Online shopping has become integral to modern life, offering convenience, variety and competitive pricing. However, with the sheer number of retailers and pricing options, it can be challenging to find the best value.
Fortunately, browser extensions have emerged as powerful tools that help shoppers save money, earn rewards and make smarter purchasing decisions. These extensions work seamlessly in the background while you browse, automatically finding ways to maximize your savings.
How browser extensions work for online shopping
Browser extensions are lightweight programs that add functionality and convenience to your web browser. For shopping, these tools monitor your browsing activity to identify savings opportunities. Rather than opening multiple windows or performing manual searches to compare prices, browser extensions can do that work on your behalf. When you visit participating retailers, the extension can find discount codes, compare prices across websites or activate cash-back offers.
Once installed, these extensions operate automatically in the background as you shop online. They can alert you to potential discounts, present you with price comparisons from multiple sellers or process cash-back rewards on eligible purchases. You can think of them as digital shopping assistants that find you special or exclusive deals.
Different extensions excel at specific tasks, from locating coupon codes to tracking price histories. Understanding each tool’s strengths helps you choose the ones that align with your shopping habits.
Top browser extensions for online shopping
1. PayPal Honey — Best for finding discount codes
Honey is a free browser extension that automatically sifts through available deals online. At checkout, Honey will search for and test coupon codes at over 30,000 sites. After finding the best coupon, Honey will apply the one that offers maximum savings. Users can also create a “Droplist” to monitor specific items and receive price-drop notifications.
Honey also integrates with PayPal, offering even more perks for users. These include the ability to earn Gold Rewards that can be redeemed (once you reach 1,000 points) for gift cards, cash back or a shopping credit on your next eligible purchase if you use PayPal. Honey also offers price comparison features on select websites, helping ensure you get the best deal.
Key features:
- Automated coupon code testing at checkout
- Price tracking for wish list items
- Compatible with thousands of retailers
2. Capital One Shopping — Best for price comparisons
Capital One Shopping, formerly Wikibuy, focuses on real-time price comparison at over 100,000 retailers on the web. The extension automatically checks if items are available for less elsewhere while you shop and can even verify membership pricing or shipping fees.
For instance, when browsing Amazon, Capital One Shopping alerts you if another retailer offers the same product at a lower price. The tool will also show you the cost difference and display a link to the retailer with the better price. If a discount or deal isn’t available, you can still rack up shopping credits that can be exchanged for gift cards.
Key features:
- Real-time price comparison across retailers
- Shopping credits redeemable for gift cards
- Instant alerts for better deals
3. Rakuten — Best for cash back
Rakuten has established itself as a leading cash-back platform, partnering with thousands of retailers across multiple shopping categories. The extension simplifies earning cash back by automatically activating rewards at participating stores.
Rakuten partners with thousands of retailers across various categories, from fashion to electronics. When you shop through Rakuten, a percentage of your purchase is returned to you as cash back, which you can redeem via PayPal or a check. What sets Rakuten apart is its seamless integration and the fact that it consistently offers some of the highest cash-back rates available.
Key features:
- Automatic cash-back activation
- Extensive retailer partnerships
- Simple PayPal or check redemption
4. CamelCamelCamel — Best for Amazon price tracking
Sometimes, sales on Amazon items showing deep discounts might not be as great as they seem on the surface. For example, an item might show a significant price drop on Black Friday. However, the item’s pricing history could reveal an entirely different story.
That’s where CamelCamelCamel comes in. The extension specializes in Amazon price tracking, providing detailed pricing history for millions of products and helping users make informed purchasing decisions. You can compare an item’s current price to historical trends over time to determine if the purchase would be a good deal.
The extension integrates directly with Amazon product pages, displaying price history charts that show fluctuations over time. Users can set custom price alerts, ensuring they never miss an opportunity to buy when prices drop to their target range. CamelCamelCamel will also show a “Good Deal” badge on item pages the extension determines is a good price compared to historical data.
Key features:
- Comprehensive Amazon price history tracking
- Customizable price-drop notifications
- Easy-to-read price history charts embedded directly on Amazon product pages
5. InvisibleHand — Best for finding hidden deals
InvisibleHand takes a minimalist approach to deal-finding, operating quietly in the background and only appearing when it discovers meaningful savings. The extension covers retail purchases and travel, including flight bookings, hotels and rental cars.
Rather than bombarding users with constant notifications, InvisibleHand surfaces only when it identifies substantial savings opportunities.
Key features:
- Finds lower prices on products and services, including flights and hotels
- Selective notifications for significant savings
- Broad coverage of online retailers and travel services
6. Cently — Best for last-minute discounts
Cently, formerly known as Coupons at Checkout, excels at finding overlooked discounts during the checkout process. While similar to other coupon-finding extensions, it often uncovers lesser-known deals that other tools miss. Cently also allows you to share coupons with friends, making it a great tool for group shopping experiences.
What sets Cently apart is its ability to find last-minute deals that can save you a few extra dollars just before you finalize your purchase. It’s easy to use and works with a wide variety of retailers.
Key features:
- Automatically applies coupon codes during checkout
- Finds last-minute discounts that other extensions might miss
- Social sharing capabilities
The bottom line
Shopping browser extensions offer an easy way to make the most of your money and take the work out of price comparisons and coupon hunting. But choosing the right browser extension for you depends on what you want from your shopping experience.
For example, you might value maximum savings over anything else, or you may prefer to review a product’s historical price trends before making a purchase. Compare the top options to find the right fit for your shopping style.
Frequently asked questions
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