eBay

Amazon

Amazon is one of the world's largest online stores, selling products across almost every category, from books and electronics to clothing, groceries and household goods. It is available at amazon.com and through its mobile app, and many items are sold by independent sellers through the Amazon marketplace. For shoppers, Amazon suits people who want a wide selection, customer reviews and convenient delivery. Product pages show ratings, questions and answers, and comparisons, helping people decide before they buy. Membership programmes such as Prime add benefits including faster delivery options. For businesses, Amazon offers access to a very large customer base. Sellers can list products on the marketplace, use Amazon's fulfilment services to store and ship orders, and run ads to promote products within search results. Amazon also provides many services beyond shopping, including Prime Video for streaming, Kindle for e-books, Alexa devices, and Amazon Web Services, which supplies cloud computing to businesses around the world. The platform therefore supports several related uses, from everyday shopping and entertainment to selling products online and running business infrastructure. Its official website is https://www.amazon.com/.

Etsy

Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade, vintage and creative goods. Available at etsy.com and through mobile apps, it connects shoppers with independent sellers who offer items such as jewellery, art, clothing, home decor, wedding supplies and craft materials. For shoppers, Etsy suits people looking for unique, personalised or one-of-a-kind products. Many sellers offer custom options, so buyers can order gifts with names, dates or specific designs. Reviews and shop pages help people learn about each maker. For sellers, Etsy offers a ready-made audience for creative work. Makers, artists and small businesses can open a shop, list products and manage orders without building their own website. Sellers pay listing and transaction fees and can choose to run ads. The marketplace has a strong focus on small and independent businesses. Vintage items must meet age requirements, and handmade sellers often share the story behind their products, which gives Etsy a different feel from mass-market stores. The platform therefore supports several related uses, from finding special gifts to selling handmade and vintage goods. Its official website is https://www.etsy.com/.

Shopify

Shopify is a commerce platform that lets businesses build and run their own online store. Available at shopify.com as a paid subscription, it includes website themes, product management, a checkout, payment processing and order tools in one place. For business owners, Shopify suits entrepreneurs, small businesses and growing brands that want to sell online without building everything from scratch. Store owners can choose a theme, add products and start taking orders without needing to write code. Shopify supports selling in many places. Besides an online store, merchants can sell in person using point-of-sale tools and connect to channels such as social media and online marketplaces, keeping inventory and orders in one system. An app store adds extra features, including marketing, reviews, subscriptions, shipping and accounting tools. Merchants can also hire designers and developers from the Shopify ecosystem to customise their stores further. The platform therefore supports several related uses, from launching a first online shop to running a multi-channel retail business. Its official website is https://www.shopify.com/.