The best Black Friday deals app isn’t one app. It’s a small team: the store apps where the deals actually happen, a price tracker that tells you if a “deal” is real, and a cash back app that pays you a little extra on top. All of the apps below are free to download. Black Friday 2026 falls on , and Cyber Monday is , so now is a good time to set them up.
I worked as a bank teller for four years, and every December I saw the same thing: people paying “sale” prices that weren’t really sales. Here’s what each app does, what it costs, and the catch I’d want a friend to know about.
Best Black Friday deals apps at a glance
| App | What it does | Price | Phones | App Store rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google app | Tracks prices across many stores and alerts you when they drop | Free | iPhone and Android | 4.6 stars (5.1M ratings) |
| Keepa | Shows Amazon price history and sends price drop alerts | Free app, optional paid data plan | iPhone and Android | 4.8 stars (1.5K ratings) |
| Capital One Shopping | Compares prices, tries coupon codes, and gives shopping credits | Free | iPhone, plus browser extension | 4.9 stars (1.7M ratings) |
| Rakuten | Cash back when you shop at partner stores through the app | Free | iPhone and Android | 4.8 stars (362K ratings) |
| Flipp | Puts local store weekly ads and sale flyers in one place | Free | iPhone and Android | 4.8 stars (532K ratings) |
| Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy | The stores’ own apps, with app-only deals and alerts | Free (some perks need a paid membership) | iPhone and Android | 4.8 to 4.9 stars |
You don’t need all of them. If you only install two, I’d pick the Google app for price alerts and Rakuten for cash back. You can find more picks like these in our money apps section.
Price tracker apps: check if the deal is real
A price tracker is an app that watches a product’s price for you and sends a notification when it drops. It also shows the price history, so you can see if that “40% off” tag is a real discount or just the normal price with a new sticker.
Google app (price tracking)
How it works: Search for a product in the Google app, open the product card, and tap Track price. You can pick a target price. When the price drops below it, you get a push notification from the Google app and an email, according to Google’s price tracking help page.
What you can expect: It watches many stores at once, not just one. That’s why I like it for big items like TVs, laptops, and kitchen appliances.
The catch: You need to be signed in to a Google account with notifications turned on. Google also says not every feature is available on every device yet.
Download: Google on the App Store or Google on Google Play.
Keepa
How it works: Keepa tracks Amazon prices only. Search for a product or scan a barcode, and you’ll see a chart of its price over time. Set the price you want, and Keepa alerts you when it gets there or when the item is back in stock.
What you can expect: The price chart is the best tool I know for spotting fake discounts on Amazon. If the “deal” price matches what the item cost in August, it’s not a Black Friday deal.
The catch: It only covers Amazon. Some of the advanced data is made for sellers and sits behind a paid plan, but regular shoppers don’t need it. More details are on the official Keepa site.
Download: Keepa on the App Store or Keepa on Google Play.
Capital One Shopping
How it works: When you look at a product, it checks whether another store has it for less and tries coupon codes at checkout. You don’t need a Capital One credit card to use it.
What you can expect: You earn shopping credits on some purchases, which you can trade for gift cards.
The catch: Those rewards are credits, not cash. And to compare prices for you, the app needs to see what you browse and buy, so read the App Privacy section on the App Store before you install it.
Download: Capital One Shopping on the App Store. On Android and computers, get it from the official Capital One Shopping site.
Cash back apps: get paid a little on top of the deal
Rakuten
How it works: You open the Rakuten app, tap the store you want, and shop through that link. The store pays Rakuten a fee, and Rakuten shares part of it with you as cash back.
What you can expect: Payments go out four times a year, on February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15, once you have more than $5 in confirmed cash back. You can get paid by PayPal or check, according to Rakuten’s payment schedule page.
The catch: Cash back can take 3 to 14 weeks to confirm, because the store waits to see if you return the item. So money from Black Friday purchases usually won’t show up until next year. Cash back rates also change a lot during Black Friday week, so check the rate on the day you buy.
Download: Rakuten on the App Store or Rakuten on Google Play.
Let’s do the math
Say you buy a $300 TV and Rakuten is offering 4% cash back at that store that day. That’s $12 back. Not life-changing, but it’s $12 for tapping one link before you shop. If the price tracker also shows the TV was $340 two weeks ago, you saved $52 total. These numbers are only an example. Your rate depends on the store and the day.
Store apps: where the Black Friday deals actually happen
The big stores often post some deals in their own apps first. Install only the ones where you really shop, and turn on notifications for deals so you don’t need to keep checking.
- Amazon Shopping: In the Today’s Deals section, the Upcoming tab lets you tap Watch this deal on some items so the app alerts you when the deal starts. Not every deal has this button. App Store or Google Play.
- Walmart: Walmart has run its Black Friday sales as several online events in past years, and paid Walmart+ members got early access a few hours before everyone else. Check the app in early November for the 2026 dates. App Store or Google Play.
- Target: Target Circle, the free membership, gives you extra discounts and rewards inside the app. App Store or Google Play.
- Best Buy: Useful for TVs, laptops, and gaming deals, with order tracking and store pickup in one place. App Store or Google Play.
- Flipp: Shows the weekly ads from stores near your zip code, which is handy when the printed Black Friday ads come out. App Store or Google Play.
How to set up your Black Friday deals apps
Do this a few weeks before Black Friday, so the price history and alerts are ready when sales start.
- Make a short list of the things you actually need, with the most you want to pay for each one.
- Install the apps only from the App Store or Google Play. Check that the developer name matches the store or company.
- Set price alerts in the Google app or Keepa for each item on your list, using your target price.
- Turn on notifications for deals in the store apps you use. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications. On Android, go to Settings > Notifications > App notifications.
- Before you pay, open Rakuten and start your purchase from there so the cash back counts.
Scam alert: fake deals and fake shopping apps
Black Friday is busy season for scammers too. Fake stores, fake ads on social media, and fake “your package is delayed” texts all show up in November.
- Don’t tap deal links in texts, emails, or social media ads. Open the store’s app or type the web address yourself.
- Be careful with prices that look too good to be true, especially on brand-name electronics.
- Pay with a credit card when you can. The FTC says in its online shopping advice that paying by credit card best protects you if something goes wrong.
- Never pay a seller with gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto. That’s a common sign of a scam.
- Skip any app that asks for your Social Security number just to show you deals.
The FTC posts new scam warnings on its official FTC account on X. For more ways to protect yourself, see our scam protection guides.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app for Black Friday deals?
There isn’t a single best one. A price tracker like the Google app or Keepa tells you if a deal is real, and a cash back app like Rakuten adds a bit of money back. The store apps are where you’ll buy.
Are Black Friday deals apps really free?
All the apps on this list are free to download and use. Some store perks, like Walmart+ early access, need a paid membership, and Keepa has an optional paid plan for advanced data.
Are Black Friday prices always the lowest of the year?
No. Some items are cheaper at other times, like during other big sales. That’s why it helps to check the price history in a price tracker before you buy.
Can I use a cash back app and a store coupon together?
Often, yes, but not always. Some stores exclude certain coupons or gift card purchases from cash back. Check the store’s terms in the Rakuten app before you buy.
My take
- If you shop mostly on Amazon, install Keepa and check the price chart before every big purchase.
- If you shop at several stores, use the Google app to track prices everywhere at once.
- If you’re buying anyway, start from Rakuten so you get something back.
- Only keep the store apps where you really shop, and turn on deal alerts.
The best Black Friday deal is still the one you planned for. Make your list, set your alerts this month, and don’t let a countdown timer rush you into buying something you don’t need. Savings and cash back amounts vary by store and by day. See more ways to save money with your phone and our holiday season picks.
