We all love finding a good deal. Getting what you need or want at a lower price feels like a victory, doesn’t it? In today’s world of online shopping, prices can change quickly. What you see one day might be different the next. This can be frustrating, especially when you’re trying to manage your budget carefully.
The good news is that you don’t have to constantly check websites yourself. There are handy digital helpers called price tracking tools. These tools can watch prices for you and let you know when it’s the best time to buy. Think of them as your personal shopping assistants, working behind the scenes to help you save money.
Using these deal finding tools can make a real difference. Whether you’re buying gifts for loved ones, upgrading an appliance, or treating yourself to something special, getting the best price means your money goes further. This article will introduce you to six excellent price-tracking tools that are easy to use and can help you become an even smarter shopper.
What Are Price Tracking Tools and How Can They Help You?
So, what exactly are these price tracking tools? In simple terms, they are websites or browser add-ons that monitor the prices of products you’re interested in. You tell the tool what item you want to watch, and it keeps an eye on the price across one or many online stores.
Here’s how they generally work:
- You find a product online that you want to buy, but perhaps you think the price might drop later.
- You use a price tracking tool to “bookmark” or “track” this item.
- The tool then regularly checks the price of that item.
- If the price drops to a level you’re happy with, or drops at all, the tool will notify you, usually by email.
The benefits are clear. First and foremost, they help you save money. You can avoid buying something right before a big sale or a price decrease. Many of these tools also show you the price history of an item. This means you can see if the current price is actually a good deal or if it has been lower in the past. This information empowers you to make informed decisions rather than impulsive buys.
Imagine you’re planning to buy a new tablet to easily video call your family. You find one you like, but it’s a bit more than you wanted to spend. By using a price tracker, you can set an alert. A few weeks later, you might get an email saying the price has dropped by $50. That’s a satisfying saving!
Our Top Picks: 6 User-Friendly Price Tracking Tools
There are many deal finding tools out there, but we’ve selected six that are known for their reliability and ease of use. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
1. CamelCamelCamel
Best for: Tracking prices specifically on Amazon.
CamelCamelCamel is a long-standing favorite for many Amazon shoppers. It’s a free tool dedicated to tracking the prices of millions of products sold on Amazon. Its name might be unusual, but its service is straightforward and very useful.
How it works: You can copy and paste the Amazon URL (the web address) of the product you’re interested in directly into the search bar on the CamelCamelCamel website. Alternatively, they offer a browser extension called “The Camelizer.” Once you install this add-on to your web browser (like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge), you can simply go to an Amazon product page and click The Camelizer icon to see the price history and set up alerts.
Key Features:
- Price History Charts: See a graph of how the price has changed over time. This helps you understand if the current price is high, low, or average.
- Price Drop Alerts: Get email notifications when the price of a tracked item drops to your desired amount or below.
- No Account Needed (Optional): You can look up price histories without creating an account, though an account is needed for email alerts.
An Example: Let’s say you want to buy a new bird feeder for your garden from Amazon. You find one you like, but you suspect it might go on sale. You can use CamelCamelCamel to see its price history. Maybe you notice it often drops by 20% every few months. You can then set an alert to be notified when it hits that lower price.
CamelCamelCamel is a fantastic tool if you do a fair bit of your shopping on Amazon. It empowers you to buy at the right moment.
2. Honey (PayPal Honey)
Best for: Automatically finding coupons and tracking prices across many stores.
Honey, which is now part of PayPal, is a very popular browser extension that does more than just track prices. Its main job is to automatically find and apply coupon codes when you’re checking out at online stores. But it also has a great price tracking feature called “Droplist.”
How it works: You install the Honey browser extension. Then, as you shop online, Honey will pop up at checkout if it finds any potential coupon codes for that site. For price tracking, if you’re on a product page on a supported store, you can often click the Honey icon and add the item to your “Droplist.” Honey will then monitor the price and notify you of drops.
Key Features:
- Automatic Coupons: Saves you the hassle of searching for discount codes.
- Droplist Price Tracking: Tracks items from many popular stores, not just Amazon.
- Honey Gold Rewards: Earn points (Honey Gold) on purchases at participating stores, which can be redeemed for gift cards.
An Example: Imagine you’re buying craft supplies online for a new hobby or for making gifts. When you get to the checkout, Honey might automatically test several coupon codes and apply the best one. If you’re not ready to buy an item yet, say a specific yarn, you can add it to your Droplist. Honey will let you know if that yarn goes on sale later.
Honey is a wonderful all-around tool for saving money online with minimal effort. It’s like having a helpful friend who always knows where the discounts are.
3. Keepa
Best for: In-depth Amazon price and sales rank history.
Keepa is another powerful tool primarily focused on Amazon, similar to CamelCamelCamel, but it often provides even more detailed information. If you like to dig into the data before making a purchase, Keepa can be very insightful.
How it works: Keepa is most commonly used as a browser extension. Once installed, it automatically embeds detailed price history charts directly onto Amazon product pages. You don’t even need to leave Amazon to see the information. You can then set up price drop alerts for items you are interested in.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive Price History: Shows detailed graphs for Amazon prices, third-party seller prices, and even used item prices.
- Stock Availability Tracking: Can alert you when an out-of-stock item becomes available again.
- International Amazon Price Comparison: Useful if you ever shop on Amazon sites from other countries.
- Highly Customizable Alerts: Set alerts for specific price points on new or used items.
An Example: Perhaps you’re considering buying a new digital camera to capture family memories. This can be a significant purchase. With Keepa, you can see extremely detailed charts on its price fluctuations on Amazon, including prices from different sellers. This depth of information can help you feel confident you’re buying at a truly good price, or decide to wait if trends suggest a drop is likely.
While Keepa can look a bit more technical at first glance due to the amount of data, its core function of showing price history and setting alerts is straightforward. It’s a great choice for those who want the most thorough information for their Amazon purchases.
4. Google Shopping Price Tracker
Best for: Easy price tracking integrated with Google searches.
Many of us already use Google to search for products. Google Shopping makes it easy to compare prices from various online retailers, and it has a built-in price tracking feature that is very user-friendly.
How it works: When you search for a product on Google and go to the “Shopping” tab, you’ll see listings from different stores. On many product pages within Google Shopping, you’ll find a “Track price” toggle switch. Simply click this switch (you’ll need to be signed into your Google account), and Google will monitor the price for you. You’ll receive email notifications if the price drops significantly.
Key Features:
- Simple to Use: Integrated directly into Google Shopping, no extra app or extension needed if you’re already using Google.
- Multi-Retailer View: Google Shopping itself helps you see prices from many stores.
- Email Alerts: Get notified of price drops.
An Example: You’re looking for a new, comfortable pair of walking shoes. You search on Google, click the Shopping tab, and find a pair you like offered by several retailers. You can then use Google’s “Track price” feature for that specific model. If any of the listed retailers drop their price, Google can let you know.
If you appreciate simplicity and already use Google for your shopping research, this is an excellent, no-fuss way to track prices.
5. Slickdeals
Best for: Discovering deals and setting alerts based on keywords.
Slickdeals is a bit different from the other tools on this list. It’s a large, community-driven platform where users share and vote on deals they find across the internet. While its main focus is deal discovery, it also has a powerful “Deal Alerts” feature that functions like a price tracker, but often for broader categories or keywords.
How it works: You can browse the Slickdeals website or app to see deals curated by the community and staff. For price tracking, you create an account and set up “Deal Alerts.” You can set alerts for specific product names (e.g., “Instant Pot Duo”), keywords (e.g., “laptop deals,” “kitchenaid mixer”), or even store names (e.g., “Macy’s coupon”). When a deal matching your alert criteria is posted, you get notified.
Key Features:
- Community-Powered Deals: Access to a vast number of deals you might not find otherwise.
- Customizable Deal Alerts: Track specific items or general categories.
- Forums and Discussions: Get insights and reviews from other shoppers.
An Example: Let’s say you’re thinking about getting a new set of luggage for an upcoming trip, but you’re not set on a particular brand. You could set up a Deal Alert on Slickdeals for “luggage set.” Then, whenever a good deal on any luggage set is posted by the community, you’ll be notified. This is great for when you’re flexible on the exact item but keen on a good bargain.
Slickdeals is excellent if you enjoy the thrill of the hunt and want to be alerted to great bargains, sometimes on items you weren’t even actively looking for but would be happy to get at the right price.
6. Capital One Shopping (formerly Wikibuy)
Best for: Price comparisons, automatic coupons, and earning rewards – no Capital One account needed.
Capital One Shopping, which you might remember as Wikibuy, is a free tool that helps you save money in several ways. You don’t need to be a Capital One bank customer to use it. It works as a browser extension and also has a website and mobile app.
How it works: When you shop online with the browser extension installed, Capital One Shopping automatically searches for better prices at other retailers. It also looks for and applies available coupon codes at checkout. Additionally, you can add items to a watchlist, and it will notify you of price drops. A unique feature is earning Capital One Shopping Credits at participating retailers, which can then be redeemed for gift cards.
Key Features:
- Price Comparison: Checks if the item you’re viewing is cheaper elsewhere.
- Automatic Coupon Application: Finds and applies coupon codes.
- Watchlist with Price Alerts: Tracks prices for items you save.
- Shopping Credits: Earn rewards that can be redeemed for gift cards.
An Example: Suppose you’re buying a new set of noise-canceling headphones to enjoy music or podcasts without disturbance. While you’re looking at them on one retailer’s site, Capital One Shopping might pop up to tell you that another store has the exact same pair for $20 less. It can also check for coupons and, if you make the purchase through one of its partnered stores, you might earn Shopping Credits towards a future gift card.
Capital One Shopping is a comprehensive tool that works in the background to ensure you’re getting a good deal, combining price comparison, coupons, and rewards.
Tips for Making the Most of Price Tracking Tools
These tools are powerful, but here are a few tips to use them even more effectively:
- Be Patient: The biggest savings often come to those who can wait for a price drop alert. If it’s not an urgent purchase, set your tracker and give it some time.
- Combine with Sales Events: Price trackers are extra useful around big sales periods like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or other holiday sales. You can track items beforehand and see if the “sale” price is genuinely good.
- Check Multiple Tools (for big purchases): For significant investments, like a new appliance or electronic device, consider using two different trackers if they cover the same store (e.g., CamelCamelCamel and Keepa for Amazon). Sometimes one might catch something the other misses, or offer different insights.
- Understand Price History: Don’t just look at the current price. Use the history charts to see the item’s typical price range. This helps you identify a truly good deal versus a small, temporary dip.
- Set Realistic Target Prices: When setting a desired price for an alert, be realistic based on the price history. Aiming for an impossibly low price might mean you never get an alert.
- Factor in Shipping Costs: When comparing prices, especially if a tool shows you options from different retailers, always remember to consider shipping costs if they are not included.
Empowering Your Shopping: A Final Word
In a world where online prices can seem to have a mind of their own, price tracking tools put you back in control. They are like having a savvy shopping companion who is always on the lookout for savings on your behalf.
We encourage you to try one or two of the tools we’ve discussed. You might be surprised at how easy they are to use and how much money you can save over time. Whether it’s saving a few dollars on an everyday item or a significant amount on a larger purchase, every bit helps. These savings can free up funds for other important things, like a family vacation, a hobby, or simply giving you more financial peace of mind.
Remember, smart shopping isn’t just about finding the lowest price; it’s about making informed decisions. With these deal finding tools, you’re well-equipped to do just that. Happy saving!
