Honey is a widely popular coupon and deal-finding platform that automatically discovers and applies the best promo codes at checkout when shopping online. Founded in 2012 by Ryan Hudson and George Ruan, Honey was acquired by PayPal in 2019 for $4 billion, making it one of the largest fintech acquisitions at the time. The browser extension and mobile app work across over 30,000 online retailers including Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Target, and thousands more. When users reach checkout, Honey automatically tests available coupon codes and applies the one that saves the most money. Honey Gold is a rewards program where users earn gold points on purchases that can be redeemed for gift cards. The Droplist feature tracks prices on items users want and sends alerts when prices drop. Honey also provides price history charts to help users decide the best time to buy, and curates deals and sales across popular retailers. The platform has saved users billions of dollars collectively.
Coupon Apps
Honey automatically finds and applies the best coupon codes at checkout across 30,000+ retailers, with Honey Gold rewards, Droplist price alerts, and price history charts.
Honey's core proposition is compelling and elegantly simple: it automatically finds and applies coupon codes at checkout, requiring zero effort from the user. When it works, it feels like free money, and the browser extension format means savings happen passively during normal shopping. Coverage across 30,000+ retailers is extensive, and the Honey Gold rewards program adds a cashback layer on top of coupons. The Droplist price tracking feature is a practical addition for patient shoppers. PayPal's backing since the 2019 acquisition provides stability and integration potential. However, Honey's effectiveness varies dramatically by retailer -- many checkout attempts yield 'no working codes found,' which can be anticlimactic. Recent scrutiny has raised questions about whether Honey's coupon interception occasionally overrides better deals that users might find themselves, and whether affiliate commissions create misaligned incentives. As a broader shopping app, Honey is limited to deal-finding rather than offering the full shopping experience of competitors like Rakuten. For passive coupon hunting it is a no-brainer to install, but expectations should be realistic about how often it actually saves money.