Here are the best apps
to help you scout out deals this holiday shopping season.
While
contestants on The Price is Right might
be able to guess the price of pretty much any item within pennies, in the real
world, price-comparison apps do the work for you.
These services let you
know if the item before you is a deal or no deal before you make a costly
mistake. When standing before a shelf of rapidly selling must-have gifts,
there’s no need to phone a friend frantically to make sure you’re getting the
lowest price possible; your phone can tell you.
It’s a welcome relief
since at this time of year stores are filled with enough flashing lights and
screaming crowds to turn a holiday shopping trip into a full-on family feud
right there in the mall.
For the past few
holiday seasons, these apps have been saving shoppers the trouble of searching
for a deal online before driving to local stores to see if they can beat it.
There are apps to help the tech-deficient choose a gift for the tech-addicted,
lighten the load of loyalty cards, predict prices and product releases to
minimize buyer’s (and receiver’s) remorse, and offer up rewards.
Price-comparison apps
merely need to snap a barcode and perform a search to turn out all of the
above, making the marketplace crowded. Because we don’t want you to start your
holiday shopping panic before you’ve even left an app store, PCMag has found
the best apps out there.
Amazon
(Available on iOS, Android)
The Amazon app has a barcode scanner that you can use when you’re in a store to immediately find the item on Amazon and check its price. Just choose the camera icon next to the search bar and hold it over a barcode.
The Amazon app has a barcode scanner that you can use when you’re in a store to immediately find the item on Amazon and check its price. Just choose the camera icon next to the search bar and hold it over a barcode.
Walmart Savings Catcher
(Available on iOS, Android)
Walmart Savings Catcher is a feature of Walmart’s regular app. After shopping at Walmart, you can use it to scan your receipt and compare prices of some items against competitors’ advertised deals and get the difference back on a Walmart Rewards eGift Card.
Walmart Savings Catcher is a feature of Walmart’s regular app. After shopping at Walmart, you can use it to scan your receipt and compare prices of some items against competitors’ advertised deals and get the difference back on a Walmart Rewards eGift Card.
ShopSavvy
(Available on iOS, Android, Windows Phone)
Shop smart with ShopSavvy. Tell the app what you’re looking for and it’ll keep an eye out for when you can get it at a discount. You can also see when there are sales at major stores. And ShopSavvy also works as a barcode scanner and SKU finder.
Shop smart with ShopSavvy. Tell the app what you’re looking for and it’ll keep an eye out for when you can get it at a discount. You can also see when there are sales at major stores. And ShopSavvy also works as a barcode scanner and SKU finder.
BuyVia
(Available on iOS, Android)
Buying a tech gift this holiday season? Download BuyVia to your iOS or Android device. It compares prices at national and local outlets and lets you set up alerts (including location-based) for products. At a store and unsure if the price on the shelf is the lowest you can find? Use the UPC barcode scanner to get an answer on the spot. BuyVia also simplifies the tech jargon for gift buyers and quotes reviews (including PCMag’s) in its product descriptions, recommending who it would make a good gift for and how they can use it.
Buying a tech gift this holiday season? Download BuyVia to your iOS or Android device. It compares prices at national and local outlets and lets you set up alerts (including location-based) for products. At a store and unsure if the price on the shelf is the lowest you can find? Use the UPC barcode scanner to get an answer on the spot. BuyVia also simplifies the tech jargon for gift buyers and quotes reviews (including PCMag’s) in its product descriptions, recommending who it would make a good gift for and how they can use it.
Purchx
(Available on iOS, Android)
Scan items to compare prices and get info. Purchx is a great source of user reviews, too. If you choose to review products, you can earn rewards. It was previously known as Consumr but was rebranded as Purchx after being acquired by Purch.
Scan items to compare prices and get info. Purchx is a great source of user reviews, too. If you choose to review products, you can earn rewards. It was previously known as Consumr but was rebranded as Purchx after being acquired by Purch.
ScanLife
(Available on iOS, Android)
Compare prices online and locally with ScanLife. ScanLife also has real-life user reviews of products, can share your finds on Facebook, and lets you earn rewards in the form of gift cards.
Compare prices online and locally with ScanLife. ScanLife also has real-life user reviews of products, can share your finds on Facebook, and lets you earn rewards in the form of gift cards.
Shop for Kids by TTPM
(Available
on iOS, Android)
Toy stores are chaotic and harrowing in any season, but around the holidays, they’re guaranteed to turn you into a Grinch. Use Shop for Kids instead and save your sanity as well as your cash. The app puts toys, electronics, sporting goods, and more gifts for kids in one spot and compares prices across stores. You can search, browse, or scan a barcode to find gifts and prices and watch video reviews to help find the perfect gift.
Toy stores are chaotic and harrowing in any season, but around the holidays, they’re guaranteed to turn you into a Grinch. Use Shop for Kids instead and save your sanity as well as your cash. The app puts toys, electronics, sporting goods, and more gifts for kids in one spot and compares prices across stores. You can search, browse, or scan a barcode to find gifts and prices and watch video reviews to help find the perfect gift.
Price Scanner
(Available
on iOS)
Price Scanner is a barcode scanner that can pick out the best price from popular stores, send coupons for what you’re searching for, and provide product reviews. The app also lets you share savings on social media.
Price Scanner is a barcode scanner that can pick out the best price from popular stores, send coupons for what you’re searching for, and provide product reviews. The app also lets you share savings on social media.
Quick Scan
(Available
on iOS, Android)
Use QuickScan on barcodes and you won’t just find the best prices, you’ll also get inventory status, coupons, and the ability to create shopping lists.
Use QuickScan on barcodes and you won’t just find the best prices, you’ll also get inventory status, coupons, and the ability to create shopping lists.
NowDiscount
(Available
on iOS, Android)
This barcode-scanning and search app finds the lowest prices at local and online stores and serves up coupon codes so you can save even more.
This barcode-scanning and search app finds the lowest prices at local and online stores and serves up coupon codes so you can save even more.
Shop for Kids by TTPM
(Available
on iOS, Android)
Toy stores are chaotic and harrowing in any season, but around the holidays, they’re guaranteed to turn you into a Grinch. Use Shop for Kids instead and save your sanity as well as your cash. The app puts toys, electronics, sporting goods, and more gifts for kids in one spot and compares prices across stores. You can search, browse, or scan a barcode to find gifts and prices and watch video reviews to help find the perfect gift.
Toy stores are chaotic and harrowing in any season, but around the holidays, they’re guaranteed to turn you into a Grinch. Use Shop for Kids instead and save your sanity as well as your cash. The app puts toys, electronics, sporting goods, and more gifts for kids in one spot and compares prices across stores. You can search, browse, or scan a barcode to find gifts and prices and watch video reviews to help find the perfect gift.
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