How to Set Up Price Alerts (and Stop Overpaying for Anything Online)

The best way to never overpay is to never pay full price. The second best way is to be told when the price drops. This is a guide to setting up price alerts on every major retailer and tool, so you only buy when the price is right.

The setup takes 30 minutes. The savings last forever.

Why price alerts work

A price alert is a notification that triggers when a product’s price drops to your target. The alert is passive — you set it once, the tool monitors the price, and you get an email or push notification when the price hits your target.

The alerts work because:

• You set the target based on the price history, not the listed price. A “30% off” is meaningless if the listed price is inflated. The target is the 12-month low or a percentage off the 12-month low.
• The alert is triggered automatically. You don’t have to check the site daily. The tool does the work.
• The alert is a comparison signal. When the price drops to your target, the tool tells you whether it’s a real deal or a return to the normal price.

The setup: a price alert on every product you might buy in the next 6 months. The savings: 10–30% on every purchase, automatic.

The setup, by tool

1. CamelCamelCamel (Amazon)

CamelCamelCamel is the most popular Amazon price tracker. The setup:

1. Go to camelcamelcamel.com and create a free account.
2. Search for the product you want to track.
3. Click the product, set your target price (e.g., €200).
4. Choose the alert type: email or RSS.
5. CamelCamelCamel will email you when the Amazon price drops to €200 or below.

The setup takes 2 minutes per product. The account can hold unlimited alerts.

The best use: track every Amazon product you’re considering. When the price hits your target, buy. When it doesn’t, wait.

2. Keepa (Amazon, more detailed)

Keepa is the most detailed Amazon price tracker. The setup:

1. Install the Keepa browser extension (Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
2. Go to any Amazon product page; the extension automatically shows the price history chart.
3. Click “settings” on the chart; set your target price and notification method.
4. Keepa will email you when the Amazon price drops to your target.

The best use: the cross-region comparison. The same product is often cheaper on Amazon Germany than on Amazon UK. Keepa makes that visible and lets you set alerts on each region’s price.

3. Idealo (Europe-wide)

Idealo is the largest price comparison site in Europe. The setup:

1. Go to idealo.com and create a free account.
2. Search for the product you want to track.
3. Click the product, click “set price alert” (or similar).
4. Set your target price and notification method (email).
5. Idealo will email you when any tracked retailer drops the price to your target.

The best use: the cross-retailer comparison. Idealo tracks 1,000+ European retailers. The alert is triggered when any of them drops the price to your target, not just one retailer.

4. Google Shopping (Google account)

Google Shopping is integrated with Google Search and Gmail. The setup:

1. Sign in to your Google account.
2. Search for the product on Google Shopping.
3. Click the product, click “track price.”
4. Google will email you when the price drops.

The best use: the integration with Gmail and Google Search. If you search for a product on Google, the “track price” button is right there. The alert is integrated with your other Google notifications.

5. Amazon Wish List (Amazon)

The Amazon wish list has a built-in price alert. The setup:

1. Add the product to your Amazon wish list.
2. Amazon will email you when the price drops (or when there’s a “limited time deal” on a wish list item).

The best use: the convenience. The Amazon wish list is already where most people save products. The price alert is automatic. No extension, no third-party tool, no setup.

The limitation: only Amazon. For non-Amazon products, use Idealo or Google Shopping.

6. eBay (eBay account)

eBay has a built-in price alert. The setup:

1. Save the product to your eBay watch list.
2. eBay will email you when the listing ends, when someone bids, and (for some listings) when the price drops.

The best use: auctions and rare items. The watch list is the right tool for eBay.

7. Best Buy, Walmart, Target (US-specific)

The major US retailers have built-in price alerts. The setup:

1. Create an account on the retailer’s site.
2. Save the product to your wish list.
3. The retailer will email you when the price drops.

The best use: the convenience. The wish list is already where most people save products. The alert is automatic.

The limitation: only that retailer. For cross-retailer comparison, use CamelCamelCamel (for Amazon) or Google Shopping.

The strategy: which tool for which product

The matrix

The rule

Use the tool that covers the retailer you want to buy from. For Amazon, use CamelCamelCamel. For other European retailers, use Idealo. For everything, use Google Shopping as a catch-all.

The setup: one alert per product you’re considering. The total: 10–30 alerts, depending on how much you buy. The management: check the alerts weekly, buy when the price hits the target.

How to set the target price

The target price is the most important part of the alert. The target should be based on the price history, not the listed price.

The rule:

• For a product with a stable price history: set the target at 20–30% below the median price. The alert will trigger during the normal sales cycle.
• For a product with a volatile price history: set the target at the 12-month low. The alert will trigger only when the price hits the bottom, which is rare.
• For a product you’re not sure about: set the target at the 12-month low + 10%. The alert will trigger when the price is near the bottom, giving you time to decide.

The right target depends on the product and your urgency. The wrong target is either too high (alert triggers constantly, you ignore it) or too low (alert never triggers, you give up).

How to act on the alert

The alert triggers. You have an email. Now what?

Step 1: Verify the price is real

The alert tells you the price dropped to your target. But the price might have dropped for a reason — a sale that ended, a clearance of a defective unit, a regional pricing error. Check the price history to confirm the price is at or below the 12-month low.

Step 2: Check the retailer

The alert tells you the price at a specific retailer. Is that retailer the one you want to buy from? Check the reviews, the return policy, the shipping cost. The “lowest price” is only the best deal if the retailer is reputable.

Step 3: Apply any additional discounts

The alert is the base price. You may have additional discounts (cashback, coupon codes, credit card rewards). The “true” price is the alert price minus the additional discounts. Apply them at checkout.

Step 4: Buy

The price is right, the retailer is right, the discounts are applied. Buy. The 30-minute setup has paid for itself.

The common mistakes to avoid

Setting the target too high

The target at 20% off the listed price is too high. The alert will trigger constantly (every minor sale, every “we raised the price and put it back down” event), and you’ll learn to ignore it. Set the target based on the 12-month low, not the listed price.

Setting the target too low

The target at the 12-month low might be too low. The 12-month low might be a brief Lightning Deal or a one-time event. If the price never reaches the target, you’ll give up. Set the target at 5–10% above the 12-month low for a realistic trigger.

Trusting the alert without verifying

The alert tells you the price dropped. It doesn’t tell you the price is a real deal, the retailer is reputable, or the discount is the best available. Verify before buying.

Setting up alerts for products you’ll never buy

The setup is 2 minutes per product, but the management is ongoing. Set up alerts only for products you’re seriously considering. The “I’ll think about it” alerts clutter your inbox and dilute the signal.

A worked example

You want to buy a Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphone. Budget: €350.

Step 1: Check the price history

Idealo shows the price has ranged from €310 to €420 over the last 12 months. The 12-month low is €310. The current price is €380. The median is €360.

Step 2: Set the target

Your target: €330 (about 10% above the 12-month low, but well below the median). The alert will trigger when the price hits €330, which happens during the major sales.

Step 3: Set up the alert

CamelCamelCamel (for Amazon): set the alert at €330. Idealo (for other retailers): set the alert at €330. Google Shopping: set the alert at €330.

Three alerts, one per tool. The first one to trigger is the one you buy from.

Step 4: Act

The Idealo alert triggers in March: a known retailer has the headphones for €325. Verify the retailer (check reviews), verify the price (12-month low is €310, so €325 is near the bottom but not at it), buy.

Total time: 10 minutes to set up, then passive monitoring. Savings: €55 vs. the listed price.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the best tool for Amazon?

CamelCamelCamel (free, simple) or Keepa (more detailed, paid for full features). For most people, CamelCamelCamel is enough.

What’s the best tool for European retailers?

Idealo. It covers 1,000+ European retailers, the price history is reliable, and the alerts are straightforward.

Can I set alerts on multiple retailers for the same product?

Yes. Set alerts on Amazon (CamelCamelCamel), on European retailers (Idealo), and on Google Shopping. The first to trigger is the best deal.

How many alerts should I set up?

As many as you’re seriously considering. 10–30 alerts is typical. More than 50 is too many — you won’t manage them.

The bottom line

A price alert is the single highest-ROI tool for online shopping. The setup takes 30 minutes. The savings are 10–30% on every purchase, automatic, forever. Use the right tool for each retailer (CamelCamelCamel for Amazon, Idealo for Europe, Google Shopping as a catch-all). Set the target based on the 12-month low, not the listed price. Verify before buying. The 30-minute setup is the best investment you’ll make this year.