Plenty of Black Friday discounts look bigger than they are. Which? tracked 175 home and tech products around Black Friday 2024 and found that 83% were the same price or cheaper at least once in the 6 months around the sales.
These 6 checks help you tell a real saving from a marketing trick, for both physical products and software.
1. Check the price history
Use a price tracker or browser extension to see what the product sold for over the past few months. If the “was” price was rarely charged, the discount is inflated.
2. Compare like for like
For software, make sure the offer is for the same plan, features, number of users and billing term. A discounted plan with fewer features is a different product.
3. Read the renewal terms
Many software deals only cover the first year or first billing period. Write down the renewal price and set a calendar reminder a week before it renews.
4. Check the limits on lifetime deals
“Lifetime” usually means the lifetime of the product. Check usage limits, the number of users and whether future features are included.
5. Buy what you already planned to buy
The best deal is a discount on something you already need. Make a shortlist before the sales start and stick to it.
6. Check the refund policy
Look for a reasonable refund window so you can test the product properly after buying.
Quick checklist
| Check | Done? |
|---|---|
| Price history checked | |
| Same plan and features compared | |
| Renewal price noted | |
| Lifetime deal limits read | |
| On my shortlist | |
| Refund policy confirmed |
We apply the same checks to every offer in our Black Friday 2026 software deals tracker. More in the Black Friday Deals section.
