By Consumer Reports
It happens with many online purchases: You get to the checkout page, see the empty box that says "enter promo code," and immediately wish you had one. But finding a working discount code is a pain without the right tools.
Rather than searching on your own for coupon codes, our shopping experts recommend downloading a coupon-finding browser extension. CR shopping editor Samantha Gordon likes to use Honey, a free tool that you can download on any browser. Once installed, it will automatically seek out discount codes and apply them when you’re purchasing a product online. "It’s a huge time-saver," she says.
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Similarly, Capital One offers a free downloadable coupon finder (you don’t need to be a Capital One customer to use it), and Rakuten is a free downloadable tool that finds coupons as well as cash-back deals. Or you can shop using a browser such as Microsoft Edge, which has a built-in coupon checker and cash-back deal alerts.
It’s also worth checking your credit card issuer’s website for deals, our experts say. Many offer discount codes, money back, or extra credit card points on your purchase when you shop at specific vendors.
Editor’s Note:A version of this article also appeared in the November/December 2023 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
