How to track competitor prices (without a spreadsheet)
Knowing when a competitor changes a price or runs out of stock is useful only if you hear about it quickly. Here's a practical approach for small online businesses.
1. Decide what's worth tracking
You don't need to track everything. Pick the few products where price decides the sale: the ones that bring most of your revenue, items competitors discount aggressively, and products you stock but others also sell. Three to five well-chosen product pages beat a sprawling list nobody reads.
2. Track the exact product page
Use the competitor's page for the same item — same brand, model, size and pack. A similar product isn't a price comparison. Note whether their price includes tax and shipping, so you compare like with like.
3. Choose a frequency that matches how prices move
Most small-shop prices change a few times a month, sales and stock-outs aside. Hourly checks are plenty to catch same-day moves; daily checks suit slow-moving categories. Faster polling mainly burns the other site's resources.
4. Know what tools can read
Independent stores — Shopify, WooCommerce and most custom shops — publish structured price and availability data on product pages, so an automatic check reads them reliably. Large marketplaces such as Amazon often block automated requests from servers, so don't be surprised if those listings can't be tracked; track the same product on the seller's own website instead. Prices that depend on a chosen date, size or location frequently can't be read without a person choosing options.
5. Decide the response before the alert arrives
- Competitor drops a price: match only if your margin allows. Often the better response is a bundle or free shipping threshold.
- Competitor sells out: hold your price, and consider promoting the item while demand has nowhere else to go.
- Competitor raises a price: usually nothing — but note it, because it can be a cost increase coming your way too.
Be a considerate visitor
Only read public product pages, at a polite rate, and respect each site's terms. OwlHound checks each page once an hour, never logs in and doesn't try to get around blocks. See how price monitoring works.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I check competitor prices?
Hourly is plenty to catch same-day changes. For slow-moving categories, daily is enough.
Can I track Amazon prices?
Often not with a server-based tracker, since marketplaces frequently block automated requests. Tracking the same product on the competitor's own site is more reliable.
Is tracking competitor prices legal?
Reading publicly shown prices is common business practice. Avoid logging in, bypassing blocks or fetching at a heavy rate, and check each site's terms.
Start watching your site in minutes
7-day trial. No installs and no passwords — we only check public pages.