Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday: What's the Difference in 2025?
Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday: What's the Difference in 2025?
Initially, Black Friday focused on in-store deals, while Cyber Monday was exclusively for online shopping.
As of 2025, the lines have blurred, with most retailers offering sales both in-store and online throughout the "Cyber Week" period, though the original distinction sometimes still exists for certain product categories. Historically, Black Friday was known for big-ticket items like electronics from giants like Apple, while Cyber Monday was better for smaller gadgets and apparel.
This year, shoppers should anticipate continued strong deals across several key categories, although the depth of discounts may be affected by economic factors like tariffs. Electronics, including TVs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, are expected to see significant markdowns. For instance, deals are anticipated on popular items like the latest Apple AirPods Pro 3 and various models of MacBooks and iPads. Beyond tech, major home appliances, home goods, and kitchen gadgets like air fryers and stand mixers are also predicted to be heavily discounted. While Black Friday has a slight edge for major appliances and large TVs, Cyber Monday is often better for software, fashion, and smart home devices.
The Top Black Friday 2025 Sales
Amazon Black Friday Sale 2025
Live NowAmazon's Black Friday Sale is now live. You'll find deals spread across every major category including home, garden, apparel, toys, electronics, and more. There's also savings to be found in Amazon's Outlet, Resale, and Renewed sections, as well as a regularly-updated rotation of limited lightning deals. The main sale will also be updated daily with fresh deals.
Best Buy Black Friday Sale 2025
Up to 60% offThe Best Buy Black Friday Sale is now live with deals and doorbusters live across the store, marked up to 60% off. You can expect to save as much as 50% on OLED TVs, up to $600 on laptops and desktops, shop iPads as low as $299, and Mac computers from just $479. My Best Buy members get free shipping on all orders, too (it's free to join).Plus and Total members get a $5 bonus reward for every $50 spent on the store's doorbusters.
Target Early Black Friday Deals
Up to 60% offA selection of Target Black Friday deals are already live at Target, including a video game sale where titles are discounted by up to 60%. You can also save up to 50% off on headphones, up to $150 on Apple devices, and up to $150 on the Oura Ring 4. Orders over $35 ship for free, too.Target price protection is now live, too, so if you purchase an item in store or online and the price goes lower at Target on or before December 24, you can request a price adjustment. Proof of purchase is required and some exclusions apply.
Walmart Black Friday Sale
Up to 50% offWalmart+ members can shop the Walmart Black Friday sale early on November 24 at 7pm ET. Then, at midnight, everyone will be able to shop deals from the Walmart Black Friday sale. You can scan the page to find what to expect like up to 50% off on tech, 30% off bikes, 30% off LEGO, and more.
Wayfair Black Friday Sale 2025
Up to 80% offThe Wayfair Black Friday Sale is now live with discounts as high as 80% across the store. There are some great deals on sofas and beds, which are marked at up to 60% off, Christmas trees and decor that are up to 45% off, and mattresses that have dropped by as much as $400. You can find a new selection of offers each day in this Black Friday daily deals section, too. Nearly everything ships for free, too.
Lowe's Early Black Friday Deals
Up to 75% offThe Lowe's Early Black Friday sale is live with deals on appliances, tools, holiday decor, storage, kitchen, and more. We found the biggest discounts on seasonal decor, but you'll great discounts on top brands like DeWalt, Craftsman, Kobalt, Kohler, and more. Shipping is free on orders of $35 or more and many items will be eligible for in-store pickup.
Home Depot Black Friday Sale 2025
Up to 50% off + Free ToolsThe Home Depot Black Friday Sale is now live with big discounts on appliances, tools, furniture, and hardware across the store. Lots of power tools come with free batteries or other tools, too. There are also buy more, save more discounts on some major appliances. Most of the items across the store ship for free if your order totals $35 or more.
Is Cyber Monday Better Than Black Friday?
Black Friday traditionally has better deals on large-ticket items like TVs and appliances, while Cyber Monday focuses more on electronics, software, and clothing. However, many sales now overlap, so it's best to compare prices and plan ahead to find the best deals on specific products you need.
But while it may be fun to wonder, "Which is better, Black Friday or Cyber Monday?" the two shopping holidays have their own strengths. Here are eight ways they differ.
Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday: 8 Ways They Differ
Cyber Monday Is More Online-Focused
As its name suggests, Cyber Monday is dominated by online sales. On that Monday alone in previous years, we listed nearly 200 deals from online retailer Amazon, so be on the lookout for similar savings opportunities along with their deals on Black Friday. But stores with physical locations usually have the same offers online and offline. And even if you do prefer to shop in-store, brick-and-mortar retailers are likely to be less crowded on Cyber Monday than Black Friday.
You May Have to Pay More for Shipping on Cyber Monday
With Cyber Monday being more online-oriented than Black Friday, shipping can be a bigger factor when shopping. Historically, many retailers have offered free shipping for Cyber Monday — with or without a minimum purchase requirement. But not all do. That can add an unexpected price premium to the deals. So keep your eyes open for sales that include free shipping, or double-check the shipping costs before you buy.
Note that retailer membership programs often include free shipping, too. If you're signed up for Amazon Prime or Walmart+, for example, you can take advantage of their free delivery perks. We've even seen Walmart take 50% off the $98 Walmart+ membership cost already this season. Other stores offer free shipping as part of their membership programs.
You could also sign up for free trials of paid membership programs to take advantage of free shipping. But it's helpful if trials span both Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and make sure to cancel before they're up if you don't want to pay for a full membership.
And remember that you can often save by opting for in-store or curbside pickup when shopping online on Cyber Monday. These services are available from many major brick-and-mortar retailers.
There's More Time to Prep for Black Friday Sales
Savvy shoppers know that making a plan is the key to savings success. And there's plenty of time to prepare for Black Friday, as great deals are often advertised weeks in advance. Cyber Monday sales are typically more of a surprise. Fewer Cyber Monday ads are available, and there's always a chance they'll show up after Black Friday instead of before. The ones that do show up earlier are usually found at the end of Black Friday ads, so they can be easy to miss. Be sure to check out the ads in their entirety when putting your plan together.
Cyber Monday Deals Can Go Away Quicker
Though you don't have to wait in line for any doorbuster deals on Cyber Monday, sales do tend to come and go quickly. Many of the best offers only hang around for a day or two. And some items with very limited quantities — like Amazon Lightning Deals — may sell out within hours or even minutes.
But it's a mixed bag, as Cyber Monday has slowly turned into Cyber Week. We posted less than a third of Cyber Week deals on Monday in previous years, meaning that even if you skip out on Monday shopping, there will be more great deals to snag later.
Fewer Items Are Out of Stock on Cyber Monday (Possibly)
We said that Cyber Monday deals come and go quickly, but you can still expect more items to be in stock on Cyber Monday compared to the day after Thanksgiving. Given that we're also not seeing issues with supply chain disruptions like we did a couple of years ago, there may be an even less concern of items selling out on Cyber Monday 2025. Even so, it's best to shop early on that Monday to avoid missing out. You can even score many Cyber Monday deals on the Sunday before.
Cost Comparisons Are Easier on Cyber Monday
When you're in-store, you can always pull out your smartphone to do a cost comparison when you buy, but slow cellular data can make the task frustrating. During Cyber Monday, comparing prices is as easy as jumping to another tab. Plus, you can use browser add-ons like CamelCamelCamel to see if you're getting the lowest price straight from your web browser.
Price matching is another way to ensure you're getting the best price available. But some stores restrict price matching around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
It Can Be Harder to Shop Wherever You Want on Black Friday
Going store to store on Black Friday takes a lot of time. It often involves driving to multiple locations in the cold, hunting for parking spots, and then getting stuck in crowds inside the stores.
But going from store to store on Cyber Monday is as quick and easy as typing in a new URL — which makes it simple to buy from whatever retailer you want.
Different Items Go On Sale on Cyber Monday vs. Black Friday
Though some deals last throughout the massive Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday extravaganza, sales are different every day. For 2025, expect Cyber Monday to be the best time to buy the following items:
- Major Appliances
- Cameras
- Kitchen items
- Toys
But, based on our current early deals, Black Friday could be better for popular Apple products such as MacBooks and AirPods, video games, and tools from major retailers like Lowe's.
Consumer Statistics and Trends To Consider This Year
Year-over-Year Sales Growth and Shifting Patterns
According to Adobe Analytics, U.S. online sales for the 2025 holiday season (November 1 to December 31) are projected to reach $253.4 billion—a 5.3% increase year-over-year. Cyber Week (the five-day period from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday) is expected to account for $43.7 billion of that total, up 6.3% from last year. Notably, Black Friday is forecast to outpace Cyber Monday in growth, with Black Friday online sales expected to rise 8.3% year-over-year to $11.7 billion, while Cyber Monday will remain the single largest online shopping day at $14.2 billion (up 6.3% YoY).
The Rise of Mobile Shopping
According to Adobe's 2025 holiday shopping forecast, mobile devices are playing an increasingly important role in holiday sales, with over 40% of online purchases during Black Friday and Cyber Monday now made via smartphones or tablets. This trend reflects consumers' desire for convenience and flexibility, and underscores the importance for retailers to offer seamless mobile shopping experiences. As mobile shopping continues to rise, it's likely to influence not just how people buy, but when and where they shop during these major sales events.
The Impact of "Cyber Week" and Early Promotions
One of the most significant trends in recent years is the blurring of lines between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as retailers launch deals earlier and extend promotions well beyond the traditional dates. The emergence of "Cyber Week" means that shoppers have more opportunities to find discounts, but it also spreads out spending and can make it harder to identify the single best day for deals. This shift is reflected in sales data showing that fewer purchases are concentrated on Black Friday or Cyber Monday alone, with more consumers taking advantage of early and extended offers.
Your Best Strategy for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Ultimately, the debate over whether Black Friday or Cyber Monday is "better" has become less critical in 2025. The reality is that these two shopping holidays have merged into a single, extended sales event often called "Cyber Week," which begins on Thanksgiving and runs through the following Monday. While some traditional differences remain—with Black Friday offering a mix of in-store and online doorbusters on big-ticket items and Cyber Monday focusing on online deals for tech and apparel—the lines are increasingly blurred.
The most effective strategy for shoppers is no longer about choosing one day over the other, but about being prepared and vigilant throughout the entire five-day period. With sales projected to grow and mobile shopping becoming more dominant, the key to securing the best deals is to plan ahead, compare prices easily online, and act quickly when a desired item goes on sale.
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- As the holiday season approaches, many streaming enthusiasts anticipate the Black Friday deals offered by platforms like Paramount Plus. This guide will help you navigate the best Paramount Plus Black Friday savings in 2025 and maximize your savings.
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