There’s no better feeling than getting a deep discount on a product you want, and price comparison apps can help you achieve that.
We think you’ll agree that I’m not exaggerating. There are few better feelings in the world than getting a great deal on a product you’re about to buy. That’s why we all eagerly await amazing deals like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, because getting that product you want at a discount is pure euphoria.
Probably the only good feeling is buying that product at a discount, only to find it in stores or online for double the price. Wow. Does that make you feel at home?
But on the other hand, there are worse feelings than going shopping and finding the product for half the price somewhere else. How painful!
How can we avoid that pain and at the same time increase our euphoria every day?
In three words: price comparison apps.
Price comparison apps are designed to find you the best deals, and many include millions of products across hundreds of categories. This means that whether you’re looking for a laptop, running shoes, a kiddie pool, or a dog house, you can get the best deal with one of these apps. Plus, you don’t have to wait for holiday or seasonal sales to get the best price on what you want.
But with so many price comparison apps out there, how do you know which one to use?
Consider the Features
To decide which app to choose, it’s helpful to define what you want from it, then choose one that includes those features.
Online Shopping Versus In-Store Shopping
Those who prefer to shop in-store will want an app that includes a barcode scanner. Luckily, that’s why there are many highly rated price comparison apps like ShopSavvy, Purchx, ScanLife, Now Discount, and Quick Scan. The barcode scanner lets you scan a product with your phone, then quickly compare it to other stores or websites.
If you prefer to shop online, don’t worry. Most price comparison apps that have barcode readers also offer QR scanners and the ability to find the best deals online. With a QR scanner, you can search for products online and scan their QR codes with your phone, so you don’t have to leave your seat to get the best deals.
Even price comparison apps that don’t have barcodes or QR scanners can find the best deals for you. BuyVia, PriceGrabber, TTPM, and Shopular are just a few of the apps.
Perhaps the best price comparison apps (like Purchx and ScanLife) compare prices between local stores and websites. With these apps, you don’t just have to shop online or in physical stores. In each situation, you can decide where and how to shop best for you.
Coupons, Cash Back, and Reviews
Some of these apps, like BuyVia and Shopular, not only compare prices, but also send you coupons. This means that in certain situations, you can find a great deal and use a coupon to save even more money.
These two apps, in particular, also include a cashback feature, which means that when you make a purchase through the app, you will get a percentage of that amount back.
Other apps, like ShopSavvy, Amazon, Purchx, and others, offer a great additional product review feature that allows you to read real customer reviews of a product before you buy. After all, it’s great to find a laptop for $100, but if all the reviews say it’s completely useless, then it’s definitely not worth $100.
Niche Products
Most price comparison apps will find you the best deals on all available products. However, there are other apps with specialized offerings, such as ShopSavvy, which focuses on tech products and gadgets, and TTPM, which will find you the best prices on kids’ toys and pet supplies. If you’re a techie, you might be interested in ShopSavvy; if you’re a mom of five, TTPM might be a better fit.
On the other hand, keep in mind that most general price comparison apps have the ability to search by category and can then make product recommendations based on your previous searches.
How Much Are You Actually Saving?
While there’s no better feeling than finding a great deal, let’s be honest with ourselves for a moment. Using a price comparison app takes time. This is true regardless of which app you choose; the truth is, reading product reviews and comparing prices can take hours.
For those of you with office jobs and free time, God bless you. For others, those hours will be spent on other things: homework, professional work, socializing, sleeping, etc. Most of us are willing to invest that time not only to save money, but also to enjoy the process.
That’s right. It’s fun not only to get a deal, but also to buy it.
But since we all know that time is money, it’s important to at least be aware of it and not fool ourselves into thinking that the money you save through price comparison apps could be spent on something else, albeit in a different currency: time.
The Spending Trap
There’s another caveat that comes with all these price comparison apps, as ridiculous as it may seem. The deals are often so good and tempting that you can buy things you don’t really need, thus spending more money. If you have that kind of money, then you have nothing to worry about. But if you’re on a tight budget, you should be careful and only buy what you need, not what’s on sale.
As you know, exercising self-control is not easy. But we’re sure you can do it. Just keep your eyes on the goal. The goal is to save money on the products you do need. And that’s why price comparison apps are great.
