Best daily deals sites 2023
Daily deal sites can save you loads of money. But, only if you play the game right. Here's how to make these sites work for you, plus our favourite ones to check out.
There are loads of daily deals websites out there. They offer savings on everything from spa breaks to Henry Hoovers. But, you have to grab them while they're hot (or, in this case, reduced).
On sites like Wowcher and Groupon, the crazy deals and ticking countdown clock can lead to some rash decisions. We're here to tell you to take your time and do your research before parting with your cash.
This guide shows you the best daily deals sites to try and how to make the most of them.
What's in this guide?
5 best daily deals sites
Here are the best daily deals websites:
-
Groupon
When people think 'daily deals', they usually think 'Groupon'. This company has been a market leader in daily deals since... well, forever.
Some of Groupon's best offers include luxuries that aren't necessarily a part of a student's typical expenses. They offer things like spa treatments, overnight breaks, and luxury dining experiences.
As a word of warning, they do send a lot of emails. However, it's worth keeping an eye on them as they can sometimes include top deals, vouchers and discounts for brands like ASOS, Amazon, River Island, Currys and much more.
-
LivingSocial
LivingSocial has been in competition with Groupon for a while. The website's increasingly providing some of the best-value deals in order to gain market share.
Previous top offers include £50 worth of Tesco spend for just £20 and half-price Starbucks.
Like with most daily deals sites, each offer expires quickly. You'll have to move fast to bag the best ones.
-
Wowcher
Wowcher supplies the same kind of offers as other daily deals sites. This includes deals on dining out, electronics and furniture.
But this site also offers some more obscure deals such as tarot card reading and Reiki courses.
-
GoGroopie
Again, GoGroopie will have all the usual types of daily deals. Deals on dining out, experience days and weird household goods can all be found here.
But what's really great about GoGroopie is the travel offers. Other daily deals sites do holidays too, but GoGroopie definitely offers the best ones.
Just a heads up – always check the flight times before you go ahead and book. The cheapest deals might involve some unsociable travel hours. But, when you can book flights and accommodation to a European city for under £100, it's a small price to pay (literally).
-
itison
itison is a daily deals site with a local focus. The site features deals in the Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle areas.
For that reason, it's probably not worth signing up unless you live in Scotland or the North of England. However, many offers are getaways to these regions, so it could be worth signing up anyway.
Travel and experiences are very much the focus of itison's offering. But, you'll find many standard daily deals site discounts here too.
Are daily deal sites worth the effort?
It's worth knowing a bit more about how these sites work before you use them. Here is everything you should know.
What exactly are daily deal sites?
Daily deal sites are exactly what they say on the tin: sites offering big reductions which typically only last for 24 hours (sometimes slightly longer).
Unlike typical voucher code sites, you'll also find many localised deals. They don't necessarily just involve big brand names either.
Daily deal sites are able to offer really low prices for a limited time by relying on the power of bulk buying. As long as enough people are interested in the deal, the company will be able to make some money back. That way, it's still worth their time.
Why should you use daily deal sites?
Daily deals can be a great place to get any slightly more expensive purchases you've been thinking about but can't quite afford at full price. Think of things like laser teeth whitening, a spa weekend or a new TV.
However, it's important to make sure you don't let the deals dictate what you buy. It's best to only stick to purchases that are of interest to you. Don't be tempted by 80% off 100 Nespresso coffee capsules when you don't even have a Nespresso machine... or drink coffee.
It's also worth noting that massively discounted items can still be quite expensive. For example, a blender priced at £49.99 isn't a bargain, even if it's reduced from £250. It just means that it was overpriced in the first place.
How to find the best discounts on daily deal websites
Here are our top tips for using daily deal sites:
-
Use a separate email address
Credit: Universal Pictures
All daily deal sites will ask you to enter your email address. These websites will email you every day with a list of the best deals on offer.
Of course, receiving these emails isn't everyone's cup of tea. It can get annoying if you're getting constant notifications.
You can get around this by clicking "I'm already signed up" or "no thanks" on the homepage. Or you could go for our favourite option: use an alias (deals) email address for daily deals. You can then turn off all notifications for this address.
-
Always read the small print
Terms and conditions are boring, but that's no excuse not to read them – especially when it's your over-stretched wallet on the line.
This is particularly the case with daily deals. Often, you'll find deals are really specific in how and when they can be redeemed.
For example, a restaurant deal might not be valid on weekends, or the driving experience voucher you bought months in advance for your dad's birthday might expire within a couple of weeks. Don't get caught out.
Note that some daily deals customer service teams are slow to respond to issues. This is because they act as a middleman between you and the company offering the deal. Don't let this infringe upon your consumer rights, though.
-
Watch out for hidden costs on daily deals sites
One common tactic of daily deals sites is to promote offers that appear extremely cheap, but have some additional costs involved.
For example, an offer like "paintballing for £1" sounds great. But, if you arrive to find out that you have to fork out to hire the paintballs and other equipment at an extra cost, it becomes clear that the deal really was too good to be true.
Before paying, check the total cost after the added extras to see if it's still a good deal.
-
Always check out the seller before buying
Remember that daily deal sites only host deals. They aren't technically responsible for any issues you have with the companies offering them.
If the business behind the offer is running a deal that you feel is unfair, it can be difficult for the deals company to do much about it straight away. The process of coming to a solution can take a long time. That's why it's important to do your research first.
It takes less than five minutes to check out a retailer's website and read some reviews on Google. Doing this could save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run.
-
Only buy things you need on daily deal sites
Credit: DreamWorks Pictures
Yes, an all-inclusive country spa break sounds great, but can you really afford it?
With emails landing in your inbox daily, it can be tempting to buy anything that appeals. But try to focus on what you actually need.
Don't get caught out by marketing. Make a list of stuff you're looking for in advance and only use offers for those things.
The trick is to keep the ball in your court. You can do this by making sure you're scouting out deals rather than taking up offers that have been advertised to you. That's how they get you.
-
Compare prices before buying anything
While the 80% off price tag can make it seem like you're saving a fortune on the RRP, that's not always true. Always make sure you do your research first.
Some retailers have been known to inflate prices. That way, it looks like you're getting a great deal when in reality, no retailer is selling the item at the RRP.
The internet is your friend here. Head to Idealo to check how much the product is selling for elsewhere.
-
Refer a friend to daily deals sites
Some daily deal websites will offer an incentive to get users to refer a friend.
This will usually involve being given a link to share with your mates. If they sign up using your link, you will both earn cash.
-
Look out for voucher codes
Believe it or not, on top of all the huge reductions offered by daily deal sites, it's not that uncommon to find voucher codes for a further discount.
For example, a site might offer a voucher code that will get you £5 off when you spend £25 with them, no matter what deal you go for.
Keep an eye out for these codes on our student deals page. The overall saving involved with combining the two discounts can be huge.
-
Declare your deal in restaurants before you order
If you're using a voucher to dine out, it's best to let the staff know before you take your seat.
This will avoid any embarrassing situations. If they have to point out that the deal is only valid on Tuesdays when you're there on a Saturday night, you'll be in for a nasty shock.
This also applies to 'experiences' like beauty treatments, workshops and the like.
-
Don't watch the clock on daily deal sites
... because that's exactly what they want you to do. Countdown tickers can mess with your ability to distinguish between needs and wants. Don't give in to the pressure of the clock!
Just ignore them. Despite what they want you to believe, the chances are that a very similar deal (if not the very same one) will crop up again soon.
Remember: only buy things you were after anyway, and don't get sucked in by an offer that sounds a lot better than it actually is. Stick by these two rules, and you won't go far wrong.
If you love a bargain, check out the best online outlet stores.
