Shoppers across the U.S. are once again asking: is Cyber Monday cheaper than Black Friday? As of today, new sales data from major retailers and analytics firms shows record-breaking activity across both shopping days. Cyber Monday is expected to become the biggest online shopping day of the year, while Black Friday continues to dominate in-store traffic and major electronics deals.
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Latest 2025 Insights: What We Know Right Now
This year’s holiday shopping season is seeing stronger consumer participation, driven by early promotions, expanded discount categories, and steep price cuts across major brands. Online spending on Black Friday climbed significantly compared to last year, with shoppers flocking to electronics, gaming, home appliances, and personal tech.
Cyber Monday is projected to post the highest online revenue of the entire season, supported by widespread digital-only promotions, apparel deals, small electronics discounts, and aggressive price-matching between large retailers. These real-time trends underline the growing shift toward online-first holiday shopping.
How Prices Trend on Each Day
Both days offer substantial savings, but each serves different shopping behaviors and product types. The notion that one day is universally cheaper is no longer accurate. Instead, the better day depends on the item you’re buying.
What Black Friday Is Best For
Black Friday remains the stronger day for:
- Big-screen TVs
- Laptops and desktop computers
- High-end tablets
- Large and mid-size appliances
- Gaming consoles and bundles
Many of these deals appear early in the morning and sell out fast. Retailers also release limited-quantity “doorbusters” that rarely reappear on Cyber Monday.
What Cyber Monday Is Best For
Cyber Monday tends to deliver better discounts on:
- Smart home accessories
- Smaller electronics and gadgets
- Wireless earbuds, portable speakers, accessories
- Clothing, shoes, and fashion basics
- Beauty and personal-care items
- Subscription services and digital products
Cyber Monday’s strength lies in online-focused categories with quick shipping times and digital purchase options.
Why the Two Days Are Blending Together
Holiday sales no longer follow the rigid timelines they once did. Most retailers now launch promotions days before Black Friday and extend them through Cyber Monday. This creates a unified “deal window” rather than two isolated events.
Three major shifts explain the blur between the two:
- Online shopping dominance — A large portion of purchases now take place on mobile devices.
- Extended pricing cycles — Retailers adjust prices in real time throughout the weekend to match competitors.
- Early stock movement — High-demand items sell out during Black Friday, reducing Cyber Monday availability in some categories.
Because of these shifts, some deals appear simultaneously across both days, while others are tightly restricted to one specific day.
Category-by-Category Comparison
To help shoppers navigate the two events, here is a simple breakdown based on real pricing and current retail behavior:
| Product Category | Typically Cheaper On | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| TVs and home theater systems | Black Friday | Large doorbusters and limited-quantity items launch early. |
| Laptops and gaming consoles | Black Friday | Highest demand and deepest early discounts. |
| Smartwatches and accessories | Cyber Monday | Online retailers offer broader digital promotions. |
| Clothing and shoes | Cyber Monday | More stackable online coupons and bundle deals. |
| Small appliances | Cyber Monday | Retailers clear surplus inventory with additional markdowns. |
| Toys and games | Both days | Prices fluctuate based on stock and competition. |
This year, the largest savings for most big-ticket items appeared first during Black Friday, while Cyber Monday is proving stronger for smaller electronics and online-exclusive categories.
Consumer Strategy: How to Get the Best Price
The best way to answer the question — is Cyber Monday cheaper than Black Friday — is to have a plan that aligns with your shopping goals.
1. For major electronics:
Buy early on Black Friday, or even during early-week preview sales. Popular models sell out.
2. For smaller tech and accessories:
Wait for Cyber Monday, when retailers push large volumes of online-only promotions.
3. For clothing and shoes:
Cyber Monday usually offers broader size availability and better extra discount codes.
4. For convenience:
Cyber Monday is easier. You avoid crowds, compare prices instantly, and benefit from online-only flash deals.
5. For anything out of stock after Black Friday:
Cyber Monday often brings restocks or price-matched deals aiming to drive final Q4 online traffic.
Final Verdict: Which Day Is Cheaper?
There is no universal winner. The answer depends entirely on what you buy.
- Black Friday is generally cheaper for big-ticket tech and in-demand electronics.
- Cyber Monday is generally cheaper for small electronics, apparel, accessories, and online-focused products.
- Both days overlap on many deals, giving shoppers a wider window to grab major discounts.
However, the strongest online spending this year is expected on Cyber Monday, and that momentum reflects the continued shift toward digital-first shopping. For many categories, Cyber Monday now offers just as many — and sometimes more — opportunities to save.
Bold Closing Line:
Share your thoughts below — which day gave you the best deal this year, Black Friday or Cyber Monday?