Most people can agree that spending less money is better than spending more, and finding a good deal on something we want is better than paying full price. Now, thanks to a rise in third party discount sites, we can find ways to spend less money in the comfort of our own homes. Through these companies we now have access to an endless catalog of discounted products and services. Most often when you think of this type of company the one that comes to many people’s mind is Groupon, which is a great source for deals both online and locally. While it’s true Groupon does have a lot to offer, there is no reason it has to be the only source you turn to when you are looking to save. To make things easier for you we’ve gone ahead and put together a list of companies similar to Groupon that have a unique potential to save you money.
#1. Local Flavor
Need to know
Local Flavor is a company designed to provide a reliable space to facilitate interaction between local businesses and their potential customers. The service is completely free to sign up for and uses your email address to alert you of any new opportunities to save in your area. The businesses that offer discounts could be anything from a restaurant to an architecture tour to a home improvement service available in your area – the possibilities are as endless as your neighborhood.
You can use Local Flavor through their mobile app to find deals near your location and you can even set up deal alerts for whenever a discount to your favorite spots becomes available. Once you find a coupon or deal, you can present a digital or a printed copy of your certificate when you arrive. Keep in mind you won’t be able to get the discount if the deal expires before you use it. However, for five years you can use the certificate and the original price you paid for it will be put toward your purchase.
#2. LivingSocial
- Founded: 2007
- Headquarters: Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Need to know
A company that began in 2007 and was later acquired by Groupon itself in 2016 – Living Social is to this day one of the largest e-commerce services in the world. Just like Groupon, Living Social offers deals for local businesses, events, products, and travel for customers to take advantage of. What makes LivingSocial unique in the world of online savings is the ability to share your discount on social media. If an additional three people use your post to purchase the deal – you will get the deal for free!
Since Groupon has become a parent company of LivingSocial the two are technically not competitors, but they do each offer a variety of different coupons that make them independently valuable to anybody who is interested in finding deals and savings around them. What you can find on one may not be available on the other and vice versa, so it’s a good idea to check them both out next time you are planning an activity. LivingSocial is especially useful if you are looking to find deals on hotels and activities while travelling, offering flash discounts that can end up saving you a lot of money during your trip.
#3. Woot!
- Founded: July 12, 2004
- Headquarters: Dallas, Texas, United States
Need to know
Woot! was acquired by Amazon in 2010 and is currently an incredibly popular purchasing platform for anybody looking to find deals on products. While this company does not offer any discount on services or local businesses, Woot! is filled with plenty of opportunities to save. The offers you find on the website are constantly being updated – with limited time offers that pop up every 30 minutes as well as new daily deals every 24 hours. Keep in mind that Woot! Is one of the most popular places to find discounted Amazon products, so the deals can sell out quickly and then they’re gone for good.
Woot! Is not your average company and your experience may not be what you would expect from a business that is owned by the tech giant Amazon. Woot! uses quirky language and silly humor throughout their website that doesn’t appeal to everyone. Most notably the company offers what they call “Bags of Crap”, which can include anything from expired batteries, to a single shoe, to a brand-new laptop. If you enjoy the unconventional, Woot! is definitely a great website to check out.
#4. Savings.com
- Founded: 2007
- Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States
Need to know
If you browse through Savings.com, you will find an incredible collection of coupons and promo codes for the local and retail brands you love – even giving you the chance to find and compare the latest offers in order to find the best deal. Some big name brands featured on this Groupon alternative include Macy’s, Kohls, and even Microsoft.
This convenient and reliable platform is a single source for savings with a collection of thousands of companies offering both online products and local services at a significantly discounted rate. The products and services offered through Savings.com are constantly being updated and tested, which means you can be sure you are getting the most recent and verified discounted rates that you can hope for.
#5. RetailMeNot
- Founded: October 27, 2006
- Headquarters: Austin, Texas, United States
Need to know
RetailMeNot is a discount alternative to Groupon that offers a wide range of products and services. This company has more than 500,000 coupons on their site for you to browse through, and there are even freebies that you can find while you shop. On RetailMeNot’s website you will find promotional and coupon codes that you can use to get discounted name brand items, deals to your favorite restaurants, and even a percentage off your medical prescriptions.
Through RetailMeNot’s website you can also find products that you can purchase to earn cash back through PayPal or Venmo. By simply purchasing items you can earn up to 20% cash back, which can be a great way to find savings while you’re shopping.
#6. Coupons.com
- Founded: May, 1998
- Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Need to know
Coupons.com has a digital coupon database that provides deals for companies and brands that you love – and it is also one of the most popular. The coupons you find on their website can be used while shopping in-person or online, with a wide variety of products available for you to find savings wherever you go. This is a great website to turn to if you are looking to save money on things you need in addition to things you want.
You can find deals at Coupons.com that are store and product specific. That means that you can save on items at a store you love – or you can save on an item you love at any store that sells it. In addition to the discounts you can find at Coupons.com, you can even get cashback within 48 hours of a purchase by scanning your receipt or loyalty card. There are many ways you can find savings by using this Groupon alternative, which makes this company a great option if you are interested in being cost-effective on everyday items.