Why You Can Trust CNET CNET's Free Shopping Extension Adds Cash Back Just in Time for Holiday Shopping
No one likes to pay full price -- and that's what the CNET Shopping extension is here to help prevent.
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Whether you're shopping online ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday for gifts or just buying everyday necessities, getting the best price should be important to you. Install the CNET Shopping extension today to help you find hidden coupons and get the best price available.
CNET Shopping has been helping users to get the best prices online for months. But now it's leveling up with a great new feature: cash back. That's right: CNET Shopping has teamed up with more than 9,100 of the top merchants on the web to deliver a seamless cash back experience for your online shopping. The list of participating partners includes Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, Lowes, GameStop, Overstock, Macy's and more. Just install the CNET Shopping browser extension, and you'll begin amassing cash credits that you can use to discount future shopping.
While the addition of cash back is CNET Shopping's latest and greatest upgrade, the service's other great features remain unchanged. To that end, let's check out what CNET Shopping has to offer.
Saving is simple once you get started
This free-to-use browser extension (which was previously known as Invisible Hand) works in the background and helps find you the best price as you browse products of interest -- whether it be a coupon code or a discount at another retailer.
The first thing you need to do is get the shopping extension on your computer and set it up; then you'll be able to use all of its free features. Don't worry, though. Getting set up takes just a few clicks and you only need to do it once.
How to install CNET Shopping extension
It's important to note that the CNET Shopping extension only works with desktop browsers currently -- but it works on Safari, Chrome, Edge and other popular browsers. This does mean you won't be able to use it on your phone currently.
- Visit cnet.com/shopping.
- Click the red "Add to [Browser] - It's Free!" button.
- Install the browser from the respective store page that's opened (Chrome Store, Apple App Store, etc.).
- Browse the web and be sure to check the extension before checking out.
That's all there is to it. Only a few clicks stand between you and saving money. Did you know that the extension supports over 25,000 retailers and has already saved users over $1 billion to date? What's stopping you?
You can find the CNET Shopping privacy policy here.
Unlock new ways to save
When you install the CNET Shopping extension, you'll find four ways to save money while you shop online.
Compare pricing with thousands of other retailers
Once you've installed the extension, point your browser to a product page at any major online retailer -- Amazon, Target, Walmart and the like -- and CNET Shopping will instantly search hundreds of other sites around the web for better offers. While it's not foolproof, it generally provides an excellent snapshot of competing prices among the web's top stores. You'll know right away whether you're getting the best price among CNET Shopping's supported merchants, or be able to jump to a more affordable competitor.
When searching, the extension will try to match the product you're looking at, so you'll want to be sure to have the correct variant on your screen to ensure the best matches.
Search for coupons you didn't know existed
Did you know you may be losing out on free discounts when you buy online? With CNET Shopping installed, you'll immediately be made aware of the relevant coupon codes available on the site where you're shopping -- including a checkout scan to verify any possible final deals.
Retailers often have coupon codes that aren't so easy to find, whether they've been sent out via an email blast or are advertised a few layers deep on the site, but the extension takes the guesswork out of the whole process. Our auto-coupon feature tries all the available coupons for your order and automatically applies the one that works with your order and saves you the most money. You don't need to test codes one by one; it's all done for you. You can also browse available coupons to see if there's something specific of interest to you.
Price drop alerts let you know when to act
Looking to buy something, but waiting for it to go on sale? With CNET Shopping's price tracker, you can do just that. On compatible products at supported retailers, you'll see an "Add Price Alert" button (as shown below) that will add that product to your personal tracking list. If and when it hits a discount percentage you specify, you'll be notified so you can pounce on the sale.
Cash back for supported merchants
New for Fall 2023: CNET Shopping now has a cash back component. When using the extension on your desktop browser and shopping through more than 9,100 supported merchants, CNET Shopping will automatically credit you a percentage of the sale. The savings accrue in your CNET Shopping dashboard, so you can always check in to see how much credit you have available.
CNET Shopping isn't the only way CNET saves you money
The shopping extension is a great way to help you save money on products that you know you need to buy, but what it doesn't do is help you discover new deals each day. Join the thousands of subscribers of the CNET Deals texting group who get our top deal pick every weekday delivered straight to their phones -- often something in the sub-$50 range.
These products generally have mass appeal and are often things you may not have thought you needed until that text arrives on your phone. Come join the community and see what it's all about.
Even more ways to save:
- Check out CNET's Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping hubs. CNET is your home for holiday shopping. We've got complete coverage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and we're working hard to round up the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
- Check out our CNET Deals section. See every deal CNET highlights every day.
- CNET's Gift Guide. Our headquarters for top gift picks -- it covers all occasions, not just the holidays.
- CNET Coupons: As noted above, CNET Shopping automatically scans for the best applicable coupons while you shop. But if you prefer to browse available offers, check out our coupon hub.
More shopping advice:
- CNET's latest Editors' Choice winners: These are the best products and services we've reviewed that you can buy right now.
- CNET Shopping Tips: Looking for the best shopping tips and retail hacks? We've got them all here.