When you plan to make your next online purchase, what comes first to your mind? Let us guess: look at Amazon. This happens for several reasons. One of which is that you identify this site with online shopping. This happens because many of us are used to buying everything in one place. You are accustomed to the same rules, and it may seem that your consumer experience in another place will be worse. However, this is not true.
Why Should You Try Alternative to Amazon Websites?
Alternative websites to Amazon can offer various benefits that ecommerce giant does not have. By trying out different platforms, you can discover unique products, support small businesses, and find better deals that may be less prominent on Amazon. Furthermore, with other websites, you may get a more personalized shopping experience because some focus on specific niches that can be more relevant to your interests and preferences.
Here is a list of reasons why the range of products on Amazon does not always satisfy your shopping needs:
- Some sellers don’t sell their products on Amazon due to high storage fees and expensive advertising.
- High competition. New sellers on this marketplace are forced to stop selling because cheap Chinese goods with many reviews occupy their niche. For this reason, many sellers of goods made in Europe or the USA prefer to sell goods through their websites or other sites.
- The product is large. For the seller, storing such goods in an Amazon warehouse will cost like “a wing from an airplane”. For this reason, it is better to search for such products elsewhere.
- Niche products are sold on niche websites.
- A huge selection of goods doesn’t guarantee that you will find what you are searching for at the best price. Compare prices across different websites to ensure you get the best value for money.
What about delivery and loyalty programs? Similar sites may offer decent alternatives if you don’t use Prime membership or if you don’t like the price and terms. In some cases, delivery will be cheaper.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Sites like Amazon, but cheaper, exist. Some of them may be found in this article (examples: Walmart, ASOS, Thrive Market, etc.).
- Small businesses sell their goods on smaller platforms. You can support them by buying there.
- Unique products can be found outside of Amazon.
- Online stores specializing in certain niches can provide a better shopping experience and prices than others.
Below you will find a list of sites that offer a different shopping experience. Some focus on sustainability and ethical practices, while others on niche products.
Sites are placed in random order, this does not mean that some websites are better and others are worse. We have grouped them by product groups in which they mostly specialize, to make it easier for you to find what you are looking for.
Amazon Alternatives for Online Shopping (Large Marketplaces and Online Stores)
The websites below offer a wide selection of products for your needs. Some of these large e-commerce platforms, besides sites like Amazon, also operate a chain of hypermarkets, supermarkets, and department stores. This allows you to look at the product and evaluate its quality in-store before ordering it online. Also, they allow you to pick up your online order directly from the store, instead of ordering delivery.
1. Walmart
Best alternative in general
Walmart is the most similar to Amazon’s website. It takes second place by a share of retail e-commerce sales in the United States. They have low prices on kitchenware, groceries, home & garden supplies, and some great offers on electronics and clothing.
Walmart has a free in-store pick-up option for online orders. This is a big advantage when you need something quickly and want to skip waiting for delivery. Additionally, this allows you to save on shipping when you buy something bulky or heavy.
For delivery lovers: you can apply for a Walmart+ plan for $98/year (before taxes) to get free delivery of orders over $35 from your store and free shipping with no order minimum for eligible items.
2. Target
Best for: household goods, trendy clothing, fast shopping.
The brand Target, which was first introduced in 1962, currently operates a network of hypermarkets and discount department stores, as well as its multi-niche website. The retailer focuses on same-day services, which is a significant advantage for customers compared to a site monopolist because there is no need to wait for a delivery when you need something urgently.
Target sells miscellaneous products, such as toys, clothing, electronics, etc. However, it focuses more on stylish trend items made of high-quality materials.
About 30% of Target’s inventory consists of exclusive private labels and brands that they own.
3. eBay
Best for: used, vintage, or rare items, collectibles, auto parts, household appliance parts.
In comparison to Amazon, eBay has lower selling fees, making it more profitable for sellers to add their product listings there and offer better prices to their customers.
eBay offers auction-style sales, so buyers can bid on items they want to buy. Some products are sold in such a way for lower prices than retail. But if you are not into auctions, it’s not a problem — they offer a “Buy It Now” option for most items.
There may be a misconception that most goods sold there are used goods. In fact, about 80% of their inventory is brand-new.
Remember to check the seller’s reputation before making any purchases.
Websites for Ethical & Sustainable Online Shopping
We’ve analyzed some other than Amazon platforms that prioritize ethical and sustainable practices. These alternatives offer unique and responsibly-made products and popularize brands that use eco-friendly materials for their products. By shopping on these platforms, you are supporting independent makers and investing in small businesses that are trying to make our world a little bit better.
4. Uncommon Goods
Best for: unique gifts for any occasion, jewelry, home & kitchen items, experiences.
Uncommon Goods is a platform where independent designers and makers sell their work. The site’s catalog is constantly updated with unique goods from around the world that were handpicked by their buying team. They have anything from jewelry and handmade accessories to ergonomic knives and unique coffee mugs, to art and home decor. This place is a paradise for animal rights activists as you won’t find any leather, feather, and fur goods here.
Uncommon Goods is one of the first Certified B Corporations. This environmentally conscious business encourages artists to use recycled or sustainable materials for their exclusive goods and uses environmentally friendly packing materials. They create their own uncommon products as well.
It is worth noting that with the Better to Give program that started in 2001, the company donated over $3 million to charity. They donate $1 to this program from every purchase you make.
5. Thrive Market
Best for: affordable food & drinks, personal care, and household products.
Thrive Market has a mission to make healthy living easy and affordable for everyone. This grocery retailer offers 100% GMO-free food without big retail markups. Shop here for everything from sustainable meat and red wine to bathroom cleaners and pantry essentials.
The online marketplace offers a membership for $12/month. With a Thrive Market membership, you can save up to 30% off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for certain products and receive access to weekly discounts and free gifts on qualifying orders.
Certified B Corp sells high-quality organic and sustainable products from trusted brands. The company is partnered with over 500 healthy brands like Annie’s, KIND, and Seventh Generation.
Every order is sent with carbon-neutral shipping and in recyclable packaging. They care about the environment by making warehouses TRUE Certified for Zero Waste.
6. Etsy
Best for: handmade products, arts and crafts, home decor, jewelry, vintage items.
Etsy is a large online marketplace of independent artists and small businesses that sell handcrafted items, unique gifts, and vintage goods. Here you can buy one-of-a-kind works of art, beautiful jewelry, knitted crafts, and also download sets of digital products.
The site of Etsy is powered by 100% renewable electricity. They offset 100% of carbon emissions from shipping and bring sellers’ packaging made from 100% recycled materials, thanks to a partnership with EcoEnclose.
7. Grove Collaborative
Best for: cleaning essentials, plastic-neutral home products.
Grove Collaborative is the best place for buying cruelty-free and non-toxic home cleaning, personal care, kids, and pet products. There are many sustainable alternatives from 200+ vetted brands to your regular household products.
Grove is a part of the Beyond Plastic initiative, so everything you order from them is 100% plastic-neutral, and they are working to eliminate plastic from their products in the future.
As a Certified B Corp., Public Benefit Corporation, and CarbonNeutral® Certified company, it has 100% carbon-neutral shipments and uses sustainable packaging materials. Every office and warehouse of a company is also carbon-neutral.
Grove offers free shipping on all orders over $49 (for VIP members — over $29).
Sites Like Amazon for Secondhand Shopping
When your budget is limited, there is no need to despair, it is not the end of the world. Many people who are in the same situation make their online purchases in second-hand online stores. Visit the specialized secondhand websites below.
8. thredUp
Best for: used women’s and kids’ clothes.
This online consignment and thrift store inspires a new generation of consumers to think secondhand first. The online platform is created for buying women’s and kids’ secondhand apparel at up to 90% cheaper than the retail price tag and reselling fashion brands. Thousands of brands from Gap to Gucci can be found there.
thredUP implements a holistic environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy in its business processes. The main focus is on giving new life to millions of used clothes, recirculating, supporting sustainable fashion, and reducing CO2 emissions.
Users can give a second life to their old clothes if it’s in good condition and have a certain brand. Everyone can send a bag with it to thredUP and if it will be sold within a certain period you will be rewarded with credits for your further purchases.
9. Poshmark
Best for: secondhand apparel and accessories.
Poshmark is a marketplace for new and used women’s, kids’, and men’s fashion items and accessories, new personal care products, and certain home, pets’, and electronics goods. The site’s inventory contains lots of unique styles and hard-to-find pieces.
It’s more than an e-commerce site for secondhand goods because they added elements of a social media platform and introduced live selling. This is a real community of individuals committed to reducing fashion waste and saving money.
Each order on Poshmark is protected with “Posh Protect” customer service. Therefore, your funds won’t be released to the seller if you report a problem with an order.
Top Websites to Buy Books Online Besides Amazon
Many truly worthwhile books get lost among the abundance of other books on Amazon. Instead of this monopolist among book marketplaces, try looking for a book on one of the alternative websites below.
10. Bookshop.org
Best for: books, ebooks, audiobooks, gift cards for readers, puzzles.
Bookshop has a mission to help independent bookstores compete against Amazon and other large web retailers. Every purchase on the site financially supports them.
According to B-Corp’s customer research, 78% of their users previously used Amazon to buy their books but now support authors and booksellers on this platform.
11. Barnes & Noble
Best for: books, ebooks, magazines, toys & games.
Customers who have a rough idea of what they want to read can search through hundreds of categories to find the book they need. Site has a wide selection of books, including new releases, bestsellers, and classics. Barnes & Noble offers their customers a “See Inside” program that lets them read excerpts from thousands of titles to make their choice.
The bookstore has a special collection of Rare & Collectible Books that contains signed and first editions. Avid book collectors can replenish their collections with books from this section.
Amazon Alternative Sites for Clothes & Accessories
Consider buying clothes in online stores that specialize in apparel. You can get more personalized customer service, find unique brands and items of specific styles you won’t find on Amazon.
12. Macy’s
Best for: beauty products, men’s and kid’s clothing, bedding, cookware, fragrances.
Macy’s is a network of American department stores with an industry-leading e-commerce platform. They offer a wide range of clothing brands, including Macy’s private brands like Charter Club, I.N.C., Style & Co, Alfani, Karen Scott, The Cellar, Oake, and more, convenient services. Their website inventory includes indoor and outdoor clothing for women and men, shoes, jewelry, accessories, home and beauty products, furniture, and mattresses. Macy’s offers free shipping for Silver & Bronze members with a minimum purchase of $25, and for all other shoppers in the United States with a minimum purchase of $49.
They have a “Star Rewards” loyalty program where members earn on each purchase (except Gift Cards, services, fees). Benefits include 1 to 5% back in rewards, free standard shipping (without minimum) depending on your membership level, perks and offers, and a birthday surprise.
13. Nordstrom
Best for: designer clothing, shoes, skincare, makeup, accessories for men, women and kids.
Nordstrom is a luxury department store chain that originated as a small Seattle shoe store and has since expanded to offer designer clothing, cosmetics, and home goods. With over 350 locations worldwide, it offers many products online. They sell products from fashion brands such as Balenciaga, Levi’s, Polo Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Tiffany & Co., Tommy Hilfiger, and more. More than 3,000 brands are presented for purchasing online.
Nordstrom has a loyalty program called “The Nordy Club” with three levels: Member, Influencer, and Ambassador. Participants earn points on every purchase, with the number of points per $1 spent on qualifying items depending on whether or not you have a Nordstrom credit or debit card.
14. ASOS
Best for: dresses, activewear, makeup, footwear.
ASOS is a British e-retailer of fashion clothing and cosmetics available in 15 countries worldwide. They have a strong focus on apparel for young adults and give students 10% off until they graduate. Their London design team created its own ASOS Brands in more than 30 sizes (at the same price), which is a fair approach to pricing for customers. For $24.99 a year, you can sign up for ASOS Premier USA membership for unlimited Next-Day Delivery of orders over $100. Without it, you will have to pay $23.99 for each order delivery.
15. Lulus
Best for: dresses, tops, accessories, jewelry, wedding items.
Lulus is an online store, located in California, that offers luxury women’s clothing for affordable prices. They design and buy exclusive styles with superior construction and high-end finishes and have various options for any mood or occasion. At Lulus, students, healthcare, and military employees can get a 10% discount for free after verification. Free shipping is available for orders over $50.
After joining a free Lulus Love Rewards loyalty program members earn points for shopping. The more points you earn, the more rewards you can get. There are 4 statuses of the perks, depending on the count of points: Member (0-299), Insider (300-699), Icon (700-1499), and All Access (1500+). Rewards include birthday treats, exclusive promotions, and one-time discounts.
16. Old Navy
Best for: casual clothing, activewear, kid’s clothing, maternity wear.
Old Navy is a popular brand and online store that provides new clothing collections at affordable prices for the whole family. The store primarily focuses on casual apparel: from maternity clothes to newborn clothes, from men’s T-shirts to women’s dresses and jumpsuits. Besides regular sizes, they offer tall and plus sizes for women and men and extended sizes for kids. They offer free delivery on all Rewards Members’ orders of $50+, and $7 shipping for orders under $50.
17. SHEIN
Best for: women’s apparel, beachwear, accessories.
SHEIN is a global fashion e-retailer accessible in more than 150 countries. They contribute to a sustainable future by using on-demand manufacturing technology to reduce inventory waste. The site offers many product categories: hoodies, denim, sportswear, underwear and beachwear, children’s apparel, pet supplies, accessories, and more. The main advantage is low prices. The downside is that delivery won’t be fast because goods are shipping from China. Standard delivery takes up to 10 days and costs $3.99 (free for orders over $29), and express delivery takes up to 7 days and costs $12.90 (free for orders over $129).
Say Goodbye to Amazon: Try These Grocery Websites Instead
Buying groceries online gained great popularity during the pandemic and remains in demand nowadays. Online grocery stores and food delivery services allow you to order from local shops or regional chains, where you can find great deals on certain groceries. Therefore, there is a greater chance that the ordered products will be fresh.
18. Instacart
Best for: fresh groceries, ready meals, flowers.
While Amazon Fresh operates its online and physical store, Instacart makes it easy to order from local stores near you — it’s the main difference. Here are some of their partners: ALDI, Costco, Kroger, Sprouts, Publix, CVS, and more. This platform connects you with a personal shopper in your area who will shop and deliver your order.
Inventory on this alternative website has 1 billion products available for ordering right now. It’s not just food and beverages — currently, they deliver flowers, baby supplies, beauty products, and more.
With the “Leave at My Door” delivery feature, you can get contactless delivery. Delivery fees start at $3.99 for orders over $35 and vary depending on order size and delivery speed, but there is an option of Instacart+ membership for getting free delivery and lower service fees. Potentially, such an offer will be of interest to non-Prime members.
19. DoorDash
Best for: prepared meals, essential household products.
Make orders from your favorite local restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores, pet shops, and more.
DoorDash often delivers food much faster than Amazon’s alternative can deliver groceries. This is because the food is already prepared and only needs to be picked up from the restaurant, whereas groceries need to be selected, packed, and transported from a distribution center.
Frequent users can subscribe to a DashPass membership to get free delivery and 5% back on pickup orders.
With Package Pickup, consumers of DoorDash can request a Dasher to pick up their prepaid packages from a selected location and deliver them to the service department of a local carrier (UPS, FedEx, and USPS).
20. Shipt
Best for: groceries, household essentials, fresh food, pet supplies.
An independent subsidiary company of Target called Shipt specializes in same-day grocery delivery. It is available to 80% of households in more than 5,000 cities in the USA. They deliver fresh goods like bread & bakery, pantry, dairy, meat, beverages, etc., and home goods from personal care to cleaning supplies and all the outdoor items for the garden.
Service partners include companies such as Costco, Sur La Table, CVS, H-E-B, Petco, Meijer, and more.
The company has 3 membership plans: annual ($99), monthly ($10.99), and student ($4.99 billed monthly) for unlimited deliveries of orders over $35 without additional fees and exclusive deals.
Shipt lets you set dietary preferences to get personalized suggestions and cancel your membership anytime without penalties.
Best Amazon Alternative Websites for Electronics
Niche sites are good alternatives for photographers, PC builders, and other professionals who need specialized equipment. Electronics retailers might sell hard-to-find components that “giant” does not have.
21. Best Buy
Best for: electronics, appliances, and video games.
The company occupies a leading position among online and offline sellers of consumer electronics. They have a vast selection of laptops, printers, and PCs for different purposes. A great place for buying electronics for home and office.
Their tech industry professionals will advise you about all the pros and cons of the selected products. Additionally, for best-in-class personalized customer support experiences, BestBuy is using generative AI.
BestBuy aims to reduce its environmental impact and help its customers do the same. With an e-waste recycling program together with customers they keep tech out of landfills. Over 2.7 billion pounds of electronics and appliances were collected for recycling within the last 15 years.
22. Newegg
Best for: PC hardware, consumer electronics, home appliances, gaming products, office supplies.
Newegg is the best place for PC builders and buying computer peripherals. According to our estimates, there are more than 2,600 brands on the site now, which is quite enough to satisfy your shopping needs.
The choice between the giant marketplace and this alternative depends on your specific needs and preferences. E-store specializes in technology-based products and gives a “Price Match Guarantee” for identical items offered for sale by them or major retailers. We suppose it is a good Amazon substitute for buying PC components and electronics.
Upgrade Your Home: Amazon Alternative Websites for Home Improvement
Home improvement projects require many materials, tools, and furniture for their realization. Alternative sites will perfectly help in realizing the ideas of an interior designer. Unlike a well-known website, on such platforms, it is easier to find what you need for a certain style and color of the interior.
23. Home Depot
Best for: home decor, furniture, garden supplies, building materials.
The world’s largest home improvement retailer with more than 2,300 stores across North America. E-commerce business of Home Depot offers more than 1,000,000 products for DIY customers and professional contractors. Find here everything from renovation tools to interior paint, to kitchen appliances and air conditioners, to garage doors and lawn mowers. Besides purchasing items for your home design you can order installation services and rent what you need.
Home Depot offers many delivery options, including next-day delivery. Retailer has a Low Price Guarantee for online purchases and Pro Pricing Programs to get personalized pricing on thousands of items.
Company regularly improves homes and lives of U.S. veterans and supports families impacted by natural disasters. Since 2011, they have invested more than half a billion dollars for these purposes.
24. Lowe’s
Best for: appliances, tools, lumber, lawn and garden supplies.
Online store has a wide assortment of bathroom goods, building and cleaning supplies, HVAC components, outdoor items, and smart home devices. You get a convenient shopping experience on home improvement inventory.
Lowe’s website added a separate section with savings (special deals for certain merchandise) for their customers who want to save. Also, they can benefit from MyLowe’s Rewards Membership, a free loyalty program allowing members to earn points toward shopping at Lowe’s and receive free member-only gifts.
Additionally, the company has created a special program called Everyday Military Discount that allows you to get 10% off on most full-price items (online and offline). It’s available for verified military members, veterans, and their spouses.
25. Wayfair
Best for: furniture, bedding, decor, hardware, lighting.
One of the world’s largest home retailers with over 30 million products for home. Wayfair focuses exclusively on home goods compared to the leading online marketplace, so customers get a more specialized shopping experience.
On the site, you can browse Wayfair’s Exclusive Brands like Kelly Clarkson Home, Andover Mills, Greyleigh, Mercury Row, Wayfair Basics, and more. Intuitive navigation allows you to find brands that best match your home style and at prices that fit your budget. Here is a complete list of styles of their owned brands: traditional, modern, boho, essential, kids, cottage, glam, coastal.
The company offers expert customer service, free shipping over $35, and regular deals with up to 70% off.
Conclusion
In this post, we’ve included some legit Amazon alternatives for certain categories of goods. While some alternative sites are like Amazon — do not focus solely on one product category, others offer niche products, unique (one-of-a-kind) items, better deals, and exclusive brands, are committed to a sustainable future, and support small businesses in every possible way. Many of them have their own membership program. Diversifying your online shopping experience beyond Amazon can provide a more personalized approach to meeting your shopping needs.
