purchase plan that allows them to buy shares directly. This makes each employee a shareholder in the business. While we can't say for sure how much that helps, we're betting it plays an important role.

The store itself is a no-frills, warehouse-like shopping experience similar to Lowe's. You can expect high ceilings and shelves, as well as dozens of different departments that cover everything from cabinetry to plumbing. The best time to shop at The Home Depot is mid-afternoon when the store isn't as busy.

Home Depot is slightly larger than Lowe's in North America with 2,300 stores. This allows shoppers to make purchases in store and pick up their items in many large cities.

The Home Depot, like Lowe's offers a return policy of 90 days. "Simply take your purchase back to any Home Depot and get your money back instantly or exchange for something else," according to the company web site. Bring a copy your shipping confirmation or receipt, the credit card used to purchase the item as well as a valid I.D.

To save money, look for items with The Home Depot's yellow sales tags and prices marked .03 and .06. In three weeks, the item is either going to be donated or moved into clearance. And the .06 means the price will be lowered in six weeks.

Home Depot offers military discounts of up to 10 percent for veterans and active duty servicemen with an honorable discharge, as well as their spouses. It applies on select items in-store, online and through The Home Depot app, though there's a $400 maximum annual discount that resets at the start of the year.

Use SheerID to apply for a discount on The Home Depot website. Once verified, your discount will automatically be applied to online purchases. Just show your ID when you check out.

Lowe'S

There are roughly 2,200 Lowe's stores in North America. It is hard to imagine a large city without one. Lowe's stores are well lit warehouses that offer everything you want and very little else. Shopping at Lowe's is never about the frills. Customer service and affordable products are the main priorities.

Lowe's also has a large selection of high-quality hand tools, including many that are not available in other stores. Lowe's customers and The Home Depot's report friendly and knowledgeable staff. The Home Depot's rating is higher in this area. More on that later.

Lowe's policy on returns keeps its customers returning. According to Lowe's, "Most of the new and unused products can be returned or exchanged within 90 days from the date of original purchase" with a proof of purchase.

There are a few exceptions to this rule. In some instances, members of Lowe's Business Advantage and Business Rewards programs may have 365 days to make returns. This also applies to some commercial purchases. Lowe's store shopping experts rave about this feature, which makes it easy for tradespeople and contractors to be more productive and less stressed.

Lowe's offers generous discounts for military members, including veterans, servicemen and women, as well as their spouses. Military members get 10 percent off full price items in stores or online. There is no limit on the number of times they can use this discount. Verify your military status with ID.me to qualify for the discount.

What do I need to keep my Lowe’s receipt?

Lowe's encourages customers to keep their receipts after purchasing products, in the event that they need to make a return or if there is a problem with your purchase.

That said, Lowe's Return Policy states you can return most items within 90 days of purchase, with some return exceptions needing to be returned within 30 days.

You can also use the receipt from Lowes to verify the warranty of some Lowes products.

It's a good idea to keep track of receipts for Lowe's, since it can save you lots of time in the long run.

To know more about Lowe's, you can also check our posts on whether or not Lowe's accepts American Express, if Lowe's takes Apple Pay, and also if Lowe's accepts Afterpay & Klarna.