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Black Friday Buying Guide

Black Friday Buying Guide

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What started as a chaotic in-store shopping experience the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S. is now a global phenomenon that lasts much longer than one Friday. In 2025, Black Friday is set to be on November 28th, but early Black Friday deals can be found everywhere already. It will soon be followed by Cyber Monday, which starts on December 1st.

Jaw-dropping discounts and massive sales can be found both in-store and online, but not everything that glitters is gold. From fake promotions to outright scams, shopping safely has become just as crucial as finding the best discounts.

Black Friday Buying Guide

Finding the best Black Friday deals is almost an art. It takes research, strategy, and knowledge of price evolution. A 50% discount on an appliance might not mean anything if the store has doubled the ‘original price’ for this season. Following these four steps is key to ensure you go home with a top Black Friday deal:

Best Black Friday deals of 2025

Internet security

Black Friday 60% discount on TunnelBear
TunnelBear logo
Sign up for TunnelBear this Black Friday and enjoy a discount 60% on your subscription. Offer's valid from November 25th to December 31st.
Save 60% on TunnelBear
NordVPN up to 77% Black Friday & Cyber Monday special offer
NordVPN logo
Get up up to 77% off NordVPN + 3 extra months with a 2-year plan. Offer valid from October 15th to December 10th.
Save on NordVPN
NordPass up to 68% Cyber Monday special offer
NordPass Personal logo
Get up to 66% off Individual plan and 3 months extra with a 2-year plan. Go for a Family plan and save 68% instead. Offer available from November 12th to December 10th.
Save Up to 68% on NordPass
60% off Keeper Personal and Family password manager plans
Keeper logo
Enjoy 60% off Keeper's password management solution (Personal or Family plan) this Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Offer's valid from November 24th to December 7th.
Save 60% on Keeper Personal or Family
ESET 50% Black Friday & Cyber Monday special offer
ESET Cybersecurity Awareness Training logo
Save 50% on all ESET Cyber Security Products. Offer's valid from November 21st to December 6th.
/goto/eset-business-security/ Click to show code
CCleaner up to 70% Black Friday & Cyber Monday special discount
CCleaner logo
Save up to 70% on CCleaner Premium, Professional Plus, and Professional. Offer's valid from November 20th to December 7th.
Get Up to 70% Off CCleaner
50% off* + free accessory on Gabb Phone this Black Friday
Gabb Phone logo
Get a 50% discount on a Gabb phone and a free accessory. Offer's valid from November 21st to December 8th. * new lines only, terms and conditions apply, Gabb Watch 3e not included, promo code required
https://bestreviews.net/goto/gabb/ Click to show code

Hosting services

HostArmada VPS servers starting at $3.69 per month
HostArmada logo
Subscribe to a VPS server with HostArmada during Black Friday or Cyber Monday for as little as $3.69 per month. Offer's valid from November 21st to December 13th.
Get VPS Server for $3.69/mo
Up to 80% off UltaHost
UltaHost logo
Get up to 80% off UltaHost for a limited time. All plans are on discount this Black Friday.
Get Up to 80% Off UltaHost

Learning

55% off Udacity subscriptions during Black Friday
Udacity logo
Save 55% on Udacity during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Offer's valid from November 20th to December 5th.
/goto/udacity/ Click to show code
Up to 75% Mondly Black Friday special deal
Mondly logo
Get 75% off Mondly Lifetime Access, 70% off 1-Year Membership, or 10% 1-Month Membership this Black Friday. Offers are valid from November 19th to December 7th.
Save Up to 75% on Mondly
Up to 50% discount on MasterClass for limited time
MasterClass logo
Enjoy a discount of up to 50% on MasterClass for a limited time. Offer's valid from November 20th to January 8th.
Save Up to 50% on MasterClass

Other software

CloudTalk Black Friday exclusive 50% off the first month
CloudTalk logo
Subscribe to CloudTalk and save 50% on your first month of use. Offer's valid from November 11th to December 20th.
Save 50% on CloudTalk
70% off QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online logo
Get QuickBooks Online for 70% off for 3 months. Offer's valid from November 13th to December 8th.
Get 70% Off QuickBooks Online
70% off QuickBooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll logo
Get QuickBooks Payroll for 70% off for 3 months. Offer's valid from November 13th to December 8th.
Get 70% Off QuickBooks Payroll
6 months of free payroll on Homebase Payroll or Plus
Homebase logo
Get 6 months of free payroll this Black Friday by subscribing to Homebase Payroll or Homebase Plus. Offer's valid from November 31st to January 31st.
Enjoy 6 Months of Free Payroll

Other services

Up to 86% off Frontpoint security systems
Frontpoint Security logo
Subscribe to Frontpoint Security this holiday season and save 86%. Systems start at $59. Offer's valid from November 7th to December 4th.
Get Frontpoint Security With an 86% Discount

How to find the best Black Friday deals

1

Research and compare prices

Start by listing the items you plan to get this Black Friday – focus is key to preventing overspending and buying something you don’t want. Then, you can use popular price comparison tools to check on price trends and compare different retailers. These allow you to ensure you’re getting the best Black Friday deal.

2

Use price trackers and alerts

The constant monitoring can be part of the fun of shopping on Black Friday. But price trackers and alerts are great for those who don’t want to spend their time checking prices all the time. Many online retailers and apps allow you to set alerts for when items go on sale – perfect to know about any early Black Friday deals.

3

Watch out for unrealistic deals

If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Avoid third-party sellers offering discounts that look suspiciously steep. They might be a scam or send you counterfeit goods.

Why shop online on Black Friday 2025?

Most people picture Black Friday as a chaotic and dangerous shopping experience where people fight for the last TV on sale. Although this might have been true, Black Friday is generally calmer nowadays. Still, shopping online on Black Friday provides several benefits and might be the best option for you:

  • Convenience: Shopping online removes the hassle of going into overcrowded stores, waiting in long lines, and missing out on items due to limited stock. You can just browse and shop from the comfort of your home.
  • Variety: It’s easier to go through several stores online. Plus, ecommerce stores usually offer a wider array of products than brick-and-mortar businesses – providing a higher variety of items for you to choose from. It’s also more likely that you don’t miss any items while browsing an online list than going through disorganized shelves in overcrowded stores.
  • Early access and better discounts: Many retailers provide early Black Friday deals weeks before the event. From online-only discounts to flash sales and promo codes, there are more ways to get a great discount online than in the store.

Although you might get lucky by going to brick-and-mortar stores and getting exclusive stock clearance deals that are better than you could find online, staying home and getting your Black Friday deals from the comfort of your house will give you the best overall shopping experience.

Staying safe while shopping on Black Friday

Shopping online does come with one major disadvantage if you’re not careful: lack of security. From scamming websites to hackers, there are plenty of things to consider when getting the best Black Friday deals online. But fear not – you’ll have a secure shopping experience by taking the following precautions:

Shop on trusted websites 🌐

Stick with well-known retailers and always double-check the URL to ensure the website’s authenticity and that it’s secured by HTTPS.

Avoid public Wi-Fi 🛜

Hackers are able to intercept public Wi-Fi connections. So, it’s essential to avoid inserting any sensitive data online while connected to these unsecured networks, including credit card data. Always go for a secure, private network, but if you do need to connect to public Wi-Fi, use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt and protect your data.

Use secure payment methods 💳

Opt for secure payment methods like a credit card or PayPal, which provide better fraud protection than debit cards or wire transfers.

Look out for phishing scams 🪝

Beware of unsolicited emails or pop-ups advertising Black Friday discounts. Always verify the email addresses even if the name seems legitimate. Better still, always validate offers directly on retailer websites.

You should also stick to newsletters from official retailers to get information about their early Black Friday deals.

Verify discounts 🏷️

Always confirm that the discount is legitimate by comparing prices and checking the item’s price history. Companies sometimes run fake sales by inflating the ‘original price’ to make the discount appear steeper.

Check return policies 🔄

Black Friday can lead to many brainless purchases that you may regret later. Check the retailer’s return and refund policies before buying – especially for big-ticket items like electronics or appliances.

A smooth and worry-free Black Friday experience

As always, Black Friday 2025 promises opportunities to save big – not only on November 28th but also in the weeks before and after it. By planning ahead and focusing on safe shopping practices, you can maximize your discounts while avoiding scams and hackers.

Make sure to bookmark this guide – we’ll be updating it throughout November and the week of Cyber Monday with the best Black Friday deals for all types of software. Happy shopping!

Black Friday 2025 FAQ

Which day is Black Friday 2025?

Black Friday 2025 is on November 28th (the day after Thanksgiving).

How long does Black Friday last?

While the event traditionally lasts one day, many retailers have extended their sales from the beginning of November into Cyber Monday on December 1st, 2025.

Is it worth waiting for Black Friday?

Yes, it’s worth waiting for Black Friday! With proper planning and precaution, Black Friday provides excellent opportunities for significant savings.

Is it better to buy before or after Black Friday?

It’s better to shop on Black Friday and after. While early deals offer convenience, many of the deepest discounts appear on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

What should you get for Black Friday?

For Black Friday, you should get electronics, fashion, and home appliances, as these tend to have the biggest discounts.

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