Black Friday 2026 lands on November 27, and it's one of the most anticipated shopping days of the year, so it's worth taking a few minutes to equip yourself for Black Friday now. To get the best Black Friday deals and discounts, you'll need the right tools, and shopping apps like Flipp, ShopSavvy, Brad's Deals, Rakuten, DealNews, and Slickdeals can do a lot of the work for you.
We'll dive deeper to explore what each of these apps brings to your Black Friday shopping and how they can help you score better deals.
Are Black Friday deals worth it?
With prices climbing across the market and discounts getting smaller and smaller, it's reasonable to ask: Is shopping for Black Friday deals even worth the effort?
In short, yes, Black Friday is worth it... IF you go into it with a good plan and a willingness to do a little price tracking. (No hard math required, we promise.)
We've tracked Black Friday mobile and tech deals for over a decade. Here's why we think Black Friday mobile deals are still worth jumping on, as long as you're savvy enough to spot the scams.
Quick glance at the best Black Friday shopping apps
| App | Best for | Available on | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flipp | Browsing weekly ads in one place | iPhone, Android | Free |
| ShopSavvy | In-store price checks | iPhone, Android | Free with in-app purchases |
| Brad's Deals | Editor-picked deals | iPhone, Android | Free |
| Rakuten | Cash back | iPhone, Android | Free |
| DealNews | Verified coupon codes | iPhone, Android | Free |
| Slickdeals | Community-rated deals | iPhone, Android | Free |
The best Black Friday shopping apps (for both iPhone and Android devices)
Flipp: Every weekly ad in one place
- Browsing weekly ads from multiple retailers
- Building a shopping list from sale items
- Getting alerts when Watch List items go on sale
Flipp is free on iPhone and Android.
Flipp consolidates weekly ads from various retailers to streamline your Black Friday shopping. Forget navigating multiple store apps. Flipp organizes your shopping with intuitive lists and alerts you when items on your Watch List go on sale. This app simplifies your shopping process, making it quick and easy to compare deals and lock in savings. Flipp's user-friendly interface keeps the whole experience smooth, so you can focus on getting the best deals.
Image: Angelo Ilumba | WhistleOut
Save on phone service
These apps can help you save money on your holiday shopping, but you don't have to wait for Black Friday to get low prices on phone service. Switching from a major carrier to an MVNO that sells discounted service on the major networks can dramatically lower your phone bill.
One of the best carriers is Mint Mobile. Its Unlimited plan gets you 50GB of high-speed data and 20GB of mobile hotspot data, starting at $30/month when you pay for 12 months upfront. Shorter terms cost a little more ($35/month for six months or $40/month for three months), but that's still much cheaper than what you'll usually pay with the big carriers.
Mint Mobile Unlimited Data Plan
| Carrier | Mint Mobile |
|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited Data |
| Type | No Contract |
| Current Deal | Get this unlimited plan for just $10/mo. for the first 6 months of service |
| Total Price |
$10 per month
$60 for 6 months of service
|
| View Plan |
ShopSavvy: Scan a barcode to compare prices in the store
- Checking prices while you're in a store
- Comparing prices across retailers
- Getting alerts when a price drops
ShopSavvy is free on iPhone and Android, with optional in-app purchases.
ShopSavvy is a barcode-scanning app designed to simplify your shopping experience. When you scan a barcode, the app immediately compares prices from various retailers to help you find the best deal available. This is particularly helpful during Black Friday, when you're sorting through a huge number of offers and trying to spot the ones that are actually worth it. ShopSavvy takes the guesswork out of shopping by showing you clear, direct price comparisons, and you can save products to get alerts when their prices drop.
Image: Angelo Ilumba | WhistleOut
Brad's Deals: Deals hand-picked by real editors
- Deals vetted by an editorial team
- Skipping the endless scrolling
- Setting up deal alerts
Brad's Deals is free on iPhone and Android.
Brad's Deals offers a curated collection of deals on a wide range of products. Instead of relying on crowdsourced posts, a team of deal editors hand-picks and vets every offer before it goes live. You can also set up deal alerts in the app to get notified when something you're shopping for goes on sale. Brad's Deals is a go-to app if you'd rather skip the endless scrolling and only see deals that someone has already checked.
Image: Angelo Ilumba | WhistleOut
Rakuten: Earn cash back on your Black Friday haul
- Earning cash back at more than 3,500 stores
- Stacking cash back on top of sale prices
- Getting paid by PayPal or check
Rakuten is free on iPhone and Android.
Rakuten is a rewards-based shopping app that gives you access to Black Friday deals and cash back at more than 3,500 retailers. You earn cash back on purchases you were already planning to make, and Rakuten pays it out every three months by PayPal or check. Rakuten blends shopping with earning, which makes it a must-have for reward-conscious shoppers.
Image: Angelo Ilumba | WhistleOut
DealNews: Verified deals and coupon codes
- Finding verified coupon codes
- Deals vetted by an in-house team
- Setting alerts for specific products
DealNews is free on iPhone and Android.
DealNews offers a tailored shopping experience where you can find handpicked deals that match your preferences. Every deal is vetted by its in-house editors, and you can set alerts for the products you want, which keeps you a step ahead during the rush of Black Friday. With DealNews, you get quick access to verified deals and coupon codes, so you can shop with more confidence.
Image: Angelo Ilumba | WhistleOut
Slickdeals: Deals voted on by a community of bargain hunters
- Community-rated deals
- Electronics, clothing, and home goods
- Deal Alerts for products, stores, or brands
Slickdeals is free on iPhone and Android.
Slickdeals offers a website and app that bring together the best deals from across the internet. Whether you're shopping for electronics, clothing, or home goods, Slickdeals has you covered with fresh deals and coupons. The deals are crowdsourced, which means you're getting the top picks from a community of seasoned deal hunters who vote on what's actually worth buying. You can also set up Deal Alerts for specific products, stores, or brands so you don't miss a price drop.
Image: Angelo Ilumba | WhistleOut
Black Friday shopping tips
Almost 60% of shoppers report exclusively shopping online for Black Friday gifts, so why not make it easy on yourself by using a dedicated app? These apps can relieve shopping stress while keeping you organized and deal-savvy.
Here are some additional tips for using Black Friday shopping apps:
- Start early: Many retailers release their Black Friday deals early, so it's important to start browsing apps early. This will give you time to compare prices and create a shopping list.
- Set price alerts: Most Black Friday shopping apps allow you to set price alerts for specific products. This is a great way to be notified when a product goes on sale.
- Compare prices: Don't just buy the first deal you see. Use the apps to compare prices from different retailers to make sure you're getting the best deal possible.
- Read the fine print: Make sure to read the fine print of all deals before you buy anything. Some deals may have restrictions, such as limited quantities or minimum purchase requirements.
- If it's too good to be true, it usually is: Many online shops on Instagram, TikTok, and even Facebook advertise products for pennies. Be sure to research online shops, especially on social media, before making a purchase.
How we chose the best Black Friday shopping apps
We picked apps that are free to download on both iPhone and Android and help you find, compare, or earn back money on Black Friday purchases. We looked at:
- Deal sources: Whether deals come from retailer ads, editors, or a community of shoppers.
- Price alerts: Whether you can get notified when a product or deal you want goes on sale.
- Price comparison: How easy it is to compare prices across retailers, online or in the store.
- Extra savings: Whether the app offers cash back or coupon codes on top of sale prices.
- Cost: Whether the core features are free to use.
Best Black Friday shopping apps: FAQ
What is the best app for Black Friday deals?
The best app for Black Friday deals depends on how you shop. Flipp is best for browsing weekly ads in one place, ShopSavvy is best for checking prices while you're in a store, Rakuten is best for earning cash back, and Slickdeals is best for deals that other shoppers have voted on. Many shoppers use two or three of these apps together.
When is Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday 2026 is on Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving. Many retailers start releasing Black Friday deals weeks earlier, so it's worth setting up price alerts in your shopping apps ahead of time.
Are Black Friday shopping apps free?
Yes, all six Black Friday shopping apps on this list are free to download and use. ShopSavvy also offers optional in-app purchases, but you don't need them to scan barcodes and compare prices.
Can you use Rakuten cash back with other Black Friday deals?
Yes, you can often earn Rakuten cash back on top of a store's Black Friday sale prices. However, some stores won't pay cash back if you use a coupon code that didn't come from Rakuten, so check the store's cash back terms in the app before you check out.
Is Black Friday shopping worth it?
Black Friday shopping is worth it if you go in with a plan and track prices ahead of time. Apps with price alerts make it easier to tell a real discount from a fake one.
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