The ease of perusing endless retailers, avoiding crowds, and clicking “add to cart” in your comfy clothes has become the dream shopping experience. A quick search will list more shopping websites than you can count, but which online stores are actually the best?
Convenience is one of the best benefits of online shopping, and that’s exactly what you’ll find with these popular stores. Here are our picks for the best online shopping websites for every type of product.
Best Online Shopping Websites of 2023
Looking for shopping sites that specialize in groceries? See our list of the best online grocery shopping websites.
Key Specs
- Item Categories: Clothing, Books, Movies, Music, Electronics, Computers, Home, Pets, Food, Beauty and Personal Care, Kids, Sports, Outdoors, Automotive, and moreMembership Required: Optional for benefitsShipping: Free one-day or two-day shipping with membership
Why We Chose It
Pros & Cons
Overview
Dependable delivery and customer service
Prime members qualify for free shipping and other perks
Frequent deals
The mobile website is especially tedious to navigate
No bidding system for online sellers
Best for Online Bidding: eBay
- Item Categories: Motor, electronics, collectibles and art, clothing and accessories, business and industrial, home and garden, sporting goods, jewelry and watches, and moreMembership Required: NoShipping: Free or calculated at checkout
eBay is a longstanding online retailer that allows sellers to auction their items, which include a very large number of categories. Buyers can bid on items to get a lower price or opt to “Buy It Now” for a set amount of money to instantly purchase their favorite products.
eBay has grown into the world’s largest online auction site. You can find just about every category of products here, and you can also become an eBay seller to auction your unwanted items.
Find some obscure items for cheap
Great avenue for getting rid of unwanted stuff
Delivery times depend on the reliability of the seller
Selling items can be a time-consuming process
If you’re looking for a collectible, this is the first site to check, but you’ll also find brand-new items. eBay offers a wide variety of categories ranging from appliances to video games. They also have seasonal gift guides and a Daily Deals page.
You can use a variety of filters such as brand, price, size, color, features, and consumer ratings and reviews to sift through your search results. Plus, the advanced search capabilities on eBay make it easy to locate items with free shipping, new or used products, and “Buy It Now” items versus those being auctioned off.
All in all, eBay’s reputation as a great bargain destination ensures its consistently high ranking among shopping sites.
Best for Handmade Goods: Etsy
- Item Categories: Jewelry and accessories, clothing and shoes, home and living, wedding and party, toys and entertainment, art and collectibles, and craft suppliesMembership Required: NoShipping: Free or calculated at checkout
Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade, unique products that often can’t be purchased anywhere else. This site is great for personalized gifts and one-of-a-kind items.
Etsy is a global marketplace that offers goods from incredibly talented artisans around the world. Anything from homemade soap to crystal necklaces and caramel apples can be found here, and great deals are often available.
Find figurative and literal gems not seen anywhere else
Saves artists the hassle of creating their own websites
Customer service can be hard to get a hold of
Takes a hefty cut of sellers’ profits
You won’t find popular brand-name products on Etsy, but you can certainly find innovative crafts homemade by small businesses that you can purchase for a unique touch.
Etsy is also a great way for people who craft marketable items to make a little money on the side; setting up your own storefront on Etsy is easy and provides a lot of potential exposure.
Best for Comparing Sellers: Google Shopping
- Item Categories: Electronics, home decor, kitchen and dining, toys, crafts and hobbies, kitchen appliances, automotive, sporting and outdoors, clothing, jewelry, business and industrial, and moreMembership Required: NoShipping: Free or calculated at checkout
Google shopping pulls results from across the web to let users compare items from various sellers with advanced filtering tools.
One of the most overlooked and quite powerful ways to shop at multiple popular stores at once is via Google Shopping. Start a simple search for your item and Google will show results from dozens of stores.
Perfect for quickly comparing prices across the entire crawlable web
Extensive search filters tailored to individual products
Track price changes to get the best deal
Search rankings are determined by advertising dollars rather than your specific query
Paying for a premium Google listing isn’t an ideal way for small retailers to make money
You can filter the results by category, store, price, brand, type, features, and shipping. Specific search criteria is available based on the product you search for.
Google Shopping is also helpful if you want to see only the products that are available near your location. Some items can be bought directly from Google, and they might support “Quick Checkout” for speedy purchases.
Best for Home Goods: Overstock.com
- Item Categories: Furniture, rugs, decor, bedding, home improvement, kitchen, outdoor, lighting, kids and baby, appliances, and moreMembership Required: Optional for benefitsShipping: Free or calculated at checkout
Overstock is one of the most popular online shopping websites for home goods, offering a variety of categories filled with discounted products from large and small retailers.
Ever wondered what stores do with the stuff they over-order? Overstock.com is one answer to that question.
Runs regular promotions and sales around holidays
Unique ways to browse for products
Club O members are entitled to price match guarantees and other deals
Customer service receives mixed reviews
Extended warranties come with lots of exceptions
This online shopping site holds tons of items in categories like furniture, home improvement, outdoor, rugs, apparel, kitchen, and many other departments. Visit the home page to see featured sales, top deals, and unique ways to shop (such as by room or style).
Once you’re viewing all the items from your search, there are tons of relevant filtering options. For example, if you’re looking for kitchen and dining room tables, you can filter them by price, shape, seating number, materials, color, base type, brand, finish, features, discount percentage, rating, and more.
Overstock’s rewards program, Club O, also offers benefits like bonus rewards, friend referrals, price match guarantees, free returns, and 5 percent back on every Overstock purchase.
Best for Clothes and Shoes: Zappos
- Item Categories: Shoes, boots, clothing, bags and handbags, jewelry and accessories, home, toys and games, kids, and moreMembership Required: Optional for benefitsShipping: Free shipping on all orders
Zappos offers free shipping and returns on all orders across its categories of shoes, accessories, apparel, and more. The company is known for its high-quality customer service and easy online shopping experience.
Zappos originally started with just shoes, but it’s since expanded to offer all sorts of items from shoes and boots to clothing, bags, jewelry and accessories, home, toys and games, kids’ products, and more.
Customer service responds rapidly and reliably
Free returns on items you decide you don’t want
Sometimes products arrive in generic boxes rather than their original packages
Selection is mostly limited to apparel
There’s also a page dedicated to Zappos Adaptive, which includes shoes, clothes, and other items built with a specific function in mind to make using them easier. There are easy on/off shoes, slip-ons, pull-on pants, magnetic jackets, medical wear, and more.
The Zappos online store is known in the shopping industry for its exemplary customer service, with many customer-submitted stories of employees going above and beyond to make their experiences great. If you choose to become a Zappos VIP, the company offers rewards like upcoming sales, free expedited shipping on all orders, and points redeemable for purchases.
Best for Cheap Items: Wish
- Item Categories: Pet accessoires, gadgets, tools, health and beauty, home and garden, art and craft supplies, toys and hobbies, sports and outdoor gear, automotive accessories, and moreMembership Required: NoShipping: Free or calculated at checkout
Wish is known for its especially low prices on thousands of items thanks to its direct shipping from China, however, many customers report receiving the wrong items. This online retailer is best for small accessories and affordable products of varied quality.
Known by many as a cheap online shopping website, Wish is the place to go if you’re looking for extraordinary deals and interesting finds. If you can deal with the occasional long waits to get your item, the deals might be worth it.
Direct shipping from China allows for unbelievably low prices
Set up custom notifications for certain products and deals
Deliveries don’t always arrive promptly
Has been known to deliver the wrong item
Some of the categories you can browse through include toys and hobbies, gadgets, fashion, shoes, pet accessories, tools, home and garden, and automotive accessories.
Blitz Buy is a section of this online shopping website where you can spin a wheel to get money off your purchase. Also, be sure to see the Express page for items that ship faster than the rest. Due to its cheap prices, you’ll quickly find that Wish is an online shopping website that’s easy to spend loads of time on.
Best for Designer Products: Nordstrom
- Item Categories: Clothing and accessories, home, beauty, designer products, jewelry, shoes, activewear, luggage, and moreMembership Required: Optional for benefitsShipping: Free on most orders
Nordstrom is a great source for clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry, and designer products. Even with high-quality goods, Nordstrom keeps prices reasonable with its discount division, Nordstrom Rack.
Nordstrom is a great online shopping website for all things fashion, including categories for women, men, kids, and young adults. With a mix of affordable finds and designer brands, this longstanding retailer is known for selling quality goods.
Offers designer products like clothing, jewelry, and handbags
Discount division for more affordable items
Free shipping on most orders
Mostly focused on clothing and accessories
Regular store prices can be expensive
In addition to Nordstrom’s large line of clothing—including categories like shoes, designer clothing, activewear, handbags, weddings, and jewelry—the company also sells a wide range of beauty and home products. Buyers can search for thousands of items like makeup, fragrances and colognes, bath products, home decor, bedding, kitchen goods, and more.
For a more affordable shopping experience, customers can also check out the company’s clearance division, Nordstrom Rack. Many products and clothing goods can be found here for 30 to 70 percent off their original prices. Joining the Nordy Club, Nordstrom’s reward program, also offers exclusive benefits and perks.
Best Department Store: Macy’s
- Item Categories: Clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry and watches, kids’ products, beauty, home goods, handbags, furniture, toys, and moreMembership Required: Optional for benefits Shipping: Free or calculated at checkout
When it comes to department stores, Macy’s is known nationwide. The store’s website for online shopping is filled with great deals, categories of items, and member benefits for those who sign up.
Macy’s is a well-known department store that has maintained its high-end reputation for more than 100 years. With a great selection of products and categories to choose from, users can search for casual, luxury, and designer brands.
Variety of clothing, accessories, and home goods categories to choose from
Reasonable prices on many items
In-store locations nationwide for fast returns and exchanges
Many discounts are limited to members
Free shipping is only offered on specific items or during sales
Choose from categories like clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry and watches, kids’ products, beauty, home goods, handbags, furniture, toys, and more. Additionally, customers can join Macy’s star rewards for benefits like free shipping, special savings, member exclusives, birthday surprises, and points on purchases.
Even if you’re not a member, Macy’s also offers great sales with heavily discounted items for a more affordable shopping experience—though in general, this store’s prices are usually reasonable.
Final Verdict
Compare the Best Online Shopping Websites
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Cheapest Online Shopping Site?
Which Website Allows for Free Selling?
eBay is a great website to list items on without paying a seller’s fee, but not all sellers can get by without charges. Thankfully, the fees are reasonable, only charging sellers 35 cents per listing after they’ve listed more than 250 items in one month.
Which Is the Safest Online Shopping App?
What Is the Most Popular Online Purchase?
Items like clothing, toys and kids’ products, pet accessories, beauty products, and electronics are all very popular online purchases. Additionally, subscription services for a variety of products are common and make online shopping easier (and sometimes, even cheaper) for subscribers.
Methodology
To determine the best online shopping websites, we considered top retailers and compared them based on factors like item availability, different categories offered, memberships and benefits, typical shipping costs, and reliability.
When choosing the best online retailer for your next purchase, it’s helpful to choose a trusted retailer based on the type of product you’re buying. For example, some brands are dedicated to home goods, while others focus on clothing and accessories. Other online stores feature a large variety of products with customer reviews to help you determine whether the item you’re interested in is right for you.
Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day
The 8 Best Online Grocery Shopping Sites in 2023
The 8 Best Microsoft Office Alternatives
The 6 Best Coupon Websites of 2023
The 8 Best Voice-to-Text Apps of 2023
The 8 Best TV Streaming Apps of 2023
Free Shipping Day 2023: What You Need to Know
Best Online Auction Websites
The Best Places to Buy Phones in 2023
7 Best Sites to Sell or Trade Used Electronics of 2023
17 Pros and Cons of Shopping Online
The 6 Best Online Retailers for a TV Purchase in 2022
How to Use Instagram Shopping
The 8 Best Online Photo Printing Services of 2023
The 6 Best Online Car Auction Sites of 2023
Best Ecommerce Platforms
What Is Cyber Monday?
Facebook
Twitter
Hit Refresh on Your Tech News
About Us
Privacy Policy
Editorial Guidelines
Terms of Use
Careers
Advertise
Contact
EU Privacy
NEWS
HOW TO
FEATURES
ABOUT US
