The best alternatives to Amazon at a glance

Zappos.com was originally launched under the domain name “Shoesite.com” when it was founded in 1999. Amazon actually acquired Zappos in 2009, making it a subsidiary website of Amazon. The company specializes in clothing, shoes, and accessories. Every time you make a purchase, you earn Zappos rewards and there’s also the option of receiving your order even quicker. The company even accepts returns up to a year after purchase!

Rakuten, founded in 1997, was previously known as “Buy.com” before it was purchased and renamed in 2010. Rakuten doesn’t actually sell its own products, but connects businesses with potential customers (just like eBay, mentioned below). Rakuten’s product categories include home & outdoor, pet supplies, electronics, bags & luggage, and clothing, shoes & accessories, among many others. The site boasts video reviews of some of the products and a “Super Points” program where you get rewarded for each purchase.

Target is very well known in the United States and boasts almost 2,000 stores. Since being founded in 1902, it’s gone through several name changes in its long life. It caters to everyone with an emphasis on younger shoppers. You’ll find products falling into at least 30 categories including movies, music & books, kitchen & dining, patio & garden, party supplies, and heaps more. If you spend over $35, you qualify for free 2-day shipping. It’s also possible to order and pick up your goods from a brick and mortar store to save time. Prices are comparable to Walmart’s (mentioned below), but the products are usually of higher quality.

Newegg is similar to Amazon, but only sells electronic goods. Categories include gaming, software & services, automotive & industrial, hobbies & toys, and lots more. The company was founded in 2000, and in 2005 was named one of the internet’s top 10 retailers. It also won the Computer Shopper Shopper’s Choice Awards in 2011, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, and 2003. Newegg is known for its quick delivery and great customer service. The online retailer plans to expand globally and be available in 50 countries.

Best Buy has great deals on electronics, especially desktop computers, laptops, televisions, video games, and appliances. You can even reserve items online and pick them up yourself at your nearest Best Buy store. Another plus is that you just need to fill out an online form to return an item, making it much easier than Amazon. Best Buy also offers free shipping at specific times of the year and its exchange or return policy is usually 15 days. The company was founded in 1966 and has won many awards including “Company of the Year” by Forbes magazine in 2004.

Overstock was originally founded in order to sell goods from websites that weren’t doing very well, and was able to often sell goods such as furniture, bedding, and home décor at a reduced price. Nowadays, the company sells new products too and boasts a program called “Worldstock” where it’s possible to buy hand-made crafts from around the globe while supporting artisans at the same time, since they receive at least 60% of the revenue. The company was founded in 1997 and offers a rewards program, giving you free shipping and 5% off each order.

Etsy is a marketplace for very specific and unique gifts that was launched in 2005. Most of the products offered are handmade clothing, jewelry, and accessories. Vintage items can also be bought on the Etsy platform, but must be at least 20 years old. In 2017, its annual revenue was $441 million and the number of active sellers amounted to 1.9m. Sellers pay just 20 cents to list each article, which then remains active for 4 months.

Buyers can check out the seller’s positive percentage feedback to work out how reliable they are. You don’t even need an account to buy from Etsy: it’s possible to log in using your Facebook or Google account.

Jet.com offers brand-name products at low prices. The site was actually co-founded by a former Amazon colleague in 2014. The idea behind it is that you order from an actual store and receive the products within 2 days. There is even free delivery if your order is over $35.The website’s pricing scheme encourages users to buy in bulk as well as from the same distribution center to keep shipping costs down. Jet.com even has a section where you can take a sneak peek at any upcoming deals so you know what’s in store. Its private-label brand called “Uniquely J” was designed to attract millennials and consists of environmentally friendly products. The main categories are pantry & household, electronics, home, fashion, and holiday shop. In September 2016, Walmart acquired Jet.com, meaning it’s now a subsidiary of Walmart and no longer an independent company.

Walmart was founded in 1962 and is the world’s largest company by revenue – more than $500 billion was made in 2017. There’s free 2-day shipping on millions of items if you spend over $35. Free grocery pickup is available in most areas: a Walmart employee will do your shopping for you and load items into your car - you just have to turn up. The company is able to do 2-hour delivery cheaper than anybody else because of the assets they have, according to CEO, Marc Lore. It also helps that around 90% of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a Walmart store, whereas only around 44% of the population lives within 20 miles of an Amazon facility. Categories on the website include home, furniture & appliances, toys & video games, pharmacy, health & beauty, clothing, shoes & accessories, etc. There’s also an option to quickly reorder your essentials so you don’t have to start from scratch and find them all on the website each time.

eBay, founded in 1995 as “AuctionWeb”, is probably the most well-known Amazon alternative. It doesn’t sell its own products, however, but acts as the “middle man” between sellers and buyers. There are two ways to buy products, either straightaway with the “buy it now” option or by winning an auction. The website even has a section entitled “Best offers” where you can find great bargains. Low-value items often take one or two months to arrive, since they are shipped in the cheapest way, but there are options available to the buyer to speed up the process. Categories include motors, fashion, electronics, collectibles & art, home & garden, sporting goods, toys, business & industrial, music, deals, and under $10. Buyers are covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee in case they don’t receive the item they bought, or if the item wasn’t described properly.