When basically everything is on sale for Cyber Monday, where do you start? This helpful guide, of course! (Amazon)
Every seasoned deal-hunter knows Black Friday is just the warm-up for the main event: Cyber Monday. Amazon, Walmart, Target, Wayfair and all the other big names — are releasing new deals constantly, and we’ve been dutifully reporting on the ones worth your cash.
With so many deals on top brands, we can say with certainty that the 2024 holiday shopping season is set to be bigger than ever before. No need to bookmark everything on your and your family’s wishlists — you can count on us to keep tabs on the biggest markdowns for you. We'll be right here as you start planning your holiday shopping strategy and begin picking out the perfect gifts and treat-yo-self essentials, helping you devise the ideal approach for maximizing your savings and even having a little fun, too, along the way.
So, without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about Cyber Monday, and how to make the most of the biggest shopping weekend of the year. We’re tracking sales at all major retailers and all your favorite brands to bring you the best deals live right now. Here are all our top picks.
Selena Gomez loves this brand so much, she's even done collaborations with Our Place — and the brand's bestseller, by far, is the Always Pan. Not only is it a treat to look at, but it serves as 10 pieces of cookware in one. It can braise, sear, steam, strain, sauté, fry, boil, bake, serve and store, and it even comes with a beechwood spatula and steamer basket/colander. It rarely goes on sale for this cheap, so grab it while you can.
To experience Bridgerton or The Bear in their full glory, you need top-notch 4K resolution — and this device delivers on any compatible screen. It makes browsing over 300,000 free movies and TV episodes practically effortless, and right now, it's marked down to its lowest price ever.
Though it was released a couple of years ago, this MacBook Air is just as lightweight as its newer cousins and doesn't skimp on power thanks to its M2 chip. This is the lowest price this Mac has ever been and one of the best Prime Day deals we've seen this year.
"Eighteen hours of battery life is not just marketing. The speed of the M2 is snappy and can handle much more than I thought it would," raved one shopper. "The new screen is gorgeous. Trackpad is the best on the market bar none."
Need to keep track of your wallet? A pet? Luggage? Car keys? This set of four gives you more bang for your buck than buying AirTags individually (you'll pay $18 a pop versus $24). Score them now while they're priced within a couple bucks of their all-time low. You don't know you need these until you get them — and then you'll wonder how you ever managed without them.
This popular two-piece set has an army of fans — over 11,000 of them! The carry-on and medium checked bags are both lightweight and easy to move and lift. You'll also love the sleek ribbed design. This is the lowest price we've spotted on this set all year.
Cyber Monday officially falls on Dec. 2 this year, but, as we've seen in previous years, retailers will likely start to shift to Cyber Monday deals the day after Black Friday — if not earlier.
It's no longer the case that these events vary drastically. It used to be that Black Friday focused mostly on brick-and-mortar retailers (read: elbowing your fellow shoppers for that last 50%-off TV), while Cyber Monday was a chance to shop exclusive online deals. But — much like the entire month has morphed into Black November — there's little distinction between the two days.
Sure, you may find a touch of parity here and there with retailers offering flash deals or a few items more on each day, for the most part, you'll likely see the same deals throughout the entire weekend.
Do your research: Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com, advises shoppers to make a list of items that they're interested in buying, then note their current prices. That way, you'll be able to spot a great Cyber Monday deal as soon as you see it. Adds Kristin McGrath, shopping expert with RetailMeNot: "The most important thing is to know exactly what you want. What specs you want in a TV or laptop and which headphones you want." According to Kristen Gall, retail and shopping expert for Rakuten, "Consumers shouldn't assume that just because a product is discounted that it's the best price out there. I recommend checking for the product on one to two other retailers to compare the regular price with a potential 'sale' price to ensure you're actually getting the best deal."
Stay on top of the ads: Pay attention as Cyber Monday ads come out, Ramhold advises. "It may be helpful to follow your favorite retailers on social media and sign up for their email newsletters as well, since they may announce the ad release that way as well as other important details, like when the sales will begin." Gall calls these ads "your Black Friday road map for deals."
Check out holiday price guarantees: Have a few favorite retailers? "Check to see if they're offering any kind of price match or guarantee for Cyber Monday," Ramhold says. The idea is that you'll know whether you can request that your preferred retailer match a competitor's price during a Cyber Monday event, or if you'll have to shop the competitor instead. "And if there's a price guarantee in place, it's good to know that if you buy something early on and it later drops in price, you'll be able to receive a price adjustment for the difference," Ramhold adds.
Try to get cash back: "In addition to doing a price comparison, you can ensure you are getting the absolute best price by stacking deals to maximize savings," Gall says. "Cash-back services like Rakuten allow you to earn cash back on top of sale prices. For extra savings, plan to apply promo codes or digital coupons, and use a rewards credit card to extra earn points or cash back."
Gall believes that retailers' overstock categories are the biggest predictor of Cyber Monday gold. That includes "home goods, gardening and furniture that they may have not gotten rid of during Labor Day weekend sales," she says. But, she also notes that shopping weekend will also focus on "bigger-ticket items, such as tech, including laptops, TVs and more."
Apple products: Look out for great deals on AirPods, especially AirPods Pro, which are "still immensely popular, and retailers like Walmart, Amazon, Target and Best Buy will likely offer the lowest price of the year," says McGrath.
Kitchen appliances: KitchenAid mixers are the products to watch, McGrath says. Cyber Monday deals knock the price down enough that these expensive classics are more affordable for many shoppers. Last year, we saw KitchenAid stand mixers sell out quickly, so be ready to jump on a good deal if you see it.
Laptops: Ramhold calls these "one of the quintessential" Cyber Monday items.
Smartphones: Major retailers will offer the latest Android smartphones and iPhones bundled with gift cards worth hundreds, "which can be used on later purchases and boost the value of these deals," Ramhold predicts.
Toys: Historically, the best toy sales happen in December, Ramhold says, but Cyber Monday "toy deals should be pretty big." Expect up to 85% off at major stores, she says.
TVs: McGrath recommends studying major retailers' Cyber Monday ads so you can pounce on the TV you want before it's gone. "Stock sells out quickly on the best-priced sets, and there are always a few headline-making deals that get a ton of hype and sell out in minutes," she says. "Zero in on the 4K TV you want, have some backups and get ready to shop as soon as the Cyber Monday sale kicks off."
With some items, you'll seem a good deal of price matching across retailers during Cyber Monday. But, of course, certain retailers specialize in certain kinds of products.
"Check out Amazon, Walmart, Target and Best Buy for tech. Wayfair and Overstock always offer incredible home goods deals," McGrath advises. "Gap, Old Navy and Target lead the pack when it comes to clothing deals. Walmart is always strong on Cyber Monday in the toy department. Home Depot and Lowe's don't do as splashy sales as some of the big-box contenders, but they have great values on Cyber Monday for big-ticket home items, smart home devices, home security bundles, grills, tool sets, power tools and even ladders. They're also some of the best sources of appliance package deals. And do not forget about Kohl's, which often offers extra Kohl's Cash with purchase. Oftentimes, they'll have the same price as a competitor on things like small appliances and smartwatches, but also throw in some Kohl's Cash to make the deal sweeter."
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.