Getting Ready for Black Friday

As we approach the busiest shopping weekend of the year, there are some familiar tools that we can all turn to for help in getting organized and finding the best deals – our smartphones! Not only are there some great apps for everyday shopping but there are also an increasing number of apps specifically dedicated to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Here are some of our favorites.

TGI Black Friday

Along with its companion app TGI Cyber Monday, TGI Black Friday tracks the latest ads from all your favorite stores, including Best Buy, Target, Sears, Walmart, and many more. Notifications alert you when new bargains become available and a search feature allows you to find specific deals for dozens of different categories. Compare prices to make sure you are getting the best deal, and share Black Friday deals and personal shopping lists via Facebook and Twitter.

Platform: Android, iOS
Cost: Free

Black Friday Survival Guide

The Black Friday Survival Guide gets you ready for the big weekend by bringing you all the latest news and ads, along with the biggest sales and the best deals. You can search for bargains by store or by category, and customize the notifications so you get only the deals you’re looking for. Built-in email and social media features allow you to share lists and bargains with family and friends.

Platform: iOS
Cost: Free

Amazon Mobile

Everyone’s favorite online shopping destination has been conveniently redesigned for mobile with shop-by-department screens, price comparisons, an easy-to-use search feature, user reviews and more. The app syncs with your regular Amazon account, so you can view your shopping cart and see previous purchases. Amazon Mobile also includes a barcode reader and a photo option for sharing products with friends.

Platform: Android, iOS
Cost: Free

Google Shopper

Probably one of the most popular shopping apps, Google Shopper does it all: it reads barcodes, tells you all about the product, searches for the best price at nearby stores or online, and lets you order right from your phone. You can use Google Shopper to comparison shop for virtually anything, including groceries. Google Shopper includes daily deals from Google Offers and features to bookmark bargains or share them with friends.

Platform: Android, iOS
Cost: Free

RedLaser

One of the original barcode scanners and still one of the best – it’s almost impossible to come up with a product it can’t find! It also reads QR codes. The RedLaser app searches for prices using Google, Shopping.com, eBay, American Express, and more. A new feature now allows in-app purchasing for home delivery or in-store pickup.

Platform: Android, iOS
Cost: Free

RetailMeNot Coupons

RetailMeNot gives you instant access to a huge inventory of coupons, deals and special offers to thousands of store, restaurants and other businesses. You can browse coupons by store, product, most popular, or today’s hot deals. Categories include clothes, electronics, food, entertainment and more. Coupons can be redeemed directly from your phone at checkout, shared with friends or saved for later use.

Platform: Android, iOS
Cost: Free

shopkick

If you are going shopping, then you might as well get rewarded. shopkick allows you to accumulate points or “kicks” just for walking into stores like Target, Macy’s, Old Navy and more; you don’t even have to buy anything! Rewards include Starbucks coffee, gift cards, designer merchandise and even vacations.

Platform: Android, iOS
Cost: Free