What Is Capital One Shopping and How Does It Work?

Capital One Shopping (formerly Wikibuy) is a web browser extension that automatically searches for coupon codes when shopping online. Unlike coupon sites that require shoppers to apply coupon codes from their website manually, Capital One Shopping searches for all available coupons and applies them at checkout.

Capital One Shopping was founded as Wikibuy in 2014. Capital One Bank acquired it in 2018 and renamed it Capital One Shopping in 2020.

• Easy to install and use.

• Free money for little effort.

• Earn free or reduced-price items.

• Finds more coupons than competing extensions.

• The price comparison feature isn't always accurate and may pull up inaccurate listings.

• When unable to find coupons, it can feel like a waste of time.

How Does the Capital One Shopping Coupon Extension Work?

When you install Capital One Shopping, you'll notice a new icon in the add-ons or extensions area of the browser window. To use the extension, select the icon whenever you're in the cart or checkout page for a shopping site.

The extension may appear automatically, or you might need to select the icon. A window will appear revealing how many coupon codes it found for the product. Select Try Codes to apply the codes. (There is no guarantee the codes will work; many will not.) Valid coupon codes will be applied to your checkout total, with an itemization of how much savings you earned.

Where Is Capital One Shopping Available?

Capital One Shopping is available as an extension on most popular web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.

You can use Capital One Shopping on the most popular shopping sites. If you link a credit or debit card to your account, you can earn Capital One Shopping Credits when you shop at participating brick-and-mortar stores, restaurants, and other businesses. Check out the complete list of participating merchants for more details.

There's also a companion Capital One Shopping app available on iOS and Android devices.

How to Install the Capital One Shopping Browser Extension

Here's how to install the Capital One Shopping browser extension:

1. Go to CapitalOneShopping.com/instant.

2. Select Add to [your browser] - It's Free.

   

3. Select Add to [browser].

   

4. Select add extension or allow if prompted. If you use Safari, you're directed to the App Store. Select Get or Install to add the extension and proceed.

   Follow the instructions to add the extension to your browser. The steps vary depending on which browser you use.

5. Enter your ZIP code, indicate whether or not you have Amazon prime, accept the terms of service and the privacy policy, then select Continue.

   Enter an email address and create a password if you did not do so.

   

6. Select Continue or close the window.

If you prefer to install Capital One Shopping directly from the browser extensions page, select one of the following links:

• Capital One Shopping for Chrome
• Capital One Shopping for Firefox
• Capital One Shopping for Edge
• Capital One Shopping for Safari

How to Uninstall Capital One Shopping

To uninstall Capital One Shopping, open the add-ons or extensions management page in the web browser, navigate to the Capital One Shopping extension, and click Remove or Uninstall. If prompted to confirm the removal, click Yes or Okay.

Is Capital One Shopping Safe?

Browser extensions can track personal data and include malware, so be careful about which ones you install. Capital One Shopping is safe, but some people may be uncomfortable with the amount of information it records and stores.

When you install Capital One Shopping, you permit it to collect private information about you, including browsing and shopping behavior, and transmit this information to Capital One, which is owned by Capital One, a credit card company.

Tips to Keep in Mind When Using the Capital One Shopping Coupon App

To have the best experience with the Capital One Shopping Coupon App, follow these tips:

• Use price tracking to get the best deals possible: Capital One tracks price changes on specific products, including airfare. It's helpful to monitor a price to get the best deal.
• Check out the price comparison feature: When you find a deal on Amazon, use Capital One Shopping to check if the same item is cheaper from another online store.
• Carefully double-check price comparison deals: The price comparison feature is a great way to save money, but make sure the deal remains when you navigate to a new retailer. Check that any alternate listing on a site like eBay is for the same product you initially shopped for on Amazon.
• Take advantage of Capital One Shopping Credits: If you use Capital One Shopping a lot, always select OK on the Capital One Shopping Credits notification when shopping at Walmart, Macy's, or other retailers. Use the credits to score free stuff through Capital One Shopping.
• Use the companion app to see how products look in your home: If you have an iPhone or iPad, the companion Capital One Shopping app uses augmented reality to show how appliances and other items will look.

Capital One Shopping Coupon App Competitors

Capital One Shopping is one of the best coupon apps out there, and it's pretty good at finding valid codes, but there is competition from similar services:

• Honey: This is Capital One Shopping's biggest competitor since both browser extensions perform the same function. In addition to finding and applying coupons, Honey offers cashback from some online stores through its HoneyGold program.
• The Camelizer: The Camelizer works differently than Capital One Shopping or Honey. It's the browser extension for CamelCamelCamel.com, which specializes in tracking prices and finding deals on Amazon.
• RetailMeNot: It's one of the oldest and most established couponing sites for savvy shoppers who prefer to sift through deals manually.
• Dealspotr: This is another couponing site, but it uses a crowd-sourced database of coupons and promises more valid codes than other sites.

What Is the Capital One Shopping iOS App?

Capital One Shopping is known for its browser extension, but there is also a companion app for iOS and Android devices. It doesn't work the same way as the browser extension. Use the app to search for products or scan barcodes while shopping at brick-and-mortar stores. It pulls deals from popular retailers such as Walmart, Target, and eBay to show the best price available.

The downside is that you must provide your credit card details to take advantage of a deal. The app acts as a middleman and places an order for you. If you prefer to order directly from the retailer, use a web browser with the Capital One Shopping extension.

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