Are LEGO Insider Points Actually Worth It?

The LEGO Insider program, formerly known as the LEGO VIP program, has been around for well over a decade. But are Insider points actually worth earning, or should you instead be looking out for sales and discounts at other stores that could potentially save you a lot more money? In this article, we'll be breaking down everything you need to know about LEGO Insider Program points. All figures provided in the article were calculated and relevant at the time of 7th of December, 2024.

How Do You Earn Insider Program Points?

The easiest way to earn points is to simply make purchases through LEGO.com or at eligible stores. There are occasionally events where bonus points can be earned by purchasing specific sets or through other means, but ultimately the best earn method is to just make purchases - particularly during 2x or 3x points events.

For Australians: It is important to note that LEGO branded stores in Australia are not directly owned by LEGO, and are instead licensed to Bricks Megastore as "Certified Stores". This means purchases in physical LEGO stores in Australia DO NOT give Insider points for the LEGO.com website. However, you can earn Bricks Megastore VIP points which can be redeemed on Bricks Megastore's website. Further to this, many LEGO stores at Australian airports are certified stores owned by newsagents, and do not have a rewards program at all.

What is the Earn Rate of Insider Points?

The earn rate for LEGO Insider Program points depends on what country you are making the purchase in. The following list is accurate as of the 7th of December, 2024:

Australian Dollar: $1 = 4.5 Points

New Zealand Dollar: $1 = 4 Points

British Pound Sterling: £1 = 8 Points

US Dollar: $1 = 6.5 Points

Euro: €1 = 7.5 Points

If you reside in another country, you can refer to LEGO's earn rate checker here.

What are Insider Points Worth?

While this may vary slightly in some countries, the base earn rate of points is typically equal to 5% of the total purchase cost. In Australia, every $150 spent will result in the customer receiving 675 LEGO Insider Program points, which can be redeemed for a $7.50 discount. This means that if you are shopping for a LEGO set, any store that offers a discount higher than 5% is giving you better value for your money than what LEGO is offering with their Insider Program points.

During 2x points events, you'll earn back 10% of your money spent and 3x events you'll earn back 15% of your money spent (in terms of points received). This means that any shop that offers a discount over 15% is giving you more value for your money than LEGO is during a 3x points event. Unfortunately, even some of LEGO's most hyped-up Insider Points events really aren't worth your money, and third-party toy stores and retailers are likely going to give you a better deal. However, this is only true if you're only collecting Insider Points for discounts, and not for other rewards.

A screenshot of the Redeem Points screen on LEGO.com.

How Can Insider Points be Redeemed?

If you're wanting to redeem your Insider Program points for a discount, you can apply them to your cart just before you use the checkout. Previously, you had to navigate to the Insider Program "Rewards" tab, however a recent update to LEGO.com has removed the discounts from the "Rewards" tab and put them in the Shopping Cart screen instead.

Insider points can be redeemed through the Shopping Cart on LEGO.com. Disclaimer: the earn rate in the screenshot above was during a 2x Points event in Australia and is not the standard rate.

Aside from discounts on LEGO sets, Insider points can be redeemed for exclusive small LEGO sets, LEGO merchandise and other items. These can be found in the LEGO Insider Program "Rewards" tab. This includes the brand-new LEGO 5008897 Tic Tac Toe set, which just released a few days ago.

The new LEGO 5008897 Tic Tac Toe set is available for 2400 points on LEGO.com.

Final Verdict

If you're only interested in buying specific LEGO sets and don't care for the other rewards in the LEGO Insider Program, Insider points are not worthwhile accruing, and you'll save far more money picking up sets that are on sale at retailers. Any sets that are at a discount of over 15% will save you more money than what the Insider Program will offer you in points, even during 3x events. The only reason you would want to value Insider points over the monetary savings you'd make through a discounted purchase at a retailer is if you are trying to obtain an Insider Program-exclusive set. Note: If a set on LEGO.com is at a discount of 15% or more and there is a 2x or 3x points event on, this is a rare exception and in this case you may receive better value making the purchase through LEGO.com.

Ultimately, it's up to you to decide how you spend your money, but in most circumstances the Insider Program points are not worth it. We hope this article was informative and we'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions for future articles in the comments below. Stay tuned for more LEGO news and guides on the Brick News website!