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Black Friday and Cyber Monday are almost here, which means it’s prime time to shop for gifts, replace tired tech, and finally buy the big-ticket item you’ve been holding off on. As a deals editor, I spend every holiday season tracking price drops, and this long weekend is still one of the best times of year to save.
The distinction between the two shopping holidays is blurrier than it used to be. Black Friday was once all about early-morning store lines, while Cyber Monday belonged to online shoppers—but now, most retailers launch overlapping sales well before Thanksgiving. In 2026, Black Friday falls on November 27, followed by Cyber Monday on November 30.
Below, we break down what still separates Black Friday from Cyber Monday, when each sale is worth shopping, and how to decide when to hit checkout. You can also browse all of our Black Friday and Cyber Monday coverage , including the best early deals available now .
What is the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
Although they historically had very real differences that affected best shopping practices, by 2026, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have largely converged. There’s only one major caveat: Black Friday sales can occur both online and in-store, while Cyber Monday is exclusively online. Most retailers, both big and small, run sales all weekend, offering the deepest discounts on Friday and Monday after Thanksgiving. By now, many of them have dubbed the five-day period after Thanksgiving as “Cyber Week.”
In the 2000s and early 2010s, Black Friday was primarily associated with in-store shopping. This is the period when you could find hopefuls camped outside stores in sleeping bags after Thanksgiving dinner, waiting for midnight to strike and doors to open. Cyber Monday was reserved for online shopping, typically from one’s work computer. It also gained a reputation for featuring technology products, including computers, gaming accessories, and the like.
Nowadays, what’s on sale for one will be on sale for the other. You can find PC part sales on Friday, and air fryer deals on Monday.
Is Black Friday better than Cyber Monday?
As outlined above, the two holidays no longer differ significantly. However, if you’re hoping to score a limited-stock item or discount, you could benefit greatly by shopping on Friday rather than Monday. Most major retailers reserve stock for both days, so the deals don’t all die before Monday, but small brands and DTC companies may run out early.
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What to expect in 2026
As a deals editor, writer, and reporter of several years now, I’ll join the chorus of voices warning that “deals aren’t as good as they used to be.” It’s true — gone are the days of huge price cuts on appliances, tools, and tech. Nowadays, even during Cyber Week, the best deals event of the year, some of the deepest discounts only knock prices down by a meager 15%.
That said, people still need stuff. Parents need gifts for their kids, home chefs need kitchen tools, and households need TVs for watching big games. That’s why we’re here, highlighting the best deals you can grab now — because you might still need it, regardless of how low prices are. Anyway, 15% off a $1,000 mattress still saves you $150 that could go toward sheets and pillows to complete your bedroom.
If you’re wondering what categories you can find on sale during Cyber Week, just about everything under the sun is discounted for the holiday. Kitchen appliances, bathroom essentials, bedroom furniture, entertainment tech, gaming rigs, and much more will be at their best prices of the year. Major retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, Nordstrom, and Best Buy, will participate, as they do every year. Brands we love, like Away, Leesa, Lo and Sons, and the like, will also probably chime in with their own all-time lows.
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