Amazon Alternatives: 11 Places to Shop Online Aside From Amazon

03 Oct 2024, 23:40 · Rolling Stone

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We can all thank (or blame) Amazon.com for revolutionizing the way we shop. The e-commerce behemoth’s endless virtual aisles, seemingly infinite inventory, and convenient same-day delivery help save precious time, and it allows us to do everything from watch movies to order groceries from Whole Foods without leaving the house. Amazon Prime Day, meantime, now rivals Black Friday as the biggest shopping day of the year.

Sure, the endless online store may take the cake when it comes to sheer inventory, but it can also induce decision fatigue as you’re scrolling through a dozen of identical products with different brand names. That’s just one reason that some shoppers are looking for the best Amazon alternatives online.

Some want to support a smaller company (Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is reportedly worth more than $180 billion), and others have been persuaded to take their hard-earned money elsewhere after questioning the online retailer’s ethics and sustainability.

And while Amazon has launched a number of initiatives to support small business owners, many shoppers still feel uneasy about supporting a site that’s become such a monopoly in the e-commerce space.

Prefer to support small businesses directly? Sites like Etsy let you shop directly from the makers and designers themselves. Redbubble.com is also another great marketplace for independent artists (with their pieces printed on everything from T-shirts to tablecloths).

Looking for larger-ticket items? Here are some other great places to shop online besides Amazon.
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What Are the Best Amazon Alternatives to Shop Online?

There are a number of good Amazon alternatives that you can support online. These online retailers offer a curated selection of goods that eliminate that overwhelming feeling of swiping through thousands of options. Eco-conscious and social justice-minded consumers will also be happy to know that many of these companies are B corporations, which means they must uphold a certain level of transparency and accountability, and abide by strict environmental and ethical standards. Keep reading for our favorite non-Amazon places to shop online.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Thrive Market

Best for groceries, supplements and snacks
SHOP THRIVE MARKET

Certified B corporation Thrive Market launched in 2014 with a cause-driven mission to offer organic and natural groceries and other sustainable products at affordable prices. The membership-based online grocer allows shoppers to save 25 to 50 percent off on more than 6,000 products spanning across healthy foods, meat, pantry staples, wine, bath and body products, beauty and skincare, baby care, supplements, and home goods.

Membership plans start at $5 per month (based on annual subscription price of $59.95), and you can shop by diet and lifestyle (vegan, vegetarian, non-GMO, keto, paleo, raw, and more) as well as by values such as non-toxic, Environmental Working Group-verified, certified organic, cruelty-free, and others.

We love using Thrive Market to stock up on grocery and pantry items, household goods and everyday essentials, and their meat and seafood selection is surprisingly fresh. We’ve also found some of our favorite snacks and (sort of) good-for-you sweets through their marketplace, which stocks unique items from around the world. The site also has hard-to-find organic and specialty brands too, which you can’t get at the big box chains or on Amazon.

Start shopping at ThriveMarket.com. Thrive Market offers promo codes, discounts and deals all the time too. See latest offers here.

ETHICALLY-SOURCED

Hive

Best for pantry items and household goods
SHOP HIVE BRANDS

Think of HiveBrands.com as your favorite general store or emporium, filled with unique snacks, drinks, health and beauty products and household goods. Almost all of the options are sustainably-made, ethically-sourced and from socially-conscious companies. But they’re also just great products too – think organic nut butters and homemade sauces for the pantry, and clean salves and lotions for your skincare routine. We’ve found super gentle and eco-friendly cleaning supplies and bug sprays too.

Everything ships in recyclable boxes printed with non-toxic ink and filled with 100% recyclable packing materials. Every order is carbon neutral, too. What we like: Hive lets you shop by cause too, whether you want to support brands helping small communities improve their livelihood, brands dedicated to championing equality or female-owned businesses. You can shop by your preferred attributes too — like cruelty-free, Made in the USA, vegan-friendly and more.

Bonus: Right now, new customers can save up to 20% on orders $100+ with discount code MEETHIVE. See more details here.

SUSTAINABLE MARKETPLACE

Grove Collaborative

Best for health/personal care products and cleaning supplies
SHOP GROVE COLLABORATIVE

If you’re looking for a one-stop eco-conscious shop for non-toxic and cruelty-free household supplies, beauty and skincare, personal care, and wellness products, and also want to save yourself from the hassle of last-minute restocks, then you’ll want to try Grove. The online subscription service offers everything from dishwasher and bathroom soap refills to medicine cabinet essentials and compostable plastic bags (and much more) from popular brands such as Dr. Bronner’s, Seventh Generation, Method, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, Tom’s of Maine, and others, alongside independent names.

It works like this: You’ll add product subscriptions that you can customize by frequency — say, you need dish soap and sponges every month and laundry detergent every three months. So long as your order meets the minimum of $29, you’ll get all of your must-haves in regular deliveries efficiently packed in recyclable materials. Oh, and it’s a B corp., too. Start shopping at Grove.co.

BEST QUALITY

Public Goods

Best for home goods, skincare and bath and beauty
SHOP PUBLIC GOODS

We first discovered Public Goods during the pandemic, when we stocked up on the site’s super gentle soaps and hand sanitizers for our home. Since then, we’ve become big fans of the eco-friendly company’s Costco-meets-direct-to-consumer model. For an annual membership fee of $49, you’ll have access to the startup’s line of sustainable essentials such as grocery staples and canned sundries, home cleaning products, personal care items (like bamboo toothbrushes and haircare), vitamins, pet food, and even CBD oils. While you don’t need to be a member to shop the site, members get cheaper prices and occasional deals and freebies (sign up now and get $60 worth of goods and promos).

The company touts transparency and ethically-sourced ingredients among its values, and it’s able to pass along savings to its members by manufacturing its own products. You can shop by categories such as gluten-free, vegan, tree-free, and organic, and Public Goods works with nonprofit Eden Reforestation Projects to offset its carbon footprint by planting a tree for every order placed.

You don’t need a membership to start shopping though: start here and pick up products from the site and see how you like them. New users can get 15% off their first order with promo code PUBLIC15. See full details here.

BEST SELECTION

World Market

Best for home decor and gift items
SHOP WORLD MARKET

If you’re looking to add globally-inspired flavors or flair to your cooking or home decor, World Market (or Cost Plus World Market) is our go-to for fair-trade products that meet sustainability and ethical standards. The San Francisco-founded retailer stocks gourmet groceries, fair-trade coffee and teas, international pantry essentials, handwoven baskets, kitchen accessories, vintage-inspired home furnishings, and more from every corner of the world.

We’ve picked up everyone from lamps and pillows, to chocolates and flowers from the store, which has an eclectic array of offerings. It’s a great place to shop for unique gifts too, if you want an Amazon alternative.

Can’t wait for your delivery but need the convenience of online shopping? You can opt for same-day Curbside Pickup at your local store and score an additional 15% off when you join the company’s free membership program. Start shopping at WorldMarket.com.

BEST PET SITE

Chewy

Best for pet food, toys and accessories
SHOP CHEWY

Pet parents can stock up on everything they need to keep their four-legged family members healthy at Chewy. The online pet food, pharmacy and supply site offers more than 2,000 pet brands that cater to dogs, cats, horses, fish, birds, reptiles, and other animals.

The retailer stocks wet and dry food, treats, medicine, accessories, toys, and more from Blue Buffalo, Kong, Nutro, Purina, Rachael Ray Nutrish, Sheba, Tidy Cats, and many other popular and independent names. Many brands aren’t available on Amazon, making Chewy a better option if you’re particular about what you’re feeding — and giving — to your pets.

You’ll also save money when you subscribe to the retailer’s Autoship service, and the retailer also offers free shipping when you spend $35 or more. Start shopping at Chewy.com.

MOST UNIQUE OFFERINGS

Uncommon Goods

Best for gifting
SHOP UNCOMMON GOODS

What began as founder Dave Bolotsky’s virtual handmade marketplace has grown into one of the best places for shopping handmade and one-of-a-kind gifts. Go to Uncommon Goods if you’re looking for cool finds by independent brands, designers, and makers. They’ve got everything from stylish jewelry and clothing, to gourmet condiments and kitchen accessories, to puzzles and home decor. This is our go-to site for unique gifts for birthdays, the holidays, weddings, graduation and more. We’ve purchased a lot of personalized gifts from Uncommon Goods too, from wall art to toys to desk accessories.

Vegans will be happy to know that the ethical online retailer only stocks leather-, feather-, and fur-free products. And many of their products are made from recyclable materials and packaging.

The B corporation also donates $1 from every purchase to a nonprofit partner, uses eco-friendly packaging, pays its employees more than double the federal minimum wage, and advocates for paid family leave and better pay in the state of New York. Now what’s a better Amazon alternative than that? Start shopping at UncommonGoods.com.

BEST INDEPENDENT SITE

Etsy

Best for crafts, decor, gift ideas and DIY designs
SHOP ETSY

From fan-made merch to home decor and accessories, Etsy features thousands of sellers offering unique, often-handmade goods for purchase. Once known as a destination for DIY crafters, Etsy is now a full-service marketplace that sells everything from vintage clothing and antiques, to jewelry, tableware and furniture.

Etsy is one of our go-to destinations for gifting, with one-of-a-kind picks for Halloween, housewarmings and the holidays alike. Unlike Amazon, there’s no Etsy warehouse — only a network of artisans and local sellers that sell and ship their goods directly to you. Start shopping here.

ALSO CONSIDER

Temu

Cheapest prices
SHOP TEMU

How you feel about Amazon may also be the same way you feel about Temu, the Chinese e-tailer that offers millions of discount items for home and travel. Where else can you get $3 headphones or a $30 pizza oven? Like Amazon, Temu has millions of items in stock, from electronics to clothing to household essentials. Most of their items are made in China and noticeably cheaper than Amazon, though shipping may take a few extra days if the products are coming from overseas. In our experience, you also get what you pay for. But if you need something in bulk or just want to test out a trend or viral product before committing to the real thing, Temu could be a good option for you.

Of course, you’ll want to read up on Temu’s business practices before you decide whether or not you want to spend your money there. Congressional lawmakers have cited Temu’s sale of knockoff designer items and have asked the company for increased safety and compliance controls. A potential bright spot? Temu talks up its tree planting program, which partners with Trees for the Future to plant trees across Africa to benefit farmers in this region. Learn more here.

MOST CONVENIENT

Instacart

Best for same-day groceries
SHOP INSTACART

Amazon Fresh has made it easy to get groceries delivered to your door, but you can do the same thing with Instacart. The site and app offers a wider range of offerings than Amazon Fresh, with the same, super-fast delivery times.

Instacart offers same-day delivery from almost 600 national and local retailers, like Sprouts Farmers Market, ALDI, Costco, Publix, Wegmans, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, The Fresh Market, Fresh Thyme Market and more. And it’s not just food and drinks either — Instacart can now deliver flowers, home accessories and even beauty products from Sephora in as fast as an hour.

Instacart is free to sign up for, though you’ll want to grab an Instacart Express membership to get free delivery (otherwise, delivery fees range from $1.99 to $9.99 in our experience). Right now, you can sign up for an Instacart Express free trial here to test out the service for yourself.

FAN FAVORITE

Target

Best overall Amazon alternative
SHOP TARGET

It’s hard to beat the Big Red Bullseye’s ridiculously convenient shopping options, especially on days like Black Friday, where Target often offers the same if not lower prices than Amazon. Target makes it easy to place an online order for deodorant, groceries, and bath towels and pick up your goods in-store or via its Drive Up option (simply wait in your car and store staff will bring your purchases to you), or get everything delivered using Shipt’s same-day service.

On top of their vast inventory, the mass retailer also offers a 5% discount whenever you use its RedCard debit or credit card. Don’t forget the retail giant’s smartphone app, which also boasts additional Target Circle deals. Is it as niche or as small of a business to support like some of the other sites on our list? No. But does it deliver a ton of deals and exclusives that make it a worthy Amazon competitor? One hundred percent. Start shopping at Target.com.