There’s nothing better than getting a great deal on a product you want at a great discount, and price comparison apps can help you get there.
We think you’ll agree that we’re not exaggerating. There are few feelings that are better than having the product you want right now. That’s why we all eagerly await the big Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, because getting that product you want at a great price is a euphoric experience.
Perhaps the only good feeling is buying that discounted product, only to find it double the price in stores or online. Wow!
But on the other hand, there are worse feelings than going shopping and finding the product for half the price somewhere else. What a disappointment!
How can we avoid that disappointment and at the same time increase our sense of satisfaction every day?
- Three words: price comparison apps.
Price comparison apps are designed to find 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 baby pool, or a dog crate, you can get the best deal with one of these apps. It also means you don’t have to wait for seasonal sales to get the best price for what you want.
But with so many price comparison apps out there, how do you choose the right one?
Consider the Features
To choose the ideal app, it’s helpful to define exactly what you need, then choose one that includes those features.
Online Shopping Versus In-Store Shopping
Those who prefer to shop in physical stores will want an app with a barcode scanner. Fortunately, that’s why many price comparison apps like ShopSavvy, Purchx, ScanLife, Now Discount, and Quick Scan are so highly rated. A barcode scanner lets you scan a product with your phone and quickly compare prices with other stores or websites.
If you prefer to shop online, don’t worry. Most price comparison apps with barcode scanners also include QR code scanners and the ability to find the best online deals. With a QR code scanner, you can search for products online and scan their QR codes with your phone without getting up from your seat to find the best deals.
Even price comparison apps that don’t have barcode or QR code scanners can find the best deals: BuyVia, PriceGrabber, TTPM, and Shopular.
Perhaps the best price comparison apps (like Purchx and ScanLife) compare prices between physical and online stores. With these apps, you’re not limited to shopping online or in physical stores. In each case, you can decide where and how you’re most comfortable shopping.
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 the coupon to save even more.
These two apps, in particular, also include a cashback feature, which means that when you make a purchase through the app, you’ll get a percentage of your money back.
Other apps, like ShopSavvy, Amazon, Purchx, and others, have a great additional feature called product reviews, which allows you to read real customer reviews before you buy a product. 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 the products available. However, there are other apps that offer something a little more specialized, such as ShopSavvy, which focuses on tech products and gadgets, and TTPM, which will find you the best prices on kids’ toys and pet products. If you’re a tech buff, ShopSavvy might be a good fit; 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 let you search by category and then suggest products based on your previous searches.
How Much Are You Actually Saving?
While there’s nothing like finding a bargain, let’s be honest for a moment. Using a price comparison app is time-consuming. This is true regardless of which app you choose; the fact is that reading product reviews and comparing prices can take hours.
For those of you with office jobs who have that free time, congratulations. For others, those hours will be sacrificed for other things: chores, work, social life, sleep, etc. Most of us are willing to invest that time not only for the money we save, but also for the enjoyment of the process.
That’s right. Finding a good deal is not only fun, but also the search for it.
But since we all know that time is money, it’s important to be careful and not fool ourselves into thinking that the money we save with price comparison apps can be spent on something else, even if it’s in a different currency: time.
The Spending Trap
There’s another caveat to all of these price comparison apps, as ridiculous as it may seem. The offers on these apps are often so good and tempting that you can buy things you don’t really need and end up spending more money. If you have extra money, don’t worry. But if you’re on a tight budget, be careful and only buy what you need, not what’s on sale.
As you know, this self-control isn’t easy to achieve. But we’re sure you can do it. Just focus on your goal: to save money on the products you do need. And that’s where price comparison apps come in handy.
