The Best Online Shopping Websites

Best Overall: Amazon

Buy on Amazon

• Item Categories: Clothing, Books, Movies, Music, Electronics, Computers, Home, Pets, Food, Beauty and Personal Care, Kids, Sports, Outdoors, Automotive, and more
• Membership Required: Optional for benefits
• Shipping: Free one-day or two-day shipping with membership

Why We Chose It

Amazon is the largest online retailer, offering free shipping and discounts with a membership. The company's service is dependable, returns are easy, and many items can be auto-purchased on a recurring schedule.

Pros & Cons

Overview

With millions of offerings to choose from, Amazon has evolved from a small bookstore to a mammoth internet presence. The company not only brings you millions of items from its own warehouses but also from sellers all over the world who can upload their own wares for sale.

That makes it possible for you to compare prices at a glance from a host of stores and individual sellers. Amazon also has made it even easier to shop for things you purchase often using the Dash button.

Amazon is the giant of online shopping; more people shop here than at any other online shopping site. You can even get free stuff with the right tips and tricks. By joining Amazon Prime, you'll get free one- or two-day shipping on thousands of items and extra discounts.

Best for Online Bidding: eBay

Buy on EBay

• Item Categories: Motor, electronics, collectibles and art, clothing and accessories, business and industrial, home and garden, sporting goods, jewelry and watches, and more
• Membership Required: No
• Shipping: Free or calculated at checkout

Why We Chose It

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.

Pros & Cons

Overview

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.

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

Buy on Etsy

• Item Categories: Jewelry and accessories, clothing and shoes, home and living, wedding and party, toys and entertainment, art and collectibles, and craft supplies
• Membership Required: No
• Shipping: Free or calculated at checkout

Why We Chose It

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.

Pros & Cons

Overview

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.

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

Buy on Google.com

• Item Categories: Electronics, home decor, kitchen and dining, toys, crafts and hobbies, kitchen appliances, automotive, sporting and outdoors, clothing, jewelry, business and industrial, and more
• Membership Required: No
• Shipping: Free or calculated at checkout

Why We Chose It

Google shopping pulls results from across the web to let users compare items from various sellers with advanced filtering tools.

Pros & Cons

Overview

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.

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

Buy on Overstock

• Item Categories: Furniture, rugs, decor, bedding, home improvement, kitchen, outdoor, lighting, kids and baby, appliances, and more
• Membership Required: Optional for benefits
• Shipping: Free or calculated at checkout

Why We Chose It

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.

Pros & Cons

Overview

Ever wondered what stores do with the stuff they over-order? Overstock.com is one answer to that question.

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

Buy on Zappos

• Item Categories: Shoes, boots, clothing, bags and handbags, jewelry and accessories, home, toys and games, kids, and more
• Membership Required: Optional for benefits
• Shipping: Free shipping on all orders

Why We Chose It

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.

Pros & Cons

Overview

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.

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

Buy on Wish.com

• Item Categories: Pet accessories, gadgets, tools, health and beauty, home and garden, art and craft supplies, toys and hobbies, sports and outdoor gear, automotive accessories, and more
• Membership Required: No
• Shipping: Free or calculated at checkout

Why We Chose It

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.

Pros & Cons

Overview

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.

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

Buy on Nordstrom

• Item Categories: Clothing and accessories, home, beauty, designer products, jewelry, shoes, activewear, luggage, and more
• Membership Required: Optional for benefits
• Shipping: Free on most orders

Why We Chose It

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.

Pros & Cons

Overview

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.

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.