When it comes to saving money when you shop online, there are numerous ways to get the job done. You can click through a cash back shopping portal or you can use a top rewards credit card that gives you cash back on everything you buy. But you can also search the web for coupon codes that can give you further discounts, free shipping or both.

Unfortunately, finding the right promo code takes some work. There are dozens of sites promising the best and most up-to-date discount codes, yet many of them wind up being expired or unreliable.

The PayPal Honey browser extension promises to take the frustration out of searching for coupon codes by automatically finding the best codes on your behalf regardless of where you shop. Below, we’ll cover how this extension works, the steps you can take to maximize its benefits and whether all that effort is worth it.

What is Honey?

PayPal Honey, formerly known as Honey, is a free browser extension that takes the work out of finding coupon codes. Once you download the extension to your computer, your job is basically done. You’ll never have to search the web for coupon codes again, but you’ll still get the best discounts and save money on everything you buy.

Currently, Honey works with more than 30,000 merchants, and it promises an average discount of 17.9 percent. According to Honey, users score an average annual savings of $126, and since the service is free, there’s no investment required.

Honey is available on both Mac and Windows, and it works with Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera and Edge. Honey also offers a mobile app for both iOS and Android.

How does Honey work?

How to use the Honey extension

The best part about Honey is the fact that you download the extension once and enjoy savings from that point forward. Since Honey searches for discount codes and automatically adds them to your cart when you shop, using the extension to save money is hardly a chore.

  1. Sign up for Honey on the Honey website and download the Honey extension to your computer.
  2. Start shopping. Honey will find the best coupon codes for the retailer you’re shopping with.
  3. A pop-up will then appear asking you to either “Apply Coupons” or informing you that it didn’t find any coupons for that site.
  4. If eligible, click “Apply Coupons” and your coupons will automatically be added to your cart.

Search for deals on Honey

Alternatively, you also have the option to explore the Honey website to look for the best deals and offers available. All you have to do is head to www.JoinHoney.com/explore to find out about the latest trends, coupon codes, cash back offers and top shopping deals. From there, you can search for stores you shop with frequently or look for specific items.

How to maximize Honey’s benefits

There are several ways you can maximize Honey’s benefits:

Shop on Amazon

Honey can help you find better prices on products you buy, and it works to track prices and price history on your behalf. Honey also searches for coupons you can use on Amazon.com, which can lead to even more savings. Honey’s Amazon Price Comparison, Price History and Droplist tools are currently available for all U.S. users.

Download Honey on your phone

If you shop often on your phone, you should download the Honey mobile app. This app works just like the regular Honey browser extension, and it’s available for iOS and Android devices.

Earn PayPal Rewards points

Finally, make sure to utilize the PayPal Rewards program — especially since it’s free. Doing so can help you earn points each time you shop with eligible retailers using the Honey extension, helping you to earn both PayPal Rewards points and Honey offers. Note that this promotion is only available with select retailers. If it’s available, you’ll see it listed in the Honey extension. To activate a PayPal Rewards offer, click “Activate Cash Back.”

The bottom line

PayPal Honey can be a valuable browser extension to use if you’re someone who frequently shops online. Keep in mind that the amount of savings you can accrue really depends on how often you spend and where you shop online the most. At the very least, you can download the Honey extension and give it a try.