Amazon vs Target
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Amazon
The world's largest online store, selling almost everything with fast Prime delivery.
Target
US retailer's online store and app with same-day delivery, drive-up pickup and a free loyalty program.
The short answer
Amazon offers the biggest selection and fast Prime delivery across many countries; Target sells a smaller, curated US range with its own brands, free drive-up pickup and same-day delivery. Pick Amazon for breadth and almost anything shipped to your door. Pick Target if you're in the US, like its exclusive home, kids and clothing brands, and live near a store for quick pickup.
Amazon or Target: our take
The core difference is scale versus a store network. Amazon sells almost every category from its own stock and a large marketplace of third-party sellers, with separate stores in many countries. Target sells the range of its US stores online, including Target-only brands, and lets you ship, pick up in store, use drive-up without leaving the car, or get same-day delivery through Shipt, which Target owns. Target has more than 2,000 US stores but carries fewer marketplace sellers, so its catalogue is smaller.
Memberships work differently. Shopping on either is free. Amazon Prime costs $14.99 a month or $139 a year, with a 30-day free trial and cheaper plans for young adults and eligible government assistance recipients, and bundles Prime Video, music and unlimited photo storage with fast free shipping. Target Circle is a free loyalty program with personalised deals; the paid Target Circle 360 costs $10.99/month or $99/year and adds free fast shipping, same-day delivery on larger orders at select stores and an extra 30 days for returns.
Each has trade-offs. Amazon's search results are crowded with sponsored listings and lookalike brands, and marketplace seller quality is uneven, though returns on items sold or shipped by Amazon are easy. Target's selection is narrower and it trades only in the US, but its pickup options are quick and free. Both run on the web, Android and iOS.
Choose Amazon if you want the widest selection, shop outside the US, or would use Prime's video and photo perks. Choose Target if you're in the US, buy household basics, kids' items and clothing, and like collecting orders the same day. Plenty of US households use both, with Target for local pickup and Amazon for everything else.
Which should you pick?
Choose Amazon if…
- Shoppers who want the widest selection and fast delivery, especially Prime members
- Largest selection of almost any online store
- Fast free delivery on eligible items with Prime
Choose Target if…
- US shoppers who like Target's own brands and want quick pickup or same-day delivery
- Drive-up and in-store pickup are quick and free
- Target-only home, kids and clothing brands
About each app
What is Amazon?
Amazon is the biggest online retailer in the US and many other countries, with separate stores such as amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.de and amazon.in. It sells almost every category of goods, from books, where it started, to electronics, groceries, clothing, household supplies and car parts, both from its own stock and from a large marketplace of third-party sellers, many of whom use Amazon's warehouses and delivery network. Shopping is free; Prime is the paid membership that adds fast free shipping on eligible items, Prime Video, music, photo storage and other perks, and its price differs by country. Amazon is known for quick delivery, an easy return process on most items and a very large review base. Downsides include search results crowded with sponsored listings and lookalike products, and uneven quality from some marketplace sellers. It runs on the web and in Android and iOS apps.
What is Target?
Target.com and the Target app sell the same range as Target's US stores: home goods, clothing, beauty, toys, electronics and groceries, with a strong line of Target-only brands. Orders can be shipped, picked up in store, collected through drive-up without leaving the car, or delivered the same day through Shipt, which Target owns. Target Circle, the free loyalty program, gives personalised deals and member-only offers. The paid Target Circle 360 membership adds free fast shipping, unlimited same-day delivery on larger orders, an extra 30 days for returns and monthly freebies, at a lower price for Target Circle Card holders, teachers, students and military members. It runs on the web and in Android and iOS apps. Target trades only in the US, and its catalogue is smaller than Amazon's or Walmart's because it carries fewer marketplace sellers.
Side by side
| Attribute | Amazon | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, Android, iOS | Web, Android, iOS |
| Best for | Shoppers who want the widest selection and fast delivery, especially Prime members | US shoppers who like Target's own brands and want quick pickup or same-day delivery |
| Status | Active | Active |
Amazon vs Target pricing
Amazon: free plan + paid
- Starting price: $14.99 a month (Prime Monthly) source
- Prime for Young Adults plan: $7.49 a month source
- Prime Access plan: $6.99 a month for eligible government assistance recipients source
- Free trial: 30 days source
- Prime Annual plan: $139 a year source
Target: free plan + paid
- Circle 360 price: $10.99/month or $99/year source
Platforms
| Platform | Amazon | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Amazon facts
7 of 7 verified- Starting price
- $14.99 a month (Prime Monthly)
- Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Prime Monthly $14.99 per month”
- Photo storage
- Unlimited with Prime
- Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime”
- Used goods
- Amazon Resale
- Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Amazon Resale Great Deals on Quality Used Products Whole Foods Market America’s Healthiest Grocery Store Woot!”
- Prime for Young Adults plan
- $7.49 a month
- Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Prime for Young Adults $7.49 per month”
- Prime Access plan
- $6.99 a month for eligible government assistance recipients
- Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Prime Access $6.99 per month after trial Start your free 30-day trial Enjoy your free 30-day trial of Prime.”
- Free trial
- 30 days
- Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Choose your plan Enjoy your free 30-day trial of Prime.”
- Prime Annual plan
- $139 a year
- Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Prime Monthly $14.99 per month after trial Prime Annual $139 per year after trial Prime for Young Adults $7.49 per month after trial Prime Access $6.”
Target facts
5 of 5 verified- Target Circle
- Free to join
- Checked Nov 8, 2026target.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Join free to save even more”
- Circle 360 price
- $10.99/month or $99/year
- Checked Nov 8, 2026target.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “regular price of $10.99/month or $99/year.”
- Circle 360 returns
- Extra 30 days
- Checked Nov 8, 2026target.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “No rush returns Get an extra 30 days to return your items.”
- Stores
- More than 2,000 in the US
- Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.target.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Explore section Our Locations Learn more about the more than 2,000 stores we operate, plus our supply chain facilities and headquarters locations.”
- Owner of
- Shipt and Roundel
- Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.target.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Target Corporation also owns Shipt and Roundel.”
Pros and cons of Amazon
- Largest selection of almost any online store
- Fast free delivery on eligible items with Prime
- Easy returns on most items sold or shipped by Amazon
- Prime bundles video, music and photo storage
- Search results are crowded with sponsored listings and lookalike brands
- Marketplace seller quality is uneven
- Prime is a fairly expensive yearly subscription
Pros and cons of Target
- Drive-up and in-store pickup are quick and free
- Target-only home, kids and clothing brands
- Free loyalty program with regular personalised deals
- Circle 360 adds an extra 30 days to return items
- Smaller catalogue than Amazon or Walmart
- Same-day delivery through Circle 360 only at select stores
- US only
Other apps to consider
Amazon vs Target: common questions
Is Amazon better than Target?
Amazon offers the biggest selection and fast Prime delivery across many countries; Target sells a smaller, curated US range with its own brands, free drive-up pickup and same-day delivery. Pick Amazon for breadth and almost anything shipped to your door. Pick Target if you're in the US, like its exclusive home, kids and clothing brands, and live near a store for quick pickup.
Is Amazon free?
Amazon has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Target free?
Target has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Amazon or Target open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Amazon and Target support?
Amazon: Web, Android and iOS. Target: Web, Android and iOS.