Tesco Clubcard vs Nectar: which is worth more?

Last checked: 30 October 2026.

In short: a Clubcard point is worth twice as much as a Nectar point when you spend it in store (1p against 0.5p). But points per pound spent matter too, and we couldn't confirm Tesco's current earn rate from its own site Not yet confirmed. Both schemes now also give much of their value through member-only prices, which you get at the till rather than as points.

Value per point

Earning

Nectar publishes its earn rates in its partner terms:

• Sainsbury's: 1 point per £1 on qualifying spend in supermarkets and at sainsburys.co.uk, plus 1 point per litre at Sainsbury's petrol stations.
• Argos and Habitat: 1 point per £1.
• Esso: 1 point per litre of Esso Synergy fuel, or 2 points per £1 in the shop.

Points are worked out on what you actually pay after discounts, so a voucher at the till means fewer points. That makes Nectar's basic return at Sainsbury's about 0.5p per £1 spent.

Tesco's terms only say you must spend "above a certain amount on qualifying products in a single transaction". The details are on Tesco's "Collect points" pages, which block automated access, so we couldn't check them Not yet confirmed. What the terms do confirm:

• There's a cap of 30,000 points per collection period, except during promotions.
• Points aren't given on tobacco, lottery, gift cards, infant formula, Travel Money, the Clubcard Plus subscription fee and other listed items.
• If you forget your card, you can claim within 14 days with your receipt.

Spending

Clubcard vouchers are worth their face value:

• In store, on Tesco fuel, at tesco.com/groceries, and on selected Tesco Bank products.
• Not on Tesco Marketplace.
• Reward Partners can give up to twice the face value, but the codes last six months and can't be refunded once issued.

Nectar points can be spent:

• At Sainsbury's, in store and online, in £2.50 steps, up to £247.50 of points per online order.
• At Argos and Habitat (from 500 to 100,000 points per online transaction).
• On Nectar Hotels and on days out such as LEGOLAND Windsor and the London Eye.

Converting to airline points

• Tesco to Virgin Atlantic. Each Clubcard point becomes 2 Virgin Points. You can convert vouchers in £1.50 steps, or set up automatic conversion each quarter (minimum 150 points, in steps of 50). Conversions can't be reversed.
• Nectar to Avios. 400 Nectar points become 250 Avios, instantly. Going the other way, 400 Avios become 400 Nectar points. There are monthly and quarterly caps. Nectar and Avios ran a 20% conversion bonus throughout October 2026.

How the maths works:

• Clubcard to Virgin. If you use the Virgin Points for Points Plus Money (0.55p each), a Clubcard point is worth about 1.1p, a little more than a voucher. A good-value flight could beat that, but it depends on the route and date.
• Nectar to Avios. You give up 0.5p for every Nectar point. The Avios you get then need to be worth more than 0.8p each to beat spending at Sainsbury's.

Member prices

Both supermarkets now give personalised prices to members:

• Your Clubcard Prices run from Wednesday to the following Tuesday, for invited members.
• Your Nectar Prices are offers you unlock each week. They refresh every Friday.

These discounts may well be worth more to an ordinary shopper than the points themselves. They're price cuts, not points, so we haven't valued them here.

Keeping your points

• Tesco: vouchers expire two years after issue. Points carried forward expire after two years if the account isn't used. You lose your points if you leave the scheme.
• Nectar: Nectar "may close any Nectar Account on which no points have been earned or redeemed for a continuous period of at least 12 months". The app also locks you out after 12 months without a scan, until you scan your card again.

So which is worth more?

• Per point: Clubcard, at 1p against 0.5p.
• Per pound spent: we can't say yet, because Tesco's base earn rate is unverified Not yet confirmed.
• For flyers: Clubcard to Virgin (1:2) is simpler and more generous on paper. Nectar to Avios works best during bonus campaigns, or when your Avios will be worth well over 0.8p each.
• For flexibility: Nectar points work across Sainsbury's, Argos, Esso and partners. Clubcard vouchers also work for Tesco fuel and Reward Partners.

Most people should simply collect both. Neither scheme costs anything to join, and you'll get member prices at each.

Sources are listed in the frontmatter; see our Tesco and Nectar profiles for details and verification notes.