How to get better tech holiday prices using simple online tools

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The holidays are right around the corner, and nothing is worse than hearing about the deal you could have gotten after you’ve already spent time wrapping a gift.

You likely have some last-minute shopping to do, so you might as well be smarter than your average bear by using the internet’s best resources.

There are many excellent tools at your digital fingertips, ready to save you a few bucks in the season where savings matter most. Here’s how to nab cheaper tech in 2025.

Rely on a community of smarter folks

It takes a village to snag the best tech deals this season.

Forums like Reddit could be invaluable resources for you. With over 101 million daily active users, a few of them are bound to have helpful electronics savings secrets.

Explore the techiest subreddits you can find to crowdsource advice on where and when to buy the best tech.

Luckily, there are also community-driven platforms like Slickdeals that gather the greatest shopping minds in one place for your benefit.

Users post what they find, and everyone agrees on the best and most relevant deals to make them easy to locate. You can trust you’ll get a good bargain because of the community voting system.

You can also set alerts for the brands and filters you care about most — including a dedicated category for freebies. What’s not to love about a free fast-food meal with your streaming subscription? 

Automate coupon code scraping

You no longer need to search manually for discount codes and click to copy a silly phrase, only to open a million tabs in the process.

Fortunately, there are browser extensions for this. They gather every possible code from various sites and can also automatically apply them at checkout to see if they work. 

One of the most popular is Honey. It also features other options, such as the Droplist, which allows you to track specific products and receive notifications when their prices drop.

There are so many sites to grab gaming consoles, wearables or computer parts nowadays, and this tool aggregates everything into one place.

Making a list is one of the most surefire ways to adhere to a budget and prevent overspending. It’s a win-win.

Get cashback in addition to discounts

A juicy discount code is nice, but if you combine that with cashback, then you’re really gaming the system.

Several extensions, like Rakuten, automatically deliver cashback into your account when shopping from eligible tech retailers. 

You can also use sites like Price.com, which leverage artificial intelligence (AI) in a way that immediately benefits you. It scours the internet in seconds to compare tech of all shapes and sizes — new, used, refurbished and more.

It pulls price histories, comparisons and tons of other useful information to help you make a decision. 

Most websites want you to buy something new, but you never know when you could find something equally as powerful pre-loved. Tools like these make those gems easy to locate.

See the savings in real time

What if you’re actually in a brick-and-mortar store? How are you supposed to know if the headphones or smart fridge in front of you is at the best price?

Several apps, like ShopSavvy, let you whip out your camera to check. Scan the barcode, and it will generate a price comparison.

Then, you’ll know if it is more cost-effective to opt for the convenient option that is right in front of you or go somewhere else.

Nobody is going to judge you for ordering something from your phone as it sits in front of your face on the shelf.

Deals around the holidays are meant to entice you to make an impulse buy, so shopping smarter will help you resist the urge.

Go forth and shop smarter, you savvy saver

There’s no need to bang your forehead on the table because you spent far too long comparing prices from 10 different tech outlets.

You’re in an age where you don’t have to do that kind of work anymore.

So many tips, tricks and tools are available to make you feel secure in hitting the “complete purchase” button on pricey equipment — you might as well use them.