Online Retailers & Marketplaces
Top Rated Online Shopping Sites in Canada
Where Canadians actually shop online, which one wins on what, and why you should only pay for one membership.
Canada’s online shopping market is less competitive than it looks. Amazon.ca takes roughly 158 million visits a month, about four times its nearest rival, so most comparisons are really asking when it is worth going elsewhere.
The answer is more often than people assume. Walmart is meaningfully cheaper on everyday goods, Costco is cheaper on bulk and appliances, and Best Buy will match a competitor’s price while giving you a store you can carry a broken TV back into.
One thing worth checking before any of it: whether the item ships from stock held in Canada. Duty and brokerage on a cross-border order turn a bargain into a bad deal faster than any price difference on this page.
The list
Number 1: Amazon.ca
The default, and by a distance: roughly 158 million visits a month, four times its nearest rival. Its real Canadian advantage is stock held in domestic fulfilment centres, which is what keeps customs charges off your order.
Number 2: Walmart.ca
Cheaper than Amazon on the boring stuff, by 5 to 15% on paper towels, cleaning supplies, pantry staples and pet food. The delivery speed gap has largely closed, and store pickup often beats Amazon outright.
Number 3: Costco.ca
The cheapest membership of the three at $65 a year, and the one that pays back on bulk and big-ticket items. Not a browsing site: go when you know what you want, in quantity.
Number 4: Best Buy Canada
The country's largest electronics retailer, and worth using specifically for its low price guarantee: it will match a qualifying competitor on an identical in-stock item. Buy locally, claim the lower price, keep the local returns counter.
Frequently asked questions
Which membership should I pay for?
One, and only one. Costco is $65 a year, Walmart+ $98 and Amazon Prime $139. Paying for two rarely pays back unless your household is large. Look at where your last twenty orders actually went, then subscribe to that and stop.
Is Amazon actually cheapest?
Not on everyday goods. Walmart undercuts it by 5 to 15% on staples like paper towels, cleaning supplies and pet food, and the gap widens if you collect in store and skip shipping. Amazon wins on selection and on speed for anything unusual.
How do I avoid customs charges buying online in Canada?
Buy from stock held in Canada. Ordering from a US site, or from a marketplace seller shipping across the border, can add duty and brokerage that turns a cheap item expensive. Amazon.ca items in Canadian fulfilment centres and the Canadian arms of Walmart, Costco and Best Buy avoid this entirely.
Is price matching worth the hassle?
For electronics, yes. Best Buy's guarantee lets you take a competitor's price while keeping a store you can walk into when something fails. Given how often electronics need returning, that is worth a few minutes at the counter.