The Digital Shopper’s Guide: How to Coupon Online in 2023

What is a Coupon vs. Promo Code

Due to the evolution of commerce, there’s a ton of different names for what is essentially the same thing. Here’s a simple breakdown:

• Coupon = a certificate that grants a discount at a specific retailer, usually according to terms and fine print
• Promo code = a digital set of characters that may be applied to a shopping cart subtotal immediately or adds a free item to your order
• Single-use codes = a coupon or discount code, often personalized, that can only be used once

Coupons can also be referred to as vouchers, and promo codes are also known as coupon codes, voucher codes, or discount codes.

How to Start Couponing Effectively

It’s important to note that digital couponing isn’t just restricted to retail. Online couponing can apply to groceries, audiobooks, entertainment subscriptions, Airbnb rentals, flights, food delivery and more. Thinking inside the box would be limiting your search to Fashion Nova and Ulta coupons — weaving couponing into your wider spending habits can lead to discounts on concerts on SeatGeek, Chipotle promo codes for pickup orders, savings on Squarespace, and cashback on streaming services.

Where to Find Coupons

1. In your inbox

If you shop online frequently or are a rewards member at your favorite local stores, you can find discount codes in your very own inbox.

Many online retailers offer discounts and coupon codes to these groups, and you may receive exclusive discounts or early access to new products. Some stores also offer SMS sign-ups for similar deals and codes.

Before checking out anywhere, search your email inbox for any birthday codes, holiday promotions, or weekend deals you may have missed. Delivery apps are especially active in sending their users super-limited time codes.

2. On the store’s homepage

The most disastrous moments of my life are when there’s a code right there on the header or in a pop-up banner of a store’s landing page, and I forget to enter it in at checkout. Often, storewide deals will be right in your face, so be sure to copy the code or to write it down if it doesn’t auto-apply to your cart. Be sure to download apps from large stores like Target or CVS as well for digital coupon clippings.

3. Around couponing websites

Many websites and apps compile and share coupon codes for a wide range of online retailers. Some popular examples include Groupon, RetailMeNot, SimplyCodes, Honey, and Slickdeals. By using these resources, you can access whole coupon databases without having to scour the web yourself.

And when a store rarely or never has working coupon codes, there are still plenty of ways to save big.

The Best Couponing Apps

Whether if you’re saving $8 or $80, it can be a hassle to manually search for deals. It’s valid to not want to be bothered further. But what if I told you there were countless apps that do all the work for you as you shop? Most of the aforementioned apps can be downloaded as browser extensions or mobile apps that truly sync up with your shopping experience.

Applications like Ibotta, Dosh, and SimplyCodes offer further savings through rebates, cashback, and even Bitcoin rewards for just shopping in-platform.

How to Stack Coupons Online

In the print couponing world, the technique of “stacking” involves using multiple coupons on a single purchase, applying discounts from manufacturer vouchers, store coupons, and possibly even rebate offers to reduce the price of an item as much as possible. You’ll be able to find endless guides and TikToks on how to do so at big box stores like Walmart.

However, the digital equivalent of this voucher-stacking strategy will look a little different. Here are some ways to stack discounts when shopping online:

1. Stack coupon codes To start, let’s begin with promo code stacking, the digital cousin of coupon stacking. First, check a shopping knowledge base like Knoji to see which storefronts allow coupon stacking online. Then see what specific terms, products, and deals apply, and then save away!
2. Check your credit card deals Credit cards offer amazing cashback deals these days. Some cards like Visa’s Petal card are actually powered by Dosh, which is mentioned earlier in this article. For frequent travelers, American Express cards are well-loved for their travel rewards. Chase cards are particularly popular for their flat-rate cashback rewards as well. Feel free to dive deeper into detailed card comparisons for shoppers before committing to one. 

   

3. Activate digital rebates & crypto rewards Lots of the apps mentioned in this article offer rebates, such as Coupons.com, Dosh, and Ibotta. Another super simple way of activating rewards while you shop is to register with and install SimplyCodes, and earn crypto rewards all while you shop through receipt verification and other missions.

To illustrate just how much you can save by stacking, I personally was able to stack a few deals to get these Merrell Oakcreek Waterproof shoes at half the retail price. Originally $110, these shoes went on sale for $82. Through a coupon code I found on SimplyCodes, I applied 20% off to come out to $65.59, and with tax and shipping, my total came out to be $77.30. I then found an AmEx merchant offer at Merrell: “Spend $75 or more, get $20 back.”

Long story short — I ended up spending $57.30 on a pair of $110 shoes, and I didn’t have to bend over backwards or sell my soul.

How to Calculate Coupon Rates

Want a handy calculator to know exactly how much you’re spending and saving? Check out our handy Coupon Deal Calculator here.

Start Saving Hundreds with Coupon Codes

While it’s much faster and more efficient than clipping printed coupons, digital couponing and stacking has its own learning curve. Luckily, the latest apps and extensions can automate the process and offer new ways to save without ever leaving the shopping page.

With a little bit of preparation and discount savvy, you could potentially save hundreds to thousands of dollars each year through avid couponing. Whether if you’re saving for a rainy day or upgrading your lifestyle without breaking the bank, taking advantage of sitting deals is a great way to get more value out of your money.

Want to shop smarter and save bigger? Check out the rest of our blog for valuable content such as shopping guides and commerce education.