Black Friday falls on 27 November 2026, followed by Cyber Monday on 30 November. For software, it is genuinely the biggest discount week of the year: many developers who never run sales do run one now, and annual plans, lifetime licences and bundles appear everywhere. It is also when the most money gets spent on tools that are never opened. The difference comes down to preparation.
Two weeks before: build your list
Write down every piece of software you expect to pay for in the next 12 months. Include renewals you already have. For each item, note:
- The product and the plan you actually need.
- The normal price you would pay (from the vendor’s pricing page today).
- The most you are willing to pay.
This list is your shopping list. Anything not on it needs a very good reason to be bought.
Check renewals first
The best Black Friday saving is often on software you already use. If an annual plan renews early next year, see whether the vendor lets existing customers renew or extend at the sale price. Some do, some limit offers to new customers. Ask support if it is unclear.
Record the “before” price
Fake discounts are most common during big sales. Record each product’s price today, or take a screenshot, so you can compare during the sale. If the “was” price on Black Friday is higher than what you recorded, the discount is inflated. Read how to spot a fake discount for the full checklist.
During the sale: verify, then buy
- Confirm it is on your list.
- Compare the price with your recorded normal price.
- Check the renewal price: a first-year discount on a plan you keep for three years is worth much less than it looks.
- Check the refund window and put it in your calendar.
- Buy from the vendor or an authorised seller. Avoid unusually cheap keys from unknown resellers.
Our deal checker turns these questions into a score.
Lifetime deals on Black Friday
Lifetime deal marketplaces run some of their biggest campaigns this week. The same rules apply as the rest of the year: buy only what you need now, from products with a track record, and do the break-even maths in the lifetime deal calculator.
Games and apps
Seasonal game store sales usually overlap Thanksgiving week. Add games to your wishlist ahead of time so the store notifies you of discounts, and compare with the game’s previous lows on a price-history site before buying.
Cyber Monday and beyond
Many software offers run from the week before Black Friday through Cyber Monday. If you miss an offer, check again on Cyber Monday; some vendors extend or add new deals. The next big windows are the end-of-year sales and new-year productivity promotions. All dates are on our sale calendar.
Get alerted instead of browsing
Browsing sale pages is how impulse purchases happen. Instead, set up deal alerts for the platforms and categories on your list, and let the offers come to you.