In Canada, there are plenty of places to shop online. You can go online directly through your favourite stores, like Walmart Canada, or on third-party sites to compare prices and find new deals. Here are some of the best places to shop online and get your favourite products.
Best Overall Shopping Sites
With so many different sites to shop from in Canada, it can take time to figure out which ones are the best and where you can get the best deals. Many of these sites offer sales, no-shipping-fee options, and coupon codes that you can’t get in stores, saving consumers a lot of money.
Amazon
One of the most popular online shopping websites is Amazon Canada. It offers thousands of different products and is the world’s largest site for e-commerce sales to Canadian e-commerce shoppers. The diverse selection of products, low prices and fast delivery make it a first choice for many Canadians looking to shop online. It’s a one-stop shop you can access from home.
While you can’t purchase perishable products online through Amazon Canada, you can purchase dry goods, clothing, household items, jewelry, tools, consumer electronics, health and wellness products, vehicle parts and other random items that you may not be able to find anywhere else. You can also purchase Amazon Prime for a monthly fee and get free shipping on most of your purchases. They even offer sales, coupon codes, and low prices on everyday items.
Wayfair
Wayfair is an online shopping site that sells a wide range of fashion and home goods, including furniture, outdoor living items, decor, home appliances, organizational items, and other items that online customers may need for their homes. They’re a global company with different fulfillment sites and offices throughout the world. free return
While you’re unable to go to physical Wayfair stores, they do have a good return policy. You have 30 days to return the item in its original packaging. Once Wayfair receives the package, you’ll then receive a refund.
Home Depot
Another popular online site is Home Depot Canada. You can purchase anything from tools, outdoor furniture, outdoor cooking equipment, lawn and garden supplies, and home improvement products. In addition to online, these products can also be purchased in-store.
When you purchase these products online, you can choose to pick them up in-store or have them shipped to your home. They also have their own credit card that lets you finance your purchases with little to no interest.
Etsy Canada
Etsy is an e-commerce site that specifically sells handmade and vintage products. This is a site that many crafters and home-based business owners use to sell products and services and gain exposure. The prices on Etsy tend to be a little higher than those in commercial stores, but that’s because it only sells customizable, handmade, or unique products. They don’t carry things that you can purchase just anywhere.
Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire is a retail store that sells a wide range of items, including automotive parts, household items, gardening supplies, camping gear, home improvement items, and sports items. While they do have plenty of retail locations, they also offer the ability to purchase their items online. You can pick up your item at the store or have it delivered to your home.
If you’re having the item delivered to your home, then the shipping charge starts at only $4.99. You can even earn points using your Canadian Tire points card and redeem them for in-store and online purchases.
Walmart
At Walmart, you can purchase anything from home goods, groceries, furniture and clothing. The best part is you can order pretty much any of these things online. For general purchases, you can place an order and have them shipped directly to you. With groceries, you can order them online for pickup or delivery.
Not only does Walmart offer fast shipping, but it also offers same-day and even same-hour grocery orders. This means that you don’t have to order days in advance to get your groceries. Their home delivery is also very convenient and affordable.
Clearly
Clearly is considered Canada’s number-one online store for glasses and contact lenses. You can purchase your new glasses online by entering your prescription. You can figure out the best frames for you with their virtual program, which lets you see how the lenses look on you.
Whether you choose to purchase glasses or lenses online, they can be much cheaper than buying them in a store. There is a short wait time, and they’ll be delivered directly to your home. They often have good sales and affordable shipping.
eBay Canada
eBay is a site where you can list and purchase items from different sellers. The thing about this site, though, is that it’s a bidding site. While you can find many different used items, you can also end up in a bidding war for the product.
eBay is an e-commerce site founded in 1995 and remains extremely popular today. You can buy and sell items from pretty much anywhere in the world for competitive prices. Because you’re purchasing through a site rather than directly from a person, your purchase is protected.
Simons.ca
Simons is a Canadian clothing retailer. It was originally founded in 1840 and became a department store in the 1960s. It is headquartered in Quebec City and has nearly 20 physical locations.
On their website, you’re able to purchase clothing items for both men and women. Depending on your spending, you can also get free shipping and free returns.
Best Buy Canada
Best Buy is one of the most popular places for online electronic purchases in Canada. They’re also the largest electronics retailer in the country. They have over 320 in-person stores and reach over 400 million people per year.
Whether you purchase online or in-store, Best Buy offers competitive prices. Online purchases are shipped quickly and allow for fast delivery. Sometimes, you may even find exclusive deals online.
Best Online Stores for Clothes for Women in Canada
In Canada, there are plenty of stores where you can purchase clothes online. Pretty much any department or clothing store sells clothes online. You can also purchase clothing from Amazon and other online retailers. Online retailers like Aerie and Zara offer discounts. You can even get clothes online from Costco.
Here are some of the best online clothing stores in Canada.
- Anthropologie
- Zara
- Aerie
- AHAlife
- Reformation
- SSENSE
- ASOS
- Simons
These sites showcase a variety of clothing brands and new styles. A few of these even feature emerging and Canadian designers. There’s even a beauty company that we didn’t list called Gee Beauty.
Best Online Stores for Kids in Canada
If you’re purchasing clothing online for kids, there are plenty of different stores that you can choose from. Many of the stores we listed above carry kids’ clothes at reasonable prices. Here are the ones that we missed.
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing company that Gap Inc. actually owns. They not only carry kids’ clothing, but they offer clothing for the whole family. The clothing they sell is affordable whether you purchase it in physical stores or online. You can even get exclusive coupons and discounted prices. You can even join their rewards program to get free shipping.
Gap
The Gap is another store that offers clothing for the whole family at reasonable prices. You can sign up for online rewards and receive special discounts. You can even get discounts and free shipping.
Joe Fresh
Another great Canadian brand is Joe Fresh. It was created for Loblaw and offers great T-shirts and other clothing items for the whole family. They have the latest styles available for low prices. Just like other stores, these products can be ordered online and shipped directly to your home.
Best Stores to Buy Dresses Online
One thing that can be difficult to do in Canada is buying dresses online. That said, there are some places you can purchase really nice dresses for good prices. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Myntra
Myntra is an Indian online fashion e-commerce store. They offer a variety of clothing for all ages, including a wide selection of gorgeous, high-quality dresses. They also often offer sales, which can be beneficial if you’re looking to shop on a budget.
H&M
If you’re looking to purchase some good-quality dresses for an assortment of occasions, then H&M is a good way to go. Not only do they offer variety, but they have a wide selection at great prices. They even have a wide range of sizes.
Lulus
Whether you’re looking for something fancy for an event or just dresses for every day, Lulus has you covered. As soon as you open the site, you see products in your currency with size conversions, and if you’re in Canada, purchases over $99 ship free.
Abercrombie
If you’re looking for something a little more high-end that still offers everyday style, then shopping online with Abercrombie is a good choice. Not only do they have stylish dresses, but they also have rompers, jumpsuits and more.
Best Online Clothing Brands
When shopping for clothing online in Canada, it’s just as important to look at the brand as it is at the website. While there are plenty of brands to choose from, here are some of the best online clothing brands that you can get in Canada.
- ASOS
- Kotn
- SSense
- Zara
- Boohoo
- Aritzia
- Lululemon
- Frank and Oak
Other Online Clothing Brands
Along with the major brands we mentioned, other boutique sites across the country offer amazing brands at reasonable prices. The best part is these are Canadian companies. Here are a few:
Cheapest Online Shopping Sites in Canada
When it comes to online shopping, many sites offer items at very low prices. Two of the most notable are Alibaba and Temu. These sites offer products for much more affordable prices than other sites. However, pay attention to the fine print to make sure you’re getting the right item.
Is There a Canadian Alternative to Amazon?
While Amazon also ships to Canada, other Canadian retailers offer similar products and services. These include:
- Walmart
- Canadian Tire
- Costco Canada
- ShopperPlus
You can purchase anything from sustainable fashion to Canadian brands and more.
Which Online Stores are Canadian-owned?
For Canadian shoppers looking to buy Canadian, there are plenty of online retailers to choose from. Some of the most popular choices are:
- Canadian Tire
- Simons
- Indigo
- Common Goods
- Pet Valu
- Aritzia
- Endy
- Kotn
- EQ3
If you’re looking for more options, you can visit madeinCA.ca. This is a Canadian-owned directory platform that shows you verified Canadian-owned companies as well as locally made goods.
Buying Used Clothes Online in Canada
If you’re in the market for used clothing, there are plenty of sites that allow you to purchase designer fashion, athletic wear, and everyday wear. Some of these most popular online marketplaces help you support local while avoiding international shipping.
People’s Thrift: This is an online marketplace offering vetted, clean everyday fashion. They have flat shipping fees and returns.
La Penderie du Paradis: This online thrift store features secondhand clothing for men and women. They also offer many bundle deals.
Womance Second Hand: A dedicated platform for buying and reselling Womance items.
My Sister’s Closet: This site offers thrift, vintage and designer clothing as well as accessories.
Poshmark: This is a social commerce marketplace where people can buy and sell a variety of secondhand clothing items and accessories.
Alternatively, you can also purchase secondhand clothing items from Facebook Marketplace.
Paying Customs Duties on Orders From US Stores
When you choose to do cross-border shipping, it’s reasonable to expect customs duties as well as customs fees. There are sometimes other import taxes. Depending on where the product originated from, it’s not uncommon to also have to pay carrier fees.
Is it Safe to Purchase From Temu in Canada?
While Temu is a legitimate online marketplace, there are complaints about scams because some buyers overlook small details in product descriptions. There are also data privacy concerns due to extensive permission requests and aggressive data tracking.
If you choose to shop with Temu, there are steps you can take to protect yourself. This includes using the desktop site to shop to protect your data, using secure methods like PayPal to pay for your purchases, and always reading the fine print before you complete your purchases.
Popular US Stores that Ship to Canada
When you are shopping in the US, your best option is to choose stores that ship directly to Canada. Some of these popular stores include:
- Amazon.com
- Macy’s
- Wayfair
- ASOS
- L.L.Bean
This is a much more affordable option than shopping at a store that requires a shipping forwarder.
Canadian Sites That Offer Free Shipping and Free Returns
Many Canadian online retailers, whether their products are made in Canada or not, offer free shipping or delivery and a free return policy. This is doable because the product ships from Canada.
Some of the popular sites that offer this are:
- Old Navy/Gap/Banana Republic
- SoftMoc
- Lole
- Apple Canada
- Sephora Canada
- Aldo
The Biggest Online Sales in Canada
For online shoppers, there are a few days each year when sales are great. These sales are often done through a variety of stores, including independent brands.
Prime Day: This sale is held sporadically by Amazon Canada for members and offers exclusive deals on a variety of items.
Way Day: Way Day offers exclusive deals on Wayfair.
Black Friday: This day, paired with Cyber Monday, is one of the biggest shopping days of the year.
Boxing Day: This post-Christmas sale offers great deals on high-value items.
Canada Day: Many retailers offer exclusive deals and end-of-season clearance deals.
Do Retailer Loyalty Programs Help You Save Money Online?
Many retailers offer loyalty programs that help you save money online through member-only pricing, digital coupons and even cashback rewards. Depending on the retailer, there may be some additional costs to sign up for the program. Some of the most popular programs include:
- Triangle Rewards
- PC Optimum
- Walmart+
- Amazon Prime
Payment Methods That Canadian Online Retailers Accept
There are plenty of payment methods that Canadian online retailers accept. Some of the most popular methods of payment are:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Interac
- Visa Debit and Mastercard Debit
- PayPal
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Shop Pay
Another really popular payment option for online purchases is buy-now-pay-later services. Afterpay, Klarna, and Sezzle are common choices.
Costco Canada Membership and Shopping Online
To shop online with Costco in Canada, you need a Costco membership. For a Gold Star membership, it’s $65 per year. An Executive Gold Star membership is $130 per year and offers a 2% annual reward.
Return Policies of Major Canadian Retailers
Return policies in Canada are set by individual companies rather than federal law. Federal law only requires refunds for defective or misdescribed goods. Most companies, such as Costco, Walmart, and Canadian Tire, offer a 90-day return window for any reason. Best Buy only has a 30-day return window.
What are the Best Online Stores for Plus-Sized Clothing in Canada?
While plus-size clothing can be harder to find, there are plenty of online retailers that offer a variety of clothing, including denim jeans, shirts, dresses and more.
| Retailer | Details |
| Penningtons | This store offers a wide variety of clothing and footwear for sizes 12 to 32. |
| Eloquii | This store offers a wide variety of clothes for sizes 14 to 32. |
| Claire France | This store specializes in comfy classics for sizes 14 and up. |
| Laura Plus | This store is great for those 14+ looking for elevated clothing for sizes 14 to 32. |
| Curve Theory | This store caters to plus-size wardrobes. |
Tips for Shopping Online Safely
When you’re shopping online, there are a few tips you can use to help protect yourself.
- Avoid using debit cards and direct debit transfers. These are linked directly to your bank account and can put your finances at risk. Instead, it’s recommended to use a credit card, virtual or single-use card numbers, and trusted digital wallets.
- Check the marketplace reviews. The reviews can tell you a lot about the website’s legitimacy. You can also do additional research to verify its legitimacy.
- Protect yourself. The best way to do this is to not make transactions when you’re connected to public Wi-Fi. It’s also a good idea to use unique passwords for each website, and to check your bank statements regularly.
Final Thoughts
With the many online stores available to Canadians, many offer low-price guarantees. In addition to the ones we mentioned, there are many we haven’t, including open-box and other refurbished retailers.
When deciding where to shop online, prices aren’t the only important thing. You also need to consider customer service. If there are any issues, it’s important to deal with a company that will help you.
