Best Price-Drop Apps – Save Money on Everyday Purchases

Best Price-Drop Apps – Save Money on Everyday Purchases
As the way we buy items shifts, finding the best price can seem overwhelming — particularly in a seemingly unlimited online marketplace. While comparing prices is always smart, it can be hard to understand what makes prices rise and fall, or to know if you’re locking in the best price.
Price drop apps can help you better time your purchase to ensure you’re getting a low price and won’t experience buyer’s remorse a few weeks later. While tracking price trends can be a real challenge on your own, price drop apps, also known as price tracking apps, can make this process a little easier.
What types of price drop apps are available? I’ll run you through the top choices, so you can decide which is best for you.

Best price drop apps summary

Apps
Best For
Camel Camel Camel
Amazon shoppers
IFTTT
Price tracker with additional automations
Honey
Price tracker and coupon code combo
Keepa
Advanced Amazon price tracking features
Shop Savvy
Online and in-store price tracker
Capital One Shopping
Securest extension
Gas Buddy
Gas price tracker
Sift
Price refund app
Earny
Paid option
VisualPing
Change detector

Best price drop apps

Camel Camel Camel

This is one of the OG price tracker apps. You may have already heard of Camel Camel Camel, but if you aren’t using it, you may be missing out on a ton of savings. Camel Camel Camel is great for those who shop on Amazon frequently. The product launched in 2008 and is currently supported in eight countries.
You won’t download an app to use Camel Camel Camel, but instead navigate via its website, by downloading a browser extension, or via bookmarklet. All of these methods grant you access to Camel Camel Camel’s extensive Amazon.com marketplace database that shows you pricing trends per product, so you’ll know if an item you want is typically on sale for less.
To use Camel Camel Camel, you’ll need to set up an account, which is completely free. Once you have an account, you can even set up price alert notifications, so you’ll be notified if an item you want drops below a certain price or goes on sale. Camel Camel Camel also lets you import Amazon wishlists, so you can monitor the items you’re really interested in without adding them manually.
Learn more about Camel Camel Camel here.

IFTTT

IFTT, which stands for "If This, Then That," is a slightly different animal. This applet can be used for a variety of mobile automation for your phone, one of which includes price tracking. While the applet itself does not offer price tracking, it integrates with other services that do to allow you to set up tracking automation that direct to your phone.
It connects to hundreds of apps, including the Best Buy price tracker, Trackif, and many others. Once you integrate the price tracking app of your choosing, IFTTT will notify you when the item falls to your target price or dips below.
You’ll need to sign up for IFTTT to get started and create an account. While this powerhouse of an app is ideal for those looking to set up an array of automation on their phones, it may prove to be too complicated for those only interested in tracking prices.
Learn more about IFTTT here.

Honey

Tracking prices, even with a price drop app, can still feel time-consuming. Enter Honey, the price tracking app designed to make shopping and finding lower prices easier and more intuitive. Similar to Camel Camel Camel, Honey functions best as a browser extension — and downloading the extension gets you the most value. There’s also a mobile app that may be more convenient if you like to shop on your phone.
Honey is most well-known for its promo code scanner that lets you know before checking out if you can use a promo code. However, Honey also has a price drop tracker that can notify you if there is a price drop on any items you add to your drop list. 
There have been complaints about Honey not integrating well on Amazon, so that’s something to keep in mind if you’re an avid Amazon shopper. And while Honey requires little work from you, there have been reports of malware being downloaded while using Honey. In addition, browser extensions like this may sell your private data to outside companies. Either way, shop safe and proceed with caution.

Keepa

Founded in 2017, Keepa is another Amazon price tracker containing over one billion Amazon products. One neat aspect of Keepa is that you can view some of its price tracking information — such as top deals or discounts on Amazon — without creating an account or installing the extension.
The Keepa website lets you track Amazon products and view price tracking information without an account. The Keepa browser extension, however, available on Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and Edge, will link to your browser’s account.
Both methods allow you to set price alerts and view price drop data trends for products across the Amazon marketplace. Keepa also offers very detailed graphs that can be helpful when making buying decisions.
The main difference between Keepa and other Amazon trackers is that it offers a paid premium service. Keepa Premium Data Access costs 19€  per month. The good news is the paid service won’t be needed by most shoppers looking to track prices. It’s mostly helpful for sellers on the Amazon marketplace.
Learn more about Keepa here.

ShopSavvy

With a mission to simplify and streamline the price tracking process, ShopSavvy offers a powerful price drop data tool in the palm of your hands. This app-based price tracker is available for both iPhone and Android users and is free to download.
ShopSavvy functions similar to other price tracker apps. You can add items to a favorites list and keep an eye on them for price drops to better time your purchase. You can do this via the app — but what if you’re in a physical store?
This is where ShopSavvy stands out from some other popular price trackers. Its barcode scanners allow you to scan items and compare prices for the best deal possible. And, unlike other competitors, the database isn’t limited to Amazon. You can view prices in hundreds of stores, including local shops in your area.
You can also earn some rewards with ShopSavvy, from select retailers, helping you earn a little extra for each dollar you spend. Traditional shoppers who love the appeal of shopping in-store may want to give this app a spin.
Learn more about ShopSavvy here.

Capital One Shopping (formerly Paribus)

Owned by Capital One, this price tracker app is completely free and convenient. While it can be heavy on advertisements — particularly for Capital One products — its privacy policy is top-notch, and you don’t have to worry about this app selling your data.
This shopping app is available as a browser extension that you’ll want to download to take advantage of its full array of features. It’s free to sign up, but some features may require a Capital One account to be linked.
This app offers the standard price drop checker features, notifying you if items you’ve added have dropped down in price. It also boasts an Amazon-specific tracker to tell you if an item you’re buying is cheaper with another seller. In addition, this price tracker allows you access to promo codes and coupons, and you can earn Capital One credits when you redeem a Capital One offer. 
What’s different about this price tracker is that it also includes perks like purchase protection, allowing you to receive discounts after you’ve purchased an item and found it went on sale later. You’ll need a Capital One account to access this feature.

GasBuddy

Tracking prices online can help save you on essential purchases, but with fuel prices skyrocketing, saving money on gas is more crucial than ever. GasBuddy is a gas price tracking app that scours gas stations in your area and finds you the best price.
It’s free to sign up for GasBuddy, and you can download the app on your iOs or Android device. From there, the Find Gas function is what you’ll navigate to when looking for the best fuel options in town. Enter your zip code and preferred gas blend and the price tracker will find the lowest deal around.
GasBuddy also has a few other perks worth looking into, such as its rewards program with a GasBuddy card, which doesn’t require a credit check. It’s a great app to have handy when you’re on trips (even if you’re just searching for the nearest gas station), and it also comes with trip-planning tools and resources.
Learn more about GasBuddy here.

Sift

Another great price-tracking app to consider is Sift. Sift works differently than most other price-tracking apps but can save you big. Sift works to track the prices of products you purchased to see if the price tag drops 60 to 90 days after you completed the sale. If it does, it refunds you for the difference.
Sound too good to be true? It isn’t. Here’s how it works: It reviews your transactions, and if it finds that an item you purchased is available for less money, it refunds you for this money. The catch is that you’ll then pay Sift 25% of the amount it saved you.
It can also help you save on credit cards and other fees if that interests you. And it can help you plan out your next purchase by analyzing the credit cards in your arsenal and helping you decide which one to use.
The app is free and can be downloaded for iOs or Android.
You can learn more about Sift here.

Earny

Like Sift, Earny also helps pay you back when you buy an item only to have it go on sale days later. This app isn’t free, though — it charges you on a monthly or yearly basis, and while the price in 2022 was $4.99 a month or $19.99 per year, its website does not disclose its current pricing model.
While I don’t love that its pricing isn’t transparent, if you are an online shopping enthusiast and worry you’re overspending, $4.99 a month may be a small price to pay for the money you could redeem. Like Sift, Earny automatically scours your purchases for anything you may have overpaid on and then instantly sends those savings.
It also integrates with Amazon and sends you money if your Amazon packages are late. You’ll need to link your email and Amazon account to the app for it to work, but after that, it’s relatively hands-free. It monitors prices at top retailers like Walmart, Amazon, Target, and Best Buy, as well as other online marketplaces, to ensure you don’t pay more than you should. 
Earny also offers ways to earn cash back on certain purchases. It also offers Amazon price tracking, the ability to win sweepstakes, and more.
Learn more about Earny here.

VisualPing

VisualPing is much more than a price tracker, but its innovative design makes it perfect for tracking prices. VisualPing detects web page changes — making it a great tool if you’re looking for new open positions at a company, want to find new house listings, or want to see if an item is back in stock. Just set an alert, and the app will notify you when a change is detected.
You can see why this concept works great for detecting changes in product prices. Simply download the free browser extension or web widget and notate any pages the app should alert you of changes on.
Once you select a page, you’ll identify the area of the page you want to be notified about. So, for a product page, you’d select the price tag area so that you’re not notified every time there’s a change, like a new review, on the page.
The free version of VisualPing lets you add five pages to track per day, while the starter ($10 per month) goes up to 25 pages. Other paid tiers let you add 100 to 500 pages per day for a higher monthly rate. You’ll also save money by paying yearly.
Learn more about VisualPing here.

FAQs

Are there any free price tracker apps?
Yes, most price trackers are free. A few examples include Honey, Camel Camel Camel, ShopSavvy, and Keepa.
How do price tracker apps make money?
Each price tracker app makes money through different ways. Some make money through partnerships with brands, which it may then offer to users. Others may make money through advertisements. Some even make money by selling your browsing data and other information. A few make money through paid accounts.
Are price tracker apps safe?
You should always be cautious when downloading a new app or browser extension. Some price tracker apps, like Honey, have come under fire for selling customer data to third party companies and for even making it easy for users to accidentally download malware. If privacy is a concern, look into more secure options and ones that do not sell your data, like Capital One Shopping.
Does Amazon have a price tracker?
Yes, Amazon has its own price tracker you can try out, called Amazon assistant. But there are many other Amazon specific price trackers, like Camel Camel Camel, that may offer you more insight into pricing trends
Does Camel Camel Camel have an app?
No, Camel Camel Camel operates as a website or browser extension, which allows you to shop as you normally would, while using the extension tools to check pricing data. This offers a much more intuitive price comparison experience.
What are price trackers?
Price trackers are apps or extensions that allow you to browse pricing trends for a specific item so that you can make a better choice about when to buy. Some trackers look at one marketplace, like Amazon, while others browse multiple marketplaces to find you the lowest price. Some price trackers also have additional features, like rewards and promo codes, rebate functionality, and the ability to earn extra money through sweepstakes and cash back options. Many price trackers are free, but some services with more advanced tools cost money.

The bottom line

Price tracking apps can help you save money on everyday purchases by comparing prices across different retailers and analyzing price history data. Most price tracker apps offer alerts you can set to notify you when a price drops — and a few even reimburse you if you overpay for an item. You can track prices for free, but if you want more advanced tools, you may be required to pay for a membership.

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