10 Alternatives to Amazon to Shop and Sell Online
Here are the best alternatives to Amazon and the elements that make them stand out.
Omar's Take
eBay is an online marketplace and auction site that operates in over 32 nations. It's best for auction-based buying and selling, particularly for vintage and rare collectibles collectors.
Best For:
Auction-based buying and selling
Price:
Free to open an account; sellers must pay specific eBay selling fees.
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
Free account
eBay is an excellent platform to shop online and sell auction-based items such as second-hand electronics, clothing, accessories, rare edition books, and other collectibles.
eBay and Amazon differ because the former doesn’t produce or market its own products. eBay is only a marketplace where buyers and sellers can transact.
Those who want to learn how to sell on eBay will also find it quite simple, so it's an excellent place to start an online side hustle.
Features
Here are eBay’s features.
Global Marketplace
eBay operates in over 32 nations and aims to bring together buyers and sellers worldwide.
eBay’s worldwide operations offer users an extensive range of products and let sellers reach a broader audience.
Auction Option
eBay offers an auction option that enables users to hold an online auction for their goods using its bidding platform. This feature is handy for rare and collectible items that may be difficult to price accurately.
Auctions can generate higher prices than fixed-price listings in certain situations, making them an attractive option for sellers.
Variety of Products
eBay offers various products, including second-hand electronics, clothing, accessories, rare edition books, and other collectibles.
User-Friendly Interface
eBay's platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it simple for buyers and sellers.
This user-friendly interface benefits those new to online marketplaces who need additional guidance.
Secure Transactions
eBay provides various security features to ensure that transactions on its platform are safe and secure.
These include secure payment processing and seller protection programs that help to protect sellers from fraudulent buyers.
Cons
Sellers must pay fees to eBay, and there is a risk of fraud or scams when buying or selling on the platform.
However, eBay is an excellent platform for rare and vintage collectors buying or selling auction-based items.
Pricing
Anyone can open an eBay account for free, but sellers must pay eBay selling fees.
eBay doesn’t charge a monthly fee but charges sellers for products sold.
Omar's Take
Walmart is an excellent alternative to Amazon for online buying and selling. It's best for vetted goods and has a reputation for outstanding customer service, simple ordering, and seamless return procedures.
Best For:
Vetted goods
Price:
Prices vary per product
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Walmart is one of the more similar sites to Amazon for online buying and selling. It's a fantastic alternative to Amazon shopping.
Walmart Marketplace enables independent merchants to list their goods online, increasing product variety further.
Features
Here are Walmart’s features.
Same-day Delivery for Groceries
The provider gives same-day delivery for grocery orders in select areas. The company's web store offers various consumer goods, including groceries, electronics, clothing, and more.
Good Customer Service and Experience
Walmart provides terrific customer service, simple ordering, and seamless return procedures.
Vetted Products
Because Walmart has a relatively strict approval process for its sellers, you have more assurance that people who sell on the platform are trustworthy.
Cons
Walmart is an excellent platform for buying or selling vetted goods.
However, prices vary according to the product, and some locations have limited availability.
Pricing
Selling on Walmart is free. You simply pay referral fees according to the product category.
Consider learning how to sell on the Walmart Marketplace if this Amazon alternative suits your selling goals.
Omar's Take
Target is among the finest Amazon competitors for online buying and selling. It offers a wide selection of goods, competitive prices, same-day delivery, first-rate customer support, and a user-friendly website and app.
Best For:
Consumer goods and groceries
Price:
Prices vary per product.
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Target is among the finest Amazon competitors for online buying and selling. It has a wide selection of goods, competitive prices, and same-day delivery.
Target is an excellent place to buy and sell various goods. Here are some products available at Target.
- Food items
- Household goods
- Electronics
- Clothing
- Cosmetics and personal care items
- Home goods
Features
Here are Target’s features.
Shipt Program
Target's Shipt program has a handy and quick same-day delivery service for groceries and household supplies is also available.
Excellent Customer Experience
Target offers first-rate customer support to shoppers and sellers alike.
Website and App Access
Target’s user-friendly website, app, and first-rate customer support give users an excellent shopping experience.
Cons
Selling on Target can be too expensive for some e-commerce entrepreneurs. The platform levies a 15% commission fee on each sale.
Pricing
When selling on the Target website, you pay a 5 to 15% referral commission fee.
Omar's Take
The Best Buy website is one of the most popular ethical alternatives to Amazon for online buying and selling. It offers a vast selection of electronics, appliances, and gadgets from leading brands and first-rate customer support.
Best For:
Electronics, appliances, and gadgets
Price:
Prices vary per product.
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Best Buy is a solid option for online buyers and sellers looking for high-quality goods and gadgets. The website has reasonable retail prices and price matching with big retailers.
It offers a massive selection of products from renowned companies.
Here are examples of products available at Best Buy.
- Cell phones
- Laptops
- TVs
- Game consoles
- Headphones
- Home theater systems
- Kitchen appliances
- Smart home gadgets
Features
Here are Best Buy’s features.
Best Buy Marketplace
You can join the Marketplace program to sell on Best Buy. However, be aware of the competition. One out of every four BestBuy orders goes through Marketplace sellers.
Wide Product Selection
This online marketplace has an enormous selection of electronics, appliances, and gadgets from leading brands, first-rate customer support, and an intuitive website and app.
Various Delivery Choices
It offers several delivery choices, including curbside collection, in-store pickup, and free next-day or same-day delivery for qualifying items.
They also offer a military discount as well as an employee discount, which means that there is a benefit for more people to shop on this platform.
The marketplace platform's openness to outside vendors gives buyers access to a more extensive range of goods. They also have a fair return policy.
Cons
Best Buy focuses on electronics, appliances, and gadgets. If you want to sell products in other categories, consider other marketplaces.
Pricing
A Best Buy Marketplace membership is free, but you must pay commissions.
Omar's Take
Etsy is an excellent option for distinctive, one-of-a-kind creations sellers make by hand. It offers a forum for makers to sell directly to customers, enabling people to support small businesses.
Best For:
Handcrafted items, vintage items, craft supplies, and art
Price:
Prices vary per product.
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
Free 30-day trial for sellers
Etsy is an excellent platform for buying and selling handcrafted items, vintage goods, craft supplies, and art.
The platform offers an extensive range of products, from handmade paper goods to jewelry made of recycled materials.
Features
Here are Etsy’s features.
Directory for Creators
Etsy has a forum for makers to sell directly to customers, enabling people to support small businesses.
Handmade and Recycled Goods
You can get handmade paper goods, jewelry produced from recycled materials, and other customized products.
You can make money on Etsy while creating products you love.
Sustainability-driven Marketplace
Etsy runs its entire marketplace on renewable energy, making it one of the best sustainable Amazon alternatives.
Cons
Etsy only allows you to sell products you created yourself, meaning the platform isn’t ideal for dropshipping products from other suppliers.
Pricing
Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee for each item you list on its marketplace.
Omar's Take
Overstock is an excellent alternative to Amazon. This platform focuses on furniture, home decor, and office supplies. Using the platform has many enticing perks.
Best For:
Furniture, home decor, and office supplies
Price:
Prices vary per product.
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
Free shipping on some orders
Is there an alternative to Amazon for furniture and home decor? Overstock is arguably the best alternative to Amazon for these products.
As its name implies, Overstock sells leftover merchandise from other businesses.
Features
Here are Overstock’s features.
Free Returns or In-store Credit
Overstock offers free returns on most items within 30 days of purchase. Customers can choose to receive a refund or in-store credit for their returns.
Customers can shop and return items if they're not satisfied.
Five Points or 5% Cash Back
Overstock rewards customers for shopping on the platform by offering five points or 5% cash back on every dollar spent. Customers can redeem their points for discounts on future purchases or cash back.
Price-match Guarantee
Overstock offers a price-match guarantee for rival retailers.
Overstock will match the price If a customer finds a lower price for an identical item on a competitor's website.
Cons
Overstock may not be available in all areas, making accessing the platform challenging for some customers. It also only offers home goods, furniture, and decor products.
Pricing
Registering to sell on Overstock is free. You just have to pay a listing fee, which normally ranges from $0.10 to $3.15, depending on the item you’re selling. If the item is below $25, you’ll pay 3% of the listed price as a fee.
Omar's Take
AliExpress is a Chinese ecommerce platform selling factory-ready goods at low prices, making it a cheaper alternative to Amazon.
Best For:
Inexpensive products for reselling
Price:
Prices vary per product.
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
AliExpress is a Chinese ecommerce platform comparable to Amazon. This marketplace sells various goods at low prices, making it one of the few sites cheaper than Amazon.
Here are some items available on AliExpress.
- Apparel
- Electronics
- Computers
- Pet products
- Cosmetics
- Vehicles
- Home furnishings
Features
Here are AliExpress’s features.
Product Variety
The platform sells an immense range of products, including apparel, electronics, computers, pet products, cosmetics, vehicles, and home furnishings.
Inexpensive Products
Looking for the best sites like Amazon, but cheaper? AliExpress fits the bill and is the top choice for inexpensive products and direct-to-consumer pricing.
Cons
While AliExpress helps you save money, you often have to wait weeks to receive your orders if you're not in Asia.
Long delivery times can annoy those who need the product immediately or prefer fast shipping.
Pricing
Depending on the product category, you pay 5% and 8% of every product you sell.
Omar's Take
EarthHero is an excellent alternative to Amazon for people looking for sustainable, ethical, and eco-friendly products that help reduce waste. The platform also has an extensive product range.
Best For:
.Eco-friendly and sustainable products
Price:
Prices vary per product.
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
EarthHero is ideal for environmentally conscious consumers and sellers because this conservative Amazon alternative provides sustainable and ethical products.
Features
Here are EarthHero’s features.
Extensive Product Range
EarthHero has a massive range of products, including groceries, electronics, home appliances, beauty products, clothes, shoes, and toys.
Carbon-neutral Packaging
Unlike Amazon, EarthHero ships its products in carbon-neutral packaging, offsetting the carbon emissions from shipping products. This packaging reduces the environmental impact of online shopping.
Certified B-Corp Status
EarthHero is an Amazon alternative with B-Corp Certification, meaning the site meets the highest social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability standards.
The business is also Climate Neutral Certified.
Cons
EarthHero’s products may be slightly more expensive than other marketplaces because sustainable and ethical products often have costlier manufacturing processes.
Pricing
EarthHero has only one program for sellers: an affiliate program that gives 7% to 8% commission.
Omar's Take
Barnes & Noble is an excellent alternative to Amazon for book enthusiasts, with over 600 physical shops in the US and an extensive online store.
Best For:
Books, toys, gifts, and art supplies
Price:
Prices vary per product.
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Barnes & Noble is a terrific destination for book enthusiasts. The company also has an extensive online store, making it an excellent alternative to Amazon for books.
Features
Here are Barnes & Noble’s features.
Large Book Store Collection
Barnes & Noble is Amazon-owned Book Depository’s fiercest competitor in the book market.
Other Items for Sale
Barnes and Noble provides more than just books.
Here are other items you can get online at Barnes & Noble.
- Toys
- Gifts
- Games
- Collectibles
- Art materials
- Decorative items
Cons
Barnes and Noble's online store lacks variety besides books and some excellent toys and gift collections.
Pricing
Selling on Barnes & Noble is free but isn’t as simple as it seems. You must apply for approval as a Barnes & Noble vendor.
Omar's Take
Thrive Market is an excellent alternative to Amazon for shoppers and third-party sellers of organic and non-GMO groceries. This ecommerce site offers a 25% to 50% discount off retail pricing and provides options for various diets.
Best For:
Shoppers and third-party sellers of organic and non-GMO groceries
Price:
Starts at $12 monthly.
Annual Billing:
Starts at $59.95 annually.
Promotion:
Free shipping on your first transaction
Thrive Market is a fantastic choice if you're looking for websites like Amazon to buy nutritious groceries at discount prices.
Features
Here are Thrive Market’s features.
Various Options for Different Diets
Thrive Market provides options for raw, paleo, vegan, gluten-free, and other diets.
21-Day Return Policy
Thrive Market has a 21-day return policy for specific orders and cases.
Cons
You must sign up for Thrive Market to make purchases.
Pricing
Here are Thrive Market’s pricing plans.
- Annual membership — $59.95
- Monthly membership — $12 monthly
How To Select an Amazon Alternative
You must consider the following factors when selecting an Amazon alternative.
Research the Fees and Shipping Options.
Check the marketplace’s fees, shipping options, and seller requirements before signing up.
Marketplaces charge fees and have different shipping options. Some marketplaces also have strict seller requirements, such as minimum sales thresholds or product quality
standards.
Finding one that suits your budget and business model is essential.
Determine the Products You Want to Buy or Sell.
Consider the products you want to buy or sell and choose a marketplace offering these categories.
For example, you can make money on Etsy selling handmade items. If you’re selling electronics, Best Buy is better.
By choosing a marketplace that specializes in your niche, you can reach a more targeted audience and increase your likelihood of success.
Read Customer Reviews.
Read reviews and compare prices between marketplaces to ensure you get the best deal. Researching to ensure you get a fair price is crucial, whether you’re a buyer or a seller.
Reading reviews can also give you insight into the quality of customer service and other aspects of the marketplace.
Decide If You Want Sustainable Options.
If you’re looking for a more ethical or sustainable option, consider smaller, independent marketplaces like Fairmarket and Uncommon Goods.
These marketplaces focus on ethical or sustainable practices, fair trade products, environmentally friendly resources, or carbon-neutral shipping.
Also, check if an option has B Corp Certification, which shows high levels of transparency and accountability in business practices.
Check the Quality of Customer Service.
Customer service is a crucial part of the online shopping experience.
Access to reliable customer service and a transparent dispute resolution process is essential when shopping or selling on a marketplace. Look for marketplaces with these features.
Study the Platforms’ Rules.
Each marketplace has different rules and regulations, so read and follow them carefully.
Failure to follow the rules can result in account suspension or other consequences, so understand the marketplace’s policies and guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which Sites for Online Shopping Offer the Lowest Prices?
Getting discounted prices depends on many factors, including what you want to buy and how many.
One marketplace most famous for its low prices is AliExpress. The site sells goods cheaper than other online stores like Amazon.
Which Online Marketplace Is Like Amazon in Terms of Reliable Delivery?
Customers often compare Walmart’s online store to Amazon due to its dependable delivery.
Like Amazon, Walmart too sells an extensive range of goods online and provides several shipping choices to suit customer needs.
To ensure prompt and accurate order fulfillment, Walmart also has a robust supply chain infrastructure and cutting-edge technological systems.
Is There an Eco-friendly Amazon Alternative?
Yes. Many eco-friendly and conservative Amazon alternatives exist, including Thrive Market and EarthHero.
These marketplaces have sustainable brands, recycled boxes, ethical sourcing, environmentally-helpful practices, and many other factors that help protect the planet.
Many of them also commit to providing fair wages or try to implement plastic-free or minimal packaging to lower solid waste.
Are There Black-owned Amazon Alternatives?
Yes. There are black-owned shopping sites like Amazon and eBay. Here are some options.
Is Target More Ethical Than Amazon?
Target has improved its ethical and sustainable procedures in recent years, but whether they are more ethical than Amazon is debatable and depends on personal values and viewpoints.
The Bottom Line
I hope my list of excellent marketplaces helps you find the right place to buy and sell products online.
Don’t hesitate to try any of the Amazon alternatives I listed. It’s the only way to determine which marketplace best suits your needs, preferences, and budget.
