Amazon dominates in selection (300M+ products vs 150K SKUs), price, and convenience with Prime 2-day shipping, while Best Buy excels in in-store expertise, same-day pickup, and hands-on product testing for electronics.
Amazon vs Best Buy — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Global e-commerce and cloud computing giant with 300M+ products and Prime membership benefits.
Leading U.S. electronics retailer with 1,000+ physical stores offering expert support and same-day services.
Product Selection. Average Shipping Speed (Prime/Standard). Same-Day Pickup Availability. In-Store Expert Support. Average Electronics Price Competitiveness. Return Window. Membership Fee (Annual)
Choose Amazon if you value selection, competitive pricing, extended return windows, and convenient home delivery across all product categories. Choose Best Buy if you need immediate product availability, in-person expert consultation for electronics, same-day pickup options, and hands-on testing before purchase — making it superior for tech shoppers who want physical store support.
Amazon: 240+ Prime members + broader reach | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 15% base commission | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 40% US e-commerce market share | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: $2.36 trillion (July 2026) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 15-25% (FBA included) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 8-10% annual growth | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 220 million Prime members | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 500+ Amazon Go/Fresh stores | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Same-day to 1 day (Prime) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 240 million Prime members | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Competitive on items under $50 | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 1-2 days (Prime) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Multi-category general retailer | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Basic category and keyword filters | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Limited home furniture brands | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 40% global e-commerce market share | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: $638B (e-commerce only) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 240M+ Prime members | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 12-15% (estimated) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: All categories (diversified) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 5-20% on Subscribe & Save | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 190+ countries and territories | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Industry average ~40-45% | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Rufus 250M users | Best Buy: Limited features
Amazon: Online support only | Best Buy: Expert staff available
Standard Non-Perishable Pet Delivery Time
Amazon: ~50,000-100,000 (estimated pet section) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 500+ million SKUs across all categories | Best Buy: N/A
2025 Pet Supplies Market Position (GMV Rank)
Amazon: Not #1 in pet supplies | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 30 days (standard Amazon) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Limited pet-specific subscriptions | Best Buy: N/A
Specialty Pet Food Availability (Exotic/Medical Diets)
Amazon: Limited; depends on seller listings | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 8-45% + 30-50% FBA | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: $0 (pay per sale) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 300+ active customers | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 2 days (FBA enabled) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 0% customer data; Amazon owns relationship | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 1 (Amazon Pay only) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Varies by category and account tier | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Amazon 380 million | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 30 days (standard) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 30+ main categories | Best Buy: Electronics focused
Amazon: Strict vetting, A9 quality standards | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: $139/year (Prime) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 4.4/5 average seller rating | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 2.5 billion downloads | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: <2% handmade items | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 2 days (Prime) / 5-7 days (standard) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 150+ million customers | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: $575 billion (2025) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 200+ AWS services | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Proprietary (freemium model) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Not offered; external pharmacy required | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 2-3 days (Prime) | Best Buy: N/A
Average Product Price Index (baseline=100)
Amazon: GDPR/CCPA Compliant | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 0 (e-commerce only) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: $139 (Prime basic tier) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: ~85% (estimated) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 1-2 days (Prime members in metro areas) | Best Buy: N/A
Average Price Difference on Beauty Products
Amazon: 10-25% discount below MSRP | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Same-day or 1-day with Prime | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Varies; typically 1-5% with Prime | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: $0 with Prime / $25 without | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: $88 billion (AWS) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 180 days (A-to-Z Guarantee) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: US-regulated, transparent data policies | Best Buy: N/A
Prime Eligible Items with Two-Day Shipping
Amazon: 100+ million items | Best Buy: N/A
Free Shipping Threshold (Standard Members)
Amazon: $35 (with Prime; $100 without) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 500+ furniture brands available | Best Buy: N/A
Average Beauty Product Price Comparison (Foundation)
Amazon: 1-2 days with Prime | Best Buy: N/A
Customer Review Average Rating (Beauty Products)
Amazon: Up to 45% (varies by category) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 30 days standard | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 91% trust Amazon (2024) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 65% third-party sellers (mostly resellers/aggregators) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 3,500 cities (Prime 2-hour) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 24-48 hours average | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 100+ metro areas (Prime) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: ~50,000 pet products | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 5-20% Subscribe & Save | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 89% (J.D. Power 2024) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Limited (no pet Rx) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 12% (includes pet products) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 50,000+ pet listings | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 1-2 days (Prime members) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Baseline (lowest) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 5% with Prime Visa | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Up to 20% discount | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 100-150% higher (standard retail markup) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 94% disputes resolved in buyer favor | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 4.2/5 (verified reviews with photo proof) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: ~8-12% average return rate | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 5-10 business days | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Low (seller suspension policy enforced) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 0 stores (digital-only) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 40+ primary categories | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Prime: $139/year | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Free with Prime (or $5-7 without) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Same-day Prime (select areas only) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 2% on select categories | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: None (retail only) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: ~25 (all categories) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 30 days (free) | Best Buy: 15 days
Amazon: $2,500 (A-to-z Guarantee) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: $0 (no monthly fee) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 309 million (as of 2024) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 0% - Amazon owns customer relationship | Best Buy: N/A
Profit Margin Retention (Example: $100 sale)
Amazon: $55 (after 15% referral + 30% FBA avg) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: Limited - Amazon template only, no custom branding | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 12-48 hours (seller support varies) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: ~600 (Whole Foods) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 35+ major metros | Best Buy: N/A
Average Pet Food Price (25 lb bag, premium brand)
Amazon: 0 (dedicated pet stores) | Best Buy: N/A
Amazon: 300+ million | Best Buy: ~0.15 million in-store
Amazon: 1-2 days (Prime) | Best Buy: 3-5 days
Amazon: 0 stores | Best Buy: 1,000+ stores
Amazon: Select metros only | Best Buy: 1,000+ nationwide
Amazon: $139/year (Prime) | Best Buy: $0 (My Best Buy free)
Amazon: 60 days (Prime members) | Best Buy: 15 days (most items)
Electronics Price Premium vs Competitors
Amazon: -3% (2-5% cheaper) | Best Buy: +3% (2-5% pricier)
Amazon: None | Best Buy: ~1,000 in-store
Amazon: N/A | Best Buy: 5-12% higher than Walmart
Amazon: N/A | Best Buy: 2% rewards on eligible purchases
Amazon: N/A | Best Buy: ~30% of metro areas (select markets)
Amazon: N/A | Best Buy: Includes accidental damage protection and extended coverage
Amazon: N/A | Best Buy: Geek Squad available at all 1,000 locations
Amazon: N/A | Best Buy: None (price match only)
Amazon: N/A | Best Buy: Geek Squad (installation, repair, setup)
Amazon: N/A | Best Buy: 1 hour (most items)
Amazon: N/A | Best Buy: Electronics only
Average Electronics Price Competitiveness
Amazon: N/A | Best Buy: 100 (baseline with price match)
Amazon: N/A | Best Buy: 15 standard / 30 members
Amazon: N/A | Best Buy: Yes (Geek Squad)
Amazon: N/A | Best Buy: Comprehensive (Geek Squad Protection)
How to choose between Amazon and Best Buy
Amazon vs Best Buy — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Amazon vs Best Buy. Contains 262 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Amazon vs Best Buy — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Amazon vs Best Buy.
Yes, Amazon is typically 2-5% cheaper on electronics due to lower operational costs and direct supplier relationships. Best Buy's premium pricing reflects its physical store infrastructure and Geek Squad services. However, Best Buy frequently offers price matching on select competitors, which can close the gap.
Can I return items faster at Best Buy or Amazon?
Amazon offers a 60-day return window for Prime members vs Best Buy's 15-day window on most electronics, giving Amazon a 4x longer return period. However, Best Buy's 1,000+ physical locations allow in-store returns within their window, offering immediate refunds without shipping delays.
Best Buy is far superior for same-day needs with 1,000+ locations offering same-day pickup on 200,000+ items. Amazon's same-day delivery is limited to select metro areas (approximately 50 cities). For immediate availability, Best Buy is the clear winner.
Do I need a membership to shop at either store?
No membership is required at either retailer. However, Amazon Prime ($139/year) provides significant benefits including 1-2 day shipping, extended returns, and exclusive deals. Best Buy's My Best Buy program is completely free and includes perks like rewards points and exclusive pricing.
Where should I buy electronics if I need expert help?
Best Buy is the superior choice, offering Geek Squad in-store expertise at 1,000 locations for installation, repair, and technical consulting. Amazon offers minimal technical support and no in-person assistance, making it better suited for experienced tech buyers who don't need guidance.
How to Choose Between Amazon and Best Buy
Product Selection: Amazon has 300+ million products, while Best Buy has ~150,000 in-store SKUs.
Consider: Average Shipping Speed (Prime/Standard)
Average Shipping Speed (Prime/Standard): Amazon has 1-2 days (Prime), while Best Buy has 3-5 days standard.
Same-Day Pickup Availability: Amazon has Limited to select metros, while Best Buy has 1,000+ locations nationwide.
In-Store Expert Support: Amazon has None, while Best Buy has Geek Squad services at 1,000 stores.
Consider: Average Electronics Price Competitiveness
Average Electronics Price Competitiveness: Amazon has 2-5% lower than Best Buy, while Best Buy has Premium pricing on most items.
Return Window: Amazon has 30 days (standard), 60 days (Prime), while Best Buy has 15 days (most electronics).
Membership Fee (Annual): Amazon has Prime: $139/year, while Best Buy has My Best Buy: Free.