It's no secret that shopping on your iPhone is a quick, easy, and convenient process. But with these money-saving iPhone apps and Safari browser extensions, your online shopping experience can be far less expensive.
1 PayPal Honey
PayPal Honey is an app and browser extension that makes it easy to save money while shopping online. Originally, Honey was an independent app for years until PayPal purchased it in 2019.
The app works by instantly scanning for working discount codes at checkout and then automatically applying the code to your cart. This process is very quick and saves you from having to search for coupons and test codes yourself.
Although you can shop at thousands of online storefronts from within the Honey app, the platform is much more helpful when added as a browser extension to Safari. Once added, it can quickly find discount codes with a single tap at checkout.
The app also has a free rewards program called Honey Gold that lets you earn cashback at thousands of retailers, including Apple and Microsoft. Any rewards cash you earn can be redeemed as gift cards, though you'll need at least 1,000 Honey Gold—or about $10—to cash out.
Download: PayPal Honey (Free)
2 Capital One Shopping
Capital One Shopping is another online shopping app that can help you save money. Like PayPal Honey, It is an app and extension that automatically finds and applies the best available coupon codes.
Like Honey, you can install its Safari browser extension to easily find the best coupons for the sites you're already shopping at. It also has a more robust deal finder, so you can get the best bang for your buck more easily.
The app also lets you earn cashback rewards at specific retailers, much like other apps on this list. You can cash out your rewards in the form of gift cards. Better yet, some gift cards have lower cash-out thresholds. For example, you can get a Walmart gift card with as little as $0.01.
Capital One lacks some other features, such as the ability to scan a barcode while shopping in-store to see if there's a better price for that product online.
Download: Capital One Shopping (Free)
3 Rakuten
Rakuten is another app that can save you money while shopping online. It differs from Capital One Shopping and Honey because it focuses on cashback instead of coupon codes.
The app works in the background as you shop at different retailers. Basically, when you make a purchase at a storefront in Rakuten's network, you'll get a predetermined amount of cashback for it. You can also search for available retailers from within the Rakuten app or on the desktop site.
When redeeming your cash, you can choose to get paid via PayPal or check. This gives Rakuten a leg-up over platforms that only distribute rewards through gift cards. Conversely, Rakuten pays out rewards quarterly, so it isn't instant cashback.
Rakuten also has other nifty features. For example, you can add credit or debit cards to the Rakuten wallet to earn cashback while shopping in-store.
Download: Rakuten (Free)
4 Shopkick
Shopkick is a different kind of online shopping app that rewards you for making purchases, scanning barcodes, or performing other tasks. That makes it a hybrid somewhere between a cashback app and a rewards platform like Swagbucks.
Unlike many apps on this list, Shopkick rewards you for online and in-store shopping. The app lets you earn rewards points—called "kicks"—for walking into some stores with location services enabled.
You also earn kicks for each dollar you spend using a linked credit card. You can scan the receipt for purchases you've already made to earn cashback as well.
There are other activities that let you earn rewards, such as watching videos within the app or scanning barcodes of specific products at a brick-and-mortar store. The range of cashback opportunities and gamified tasks make it an engaging option for those who shop both online and in person.
Download: Shopkick (Free)