You’re at checkout, you see that little box that says “Enter promo code,” and your deal-hunting brain kicks in. So what do you do? You open a new tab and type something like “store name + promo code.” Suddenly, you’re wading through a dozen coupon sites that all claim to have the best deal.

Here’s the thing: not all promo code sites are created equal. Some are fast, clean, and helpful. Others are stuffed with expired codes, pop-up ads, and more frustration than savings. But if you know which ones are actually worth your clicks, you can save time—and cash.

So let’s put the top promo code sites head-to-head and see which one comes out on top.

The Contenders

For this showdown, we’re comparing the big three most people end up using (knowingly or not):

• RetailMeNot
• Honey (browser extension with a promo code page)
• CouponFollow

We’re judging based on a few key things:

• Accuracy (Do the codes actually work?)
• Freshness (How recently were they updated?)
• Usability (Is it easy to find what you need?)
• Extras (Like cash back, price tracking, or alerts)

RetailMeNot

RetailMeNot is kind of the OG in the coupon world. It’s been around forever, covers thousands of stores, and gets millions of visits every month.

What it does well:

• Tons of codes for big-name retailers
• “Verified” badge for working coupons
• Offers cash back on some purchases
• Includes in-store deals and printable offers

What’s not great:

• Can be overloaded with expired codes
• Pop-ups and cluttered layout can feel overwhelming
• You might have to try 3–5 codes before one actually works

RetailMeNot is solid if you’re shopping at a major retailer and don’t mind doing a little trial and error. Just don’t expect every deal to be golden.

Honey (via the Browser Extension)

You probably know Honey as a Chrome extension that applies coupons at checkout automatically. But it also has a web-based code directory where you can search deals manually.

What it does well:

• Auto-applies coupons for you—no copy/paste
• User ratings on each code’s success rate
• Shows real-time stats like “used 5 minutes ago”
• Offers “Honey Gold” loyalty points you can redeem for gift cards

What’s not great:

• Limited to online stores—no in-store coupons
• Doesn’t show as many alternate codes as dedicated coupon sites
• Some codes require you to be logged into a Honey account

Honey shines if you’re a hands-off shopper. Just install it, and let it do the work. If you prefer to browse manually, the website version is fine—but it doesn’t go quite as deep as some competitors.

CouponFollow

CouponFollow is the underdog with a surprisingly clean interface and high accuracy rate. It pulls coupons from a mix of community input and direct partnerships with stores.

What it does well:

• “Success rate” percentage next to each code
• Sorts codes by most recently verified
• Minimal ads and clutter
• Offers Cently browser extension that applies codes for you

What’s not great:

• Smaller database than giants like RetailMeNot
• May not always have the most obscure brand promos
• Interface is fast but feels a bit plain

CouponFollow is great if you want speed and simplicity. It cuts through the fluff and gives you codes that work, fast.

Real-World Code Testing

To keep things fair, we picked three popular stores and ran the same searches on all three platforms.

Example 1: Old Navy

• RetailMeNot: 10 codes, only 2 worked
• Honey: 6 auto-tested, best was 20% off
• CouponFollow: 5 codes, one at 25% off (verified that day)

Winner: CouponFollow—less quantity, better quality

Example 2: Sephora

• RetailMeNot: Tons of codes, most tied to expired promos
• Honey: Applied 3 codes, found a $10 off $50 deal
• CouponFollow: 2 codes, one gave a free deluxe sample kit

Winner: Honey—automated wins here

Example 3: Macy’s

• RetailMeNot: Several tiered codes, one still valid
• Honey: Found one code, didn’t apply automatically
• CouponFollow: Single code with 15% off, worked

Winner: RetailMeNot—more variety, but took more digging

Bonus Round: Features Beyond Coupons

If you’re a serious deal hunter, you want more than just codes. Here’s what each site offers beyond the basics:

• RetailMeNot: Cash-back offers, in-store deals, browser extension
• Honey: Price tracking, drop alerts, loyalty rewards
• CouponFollow: Clean interface, accurate codes, lightweight extension

If you want the full shopping assistant experience, Honey is hard to beat. If you want fast, working codes with no fuss, CouponFollow is a dark horse worth bookmarking.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Promo Code Sites

• Always try more than one site—codes vary between platforms
• Sort by “Verified” or “Most Recent” if possible
• Combine promo codes with store loyalty rewards or credit card perks
• Double-check if the code works for sale items or just full-price
• If you’re shopping big, test codes before adding extra items to cart

Also, don’t forget that some of the best promo codes come straight from email lists. Signing up for brand newsletters is annoying, yeah, but it’s where many first-time and loyalty codes live.

When it comes to promo codes, the fastest route isn’t always the best one. RetailMeNot gives you quantity, Honey gives you automation, and CouponFollow gives you no-nonsense, working codes. The right one for you depends on how you like to shop.

If you want to cover all your bases, try keeping Honey installed for automated savings, then double-check RetailMeNot or CouponFollow when you’re making bigger purchases or shopping somewhere new.

And remember—just because there’s a code box at checkout doesn’t mean you should leave it empty. A few clicks could be the difference between full price and a sweet little win.