How to Create a Price Comparison Website

A price comparison website collects authorised product information from merchants or networks and helps visitors compare price, availability, specifications and delivery conditions. It can earn through affiliate commissions or paid listings, but it only works if visitors trust the data.

Get product data the right way

Use official feeds or APIs from merchants and affiliate networks. Scraping websites without permission can break their terms and lead to blocked access or legal problems. Obtain permission to display images and follow each provider's caching and branding rules.

Keep prices fresh

Refresh data on a suitable schedule and show when prices were last updated. An old price that no longer exists frustrates visitors and damages trust.

Make comparisons honest

Compare like with like and include shipping or other costs where possible. Avoid misleading comparisons that hide extra charges. Handle duplicate products carefully so the same item does not appear several times.

Be clear about links

Clearly distinguish affiliate links from direct sales and send users to the correct merchant page. Tell visitors that you may earn a commission.

Core features

Search, category pages, filters for price and brand, product pages with merchant offers, price history if available, and alerts when prices drop.

Frequently asked questions

How do price comparison sites make money?

Mostly through affiliate commissions when visitors buy from a merchant, and sometimes through sponsored listings that are clearly labelled.

Can I copy prices from other websites?

Only with permission. Use official feeds, APIs or affiliate network data and follow their usage rules.