Tevarak/iStock/Getty Images Plus Smart & Connected Life Working From Home The Ultimate Guide to Shopping Online When you can't go out, internet purchases can get you out of a jam by S.E. Slack Strategy Director, Lifewire.com S.E. Slack has 30+ years' experience writing about technology. She has authored 12 books, thousands of articles, and worked for IBM and Microsoft. our editorial process LinkedIn S.E. Slack Updated on March 20, 2020 The Ultimate Guide to Shopping Online The Ultimate Guide to Shopping Online Online Shopping Basics Pros and Cons of Shopping Online Tips for Safe Online Shopping Best Online Shopping Websites Best Sites for Online Grocery Shopping Ordering Food Online 7 On-Demand Delivery Service Apps How Does Grubhub Work? Using Walmart's Grocery App How to Use Google Delivery to Order In From Local Restaurants How Does Uber Eats Work? How Does Doordash Work? What Is Postmates? How Does Instacart Work? How Does Shipt Work? Best Ways to Save Money Online Best Grocery Store Price Comparison Apps How to Get Free Shipping What Is Wikibuy & How Does It Work? What Is the 'Honey App'? Best Coupon Websites Best Online Auction Websites What is the Wish App? Using the Amazon Prime Whole Foods Discount What's Amazon Subscribe and Save? Easy Shopping Options Best Rewards and Cash-Back Shopping Sites Best Mobile Shopping Apps Top Social Shopping Websites You Need to Check Out Cancel Services You Don't Need How to Cancel Your Shipt Membership How to Cancel Amazon Fresh Cancel Instacart Orders, Memberships & Free Trials Tweet Share Email Whether you buy things on the internet for convenience or because you can't get out to a store to pick up the items you need, shopping online has become a multi-billion dollar business that most people take advantage of at some point in their lives. It's easy, usually offers quick deliveries, and doesn't typically cost much extra to use. Grocery Shop Online, Get Fast Delivery, and More In today's world, you can shop online for almost anything. Groceries, for example, can be ordered online in the morning and delivered in as little as two hours by personal shoppers who hand select your produce and text you with updates as they shop. Clothing, personal items, car parts and more can all be ordered online with many stores offering overnight or two-day delivery options. To help you find what you need and get the best deals online, we've developed this handy guide. In it, you'll learn how to stay safe online, where the best shopping sites are for both groceries and other items, and how various delivery services work. We've also compiled nine different ways you can save money when shopping online so you can make your dollars stretch farther than ever. To use this guide, open the links in the navigation pane. You'll see it's separated into five different sections: Shopping Online Basics, Ordering Food Online, Best Ways to Save Money Online, Easy Shopping Options, and Cancel Services You Don't Need. Inside each section are several articles filled with tips and hints for you. Follow Smart Internet Browsing Practices As you settle in to make your next purchase, remember to follow smart online safety tips. Use two-factor authentication, for example, where possible to keep your banking information secure. Carefully check incoming emails from stores to be sure they match up to what you're doing and are coming from legitimate sources. There are lots of scammers out there using techniques like phishing and formjacking in attempts to get your personal financial information; taking a few extra minutes to confirm details could save you time, hassle and heartache in the long run. Enjoy the Convenience Above all, have some fun with your shopping. Retail therapy is sometimes a great way to unwind and having someone else do the grocery shopping (and deliver those bags!) can save you time which frees up your schedule so you can unwind with your family and friends.