The year is 2010. Hipsters are a thing. So are craft beer, dog-friendly patios, and the ironic embrace of the inauthentic.
And it’s a golden age for Groupon. Millions of users are scouring Groupon for low, low discounts. The website has got almost anything from $5 pizzas to $400 vasectomies (with your doctor’s clinic getting $200 for their cut) — albeit in limited quantities.
The website wasn’t just the bedrock of good deals: Groupon was cool. Fast-forward to the present, and we are just as eager as ever to save money. Yet Groupon has tumbled from its pedestal while a slicker, sleeker new crop of competitors has swooped in to steal Groupon’s throne.
Below, we explain how Groupon lost its spark and 12 hot Groupon alternatives that have risen in its place.
Why Groupon lost its appeal
For the unfamiliar, Groupon is an e-commerce marketplace that offers coupons and limited-time offers. Under founder Andrew Mason, the site launched in 2008 to connect consumers with local businesses through group-buying deals, a shopping model that relies on collective purchasing.
The vision was that if enough people agreed to the same deal, they could secure a greater discount than if they had purchased individually. In exchange, businesses gained bulk sales and new customers.
Groupon took a portion of the revenue and boomed in the process. The site spoke to an economically conscious audience, but the business model ultimately proved unsustainable. Brands didn’t see significant long-term gains due to little repeat business while deep discounts cut into profit margins.
As a result, merchants began to pull out and Groupon shifted its focus away from its original model to a more flexible marketplace, but that failed to maintain its initial popularity.
Is Groupon worth it today?
Groupon is still available, though its glory days are likely behind it. Their selection remains eclectic, and you no longer have to participate in group buying, but deal quality varies.
For businesses, it may be effective for exposure, but selling products or services at a sharp discount can be a greater loss than gain. Expect a mixed bag.
Meanwhile, customers looking to save money may encounter fluctuating quality, poor customer service, and difficulties with refunds. Whether the hassle is worthwhile depends on how good the offer is and whether you can’t find better, quicker.
12 best alternatives to Groupon
Several alternatives offer smart, efficient ways to find discounts, cashback, and exclusive deals comparable to or better than Groupon’s savings.
Below, we go over 12 platforms that make bargain hunting easier.
1. Woot
Similar to Groupon, Woot provides daily deals and limited-time discounts. Unlike Groupon, it focuses more on product sales, humor, and spontaneous shopping. For instance, you can opt into Woot-Offs and Bags of Crap to score cheap prices and a random collection of items (some of which may be genuinely useful!).
Woot also stands out as an arm of Amazon. Prime members gain free shipping, a boon for frequent shoppers. That said, Woot ships products from various locations, including their own warehouses and directly from vendors. Some deals only offer express shipping if they’re directly from Amazon, so check listings for details.
2. Slickdeals
If you miss or appreciate the interconnectivity Groupon built its premise on, Slickdeals fills that gap. Both a discount aggregator and user-driven platform, Slickdeals members—along with automated sourcing—find, share, and discuss deals.
Notably, this community-driven approach helps filter out low-value or gimmicky deals. For the casual bargain hunter, user verification, upvoting, and active discussions are a boost of confidence, while dedicated forums are a great space if you’re an expert and want to share your findings.
3. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a popular rewards platform we covered in our top money-earning apps. It’s not a direct competitor to Groupon, but it does partner with 10,000+ retailers and allow you to earn cashback (SB points) when you shop online, dine out, or scan grocery receipts. Your SBs can be redeemed for cash back, cryptocurrency, or gift cards, with the option to purchase Amazon and Target gift cards at 12% off face value.
We also recommend the site if you’d like to earn a little extra by taking surveys, playing games, and discovering new products.
4. RetailMeNot
RetailMeNot is a closer direct alternative to Groupon and relies on humans to source bargains. This is done in three different ways: its merchants, merchandising teams, and users.
Retailers provide official promo codes, seasonal sales, and exclusive offers. RetailMeNot’s merchandising team manually curates and verifies additional deals, while users can submit bargains they find, which are reviewed by a moderation team before approval.
The site’s verification process adds a human touch, similar to Groupon’s original group-buying model, but without requiring steep, unsustainable discounts for merchants.
5. Brad’s Deals
Brad’s Deals is older than Groupon, having launched in 2001. While it doesn’t offer group buying or dramatic discounts, Brad’s Deals does curate a wide selection of third-party retailers, from sleepwear to kitchen appliances.
The main advantage of the site is that it’s completely free. Each and every discount and coupon is available upon visiting. All purchases are made directly on the retailer’s website, with Brad’s Deals earning a commission at no extra cost to shoppers.
6. The Krazy Coupon Lady
Founded by Heather Wheeler and Joanie Demer, the Krazy Coupon Lady began as a passion for couponing and a blog to connect fellow bargain hunters. A best-selling book, website, and app later followed.
Today, the Krazy Coupon Lady provides top deals, freebies, and saving hacks for grocery shopping, online retailers, and everyday essentials. The site’s team sources promotions and coupons, guaranteeing a degree of quality.
Meanwhile, its in-depth resources on how to coupon make it an educational alternative for those looking for more than just a good deal.
7. Travelzoo
As the name implies, Travelzoo provides travel deals on flights, hotels, and destinations. Groupon also offers travel discounts, but Travelzoo focuses on curated experiences for frequent flyers, solo travelers, and families seeking everything from budget to luxury options.
Free users get a sneak peek at select deals, including the site’s Top 20 list. However, full access to exclusive deals requires a paid membership. Members can also access limited-time promotions.
Thanks to wiley algorithms, platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube make it easy to find exclusive deals while we scroll.
Influencers also frequently draw us in and provide official, discounted affiliate links you can’t find elsewhere. From fitness gurus to foodies, these individuals provide social proof, backed by reviews and deep dives. How genuine these endorsements are varies, but positive reception and a good deal can equal long-term value if you double-check user reviews.
9. Shopping browser extensions
You don’t necessarily have to visit individual aggregators to find great deals. Shopping browser extensions such as PayPal Honey, CouponCabin, and Capital One Shopping scour the internet to find coupon codes and cashback rewards at your favorite online stores.
Unlike Groupon, which offers upfront discounts with location and expiration restrictions, these extensions automatically suggest passive savings opportunities wherever you shop.
Some extensions take it a step further. For instance, Camelizer by CamelCamel tracks the price history of Amazon items to scope out bargains, even if there’s no discount attached.
10. Store loyalty apps
Store loyalty apps are another popular alternative for frequent buyers. Although Groupon has an app that provides discounts from many merchants, businesses often incentivize customer loyalty through their own channels through bigger or more exclusive rewards.
Cashback, for instance, is often provided by major brands like Target or Starbucks, which you might visit weekly or even daily. Getting a percentage back on every purchase adds up over time. Some loyalty programs also offer unique deals, like point systems to redeem for freebies or VIP access to products before they go public.
11. Subscription-based models
Subscription-based models are a tried and true method. Our previous example, Travelzoo, highlighted the gains of more of a niche service, but the same applies to other platforms.
Amazon Subscribe & Save, Sam’s Club, and Walmart+ are staples for shoppers seeking convenience. These programs offer perks like free shipping, bulk pricing, cashback rewards, and member-only deals, providing continuous savings compared to Groupon’s one-time deals.
Additionally, GoodRx is a free platform that offers coupon codes for savings of up to 80% off prescription drugs. There’s also a paid membership version ($9.99 a month) that offers greater Rx discounts and affordable visits to a licensed healthcare provider starting at just $19.
12. Niche review sites
Review websites may not seem like an efficient alternative but for dedicated needs, such as travel, electronics, or home goods, reviewers provide a vetted overview of the best products and services available so you don’t have to rely on short-lived discounts.
Examples include the Wirecutter, the Points Guy, CNET Smart Home, and Tom’s Hardware. The Wirecutter is ideal for in-depth product reviews, while the Points Guy is a must for maximizing travel rewards. CNET Smart Home provides everything you need to know about smart devices, while Tom’s Hardware analyzes tech gear for long-term value.
Bottom line
Will we ever see a return to the golden age of Groupon? Probably not. Like the man bun and craft beer, Groupon’s already reached peak cool.
Bargain hunting, however, will never go out of style. Alternatives are widely available without the downside of overwhelming merchants or detaching from customers.
Whether it’s direct replacements, store loyalty programs, or your favorite influencers, the key is finding a platform that matches your spending habits and long-term goals.
With so many options, getting a great deal has never been easier. No group-buying required.
And if you’re bummed to have missed the Groupon vasectomy deal, fear not. According to Planned Parenthood, a vasectomy will run you anywhere from $0 to $1,000, with most insurance plans and Medicaid offering full or partial coverage.
Hello.This article was really fascinating, especially because I was investigating for thoughts on this issue last Monday.