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In the bygone era of 2010, when the hit TV series “Extreme Couponing” took the world by storm, consumers would invest countless hours in amassing paper coupons from a multitude of sources like newspapers and magazines. They would meticulously snip out these coupons and systematically organize them within binders or folders. However, the landscape of couponing has undergone a remarkable transformation since then, thanks to the advent of Best Coupon Apps.
Even while paper coupons are still available, advances in technology have completely changed the way that we use coupons to save money. The availability of digital coupons in the form of mobile apps has simplified and streamlined the couponing process. These apps streamline the process of saving money by automatically adding discounts or promo codes whenever online purchases are made.
In addition to that, they provide cash back returns for each and every dollar that is spent. Some apps need you to scan in receipts in order to receive discounts, while others offer savings only when you connect your debit and credit cards to your account. In order to determine which products are the most advantageous on the market, Investopedia carried out comprehensive research and analyzed a variety of coupon and discount code apps that are already on the market.
Benefits of Using Coupon Apps
- Access to Exclusive Deals: Coupon applications frequently provide users with access to bargains and discounts that aren’t offered through any other distribution method. These exclusive deals can be accessed by users, who can then save money on their subsequent purchases.
- Convenience and Accessibility: Users are able to get coupons and savings straight from their smartphones through the use of coupon apps, which provides both convenience and accessibility. Because of this, there is no longer a need to carry around real coupons or look for offers in publications such as newspapers or fliers. Coupons can be easily obtained at any time and in any location.
- Savings on Everyday Expenses: Coupon applications cover a wide range of categories, including grocery, restaurants, apparel, electronics, and more, allowing users to save money on a variety of day-to-day expenses. Users are able to save money on day-to-day expenses and make their budgets go farther when they make use of coupon apps.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Coupon App
- User Reviews and Ratings: To get a sense of the overall quality of the many coupon applications available today, have a look at the reviews and ratings left by actual users. Pay attention to the remarks regarding the availability of coupons, how easy it is to use them, how reliable they are, and how helpful the customer service is. A reliable and useful mobile application is often characterized by positive user evaluations.
- Security and Privacy: Make sure that the coupon app places a high focus on the safety of its users and protects any personal information that may be provided. This is especially important if the app allows users to save coupons. You should look for apps that both encrypt user data and have privacy policies in place if you want to protect the information that users share with you.
- Compatibility and Device Support: Check to see if the coupon app is compatible with the operating system that is currently installed on your smartphone, which could be either iOS or Android. In addition, you should think about if the app is compatible with a variety of devices, such as smartphones and tablets, and whether it enables seamless usage across a variety of platforms.
Best Coupon Apps Comparison Table
There are a number of popular coupon applications that can assist you in saving money while you are out doing your shopping. These apps simplify the process of saving money by applying coupons or discounts to internet transactions automatically. The following is a table that compares many of the most popular Best Coupon Apps:
Feature | Capital One Shopping | Ibotta | Honey | SnipSnap | Rakuten |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coupon Aggregator | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Cash Back Offers | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Automatic Coupons | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
Price Comparison | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Receipt Scanning | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
In-Store Offers | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Capital One Shopping
![Best Coupon Apps](https://www.compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-981.png)
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Price Comparison | Capital One Shopping compares prices across multiple retailers. |
Automatic Coupon Application | The app automatically applies relevant coupons at checkout. |
Price Drop Alerts | Get notified when prices drop on items you are interested in. |
Watchlist | Create a watchlist for tracking price changes of specific products. |
Rewards Program | Earn credits for eligible purchases and redeem them for gift cards. |
Because this browser extension and app automatically compare prices on qualifying items at more than 30,000 stores, we decided that Capital One Shopping was the best option for price comparisons. This tool even contains and analyzes the costs of delivery as well as the prices of memberships.
Although Capital One Shopping is a coupon app that applies discounts automatically at more than 30,000 merchants, the reason we chose them for our list is because the app also compares prices and provides you amazing deals. If Capital One shopping discovers a lower price for an item, they will give you a link to another retailer where you may buy the item so you can take advantage of the lower price.
The Good
- Easy price comparison across various retailers
- Automatic coupon application saves time and maximizes savings
- Price drop alerts help you snag the best deals
- Watchlist feature for monitoring price changes
The Bad
- Limited availability of certain coupons
- Requires sign-up and linking of a Capital One account
Ibotta
![Best Coupon Apps](https://www.compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-982.png)
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Cash Back Offers | Earn cash back on eligible purchases from participating retailers. |
Mobile Shopping | Shop through the app and earn cash back on mobile purchases. |
Receipt Scanning | Scan and submit receipts to earn cash back on qualifying purchases. |
Bonuses and Challenges | Unlock additional rewards by completing bonuses and challenges. |
Teamwork | Join or create a team to earn extra bonuses together with friends or family. |
Ibotta is a mobile coupon program that enables users to save money at partner businesses, including supermarkets. Because it offers additional savings on food purchases overall, including those made through delivery and pickup, we decided to give it a higher score. To be more specific, the app advertises more than 500 special offers on grocery delivery with major retailers such as Walmart and Target.
You are eligible for a bonus simply for downloading the app, and from within the app you are able to add special deals to your account. After making qualified purchases at participating stores, such as Lowe’s, Hotels.com, Kohl’s, Best Buy, and Staples, cash back will be credited to your account.
The Good
- Earn cash back on everyday purchases
- Convenient mobile shopping and earning cash back on the go
- Receipt scanning feature for earning cash back on offline purchases
- Bonuses and challenges add extra earning potential
The Bad
- Limited selection of cash back offers based on location and availability
- Requires minimum cash back balance for withdrawal
Honey
![Best Coupon Apps](https://www.compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-983-1024x482.png)
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Automatic Coupons | Automatically finds and applies relevant coupons at checkout. |
Price History Tracker | Tracks price history and notifies you of price drops on saved items. |
Droplist | Save items to your Droplist and get notified when prices drop. |
Rewards Program | Earn Honey Gold rewards and redeem them for gift cards. |
Honey Travel | Find travel deals and earn Honey Gold rewards on eligible bookings. |
Ibotta is a mobile coupon program that enables users to save money at partner businesses, including supermarkets. Because it offers additional savings on food purchases overall, including those made through delivery and pickup, we decided to give it a higher score. To be more specific, the app advertises more than 500 special offers on grocery delivery with major retailers such as Walmart and Target. You are eligible for a bonus simply for downloading the app, and from within the app you are able to add special deals to your account.
The Good
- Automatic coupon application saves time and money
- Price history tracker helps you monitor price fluctuations
- Droplist feature alerts you when prices drop on saved items
- Rewards program offers incentives for using the app
The Bad
- Coupons may not always be available for all retailers
- Some users may experience occasional compatibility issues with certain websites
SnipSnap
![Best Coupon Apps](https://www.compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-984.png)
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Digital Coupon Storage | Scan and store physical coupons in the app for easy access and organization. |
Coupon Reminders | Get notified when coupons are about to expire or when you’re near a saved store. |
Discover New Coupons | Explore and discover new coupons from various retailers. |
Community Savings | Share and discover coupons shared by other SnipSnap users. |
Shopping Lists | Create and manage shopping lists within the app for efficient shopping. |
Have you ever attempted to transport a stack of coupons for Bed Bath & Beyond with you wherever you went? It’s the equivalent of carrying about a stack of playing cards made of large cardboard. SnipSnap is aware of the challenges that you face, and this is the motivation behind the development of their coupon app. We will never see each other again, cumbersome coupon binder!
Take a snapshot of it using SnipSnap whenever you’re out and about and come across anything that piques your interest enough to warrant a purchase. The app will show up a list of coupons and sales that are currently available for that particular item. SnipSnap can also tell you whether it is more cost effective to purchase the item online or at another retail location.
The Good
- Digital coupon storage eliminates the need to carry physical coupons
- Coupon reminders help you make the most of your savings
- Discover new coupons and deals from a wide range of retailers
The Bad
- Relies on user-submitted coupons, which may not always be up to date or accurate
- Limited availability of certain store coupons
Rakuten
![Best Coupon Apps](https://www.compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-985.png)
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Cash Back Shopping | Earn cash back on eligible purchases from participating retailers. |
In-Store Cash Back | Link your credit or debit cards to earn cash back at select stores. |
Coupons and Discounts | Access to a wide range of coupons and discounts from various stores. |
Rakuten App | Shop through the app and earn cash back on mobile purchases. |
Referral Program | Earn bonuses for referring friends and family to Rakuten. |
Rakuten is a digital coupon and cash back software that was formerly known as Ebates. Rakuten promises up to 40% off select purchases with more than 2,500 retailers; however, you won’t save 40% on every transaction made with Rakuten businesses.
After the shop has confirmed the transaction, Rakuten will credit the user’s account with the cash back. Although this may take some time, the customer care staff at Rakuten is happy to answer any queries you may have in the interim. However, you are certain of receiving at least one dividend every three months. In addition, for a limited time only, customers who sign up for a Rakuten account will be eligible for a bonus of $30.
The Good
- Earn cash back on purchases from a large network of retailers
- In-store cash back offers additional savings at select stores
- Access to a variety of coupons and discounts for additional savings
- Mobile shopping feature for earning cash back on the go
The Bad
- Cash back percentages may vary across different retailers
- Some cash back offers may have restrictions or exclusions
Security and Privacy Considerations for Coupon Apps
- User Account Security: Security for User Accounts If the coupon app needs you to create a user account, select a password that is both unique and difficult to guess. It is strongly recommended that you do not use the same password for multiple accounts. In addition, if the application supports it, you should think about activating the two-factor authentication option, also known as 2FA.
- Trusted App Sources: You may get discounted versions of software from official app shops like the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, as well as from other places that have a reputation for being trustworthy. If at all possible, you should steer clear of downloading apps from sources that are unknown or unverified because doing so could expose your device to potential dangers.
- App Reviews and Reputation: It is vital to check out user reviews and ratings of a coupon app before installing it on your device in order to get a sense of the reputation the app has among consumers. Keep an eye out for reviews that are positive and highlight the app’s security features as well as the privacy standards it adheres to. When reading reviews, pay close attention to those that mention concerns about the product’s degree of safety.
- App Updates: Make sure that the coupon software you use always has the most recent version that the creator has made available, since this will ensure that it is always up to date. Updates to mobile applications typically include bug fixes and security patches, which plug vulnerabilities in the software and make it more secure. Either configure your device to automatically obtain updates or manually check for updates on a regular basis. Do one of these two things.
Questions and Answers
A: Coupon apps are mobile apps that give users access to digital coupons and discounts for different goods and services. Users can save money by receiving coupons right from their phones with these apps.
A: Coupon apps work by putting all of the digital coupons from different stores and brands on one site. Users can look through the coupons, choose the ones they want to use, and redeem them online at the point of sale. To get the deal, users of some apps may have to scan a barcode or enter a promo code during checkout.
A: Yes, you can get and use most coupon apps for free. But keep in mind that some apps may offer extra features for a fee or paid subscriptions to save more money or get special deals.