Online shopping, with apps and sites like Wish and Amazon, have really changed the way we do things. I was out for my daily walk and passed the neighbor with the dog whom I refer to as “the loneliest puppy.” I call him this because there is a gaggle of children in that house, but not a one of them plays with that dog. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a well-kept dog; well-fed, taken care of, just under-stimulated. So I always pet him and run up and down the length of the fence with him. Where the heck is this going? Well, as I was saying, I was passing their house and I noticed a small Amazon package. “Big deal,” you say? Yeah, it kind of is. Because this is our norm now – we shop online.
Online shopping has been on a sharp upward trajectory for a few years now, so this comes as no surprise. And as with all things nowadays, there are apps devoted to online shopping. But you knew that, of course. And if you haven’t noticed, we’re all about giving you alternatives, just as we have listed some great alternatives for Skype and, more recently, Evernote. Allow us to present Appamatix’s Apps Like Wish for Shopping Online.
What Is The Wish App?
Wish is one of the top shopping apps in Europe and North America. It has been described as an “online bazaar” and shopping mall, but with prices that one is more likely to find at a Dollar Store. We’re talking really huge discounts, bearing in mind that there’s not really a way of knowing the value of the merchandise. (I mean, you can say that that poncho is worth $1114 and sell it to me for $27 and I may be none the wiser, but that’s a moot point – Wish says their vendors are free to make whatever claims they please about their offerings, so buyers choose whom to trust). Pretty much all of Wish’s offerings are unbranded and while there’s not much by way of knock -offs, there certainly is some cool and hip merch that looks a lot like stuff you may have seen before; but ya know, hundreds of dollars less.
If you have tried Wish and found it leaving you wishing for more (the puns seriously just write themselves), we have some other shopping apps you might enjoy giving a whirl. Or even if you haven’t had any real problems with Wish, it’s always good to be able to have a variety of markets to deal with. That way, if you can’t find something you like on one service, you can always mosey over to another. Just blow out the candles and make a wish.
Wanelo Shopping
Wanelo’s motto is “Want. Need. Love.” from which it derives its name. Another virtual shopping mall springing up from San Francisco in 2012, Wanelo boasts over 300,000 stores and carries name brand merchandise, unlike Wish. So, if you’ve been researching exactly what slide rule you want to plunk your money down, and don’t want to roll the dice on something that is almost like what you’ve researched, this may be something you may want to consider in place of Wish.
What makes Wanelo different from other purchasing apps and sites is just how public you can make your purchasing and selling. Wanelo shoppers can post what they buy and other shoppers can buy according to what’s trending. Wanelo is a bit like Pinterest that way. Wanelo carries high end as well as low end, everything from Nordstrom to Etsy. And the user is the promoter, essentially. Say you’ve found a BlueTooth keyboard you really like, and it’s not one of the really well-known brands. Well, you can essentially get it a little more coverage. It’s a great way to support the brands and merchants you like. In addition to, you know, giving them your money.
Wanelo is free to use. Give it a whirl.
Download: iOS, Android
Zulily
With some shopping sites, stability is the name of the game. You want to be able to log in and just know that that specific umbrella you’re looking for will be available for a set price. Zulily, on the other hand, is all about the thrill of catching a sale. Zulily thrives on what’s new on a daily basis. With new sales and products appearing every morning, shoppers get the latest every day. And Zulily, more than many shopping apps and sites, works hard to incorporate the social media. Shoppers are encouraged to share their purchases via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest and to stay connected with Zulily through these platforms. This is understandable, of course; not only does this ensure that you get the latest updates on their sales and new promotions, but it also gets you helping out in the publication for the site, as Zulily can take advantage of your social media followership.
Download: iOS, Android
AliExpress
AliExpress is part of AliBaba, the Chinese answer to Amazon. With AliExpress, you are, like with Wish, buying directly from China. AliExpress is worth a mention simply for its free shipping on loads (but not all) of its products. AliExpress’s interface is user friendly and they offer a wide variety of products. Their website offers the site in five languages other than English and ships to over 200 countries.
Download: iOS, Android
Overstock
Overstock is a must-try shopping app like Wish that is always offering great deals on everything from furniture and home decor to pet supplies, electronics, and clothing. When retailers don’t sell all of their merchandise, Overstock steps in to sell those excess items at a discounted rate. So, the brands are legit and the items are brand new, but they are way cheaper than you’d find them at a retailer. In fact, the shopping app has grown so much over the years that they no longer exclusively sell overstock items, they sell new items, too.
As you browse through trendy, brand-name items, you’ll realize how simple it is to find exactly what you’re looking for, at a great price. One of our favorite things about Overstock is its augmented reality feature, allowing you to place virtual furniture and decor in your home to see how it looks before purchasing it online.
Download: iOS, Android
ThredUp
ThredUP is virtually an online thrift store, and we are totally obsessed. On this shopping app, you can buy and sell second-hand items for affordable prices. The shopping experience is easier than ever, allowing you to choose from clothes under $10, $20, or $50, as well as designer brands clearanced at $99 or more.
If you’re unsure what you’re looking for, ThredUp has a super helpful and fun feature called the Goody Box. You start by taking a style quiz so the app’s fashion experts can get to know your style, likes, and dislikes. Then, they will pick out 10 items for you at the price range of your choice to curate the ideal “goody box” of clothing with free shipping and free returns. Once you recieve your box in the mail, you can return anything you don’t want to keep and order new items whenever you’d like!
Download: iOS, Android
After all this retail therapy on these amazing shopping apps like Wish, you may need to earn some cash to pay for it all. Check out these 10 Best Apps To Sell Clothes.
