No results found
We couldn't find anything using that term, please try searching for something else.
2024-11-13 Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner, and the race for the best deals has begun. But there’s a trick many shoppers overlook—a way
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner, and the race for the best deals has begun. But there’s a trick many shoppers overlook—a way to find even better prices than what’s shown on your screen. Sure, coupon codes or flash sales can help, but there’s something even more powerful that gives you access to exclusive regional deals, hidden discounts, and lower prices based on location. The secret? A VPN download.
You might already be used to using a VPN for privacy or secure browsing, but it can also be your best tool for shopping. By changing your virtual location, you can find the best deals on everything from tech gadgets to flights, all while avoiding dynamic pricing that inflates costs based on where you’re browsing from.
In this guide, we’ll unpack how a VPN can help you level up your shopping strategy, save more on your purchases, and ensure you don’t miss out on hidden offers and price variations.
Save even more this holiday season by using ExpressVPN to access region-exclusive discounts and prevent dynamic pricing. Here’s how to get started:
Get ExpressVPN
Jump to…
1 . save on online shopping
2. Access subscription deals and gaming content at lower costs
3. Avoid dynamic pricing
4 . save on travel booking
5 . use a browser extension for extra saving
6 . stay safe from scam
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are peak times for scoring deals on everything from gadgets to fashion. But here’s the catch: the price you see isn’t necessarily the best out there. Retailers adjust prices based on browsing location, meaning someone shopping from another country could get a lower price on the same item. A VPN helps you shop like a local, making hidden regional discounts visible so you can save more.
If you’re hunting for tech, you’ll find that gadgets are priced differently depending on the country you’re browsing from. Local demand, import taxes, and regional sales tactics all contribute to these differences. For instance, a gaming console could be hundreds cheaper in one region compared to another. A VPN lets you browse as though you’re in a different country, revealing the best prices on the electronics you’re eyeing.
Retailers often use regional pricing to meet local demand or stay competitive. Countries with high competition or low demand for tech might have lower prices to attract buyers, making location-switching valuable during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Try clearing cookies after switching server locations for the freshest prices—this can sometimes remove any localized markups.
Whether you’re eyeing a designer handbag or the latest fashion from a top brand, where you shop can make a big difference in price. Fashion retailers often set prices by region, with some offering exclusive discounts that are only visible to local shoppers. So, while that bag might be a bargain in France, it could still be full price in the U.S. or elsewhere. With a VPN, you can “shop locally” from afar, connecting to servers in regions where the best sales are happening.
Prices on online stores often appear in your local currency, but the listed price may not always be the best deal. Exchange rates can work in your favor if you know how to play them right. With a VPN, you can shop from the product’s origin country, letting you pay in the local currency, which could be cheaper when accounting for favorable exchange rates.
Always factor in potential currency conversion fees. Some payment methods might charge for paying in a foreign currency, so make sure the savings from currency differences aren’t canceled out by these added costs.
Beyond shopping, VPNs can also unlock savings on digital services, software subscriptions, and even games that are often priced differently depending on where you’re browsing from. This can mean lower prices on everything from cloud storage and productivity tools to your favorite titles, helping you score exclusive deals only available in certain countries.
During Black Friday and Cyber Monday, digital services frequently offer special discounts, but you may see different rates depending on your location. Connecting to VPN servers in different regions allows you to find the best deals for the same subscription. For example, a popular software package priced at 50 USD in the U.S. could be 35 USD in Canada for Black Friday. Changing your virtual location could reveal these hidden discounts, helping you get more value from your subscriptions.
Digital service providers often adjust prices based on the market’s buying power, competition, or demand. Regions with high demand for online services or lower purchasing power may see lower prices to encourage sign-ups. By experimenting with server locations, you can spot these opportunities and maximize your savings.
Game prices, and even in-game currency, vary by region. In some cases, a game’s price could be half as much in another country. This price difference usually depends on local demand, regional competition, and platform pricing strategies, making a VPN especially handy for gamers on Black Friday.
When accessing region-specific deals for games or streaming, log out of any accounts tied to your usual location before connecting to a VPN. This ensures you see the prices and content available in the region you’re connecting from, avoiding any mix-up with your regular account settings.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday aren’t just busy for shoppers—retailers are also working overtime to maximize sales. One tactic that becomes especially common during holiday sales is dynamic pricing. This strategy adjusts prices based on factors like location, browsing history, and even repeated visits to the same page. Ever noticed the price of a TV creeping up each time you check back? That’s dynamic pricing at work. A VPN gives you a clean slate by masking your browsing data, helping you dodge price hikes and get closer to the real deal.
Dynamic pricing usually activates when retailers see repeated searches or track your interest in a product. Here’s where a VPN becomes a smart shopping tool. Switching your virtual location not only refreshes your search but also helps prevent prices from creeping up based on previous views.
Price spikes can be more common during peak hours, especially for in-demand items. Shopping early on Black Friday or Cyber Monday—before traffic surges—often reveals better deals. With a VPN, you can also browse as if it’s “off-hours” in another time zone, possibly catching lower prices while your local market is still buzzing.
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday rolling around, travel companies are ready with discounts—but here’s the catch. Many travel sites adjust prices based on where you’re browsing from, so what you pay could depend on location. A VPN can help you test different regions to reveal better prices, unique perks, and rates that might not be visible otherwise.
Flights are notorious for price variations based on demand, time of day, and—yes—location. Airlines and booking platforms often set different rates for customers browsing from certain regions, and with Black Friday deals in full swing, a little server switching can make a big difference.
Hotels often use “location-based” pricing to make rooms more attractive for locals or travelers from nearby areas. With a VPN, you can access hidden deals or perks tied to your browsing location, such as free upgrades or complimentary breakfasts.
Car rental rates can differ based on booking location, and this can even impact things like insurance coverage. With a VPN, you can compare rates across regions and potentially save on Black Friday car rentals.
Many loyalty programs, like those from airlines or credit cards, give unique perks based on the country of enrollment. With a VPN, you can sign up or access accounts in regions where these programs offer extra rewards, double points, or exclusive holiday bonuses. For instance, U.K.-based programs might offer double points for Black Friday bookings.
Using a VPN to access regional discounts can reveal hidden savings, especially during Black Friday. But to take it a step further, pairing your VPN with smart browser extensions—like coupon and cashback tools—lets you tap into deals tailored to each market and maximize savings that may otherwise stay hidden.
With the right combo of VPN and browser extensions, you can unlock country-specific promo codes, increased cashback rates, and offers that wouldn’t appear if you were browsing locally. Here are some tools and tips to try.
Pairing a VPN with price-tracking extensions like Keepa and CamelCamelCamel can help you uncover the true best price, tracking how costs change across different regions and timing purchases for the lowest rates.
Many Black Friday “deals” change by the hour. Pair a VPN with tools like Slickdeals and Honey’s Droplist to set alerts that notify you of price drops in different regions. By checking these across VPN locations, you’ll know exactly when to grab an item at its lowest price, even as discounts shift throughout the day.
When discounts pop up everywhere, so do the risks. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are peak times for online scams, and cybercriminals know exactly how to take advantage of the shopping frenzy. A VPN like ExpressVPN does more than just keep your data private—it’s your first line of defense against the pitfalls of high-traffic shopping days. Here’s how to stay smart and secure while hunting for deals:
Out grabbing coffee and using public Wi-Fi to check out deals? Public networks are notoriously insecure and can expose your device to hackers. By connecting to a VPN like ExpressVPN, you encrypt your data and make it nearly impossible for hackers on the same network to see sensitive information like your credit card details or login credentials. The VPN acts like a secure tunnel for your data, letting you browse and shop privately, even in crowded places.
If you’re browsing on mobile, consider using your data network instead of public Wi-Fi when shopping. But if public Wi-Fi is your only option, make sure your VPN is connected before logging into any shopping accounts or entering payment details.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday email blasts can be tempting, with subject lines offering “Exclusive deals just for you!” But these can often be phishing scams designed to lure you into clicking links that compromise your personal information. A VPN adds a layer of anonymity, making it harder for scammers to target you specifically with tailored attacks. However, vigilance is key—always go directly to trusted sites rather than clicking through promotional emails or pop-ups.
Double-check URLs carefully if you’re tempted by a link. Scammers often create addresses that look similar to major retailers, but subtle differences reveal fakes. Stick to retailer apps or bookmarked sites to avoid wandering into phishing traps.
Many retailers save your information—billing addresses, saved cards, and wish lists—to make shopping easier. But during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, these accounts are more vulnerable to hacking attempts. Protecting your login credentials with a VPN helps prevent hackers from seeing your IP address, making it more challenging for them to compromise your account. And, if your password is stored in a cloud-based password manager, a VPN encrypts that connection too, making it even safer.
If you have n’t update your password in a while , now ’s a good time . use a mix of letter , number , and symbol , and make it unique to each account . Two – factor authentication is add can also add an extra shield if a cybercriminal does try to log in .
Once you ’ve made your purchase , it is ’s ’s a good idea to keep an eye on your account for any unexpected activity , especially if you ’re shop with multiple retailer . use a VPN to check your online banking or credit card statement , as it shield your datum while you monitor transaction and account balance . This is is is especially important if you ’re shop across several device , as it help to prevent unauthorized access while give you peace of mind .
Check your purchase history for any unexplained charges or unusual orders. With a VPN, you can safely monitor your accounts without revealing browsing data, even if you’re on shared networks or moving between devices.