There are apps for very nearly everything these days. There are over 4 million apps available, between the iOS and Google Play app stores.
That number’s only going to continue to rise. There are currently 7.94 billion smart devices connected to the internet. That’s almost one smart device for every person on Earth.
Unsurprisingly, deal finder apps are a popular category in the app stores. Money’s tight all over. And everyone wants to save money, no matter who they are.
Let’s take a look at some of the features that make for the best deal finder app, so you can know which ones are worth your time and hard drive space.
The Top Features of the Best Deal Finder App
There are a few loaded terms in that headline. First off, a deal finder app can mean many different things. It’s a fairly broad and encompassing term that encapsulates a wide array of different kinds of apps.
Secondly, what constitutes the top features will vary a lot from person to person. A stay-at-home parent with four kids is going to have quite different needs than a retailer who’s looking to keep prices down on supplies, for instance.
Here are some things you can look for to help you determine the best deal finder app from the imitators, to make your search more efficient.
Available on All Platforms
Sure, some developers prefer one platform over another. We’re not here to quibble or debate the merits of iOS over Android. We’re not saying that there aren’t good apps that aren’t exclusive to one platform, either.
Having an app available on multiple platforms is one sign that it’s been around for a while. It’s also a good indication that an app is going to be stable. Developers have to think through potential problems when they’re preparing an app to be deployed on virtually any platform.
Some of the most popular deal finder apps are available for both iOS and Android. Apps like RedLaser or ShopSavvy are both available for both platforms, for example.
Compares Prices
The best deal finder app is one that you don’t have to spend a ton of time on. You don’t want to have spend countless hours flipping through deals you neither want nor need. Nor do you want to have to manually search to see if your favorite retailers have any deals worth mentioning.
One of the most popular types of apps for finding deals are ones where you can scan a product you come across in the store. A number of apps handle this in a number of different ways. Each one stands to save you money, though, and sometimes quite a bit.
Consider RedLaser again, which is one of the most popular apps for finding deals. The app lets you scan a product by QR code. It then lists deals for both local stores as well as online shopping.
This is perfect for hybrid shoppers. After all, most of us are fairly aware you can usually find a better deal on something online. There are cases when we need something, though, and we need it now.
A good deal finder app should take that into account and function accordingly.
Stores Coupons and Reward Points
Good shopping apps should work for you, not the other way around. For an app to be truly as useful as possible, it should keep track of places where you regularly do business. They should also keep track of your various rewards cards and loyalty points, so you can access them easily and conveniently.
Apps are meant to take the place of our wallets, after all. A good deal finding app should serve as a kind of virtual wallet that lets you see all of your accounts through one convenient portal.
This can become truly useful when used in conjunction with local shopping guides, as well. It’s beyond convenient to be able to search a particular product and see its price at all local realtors at one time.
Sellers and Buyers, Together
Some apps are built to help people and businesses sell things as well as empowering consumers to find great deals. Think eBay and the like for examples of what we mean.
Of course, if you’ve ever spent much time on eBay, you’ll know what kind of intense deals you can find on that platform. Sometimes money is tight and sellers are motivated to move their wares at bargain-basement prices.
There are a number of apps that are meant primarily for sellers that can be a source of incredible deals if you know what you’re looking for. Take popular clothes selling platforms like Poshmark or Depop, for instance.
Some have made an entire business out of finding exceptional deals on those sites and flipping the results.
There are sellers apps for a ton of niche interests, as well. There’s Sell Textbooks for Cash, for instance, that lets students check and see who will pay them the most for their used textbooks.
It’s not hard to reverse-engineer something like that, often with wild savings!
Deal finder apps empower you to take control of your finances, which helps you take control of your life. Saving money means that you can spend that money on things that matter to you. And every penny counts in these turbulent times!
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