There are thousands of deals online, but most people don’t have time to shop around before making a purchase. Instead, they find what they want and buy it, possibly missing out on major savings.
Thankfully, there is a better way to shop online. Free tools exist that can ensure you're getting the best prices for your online purchases.
We're talking about "browser extensions" for online shopping that are specifically designed to save you money. Also known as a "plug-in" or "add-on" it is a small piece of software works in the background to add specific functionalities to your online experience.
Today we're looking at 10 browser extensions specifically designed to scour the web to help you find the best deals and discounts on all your purchases.
With these helpful tools, you can maximize your savings each time you buy online—you'll never have to pay full price again if a better offer is available.
Honey
The browser extension that "clips coupons" for you
You can save hundreds of dollars by installing the Honey browser extension on your Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Opera browser before you shop online.
It gives you the best promo codes.Rather than having to look high and low for a discount, Honey scans over 20,000 sites for promo codes and automatically applies them to your purchases at checkout.
Honey also compares the price you're being offered with every other seller to make sure you're getting the best possible deal and maximizing your savings.
When you use Honey to spend at certain stores, you earn HoneyGold points, which can be redeemed for gift cards at retailers like Amazon and Groupon, or for real cash.
Amazon Assistant
Instantly compare prices across the massive online retailer
Amazon.com is so huge that you could spend all day on the site comparing the different prices offered for the same product.
When you're looking at a product on Amazon, the Assistant extension will proactively show you if there are better prices and deals.
Become an Amazon pro with this plug-in's additional features.You can also use the Amazon Assistant to get notified of great daily deals, track products and prices, and get updates on the status of your orders.
Amazon Assistant is available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Opera browsers.
Ebates Cash Back Button
Earn money by shopping at partner stores
Ebates is a website where shoppers get connected to special deals at over 2,500 retailers.
If you have a favorite store, it's probably partnering with Ebates.
The huge list of partner stores includes Nike, L.L. Bean, Gap, Saks Fifth Avenue, Old Navy, and many, many more.
The Ebates Cash Back Button browser extension finds and applies the best coupons at checkout and earns you the maximum amount of cash back for your purchase.
Show me the money!At the end of each quarter, you get your cash back in the form of a check or a PayPal deposit.
The Ebates Cash Back Button is only available for the Chrome browser.
InvisibleHand
You won't even notice it's running (until it finds a deal!)
This browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari runs silently and invisibly in the background so it doesn't intrude on your shopping experience.
Psst! I found a better deal for you!If the product you're looking at is available elsewhere at a lower price, InvisibleHand discreetly notifies you.
The plug-in also applies coupon codes for specific stores to ensure you get any discounts available at those stores.
Prices for online retail items, flights, and car rentals are all tracked by InvisibleHand, so your saving on all sorts of purchases!
The Camelizer
Track prices over time to score the best deals
The Camelizer is a slightly different add-on available for Firefox, Chrome, and Safari.
Rather than just comparing the current prices available for an item being sold on Amazon, it provides a chart of the product's price history.
You can set a price alert and get notified when the product you're looking for is available at a lower price.
Good things come to those who wait.If you don't mind waiting for the right time to purchase something at the best possible price, the Camelizer is an excellent tool.
Playing the long game with your finances is always a good bet, and the Camelizer makes it easy to think of the big picture when it comes to your purchases.
Wallaby
Make the most of your credit cards
If you have multiple credit cards with different terms for earning rewards or cash back, Wallaby can help you maximize your benefits on every purchase.
Wallaby will take into consideration the interest rates, rewards, and fees for each of your cards to make sure you're using the most cost-effective one for any purchase.
The right card at the right time. When you're at the checkout page for an online purchase, Wallaby will let you know which card gives you the most bang for your buck.
By matching the best online deals with the best credit card option, Wallaby puts your credit cards to work for you.
CouponCabin Sidekick
When you need a coupon, it's got your back
CouponCabin.com is a site designed to link shoppers with thousands of coupons and offers for cash back.
By installing the CouponCabin Sidekick to your Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, or Safari browser, you'll be alerted immediately if an online store has coupons or offers.
Log in to your CouponCabin Sidekick before shopping and choose the "Activate Cash Back" button to have the cash you've earned deposited into your account.
Choose the "See Offers" button to get access to the coupons available for the product you're buying.
Helpful tips from your friendly sidekick.CouponCabin Sidekick also gives you tips while you're searching on Google to help you save money when shopping online.
Qmee
Get paid for browsing
The Qmee browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Safari displays price comparisons via a sidebar that appears alongside your search results.
The sidebar shows you similar products to the ones you're looking at, but at better prices and with cash rewards for purchasing.
Earn money online.When you log into the Qmee site or click on the plug-in's icon in your browser, you can also choose to make some cash by completing consumer surveys.
Offers
A simple way to pay the lowest prices possible
This free Chrome browser extension by Offers.com automatically connects you to any promotional codes associated with the product you're buying.
If you're shopping at one of its 10,000 partner stores and there is an offer available for the product you're looking at, the extension lets you know the promo code to score that offer.
Not just about the lowest price.Offers like buy-one-get-one-free, free shipping, and other related perks are listed on a separate browser page when you're surfing a partner site.
Offers.com partner retailers include big-name stores like Dell, Footlocker, Macy's, Kohls, and many more.
Pricescout
Compare prices and apply coupons for maximum savings
Like Honey, Pricescout finds any coupon codes available for the product you're about to purchase.
In addition, the Pricescout browser extension also comparison-shops to make sure you're getting the best price out there for the product you want.
Scout it out with lots of options.Pricescout scans the sites of over 21,000 retailers so you can compare prices and take advantage of huge variety of coupon offers.
Pro tip: Combine Pricescout with Honey to make the most of all possible discounts and zero-in on the best prices!
Conclusion
Browser extensions mean you never have to pay full price again
I love technology as much as the next guy, but technologies that help save money hold a soft spot in my heart.
Using browser extensions when you're shopping online can put hundreds of dollars back into your pocket.
And since they're free to install and use, using these helpful pieces of software when you browse is a definite no-brainer.
Get these extensions up and running on your browser today, and you will gain peace of mind over the fact that you'll always get the best bang for your buck each time you shop.
Have you used a browser extension to get a great deal while shopping online?
How did it go for you?
Do you have any other browser extensions you'd like to recommend?
Let us know in the comments below!
