Stop hunting for deals. We've rounded up the best discounts and want to send them straight to your phone.
Russell Holly
CNET
3 min read
4/10
Key Takeaways
CNET's free SMS deal service is editor-curated, not algorithm-driven, promising higher-quality discounts than most competitors.
Subscribers receive 1–2 handpicked deals per day in categories like tech, home, and lifestyle.
The service is US-only for now, with no announced international rollout.
CNET's parent company, Red Ventures, also operates The Points Guy and other loyalty-focused media brands.
Privacy protections: CNET states it will not sell phone numbers and offers one-tap opt-out via reply.
CNET is giving away the best deals for free — straight to your phone. No app download, no email signup, just a text. The tech-review giant has launched a free SMS service that sends handpicked daily discounts to subscribers. Stop hunting for deals, they say — let CNET do the hunting for you. The service, announced on CNET's website, targets the millions of consumers who waste hours scrolling for deals. It cuts through noise with editor-curated offers. CNET already reviews thousands of products yearly. Now it turns that expertise into a deal-finding concierge. The move comes as deal fatigue sets in. Consumers receive an average of 10 deal alerts per day from apps, according to industry data. Most are automated, irrelevant, or expired. CNET bets human curation wins. The service is completely free. No credit card needed. Subscribers simply enter their phone number on CNET's deals page. They receive one or two texts daily featuring the best discounts in tech, home, and lifestyle. Exact figures on the number of deals are not disclosed, but CNET editors pick only those that meet strict criteria: genuine savings, reputable brands, and available stock. The program is currently US-only. International expansion has not been announced. CNET is owned by Red Ventures, which also owns The Points Guy and other content brands. The text message channel is a return to basics — before push notifications and email overload. Privacy is a natural concern. Users must trust CNET with their phone number. CNET says it will not sell or misuse the data, and users can opt out anytime. The service is SMS-based, not iMessage or WhatsApp, limiting reach but ensuring universal compatibility. Older demographics, less app-savvy, may find texting simpler. The initiative pits CNET against established deal aggregators like Slickdeals, DealNews, and the Krazy Coupon Lady. Unlike those platforms, CNET has a built-in audience of 50 million monthly unique visitors. It can leverage its editorial voice. If successful, CNET could expand to email, app notifications, or even AI-powered personalized deals. The broader implication: trust is the currency in deal curation. Algorithms can scrape prices, but only humans can judge value. CNET's text deals service is a statement that editorial judgment still matters in a world of 200 million daily deals online. Next steps: monitor subscriber growth, deal conversion rates, and whether CNET expands categories to travel, apparel, or grocery. The service launches at a time when inflation weary shoppers are craving simplicity. One text. One deal. That's it.
Frequently Asked Questions
CNET's deals text service is a free SMS subscription that sends subscribers handpicked daily deals, curated by CNET editors, directly to their phone.
Yes, the service is completely free. No credit card or payment is required. Users only need to provide a phone number to start receiving texts.
You can sign up by visiting CNET's deals page on their website and entering your phone number. You'll then start receiving text alerts with handpicked deals.
CNET texts deals in categories like tech, home, and lifestyle. Each deal is editor-curated to ensure genuine savings and reputable brands.
CNET typically sends one to two texts per day, ensuring subscribers are not overwhelmed while still receiving the best available deals.
CNET's service relies on human curation by experienced editors rather than automated algorithms, promising higher-quality and more relevant deals.
