If you’re already planning to shop online this year, listen up because I want to help you save more money while doing it! These Amazon hacks are simple, surprising, and super effective—use them all!
When it comes to online shopping, few do it better than Amazon. They’re the king of convenience, but did you know there are many secret hacks hidden in plain sight? These tips will help you save money while shopping on Amazon.
I’m sharing 18 secret Amazon hacks that will help you keep more cash in your pocket. Hack #10 is a surefire way to earn Amazon gift cards easily (and who doesn’t love free Amazon money?).
Secret Amazon Hacks That Will Save You Money
Browse through this list and choose your favorite hacks. From shopping in Amazon Warehouse to trading in old electronics for cash, these tips are packed with ways to save!
1. Snag a Free Prime Membership Extension
Did you know Amazon Prime has a delivery window guarantee? If you place an order with Amazon Prime and it takes longer than the promised two days, you can contact customer service, and they’ll credit your account $10 or extend your Prime membership by an extra month.
Amazon values your loyalty as a customer, so keep track of your delivery times. It could pay off when your packages arrive late!
You can also sign up for a FREE 30-Day Amazon Prime Trial if you’re new to Prime.
2. Shop Amazon Outlet
Did you know that Amazon has an outlet store? Shopping through Amazon Outlet can save you a lot of money by offering overstocked and clearance items across various categories.
You can browse everything from electronics and art supplies to toys, baby items, and beauty products. These deals often save you anywhere from 30% to 80%! It’s one of the best-kept Amazon secrets for bargain hunters.
3. Get 3-5% Cashback Through Ibotta
I’m a big fan of Ibotta—it’s such an easy app to use, and the rewards are generous.
All you need to do is scan your receipt or shop through the app, and you’ll start earning cashback, which you can then redeem for Amazon gift cards. Occasionally, they have exclusive offers when you shop through their Amazon link, allowing you to earn even more cashback.
Some past offers have included:
- Free trials of Kindle Unlimited or Audible
- 3-5% cashback on Amazon electronics (like Ring doorbells)
- Free Amazon Music Unlimited subscription
4. Use Amazon Coupons
Amazon has coupons available right on their product pages. All you have to do is click the box that says “save an extra $3 with this coupon.” It’s super easy, and I always make sure to check for them when I’m shopping!
They also have a dedicated page where you can browse all current coupons. You can filter by the most popular or search by category, and best of all, no scissors are required to clip these coupons.
5. Earn Credit for No-Rush Shipping
If you’re not in a hurry to receive your order, select FREE no-rush shipping at checkout instead of the free 2-day shipping. Amazon will reward you with credits or discounts for digital products like movies.
My family loves saving up these digital credits for movie nights. We use them to rent movies that aren’t on Netflix or Hulu—completely free!
6. Use the Honey Extension
The Honey browser extension is another great way to save money on Amazon. This Chrome extension automatically searches the web for the best discounts and coupons while you shop.
It’s easy to use and takes the hassle out of searching for coupon codes yourself—Honey does all the work!
7. Earn Free Amazon Gift Cards
If you’re a regular Amazon shopper, signing up for Fetch Rewards is a must. With Fetch, simply scan your receipts to earn points, which can be redeemed for gift cards—including Amazon gift cards.
I scan every grocery receipt I come across, and the points add up faster than you’d think!
8. Buy Lightning Deals
Shopping lightning deals is always exciting because you never know what amazing bargains you’ll find. These limited-time deals offer a specific quantity of products at a lower price, and once they’re sold out, they’re gone.
During the holidays, you’ll see these under Holiday Dash Deals, and you might spot a countdown timer showing how much time is left on the offer. If the deal sells out, you can join the waiting list to be notified if more items become available at the discounted price.
9. Use Custom Search Parameters
Here’s a fun hack—by adding a few characters to the end of the Amazon URL, you can search for items on sale in a specific category.
To view products with 50-80% off, just:
- Go to Amazon.com
- Select the category you want to search.
- Copy this string:
&pct-off=50-80 - Paste it at the end of the URL for the category page you’re browsing.
- Hit enter, and the page will refresh to show items currently on sale.
If you want to browse items that are 25% off, simply replace the “50-80” with “25.” It’s that easy!
10. Amazon Trade-Ins
A great way to save money on Amazon is by trading in your old devices for Amazon gift cards.
Amazon’s trade-in program accepts thousands of eligible items. If you have a qualifying product, you can send it to Amazon and receive a gift card in return. It’s an easy way to get some extra value out of your old electronics.
11. Buy Discounted Amazon Gift Cards
Here’s a hack that can save you money—buy discounted Amazon gift cards and use them for your purchases. By stacking these gift cards with other Amazon discounts, you can save even more.
You can purchase discounted Amazon gift cards through platforms like Raise, where cards are sometimes available at up to 30% off. Keep an eye out for deals.
Another option is Gift Card Granny, which not only sells gift cards but also offers cash-back rewards. Buy a gift card for a friend (or yourself) and earn money back instantly.
12. Subscribe & Save
Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program allows you to save on products you regularly purchase, such as household items like laundry detergent. The subscription comes with free shipping, and if you subscribe to five or more items and schedule a single auto-delivery to one address, you’ll save 15% on your total order.
For example, my family uses Subscribe & Save to get air filters delivered regularly, so we never forget to replace them. It’s a great way to save both time and money on the essentials.
13. Buy Used from Resellers
If you’re a Prime member, you might automatically filter items by Prime-eligible shipping. But if you take the time to browse the “other ways to buy” section, you may find some like-new items at a lower price!
For instance, I found an automatic litter box for $99.95 with Prime shipping. However, under “more ways to buy,” I discovered an unused version with a damaged box for just $74.96 (originally priced at $149.99). It’s definitely worth a look.
14. Choose Less Popular Colors or Options
One way to save on Amazon is by choosing less popular colors or variations of products. When certain colors or patterns aren’t selling as fast, prices are often reduced to clear inventory.
For example, my family bought a hammock at a significant discount simply because it was a less popular pattern. The quality was exactly the same!
15. Gold Box Deals
Check out Amazon’s Gold Box Deals for more limited-time offers across all categories. These deals rotate frequently, so it’s worth checking here first when shopping for gifts or household items.
16. Amazon Gift Card Exchange
If you have unused gift cards, you can exchange them for Amazon credit through CardCash. Just enter the gift card details (the store and the amount), and CardCash will give you an offer to trade it for Amazon cash.
Don’t toss out those half-used gift cards—turn them into Amazon cash instead!
17. Get a $5 Amazon Credit with Amazon Cash
Amazon is offering a FREE $5 credit when you load $25 onto your Amazon balance. After loading your money, the $5 credit will automatically appear at checkout. Essentially, you’re just adding your cash to your Amazon balance.
Here’s how to get your free $5:
- Head to amazon.com/cash and log in to your account to receive a unique barcode.
- Visit a participating store and ask the cashier to scan your barcode or give them your mobile number. Then, pay the amount you want to add to your Amazon balance.
- Shop on Amazon, and when you’re ready to check out, the $5 credit will be applied.
This is a great way to save a little extra while shopping, especially when you’re already headed to participating stores like CVS or Walgreens.
18. Amazon Prime Student Discounts
Amazon offers an excellent program for students called Amazon Prime Student, packed with perks and discounts specifically for college students.
Here are some of the benefits:
- A 6-month free trial of Prime
- 50% off Prime membership after the trial period
- Amazon Music Unlimited for just $0.99/month
Our family took advantage of Amazon Prime Student when my husband was working on his master’s degree, and we loved the discounts and perks during that time. It’s definitely one of my favorite Amazon hacks!
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