Best tools to compare game prices & get instant alerts for Steam/Epic deals?

Never Miss a Deal: Your Ultimate Guide to Game Price Tracking

For PC gamers, the thrill of a new release is often matched only by the excitement of a deep discount. With digital storefronts like Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and others constantly running sales, it can be a challenge to keep track of prices and ensure you’re getting the best possible deal. Fortunately, a host of excellent tools and platforms exist to do the heavy lifting for you, offering price comparisons and instant alerts. Let’s explore the top contenders.

Dedicated Price Comparison Websites

These websites are your central hub for finding the lowest prices across multiple retailers. They aggregate data, show historical lows, and often allow you to set up wishlists and alerts.

IsThereAnyDeal (ITAD)

• What it does: Often considered the gold standard, IsThereAnyDeal tracks prices from virtually every reputable digital game store, including Steam, Epic, GOG, Humble Store, Green Man Gaming, Fanatical, and many more. It provides comprehensive price history graphs, showing you how good a current deal truly is.
• Key features: Extensive store coverage, historical low prices, wishlist synchronization (e.g., with Steam), email alerts for desired games or publishers, bundle tracking.
• Why it’s great: Its robust filtering and alert system make it indispensable for serious deal hunters.

gg.deals

• What it does: Similar to ITAD, gg.deals offers a clean interface for comparing prices across a vast number of stores. It focuses heavily on user experience and often highlights free games and upcoming deals prominently.
• Key features: Price comparisons, historical data, free game listings, ‘smart’ alerts based on your preferences, and a strong community aspect.
• Why it’s great: An excellent alternative or companion to ITAD, with a slightly different interface and emphasis on visual clarity.

Browser Extensions for Instant Information

For those who want price information directly while browsing storefronts, browser extensions are invaluable. They overlay crucial data, often without requiring you to leave the page.

Augmented Steam (formerly Enhanced Steam)

• What it does: This powerful extension transforms your Steam browsing experience. It integrates price comparisons from sites like IsThereAnyDeal directly onto Steam store pages, showing you if a game is cheaper elsewhere.
• Key features: Price comparisons, historical lows, region price comparisons, Metacritic/OpenCritic scores, playtime stats, community market tools, and much more.
• Why it’s great: It brings all the deal-hunting information you need right to the Steam page, saving you clicks and time.

Epic Deal Notifier

• What it does: While not a direct price comparison tool for other stores, extensions like ‘Epic Deal Notifier’ specifically help with Epic Games Store free games. It can send notifications when new free titles are available, ensuring you never miss out on those weekly giveaways.
• Key features: Notifications for free games, sometimes also tracks major sales events.
• Why it’s great: Essential for maximizing your Epic Games Store library without spending a dime.

Mobile Apps for On-the-Go Alerts

Sometimes you’re away from your PC but still want to keep an eye on deals. Mobile apps provide convenient notifications and price tracking.

Dedicated App Versions (e.g., gg.deals, IsThereAnyDeal)

Many of the leading price comparison websites offer mobile-optimized versions of their sites or dedicated apps. These often mirror the functionality of their desktop counterparts, allowing you to manage your wishlist, check prices, and receive push notifications for price drops.

Generic Deal Alert Apps

Some broader deal-tracking apps might include games as a category. While not game-specific, they can be useful if you prefer to consolidate all your deal alerts into one place.

Community-Driven Deal Aggregators

Sometimes, the best deals are found through the collective wisdom of the gaming community.

Reddit r/GameDeals

This subreddit is a vibrant community dedicated to posting and discussing game deals from all sources. Users frequently share flash sales, bundle announcements, and free game offers. It’s often one of the first places to break news of a major price drop.

Discord Servers

Many gaming communities and dedicated deal-tracking servers on Discord offer real-time alerts and discussions about current sales. Joining a few active servers can keep you constantly in the loop.

Maximizing Your Savings with These Tools

• Create a Wishlist: The first step is always to add games you’re interested in to a wishlist on your chosen price tracking platform.
• Set Price Alerts: Configure email or push notifications for specific games when they drop below a certain price or hit a historical low.
• Check Historical Prices: Always look at the price history. A current ‘discount’ might still be higher than the game’s all-time low.
• Synchronize Your Steam/Epic Library: Many tools allow you to import your library, helping you avoid buying games you already own or seeing deals for them.
• Be Patient: Sales cycles are frequent. If a game you want isn’t at an ideal price, waiting a few weeks or months often pays off, especially for older titles.

Conclusion

In the vast and ever-changing landscape of digital game sales, these tools are your best allies. By leveraging dedicated price comparison websites, handy browser extensions, and instant mobile alerts, you can confidently navigate the market, secure the best possible deals for your Steam and Epic Games wishlists, and expand your gaming library without breaking the bank. Happy hunting!