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How to check a product’s price history for free

The free tools UK shoppers can use to see what a product really sold for, and how to read the charts.

Updated 13 October 2026 · 3 min read · General information, not legal or financial advice.

Price history is the best antidote to a persuasive sale banner. Once you can see what a product has actually cost over the past few months, a was-price either makes sense or it doesn’t. The good news is that you do not need to pay for this. Several free tools cover most of what UK shoppers buy. This guide explains which to use and how to read what they show.

The main free tools

CamelCamelCamel (Amazon)

CamelCamelCamel tracks prices on Amazon, including Amazon UK. Paste an Amazon product link into its search box to see a chart of the price over time, often split between Amazon’s own price and third-party sellers. You can create a free account to get email alerts when the price drops below a level you choose.

Keepa (Amazon)

Keepa also tracks Amazon prices and offers a browser extension that adds a price history chart directly to Amazon product pages. The basic charts are free. It has paid features aimed at sellers, which most shoppers do not need.

PriceSpy and PriceRunner (many retailers)

PriceSpy and PriceRunner are comparison sites that list prices from many UK retailers and show price history charts for the products they track. They are particularly useful for electricals, because they show the lowest available price across shops rather than at just one retailer. Both offer free price alerts.

Google Shopping

Google Shopping results sometimes include price insights for a product, such as a typical price range and whether the current price is low, typical or high. It can also track prices for you if you are signed in. Coverage varies by product.

Trolley (supermarkets)

For groceries, Trolley.co.uk compares prices across major UK supermarkets and shows price history on many products. It is useful for checking whether a supermarket offer is really lower than usual. See also our guide to loyalty prices.

Was It Real?

Our own deal checker is designed to do the reading for you: it shows a chart and gives a verdict based on the prices we track. We started tracking real prices on 13 October 2026, so it needs 30 days of history before giving verdicts; until then, use the tools above too.

How to read a price history chart

Charts can look busy, but you only need to answer a few questions.

  • What is the typical price? Look for the level the line sits at most of the time over the past three months. That is a better guide to the “usual” price than any label.
  • Is today’s price low? Compare it with the lowest points in the last three to six months.
  • When did the higher price apply? If a was-price is shown, find it on the chart. Was it charged for weeks immediately before the sale, or only for a few days, or months ago?
  • Is there a pattern? Some products drop in price on a regular cycle. If you see that, you can wait for the next dip.
  • Are there gaps? Breaks in the line can mean the product was out of stock or not tracked. Do not read too much into prices either side of a gap.

Common pitfalls

  • Wrong variant. Make sure the tracked product is the same model, size and colour. Model codes matter, especially for TVs and laptops.
  • Marketplace sellers. On Amazon, third-party prices can be much higher or lower than Amazon’s own. Check which line on the chart you are looking at.
  • Short histories. A product launched last month will not have a meaningful history. Be cautious with very new products.
  • Delivery and extras. Some charts show the item price only. Delivery charges and add-ons can change the real cost.

Turn it into a habit

For anything over about £50, it is worth spending a minute on price history before buying. Set alerts for items you want but do not need urgently. Over a year, this habit can be worth far more than chasing headline sale events, and it takes most of the stress out of Black Friday and Prime Day.

Sources

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