Golden rules to using comparison sites
Don’t use a single price comparison site
Individual price comparison sites don’t all give you the same results, so check out a few before you decide to switch lender, supplier or buy a product. This might take you a bit more time, but it’s worth doing as it could save you a lot of money.
Make sure the product fits your needs
Do some research before you make a final decision to make sure the product is right for you. The cheapest deal available might not necessarily be best for your specific needs. Should you go for a short- or long-term fixed price energy deal? Does this bank account have all the features you’re looking for?
First isn’t always best
Comparison sites don’t give ‘regulated advice’.
That means they provide you with product information but not whether a policy has the type and level of cover suitable for your needs.
So, don’t assume the first result is the best. Especially because the first result in the list might be ‘sponsored’.
Comparison sites make their money from you
Comparison websites don’t sell products themselves; they show you details and prices from insurers and make their money in several ways:
- They get paid from advertising which appears on their site.
- From ‘click-throughs’ where the site earns commission when a customer clicks through to the insurer’s website and buys a product.
- Some sites earn money from sponsored listings, where companies pay to have their products appear at the top of the search results.
Is your household incomegettingsqueezed?
If you’re facing higher living costs, but have little or no extra money coming in, find out about extra sources of income and support available to help you manage your household bills and save money in our guide Living on a squeezed income
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Using a price comparison site
How you use a price comparison site differs depending on what you’re using it to search for. Here we run through where to start your search.
Looking for the best insurance deal? Find out more in our guide How to buy insurance using comparison sites
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Energy (gas and electricity)
You can read more about why switching might not be the best idea at the moment in our guide What to do if you’re worried about your energy bills rising
If you do decide to switch the whole process shouldn’t take more than six weeks and you won’t be cut off at any point. The only change you’ll notice is a new supplier sending you your bills (if you switch supplier) and lower rates.
Price comparison websites help you compare the different energy deals available and they’re a great way to see what’s available.
They don’t all work with the same suppliers, so use a few to make sure you don’t miss out on the perfect deal.
We suggest using sites thatOfgemOpens in a new windowrecommends and that have been accredited with the Confidence Code.
Beware of switching
Energy prices are very high. For many people whose fixed deal has come to an end the Energy Price Guarantee will be the cheapest rate available.
You can read more about why switching might not be the best idea at the moment in our guideWhat to do if you’re worried about your energy bills rising
Find out more in our guide How to save money on gas and electricity bills
Can I switch supplier if I rent my home?
If you pay for your own gas and/or electricity, it doesn’t matter if you rent or own your own home, you can switch supplier.
If you rent and your landlord pays your energy bills then they have the right to choose the supplier.
Can I switch my gas and electricity if I’m on a prepayment meter?
Yes, but not all energy suppliers offer a prepayment tariff so make sure you switch to one that does.
You should be able to filter these when searching on a price comparison website.
Can I switch supplier if I’m getting the Warm Home Discount?
If you get the Warm Homes Discount and you’re switching energy supplier, make sure your new supplier offers the discount. If they don’t, your bills could go up.
Find out more about the Warm Home Discount in our guide
What is an energy switching club?
Energy switching clubs offered by reputable brands like Which? and MoneySavingExpert are basically comparison sites just for your energy bills.
The website will hold your hand through the whole process, from filling in details from your current energy bill, to searching the whole of market to find a better deal for you, if one is available, and liaising with your chosen new supplier to carry out the switch.
What about my water bills?
Unlike gas and electricity, you can’t switch who supplies your water. But you might save money by switching to a water meter.
Find out more in our guide How to save money on water bills.
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Broadband, landline phone and TV
You can make great savings by switching to a cheaper phone, TV or broadband deal.
It’s a good idea to start searching websites accredited by Ofcom. Despite their names, the following sites allow you to search for paid TV, landline phone as well as broadband deals:
- BroadbandSearch by postcode or phone number for relevant deals in your area. Splits prices into monthly and annual cost and displays a reliability score
- BroadbanddealsSearch by postcode. Prices automatically shown in monthly costs, but can be filtered by year
- BroadbandcomparedSearch by postcode
BroadbandchoicesOpens in a new windowSearch by postcode and it will show you the average monthly cost while you’re in contract. This number takes into account any cashback or freebies offered by the site and any setup fees
Money SupermarketOpens in a new window This site compares a lot of different products as well as broadband and mobile deals and will show you an average cost per month
If you’re looking for a package deal of broadband, phone and/or TV, you can also try the ‘Bundle’ search offered at MoneySavingExpertOpens in a new window
Find out more in our guide How to save money on your home phone and broadband
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Mobile phone contracts
Making sure you’re on the right deal and not paying for calls, text and data you don’t use, or regularly going over your allowance, is a great way to cut costs.
As with broadband, there are a few comparison sites that Ofcom approves.
Billmonitorwill analyse your online bills or allow you to enter your regular or required limits manually. It will then find the most suitable offers on the market and direct you to the relevant retailer
HandsetExpertselect the handset you want and then enter your calls, text and data requirements. The website will then display the best offers available and you can go directly to the retailer’s website
Mobile-phonesallows you to search by phone and SIM-only deals
CompareDialOpens in a new windowcompares phone contracts that include a handset as well as SIM-only offers
Find out more in our guide How to save money on your mobile phone
Join our Facebook group
Join our private group for money-saving tips and support from a community of savers.
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Bank accounts
Comparison websites can be a good starting point for anyone trying to find a current or savings account tailored to their needs.
Use our Bank account fees and charges comparison tool to see all the fees and charges that apply to bank accounts – it shows everything from overdraft fees to foreign cash withdrawal charges
Here are a few websites that compare current and savings accounts:
- Money Saving Expert
- Which?You can use the Which? quality rating to find the banks with the best customer score
- In Northern Ireland, you can also use theConsumer Council’s Current Account Comparison TableOpens in a new window
Be aware that comparison websites won’t all give you the same results. So make sure you use more than one before deciding.
It’s also important to do some research on the type of product and features you need before making a purchase or changing supplier.
Find out more in our guide How to choose the right bank account
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Mortgages
Taking out a mortgage is a big financial decision that shouldn’t be made lightly.
While comparison sites can be useful to get an idea of the best rates on the market, it’s best to make sure you know exactly what you’re searching for and decide if you need to use a dedicated mortgage broker.
Find out more about applying for a mortgage in our guide.
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General shopping (like furniture or technology)
Comparison sites aren’t only useful for bills and bank accounts. They’re also useful to find bargain prices on everyday essentials and gifts, as well as more expensive purchases like technology or furniture. However, there are so many sites offering reduced prices, it can be difficult to be sure you’re getting a great deal.
Comparison sites can help you cut through misleading sales and discounts by tracking an item’s price over the years and showing you which site is really giving you the best deal.
- CamelCamelCamelShop regularly at Amazon? You can use CamelCamelCamel to set up price alerts and track price history
- IdealoWill compare current prices across trusted e-tailers and high street stores like Currys, Argos, John Lewis and Amazon. You can also see past prices and set up email notifications for when prices drop
Budget Planner
To help you manage your money, use our free and easy-to-use Budget Planner
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How do I use a price comparison website?
Many price comparison websites will ask you for personal details before presenting you with a list of providers.
Be as accurate as you can with this information, as it will be used as the basis for the quotes you’ll be shown.
Some price comparison websites have contracts with select suppliers and receive a commission every time you switch or take out a product.
Beware of pre-selected tick boxes, pre-set filters and any questions which ask if you want to run a whole of market comparison.
Some websites use these techniques to try to guide you towards picking one of their partner suppliers, even if they aren’t necessarily the best choice for you.
Some products don’t provide a link through to the provider’s website.
If this is the case, you’ll need to go directly to the supplier’s website.
Use our Money Navigator Tool
Have you got money worries because of coronavirus? If so, you’re not alone.
For instant money guidance based on your circumstances, get started with our Money Navigator Tool
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FAQs
Is it cheaper to go through comparison sites? ›
Cheapest isn't always best
Comparison sites will try to hook you in by showing you lots of low prices. Remember that the cheapest insurance policies might not be such great value. They might have a high excess or not the right cover for what you want.
Price.com lists billions of products from thousands of stores, including Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Target, and other retailers!
How do you get data for a price comparison website? ›- Feeds from merchants. Price comparison websites enter into a collaboration with stores or companies to gain data directly from a retailer's web feeds. ...
- Product feeds from third-party API. Retail product data can also be obtained through third-party APIs. ...
- Web Scraping.
Price comparison websites help you compare the different energy deals available and they're a great way to see what's available. They don't all work with the same suppliers, so use a few to make sure you don't miss out on the perfect deal.
Is GoCompare or MoneySuperMarket better? ›We observed failures for all three websites related to Design & Usability and Structure & Layout. GoCompare and MoneySuperMarket both had failures on Control & Forms, with GoCompare having fewer errors. So, we ranked GoCompare in first place.
Is there an app that tells you the cheapest place to buy a product? ›Price.com. The Price.com app(Opens in a new window) is the mobile companion to the popular site and browser extension. You can compare prices at major retailers by typing in a search, using the barcode scanner, or uploading or taking a photo of an item.
What are the disadvantages of price comparison websites? ›Comparison sites tend to focus entirely on price, and ignore quality. Customers often find a correlation between higher prices and better products. Some companies may charge more but provide better customer service, more flexible refund options, etc., that the price comparison site user will not be made aware of.
How do you compare two prices? ›To compare prices, divide the cost by the weight or quantity of the item. Then you can compare the two items. In this comparison, the SMALLER size box is better value! The larger boxes are not always better value, especially if the small box is on sale.
How do I find the cheapest price on anything? ›- Scrutinize prices.
- Know where to find coupons.
- Consider refurbished.
- Set sale alerts.
- Ask for a rain check.
- Speak to a store associate.
- Be social.
- Shop secondhand.
Price comparison sites can collect data directly from merchants. Retailers who want to list their products on the website then supply their own lists of products and prices, and these are matched against the original database. This is done by a mixture of information extraction, fuzzy logic and human labour.
How do I use Google compare? ›
Open Google Docs and sign in to open the first document you want to compare. On the document, click Tools from the menu and select Compare Documents. A small dialog box will appear on the screen asking you to select another document from your Drive to compare against the first opened document.
Is beyond compare good? ›Beyond Compare is a perfect software application for comparing files, directories, folders, etc. and even it can be used for merging text. As a Software Tester; I have always found this very useful for performing my day to day tasks.
How do I search Google price range? ›This price range Google search technique lets you dig a little deeper as you investigate how to price your products. To use a range instead of an exact number, simply add two periods between the prices in your price range. Like so: dog sweater $13.. $17.
What is the best way to compare data? ›Common graphical displays (e.g., dotplots, boxplots, stemplots, bar charts) can be effective tools for comparing data from two or more data sets.
What is price Database? ›The Price Database is a tool for helping you make informed decisions when buying or selling an artwork. It provides easy and transparent price research from auction records dating back to 1985, allowing you to independently assess how much a work of art is worth.
What are 3 factors you might consider when comparison shopping? ›- Quality. Probably the worst mistake that can be made is to overlook quality when looking for a bargain. ...
- Craftsmanship. ...
- Quantity. ...
- Performance. ...
- Longevity.
- 1) Define your marketing objectives. ...
- 2) Optimize your product data. ...
- 3) Advertise the right products. ...
- 4) Minimize click costs. ...
- 5) Maximize profitable orders.
Comparison sites save you money
The main reason people use price comparison websites is that they allow you to find the best deal by checking hundreds of quotes from different providers. There may be a smaller or lesser-known company that offer the service you wish to buy at a much lower price.
Trolley.co.uk helps you compare prices at your favourite supermarkets including Asda, Tesco, Aldi and more.
Is GoCompare the same as GoCompare? ›GoCompare has today announced a new brand name and logo – Go. Compare. This means that anyone now looking to use the comparison service will be able search on any device using “Go. Compare”, and they will be taken directly to the website.
Does it cost to use compare the market? ›
The service is free to use and the fee we receive does not affect the way we rank the products. We always order results from lowest to highest price for you.
Is there a price match app? ›Price Match, a simple, easy-to-use price comparison app for the registered trade items, that are sold online. This app is powered using the Semantics3 product API. The data ranges over a wide number of items. Scan the UPC barcode to find the best price online.
Is there a price check app? ›If you're looking for the price-checking app that features a huge range of products and retailers, look no further than PriceGrabber. The comprehensive website, which now offers a free app for Android and Apple devices, lets you search products from a whopping 2,000 sellers.
Is there an app that tells you when something you want goes on sale? ›The ecommerce startup PoachIt seeks to solve this dilemma. With PoachIt, shoppers can track all of their favorite items and receive a notification when the bag of their dreams goes on sale. The startup also hunts down and verifies coupon codes to save its customers tons of cash. How much money, exactly?
Does higher prices mean better quality? ›The first thing to keep in mind when answering this question is that price is not always directly related to quality. Just because an item has a higher price doesn't always mean it will be higher quality. The reverse is also true. Just because an item has a lower price doesn't necessarily mean its quality is bad.
What should I look for in comparison shopping? ›It's best practice to look at the price per ounce, price per unit or cost per ounce. This shows you how much you're paying per item or ounce. Compare these figures from one brand to the next to find the best deal.
What is price matching strategy? ›Price matching strategy, what is it ? Price matching is a strategy used by retailers in order to provide the best price for customers in a certain competitive market, by offering the same product for a lower price to increase sales, catch customers' attention and strengthen customer loyalty.
What is the comparison formula? ›The comparison method, a procedure for solving systems of independent equations, starts by rewriting each equation with the same variable as the subject. Any of the variables may be chosen as the first variable to isolate. Each equation is now an isolated-subject equation, and equation where one variable is isolated.
How do you ask for the least price? ›- 'All I have in my budget is X. ...
- 'What would your cash price be? ...
- 'How far can you come down in price to meet me? ...
- 'What? ...
- 'Is that the best you can do? ...
- 'I'll give you X if we can close the deal now. ...
- 'I'll agree to this price if you will throw in free delivery.
- Use a positive tone. It's important you keep a positive tone throughout your negotiation letter. ...
- Compliment the supplier. ...
- Explain your perspective. ...
- Request a discount. ...
- Set clear terms. ...
- Hint at an incentive. ...
- Choose a date for a response. ...
- Get to know your supplier.
How do you use Microsoft compare? ›
Compare two versions of a document
On the Tools menu, point to Track Changes, and then click Compare Documents. In the Original document list, select the original document. In the Revised document list, browse to the other version of the document, and then click OK.
The trap of comparison is that we're stuck in a negative loop if we feel less than someone else or even better than another person. It's actually the opposite side of the same coin in either case. All of this is an insatiable ego game that ultimately sets us up to lose.
Is beyond compare free? ›Downloads are free 30 day trials that are unlocked for permanent use when a license is purchased.
What is better than WinMerge? ›There are more than 50 alternatives to WinMerge for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Online / Web-based and BSD. The best alternative is Meld, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like WinMerge are FreeFileSync, Beyond Compare, KDiff3 and Diffinity.
What is Beyond Compare 4 used for? ›Beyond Compare is a utility for comparing files and folders. It can help you find and reconcile differences in source code, folders, images and data, even if your files are contained in zip archive files or on remote services (e.g. FTP sites).
What does purple mean in Beyond Compare? ›Purple. Orphan (does not exist on other side) Red. Newer or different.
How do you tell the difference between Beyond Compare? ›Essentially, you can drag any two folders into Beyond Compare's two panes and have it compare their contents. You can choose to have it show only the files that are missing on one side or the other, or all of the differences in files, or even just the files that are the same.
What is the difference between Google Search and Google advanced search? ›Google Advanced Search uses advanced search operators – or special commands and parameters – that modify Google searches to narrow down searches into more detailed and specific results.
How do I do an advanced search? ›- On your computer, go to Advanced Search: google.com/advanced_search.
- Under “Find pages with,” choose the query field/s to: ...
- Enter the words that you want to include or remove from your results. ...
- Under "Then narrow your results by," choose the filters you want to use. ...
- Click Advanced Search.
Use a bar or column chart to compare independent values. We, as readers, are particularly good at comparing the length of bars in a bar chart (in contrast to the segments of a pie chart, for example), making bar and column charts the best charts for showing comparisons.
Which tool can help us to compare the data? ›
Use the Compare Data tool after transferring data to verify and compare the newly imported data with the original data.
What type of chart will be used to compare sales of two products? ›Bar and column charts are used to compare different items.
What is a pricing matrix? ›Matrix pricing is an estimation technique used to estimate the market price of securities that are not actively traded. Matrix pricing is primarily used in fixed income, to estimate the price of bonds that do not have an active market.
What are the 3 types of pricing? ›Cost-Based Pricing. Value-Based Pricing. Competition-Based Pricing.
How does a pricing matrix work? ›A pricing matrix is where you define your costs, features, and what differentiates your product tiers from others. A pricing matrix is shown on the pricing page of your website. When done correctly, it can motivate a new customer to purchase. This is ProfitWell's pricing matrix.
What website is like Amazon but cheaper? ›- AliExpress. (Image credit: AliExpress) ...
- Zappos. (Image credit: Zappos) ...
- QVC. (Image credit: QVC) ...
- Newegg. (Image credit: Newegg) ...
- Target. (Image credit: Target) ...
- eBay. (Image credit: eBay) ...
- Google Shopping. (Image credit: Google Shopping) ...
- Overstock. (Image credit: Overstock)
- Amazon.
- Flipkart.
- Myntra.
- Nykaa.
- Ajio.
- Snapdeal.
- Swiggy.
- Tata Cliq.
Always Check for “Warehouse Deals”
Answer: They sell it in the “Amazon Warehouse” at a greatly reduced price. If you're not familiar with Amazon Warehouse Deals, they're items that they classify as pre-owned, used or open box specials and the savings are BIG.
Who are Amazon's biggest competitors? Amazon has competition in different sectors. Its biggest retail competitors are Alibaba, eBay, Walmart, JD, Flipkart, and Rakuten. For the online streaming services audience, Amazon competes with Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, and Disney+.
How do I avoid Amazon price wars? ›The best way to avoid price wars is to differentiate your brand from other competitors. If you notice, price wars usually begin when sellers offer the same products at the same price to the same buyers.
Which app has most discounts? ›
CashKaro– It is the largest cashback and coupon app in India. Users can avail of discount coupons from more than 1500 shopping websites and apps dealing in fashion, electronics, beauty, pharmacy, grocery, etc. It offers additional cashback, which can be transferred to a bank account or redeemed as Amazon Gift Cards.
What is best online shopping site? ›- Amazon. Amazon has significantly altered the landscape of the internet business. ...
- Flipkart. Flipkart is an all-in-one destination for all of your daily needs. ...
- Myntra. ...
- Ajio. ...
- Pharmeasy. ...
- Nykaa. ...
- Snapdeal. ...
- Lenskart.
App App Name | Publisher Publisher | |
---|---|---|
1 | Shopsy Shopping App - Flipkart | Shopsy |
2 | Flipkart Online Shopping App | Flipkart |
3 | Amazon India Shop, Pay, miniTV | Amazon Mobile LLC |
4 | Meesho: Online Shopping App | Meesho |
- Scrutinize prices.
- Know where to find coupons.
- Consider refurbished.
- Set sale alerts.
- Ask for a rain check.
- Speak to a store associate.
- Be social.
- Shop secondhand.
To calculate the unit price, simply divide the cost of the product by the quantity you're receiving or check the store's shelf label. Then, compare the unit prices of 2 or more packages of the same product to see which is the better value.
How do you find the best value? ›To find the best value: find the average of the good data. Record this number in a separate column in your data table. 4. Find the range in the data: mark the highest and lowest values in your data (not including outliers).