Honey (PayPal-owned) is a legitimate browser extension that automatically finds and applies coupon codes at checkout. It's passive savings rather than active earning — you don't earn cash but reduce spending. Honey Gold points convert to PayPal cash at low rates. Rating: 8.5/10 for shoppers.
Quick Facts
What is Honey?
Honey is a browser extension that automatically finds and applies coupon codes at checkout. Founded in 2012 and acquired by PayPal for $4 billion in 2020, it's become one of the most popular shopping tools with over 17 million users.
Beyond just coupons, Honey offers a rewards program called "Honey Gold" where you earn points on purchases that can be redeemed for gift cards or PayPal cash. It also includes price tracking, price history, and a comparison feature.
The big question: does it actually work? The answer is "sometimes" - but since it's free and takes zero effort, the occasional savings make it worth having installed.
How Honey Works
Honey runs in the background while you browse. When you reach a checkout page at a supported retailer, it pops up and offers to try coupon codes.
Features
- Auto-coupon application: Tests available codes automatically at checkout
- Honey Gold: Earn 1-10% back at select retailers as redeemable points
- Price tracking: Track products and get alerts when prices drop
- Price history: See if current prices are good deals
- Amazon price comparison: Shows if other sellers have better prices
Supported Browsers
- Chrome (most popular)
- Firefox
- Safari
- Edge
- Opera
Realistic Savings
Let's be honest about savings expectations:
| Scenario | Success Rate | Typical Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Finding working coupons | ~20-30% | $2 - $20 |
| Honey Gold rewards | At select stores | 1-10% back |
| Price drop alerts | Varies | 5-30% savings |
Reality check: Most checkout attempts don't find working codes. But when it does work, savings can be significant. The Honey Gold rewards are the more consistent value.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Completely free to use
- Zero effort - works automatically
- Owned by PayPal - trustworthy
- Honey Gold rewards add value
- Price tracking is genuinely useful
Cons
- Most coupon attempts fail (70%+)
- Collects shopping data
- Can be slow on checkout pages
- Amazon features less useful since Amazon limits coupons
- Gold rewards take time to accumulate
Honey Gold Redemption
Honey Gold is the rewards currency. You earn Gold when shopping at participating stores, and can redeem it for gift cards.
Redemption Options
- 1000 Gold = $10 in gift cards
- Gift cards available: Amazon, Target, Walmart, eBay, Sephora, and more
- PayPal cash option sometimes available
- Gold expires after 12 months of inactivity
Tips for Maximizing Savings
- Focus on Honey Gold stores: Prioritize shopping at stores offering Gold rewards for guaranteed value.
- Use price tracking: Add items to your Droplist and wait for price drops.
- Check price history: Before buying, see if the current price is actually good.
- Combine with cashback: Use Honey for coupons AND Rakuten/TopCashback for cashback - they stack.
- Don't rely solely on Honey: Manually search for coupons too - Honey doesn't find everything.
Privacy Considerations
Honey collects shopping data to function - it needs to know what sites you visit and what you buy. PayPal uses this data to improve Honey and for marketing purposes.
If you're privacy-conscious, this may be a concern. However, PayPal is a regulated financial company, so data handling is subject to financial privacy laws.
Data Collection Notice
Honey tracks your browsing on shopping sites, purchase history, and applies this to improve their service and for PayPal's business purposes. Review their privacy policy if this concerns you.
Honey vs Other Coupon Tools
| Feature | Honey | Capital One Shopping | Cently |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-apply coupons | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rewards program | Honey Gold | Credits | No |
| Price tracking | Yes | Yes | No |
| User base | 17M+ | 5M+ | 500K+ |
Final Verdict
Verdict: Highly Recommended
Honey is a no-brainer for online shoppers. It's free, runs automatically, and occasionally saves real money. Don't expect miracles - most coupon attempts fail - but the zero-effort approach and Honey Gold rewards make it worth installing.
Related Reviews
- Rakuten Review - Best cashback portal
- TopCashback Review - Highest rates
- Ibotta Review - Grocery cashback
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