One of the easiest ways to stick to a budget is to save money on your expenses. Discount sites like Groupon can help you find deals and coupons to save on everything from daily purchases to special occasions.
Whether it’s groceries, an oil change, or a vacation, there are many ways to spend less on purchases. Before paying full price, try using one of these money-saving sites to find a good deal.
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What are the Best Sites Like Groupon?
Saving money is easy if you use the right tools when making a purchase. Here are the top alternatives to Groupon to find local deals and coupons to save around town, at a vacation destination, or on date night.
1. Capital One Shopping
Capital One Shopping (formerly Wikibuy) makes it easy to find online shopping deals. The site helps you locate valid coupon codes that you can use to save money at popular online stores like Walmart, Target, clothing sites, and more.
Similar to Groupon, you can find offers for local restaurants. The site also lets you earn loyalty credits on your shopping. You can redeem your credits for gift cards from participating retailers.
This feature is also helpful when shopping for back-to-school season and you have multiple items to purchase.
In addition to providing online shopping rewards, you can compare product prices from multiple stores. This price comparison tool is available online, through a shopping browser extension, and as a mobile app.
If you’re not ready to make a purchase right away, you can add items to your watchlist and receive price change alerts.
This service is best if you want to save money shopping online with instant promo codes or if you enjoy comparing prices between online merchants.
Read our Capital One Shopping review to learn more.
2. LivingSocial
LivingSocial is one of the best Groupon alternatives for local deals on oil changes, dining, and experiences like massages and spas. There are plenty of opportunities for hotels and tourist activities as well.
Both sites are owned by the same company, but they have their differences.
The biggest perk to using this platform is its travel deals. You can find discounts and flash deals for hotels and tourist activities.
Discounted prices will show for local destinations and popular cities across the United States.
Make sure to read the fine print and follow the offer rules when you claim a discount. Each offer lists what perks come with the promotion and any potential add-on fees.
3. Woot
Woot is one of the top money-saving sites for Amazon purchases. Like Groupon, this website offers daily deals that may sell out quickly.
Additionally, you can find limited-time deals in several categories. These include electronics, home goods, outdoor items, and more.
Both Amazon Prime and regular Amazon members can claim these deals. Prime members receive free two-day shipping.
The daily deal site offers a “Deal of the Day” that can help you save over 50 percent. The other sections also provide attractive discounts, including a clearance area.
All savings are instant, which means you can cut costs immediately and don’t have to spend time comparing cashback offers. Plus, you won’t need to wait several weeks to receive your shopping rewards.
4. RetailMeNot
RetailMeNot has been around since 2006. It is one of the best alternatives to Groupon for online shopping.
You can use the site to find coupon codes from many online stores. Downloading the mobile app lets you redeem in-store coupons and restaurant discounts.
Unlike the Groupon app, RetailMeNot offers RXSaver coupons for medical prescriptions. You can save up to 85 percent by redeeming these coupons at participating pharmacies.
In addition to instant savings, there is also an online shopping portal offering up to 20 percent cash back. You can earn cash rewards that are redeemable for PayPal or Venmo cash approximately 45 days after the purchase date.
Read our review of other top coupon websites to use to save money on your shopping needs.
5. SlickDeals
Slickdeals is another one of the top sites like Groupon. While Groupon specializes in local activities, this contender finds the best online shopping deals.
The website has virtually everything you could want to buy online, including Amazon and deals on travel. You can browse deals by store, product category, or the best current discount.
You can join its Cashback Rewards program for additional savings opportunities. It’s possible to get up to 20 percent back at over 150 merchants, including Chewy, Walmart, Target, and Woot.
*Related: Love to shop at Target? Read our guide on the best apps to get free Target gift cards and save money at the store.*
Your shopping rewards are redeemable for PayPal credit, gift cards, and more. You can even use the site to buy discounted gift cards to cut costs.
SlickDeals has forums and deal alerts that help you avoid missing new deals for your favorite products and stores.
Additionally, they have a mobile app and a money-saving Chrome browser extension that lets you participate in the forums and monitor deal alerts.
6. Entertainment.com
If you’re a long-time deal seeker or come from a family that loves to save money, you might remember using the Entertainment Book to find deals in your city.
Now, you can locate the best coupons and deals anywhere at Entertainment.com.
This service is one of the best Groupon competitors to save money on travel, dining, and entertainment. However, a paid membership is necessary before you can lock in the deep discounts and exclusive deals.
The platform claims to have more than 150,000 members.
You can either pay $2.99 month-to-month or $24.99 when billed annually. An annual subscription includes a 30-day free trial.
After joining, you can find money-saving deals through the mobile app to popular attractions, businesses, and restaurants.
It’s also possible to request printable coupons when you don’t want to drain your phone battery or data plan.
7. DealCatcher
DealCatcher is one of the best daily deal sites for online shopping and in-store deals. It launched in 1999, so it’s been around longer than Groupon.
You can use this site to see the best discounts and find coupons for upfront savings.
Physical in-store coupons are available for local retail stores and restaurants. You can print these coupons or activate them with the Android or iOS mobile app. This site doesn’t offer cash back rewards, but it’s possible to find deals not available on Groupon.
8. DealNews
DealNews lists some of the best deals from online stores like Amazon, Kohl’s, and Home Depot. You can also see sales ads for many stores and view exclusive offers.
It’s possible to browse daily savings by store and product category. Some of the product categories on DealNews include clothing, computers, and travel.
One way to find the best savings is by looking for the Editors’ Choice icon. Deals with this badge indicate that two-thirds of the editorial team think the discount is above average.
You might also like browsing their gift card, freebies, and refurbished sections to get free money while shopping.
9. Travelzoo
Travelzoo is one of the best sites for travel offers. The booking site helps you save money on travel purchases, including:
- Flights
- Hotels
- Rental cars
- Cruises
Each offer lists the eligible travel dates and any additional requirements. It’s possible to save extra cash when the online travel agency offers vacation packages.
You can browse the best available domestic and international travel offers. Signing up for the Travelzoo email list lets you see the “Top 20” weekly travel deals and the best regional offers.
You can also use the mobile app to see nearby deals.
Similar to other apps like Groupon, Travelzoo is free to use. While other discount sites are better for tourist activities, you may enjoy the variety of curated deals at upscale hotels and resorts.
10. DealsPlus
DealsPlus is another deals site that can save you cash. Like other Groupon alternatives, you will find instant shopping deals for many products and stores.
You can find digital coupons to redeem online. In-store discounts are available for stores and restaurants when you use the DealsPlus app, but you won’t find grocery coupons.
DealsPlus offers two ways to make money. The first option is the Money Maker program. Simply upload coupons and earn cash when people view your deal. You can request payment once your cash balance reaches $25.
Another way is by letting you earn cash back when you shop through the website or Chrome extension. You can earn up to five percent back at most merchants, with over 5,000 online stores participating.
While the DealsPlus mobile app doesn’t track cash back, you can activate a session from your mobile device or laptop browser. Once you reach a $15 balance, you can redeem rewards via PayPal or Bitcoin.
11. Local Flavor
Similar to Groupon, Local Flavor offers local deals. You can find exciting discounts for local tourist attractions and restaurants. Local businesses like salons, auto repair, and service companies also offer promotions.
You can receive deal alerts when your favorite brand offers future discounts. If you find deals that you like online or with the mobile app, you can purchase them after you read the offer terms.
Additionally, downloading the mobile app lets you find the deals closest to you through their in-app map. You can load deals to the app or print paper coupons.
Bottom Line
Sites like Groupon make it easy to save money on purchases. You can even spend less as you relax at the spa, have a date night, or visit a new attraction.
In addition to the upfront discount, some alternatives let you earn cash rewards. Before you make your next purchase, check out one of these sites to see if you can save a little extra money.
How else do you save money on your purchases?
*Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up for Capital One Shopping using the links provided.
Kim Suazo has been a freelance writer and business owner for over four years. When she's not writing for Frugal Rules, you can find her on other publications like Chime, Discovery, and Due. She also owns her own websites The Entrepremomer and Part-Time Profit, where she teaches overworked moms how to streamline their new businesses so they can scale without a team.
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