Apple and Google have introduced price-tracking features on their respective mobile platforms to help consumers monitor product prices without manually refreshing websites [1]. Apple's Safari browser includes a feature called "Notify Me" available on iOS 27, which allows users to set custom alerts for price drops or product availability changes [1]. For example, users can request notifications when a product drops below a specific price point, such as $150 for headphones [1]. The Notify Me feature requires Apple Intelligence and is compatible with iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPhone 16 or later models, but does not work on standard iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus devices [1].
For users without Apple Intelligence-compatible devices, Google offers an alternative through Chrome's price tracking feature, which works on iPhones running iOS 15 or later [1]. Chrome price tracking requires a signed-in Google Account, history synchronization, and appropriate browsing settings [1]. Both services allow users to customize monitoring intervals—Apple's Notify Me offers hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly checking options [1]. However, both features have limitations: Safari's Notify Me does not work with every website and depends on Safari successfully detecting requested changes, while Chrome price tracking only functions on supported product pages [1]. Beyond shopping, users can leverage these tools to monitor other webpage changes, such as event ticket availability or registration page openings [1].
CONCLUSION
Apple and Google's new price-tracking features represent incremental enhancements to consumer shopping tools, with limited direct market impact. These tools aim to reduce friction in the shopping experience but operate within existing platform ecosystems rather than creating new revenue streams or significantly disrupting the price-monitoring software market.