Amazon without a doubt is the market leader when it comes to e-commerce in the United States. It offers a variety of goods in every possible niche with fast shipping and a customer-friendly return policy. But despite being a market leader and owning a huge market share, there are a lot of e-commerce sites just like Amazon that are present on social media.
Websites Like Amazon
Let’s look at the best alternatives to Amazon. You will find a list of big e-commerce platforms like eBay, AliExpress, and Target and even niche platforms designed for specific needs like Thrive Market, Barnes, and Noble, etc.
eBay
eBay is the best alternative to Amazon. It originally started as an online auction and shopping website and today it is operating in more than 32 countries. It aims to connect buyers and sellers across the world. Anyone can open an eBay account for free. However, if you are opening an account as a seller, it will charge some commission.
Like Amazon, you can find tons of different products. Rare edition books, second-hand gadgets, clothes, accessories – everything is available on eBay. Also, If you are someone who likes collecting vintage items, and rare collectibles, then eBay must be your go-to place.
The difference between Amazon and eBay is that the latter does not manufacture and sell its own products online, instead, it facilitates transactions between different buyers and sellers. You can even auction any product. Through its bidding feature, you can conduct an online auction for your product.
AliExpress
AliExpress is a Chinese e-commerce site that is very similar to that of Amazon. It is owned by Alibaba which is a tech giant in China. You will find products on this website for cheap prices. The company breaks the chain of giving commissions to middlemen and provides factory-ready goods directly to its online consumers.
You will find all sorts of products here, ranging from clothing, computers, pet products, beauty products, automobiles, home decor, electronics, etc. You can even read the customer reviews and ratings, similar to that of Amazon.
AliExpress is available in 18 languages including English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, etc, and has over 20 million daily visitors. The only drawback of this app is, that if you are located in a foreign country that is away from China, you might have to wait for weeks to receive your order.
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Walmart.com
Walmart is known for its offline retail stores, it is a big giant in that space and when it entered the online space and opened an e-commerce site, its sales started to skyrocket in the year 2020 and they saw a growth of a whopping 79 percent. In 2021, Walmart became the second-largest e-commerce platform in the United States, taking over the position of eBay.
You can order tons of products, and other items from their e-commerce platform. They offer same-day delivery if you shop for groceries on their online store and the site is known for its great customer experience.
It has also started Walmart Marketplace under its own website where third-party sellers can list their products on Walmart’s website. These products will show up in search results with other Walmart products. The seller will be charged a commission of 6 to 15 percent depending on the nature of the product.
Overstock
One of the websites like Amazon is overstock.com.It does not sell any groceries or food products but it is known for having a variety of furniture, home decor products, electronics, and office supplies.
If you buy products worth $45 then the shipping will be free, otherwise, the shipping cost is only $4.95. Overstock has a solid return policy. You would get a full refund (including the shipping charges) if you wish to refund after 30 days of your purchase.
Amazon has Amazon Prime membership which comes with its own benefits, Overstock also has a similar membership system called Club O. It costs only $19.95 per year. If you are part of Club O, you will get free shipping on every purchase, 5 percent in your reward point system, a price match guarantee for competitors, and other tons of benefits.
Target
Target is an Amazon alternative where you can buy pretty much all sorts of goods at competitive prices. It is the seventh largest retailer in the United States and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Target also happens to be one of the biggest competitors of Amazon.
From buying groceries, home decor, consumer electronics, apparel, and accessories, you will find here almost everything that is available on Amazon. It also offers a RedCard program and offers an extra 5% off to Target REDCard holders and fast shipping.
Target has several delivery options, just like its competitor Amazon. You can get same-day delivery, Drive-through delivery to your car, Free 2-day shipping when you use your REDcard or spend at least $35, etc.
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Thrive Market
If you are looking for an online site to buy healthy groceries at discounted prices, Thrive Market is a great option for you. It is an e-commerce site that sells organic and non-GMO products at a discounted rate of 25% to 50% off retail prices. However, the Thrive Market is only available in the United States.
To be able to purchase from Thrive Market, you need a membership. You can opt for annual membership which will cost you around $59.95 or for a monthly membership for which you would be required to pay around $9.95 per month.
You will find here all kinds of healthy food options, along with beauty and skincare. Vegan, gluten-free, paleo, raw, vegan, etc. – everything is available here. Also, you will get free shipping on your first order and they also have a 21-day return policy. It is a good place to buy organic food at a low price.
Newegg.com
If you are looking for a website for buying tech and electronic products – newegg.com is the correct place for you. It has tons of exciting deals and discounts along with fast shipping which makes it a great e-commerce platform in the tech and electronics space.
Just like Amazon’s fast delivery, Newegg also has an amazing shipping service, your products will be delivered to your doorstep just within one to two business days. You will find detailed descriptions of every product and customer reviews, similar to that of Amazon. You can also buy open box, clearance, and refurbished electronic products at a discounted rate.
The majority share of newegg.com is owned by Liaison Interactive, a Chinese technology company. It was founded in 2002 by Fred Chang, a U.S immigrant from Taiwan and is headquartered in California, and has more than 38 million daily visitors on its site.
Barnes and Noble
If you are an online shopper who love to read books, then Barnes and Noble might be the right place for you. Barnes and Noble come under the fortune 500 companies and has over 600 retail bookstores in the United States.
In the space of books, Barnes and Noble is giving stiff competition to Amazon owned Book Depository. On their online store, you will not only find books but also toys, gifts, games and collectibles, art supplies, and decorative items.
Better World Books
Better World Books, as the name suggests, is an amazing e-commerce site for anyone who wants to purchase used books. It is a for-profit social enterprise that focuses on sustainability and the environment. It also aims to donate and help literacy and education nonprofits and has more than 9 million for the same.
It saves the books from landfills by collecting excess material from several libraries, college campuses, and bookstores. Then sells the used books online and donates a portion of its revenue on every sale to support literacy and education. Books that are not being sold are donated to the at-risk communities in the U.S. It also provides carbon-neutral shipping.
BuyDig
BuyDig is one of the Amazon alternatives if you are looking for electronic goods. Along with consumer electronics, it also sells goods like luggage, mattresses, bedding, and software. It was founded in 1983 and started selling online in 1997.
It is the authorized dealer for most of the top brands and provides the best pricing and discounted deals to its customers. It also has a return policy similar to that of Amazon, so you can get a full refund if the product order is defective or for any other authentic reason.
You will find here products like televisions, cameras, phones, laptops, audio systems, home theatres, etc. Additionally, you will also find home appliances and products like air purifiers, humidifiers, fans, portable AC, etc. You will also find products related to sports and fitness including, bedding, massagers, suitcases, trolleys, and backpacks.
Uncommon Goods
Uncommon goods are the best Amazon alternative when it comes to gifts. You will find different kinds of gifts here from accessories, handmade jewelry, leather-free jackets, and gourmet condiments. It focuses on sustainability and the environment which makes it an even more desirable place to shop for all our gifts.
A lot of the products that are listed on Uncommon Goods are made by independent artists which makes gifts even more unique. You can buy gifts there based on an occasion or sort them on the basis of the gift recipient (mother, father, friend, girlfriend, and so on).
If gifts are not enough, they also offer unique ‘Uncommon Experiences’ for your special ones. They can range from learning how to make wine, painting lessons, romantic gateway, etc. You will definitely find some present here that will make your loved one feel special and happy.
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Etsy
Etsy is one of the best Amazon alternatives for handicraft products. It is an online marketplace where a lot of independent artists, crafters, and vintage art collectors come to sell their respective products. If you wish to support small, independent artists and a small business then buy products from Etsy.
There are products ranging from handmade jewelry, craft, vintage products, home decor, toys, art collectables, etc. Like Amazon, it offers various shipping options. You can pay for your order using a debit/credit card, it also offers Etsy gift card similar to that of an Amazon gift card.
Etsy is very much focused on sustainability. Its operations are powered by renewable energy sources. A lot of artists follow sustainable practices to make goods and products. Also, more than 80 percent of the sellers are women.
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Zappos
Zappos is an e-commerce platform for shoes, clothing, and accessories. It originally started as a shoe site in an era when shopping for shoes or clothing on the internet was uncommon. However, it kept growing and today it is a 100-crore company. In 2009, Jeff Bezos, Executive Chairman of Amazon acquired the company for $880 million.
Zappos is known for its amazing collection of shoes, handbags, and accessories for men, women, and children. It has over 3.5 million products from more than 1000 brands. Amazon Prime Members, can link it to Zappos and avail benefits of Zappos VIP. Some benefits include free shipping, prime deals, Amazon Rewards Visa Cards, etc.
Zappos aims at giving the best customer service and top online shopping experience to everyone. It also has some unique programs for its customers like Runlimited. In this program, customers try out shoes for a month and if they do not like them, Zappos will take them back even if they have used them.
Rakuten
Rakuten is an e-commerce platform where you can find a wide range of products, just like on Amazon marketplace. It offers a range of goods in every possible niche and is the best for someone who loves variety.
Rakuten connects customers to other businesses directly via its website. It also allows customers to compare the prices of different brands for the same products to help them get the best buy. One of the most exciting features of this platform is that it offers cashback of 1 percent on every purchase you make. It is a great platform to get great deals, offers, and discounts.
What is the best alternative to Amazon?
The best Amazon alternative has to be either eBay or Walmart.com. Both these e-commerce platforms are the biggest competitors of Amazon. They offer pretty much the same variety of goods as Amazon and have the best customer service with fast shipping. Even Target is in the race for the best alternative to Amazon and offers the same services as Amazon.
