Shopping apps

Apple’s iPhone app kicks things up a notch by thinking differently. Aside from the usual store locator and product browsing features, Apple’s app lets you make Genius Bar appointments with your local store. You can see the status of previous orders and even pull up those receipts. The killer feature is the Easy Pay function when you’re in a physical Apple store. Want that iPhone cover? Just pull it off the shelf, scan the bar code, and pay using your iTunes credentials. No need to speak to a human, no waiting in line. Be sure this app is on your iPhone before you head out!

Everything you expect from Amazon is found within their iOS offering. On the iPhone you can browse, see your cart and items added when shopping on another device, and access your wish list. Amazon is your ace in the hole when you're out, because it has a bar code scanner that’ll compare the price you’re looking at in the store with Amazon’s offerings. No bar code to scan? Take a photo. Amazon will search based on what the item looks like. With an app like this, you’ll be convinced we already live in the future when it comes to shopping.

The world’s largest garage sale is always handy with eBay’s iPad app. Anything and everything can be found on eBay and that search narrows it down to what you need in just seconds. Results are set in a grid format with each product’s image prominently displayed. The current price, shipping cost, and remaining time are also shown for quick reference. If you sign in, you can personalize what the app’s main screen shows along with viewing your watched items.

They say "one man's trash is another man's treasure," and that could be true, especially with Mokriya Craigslist for iPhone and iPad. This app lets you navigate through craigslist in an easy way that may even keep you from ever using the website again. Set alerts and you don't ever have to miss a deal again. You can even alternate between neighboring cities. Who knows? That extra mileage may be worth it if you find something that you've been searching for if it's a fraction of the price you could get it anywhere else.

Gilt’s deals are amazing and their iPad app matches their luxurious feel for an amazing shopping experience. Gilt’s 60% and daily sales are easily seen within each product listing on the app. Departments are broken down by: Women, Men, Home, Kids, and Gifts. These filters get you right to the items you want the most. Tapping a product animates it like an opening book to show you the details and price. Large photos accompany each item and you can see lots of detail. Gilt’s use of photos everywhere makes browsing fun and enjoyable. For an app shopping experience you’ve likely never seen, give Gilt a spin on your iPad.

Target for iPad is like a mega-catalog. This app lets you check out the weekly ad without getting newsprint on your fingers. Tapping a product shows you detailed information and lets you purchase it right within the app. Target also features daily deals, along with the standard store locator we all need. Target’s app is comprehensive and almost faster than browsing their website. Even better, if you pick up the iPhone version, it integrates with Passbook, Apple’s new virtual card wallet.

If you're looking for a one of a kind gift, Etsy is the place to shop. It is even easier to find what you're looking for on the site with their mobile app. Etsy offers vintage items, handmade items, and even craft supplies for the artists in your life.

Shopping can become a chore when there are many places to go and lots of crowds to navigate. You can make some fun of the experience by downloading Shopkick. This app turns shopping into a game where you get ‘kicks’ for simply walking into partner stores. Earn enough kicks and you can redeem them for gift cards to your favorite stores. Want to earn more on your visit? Stores have ‘quests’ where you scan the bar codes of certain items and you get even more kicks once you’ve scanned everything in the mission. You never need to buy anything to earn kicks and it’s as simple as walking into the store. In a mall, this can be especially fun.

There are a ton of sites offering a deal every day, but LivingSocial has sprung out to be one of the best. Its app is spectacular in that it lets you easily see all the deals for your neighborhood in a beautiful catalog-style layout. LivingSocial’s app is visually appealing and will have you an expert in scoring daily deals in no time.

Another great app that offers deals of the day is the ever-so-popular Groupon app. This app is everything that the website is bottled up into a tiny, simple-to-use application for your iPhone or iPad. Score deals for local restaurants, local spas, products, vacation getaways, and more. So, when you can't find what you're looking for in the LivingSocial app, check Groupon.

Overstock.com's mobile app is another place to find gifts at only a fraction of the price. The app is super easy to maneuver, so you don't have to worry about any kind of learning curve. It offers just about any product that a department store would.

Wanelo Shopping is like having a personal shopper available on your phone. New products appear every day and as you save them, Wanelo begins to learn your style. You don't necessarily buy straight from the app, but you'll know which stores, big or small, offer the items you like.

If you are going to be doing some comparison shopping, Smoopa Shopping is a great app to have on your phone. With this app, you can look for products by browsing, searching, or scanning it, then you can see prices at different retailers. You can then decide if you'd like to buy it, get an alert when it drops in price, or simply save it to a collection list. This app makes shopping easy and is an ideal way to save some money.