Top 4 Online Stores in Philippines

From walking miles through malls and bazaars to finding the best deals out there. The shopping experience has evolved into online shopping where your purchase is as easy as clicking the mouse or tapping at our phone screens.

The experience of online shopping the Philippines has to offer is at par with other countries as different online shopping sites vying for your attention.

Online Stores In the Philippines

Filipinos are always on their phones. It’s no surprise that online shopping in the Philippines is flourishing with hundreds of online shopping sites in the Philippines getting published on the Internet every day. With this saturation, you might find it hard to find the best deals online.

To further make your online shopping experience a lot more convenient, we’ve compiled a list of the top online sellers in the Philippines. Some provide a wide range of goods while others offer specific ones like beauty products and tech tools.

Be sure to check out each of these sites next time you’re shopping online. Later, you’ll see how to choose the best online shopping sites yourself.

Amazon in the Philippines

Being the world’s largest online store, there’s no denying that even this US-based online store is a favorite among Filipinos. You can get almost anything on Amazon.com and have it shipped to the Philippines.

This online store sells a wide variety of consumer goods and digital media as well as its own electronic devices, such as the Kindle e-book reader, Kindle Fire tablet, and Fire TV, a streaming media adapter.

You can find great discounts on beauty products, cameras laptops, and mobile phones. All along with a decent shipping cost since these products might not be able to be found in metro manila.

The prices can be quite high for the regular Filipino online shopper but chances are, you’re shopping on Amazon for an item that’s not locally produced so it’s worth the money and the wait as your product is being shipped from overseas.

Just a quick tip before doing a shopping spree on Amazon: make sure that you know what the import tax & duties will be. Make sure to include your shipping address, and use the right payment methods before setting up your new Amazon account.

Payment methods: Amazon accepts major credit cards and debit cards from Visa and MasterCard, so you may pay with cards from local banks like Metrobank. What’s more, it allows EuroCard, Discover Network, Diner’s Club, American Express, JCB, and China UnionPay. Amazon doesn’t accept Cash on Delivery and PayPal.

Delivery: Amazon allows three shipping options in the Philippines: Standard, Expedited, and Priority. Standard starts at $10.99, Expedited at $18.99, and Priority at $39.99. The rates also depend on the types of products you ordered.

Other features: Similar to the US homepage, Amazon PH offers “Today’s Deals.” Visit the main website for more information.

Lazada

This next online website has come a long way ever since it was founded in 2012. Lazada has been known as the fastest-growing online shopping website in the country. As Lazada continues to grow so does the variety and selection of products they offer.

It offers a plethora of items that range from home improvement, gadgets, fashion, and lifestyle items, to appliances.  Lazada offers cash on delivery with a range of products.

Lazada has also partnered with hundreds of brands at both the local and international levels. All of which makes the website a one-stop-shop for everything that a customer would want.

Payment methods: Cash on Delivery, Lazada Wallet, GCash, Credit Card, Debit Card, BDO Installment, Non-Credit Installment Plans, LazPayLater (Lazada’s Shop Now, Pay Later feature)

Delivery: Greater Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Cebu, Davao (depending on the delivery type)

Other features: Free shipping depending on the promo.

Zalora

Headquartered in Singapore, this e-retailer is another one of the top online shops in the Philippines. Zalora boasts of Asia’s leading online fashion destination with international fashion brands like Nike, Mango, H&M, and more included in their categories.

If those fashion brands do not entice you that much, well maybe Zalora’s monthly sales which are often dubbed as the biggest online sale there is will make you consider browsing their categories.

Plus, if you shop to your heart’s content and your order exceeds PHP 1000, an online beauty shop will provide free shipping. This makes it easier to shop until you drop!

That’s why Zalora is one of the best online shopping sites in the Philippines.

Payment methods: Cash on Delivery, Wallet Credit, E-Gift Card, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, GCash, GrabPay

Delivery: Metro Manila and the rest of the country depending if you ordered third-party seller brands like VTech and Disney.

Other features: Zalora Now which provides a year of unlimited free shipping with no minimum spending requirement for only ₱500 (discount at the time of writing)

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BeautyMNL

Why not pair that new outfit with beauty products from BeautyMNL? It’s one of the best online shopping sites that’s 100% from the Philippines!

It features over 45,000 beauty, health, and lifestyle products that are guaranteed authentic. Rest assured that their products are 100% legit. The simple user interface lets you navigate with ease.

What’s more, BeautyMNL’s lineup consists of the best domestic and global brands. Support the local startups or explore international brands you’ve never seen before.

BeautyMNL provides high-quality service with its next-day delivery and nationwide shipping. You can check out its 333,340+ product reviews to see if this cosmetic eCommerce site is right for you. 

Payment methods: Cash on Delivery, GCash, PayPal, GrabPay, bank deposit, and BeautyMNL’s credits and Glow Points.

Delivery: Nationwide, Orders worth ₱ 1,500.00 in total qualify for free shipping. There are certain supplies that BeautyMNL may only deliver to a few barangays (similar to “districts” in English). Also, you will have to pay a special handling fee to this online store.

Other features: The online beauty shop often features weekly deals. For example, customers may enjoy up to 28% worth of discounts for Goli brand products starting March 6-12, 2022.

Shopee

Another Singapore-founded e-retailer, Shopee cops a spot in our top 5 online sites in the Philippines. It offers the same as the other online shops we’ve featured. Shopee has almost everything at an affordable price.

What’s more, Shopee also holds monthly sales so low people stay up all night just to catch their deals! Another great thing about Shopee as well is their Cash On Delivery payment option as well as their free shipping policy once you’ve hit a certain amount in total of your orders.

Payment methods: Cash on Delivery, debit card, credit card, linked bank account, online banking, e-Wallet, payment center, over-the-counter, Google Pay, TouchPay, and ShopeePay.

Delivery: This is one of those online shopping sites that rely on third-party courier services for deliveries. This means the fees and estimated delivery time will depend on the courier partner available.

Other features: This online store usually has sales promos every month. Check Shopee’s homepage and app to see the ongoing promos.

Carousell (previously named OLX)

From Sulit.com to OLX, one of the best online shopping sites in the Philippines is now Carousell! Think of it as eBay, but it features pre-loved items from Filipinos.

From second-hand smartphones and cameras to appliances, you can get a cheap find for your needs. Even so, OLX also features houses and condos for rent or sale. 

You can even pay for home services such as home cleaning and car maintenance. With these many options, you can truly say that Carousell is a marketplace for everything.

It connects you to various independent sellers who could provide the best deals. Carousell is a merry-go-round source that provides what you need all-around!

Payment methods: It’s up to you and the seller to decide which payment services to use. After all, this is one of the online shopping sites that only connect buyers and sellers.

Delivery: The following carriers are your options for on-demand delivery: GrabExpress, AngkasPadala, MrSpeedy, Lalamove, and Transportify. This is only available in Metro Manila. If you live outside this region, your options are LBP Express, DHL Express, and 2GO Express.

EasyPC

More Filipinos are interested in computers and other gadgets due to the rise of remote work and online classes. Some just want to build the best PCs for oIt can be tough to find the best deals for new laptops and PC accessories.

Fortunately, EasyPC makes online gadget shopping easy-peasy! From graphics cards to gaming chairs, this online shop has all you need to build the best gaming setup.

If you just want a great deal for a new laptop, EasyPC has you covered. The homepage has a list of discounts that may have what you need. Even better, it features high-quality local products from Rakk.

It’s a local brand that sells locally-made gadgets, especially for gaming. The quality compares to other high-end international brands, but they’re more affordable. 

EasyPC is the best online shop for all your tech needs, whether for studying, working, or gaming!

Payment methods: You may pay with BPI or BDO’s online banking features, or you may use GCash. EasyPC doesn’t allow Cash on Delivery.

Delivery: You may request Grab Express or Lalamove to deliver your order. The costs will depend on these courier services. Alternatively, you may head to the EasyPC pick-up locations to claim the items yourself. Note that it only delivers in Metro Manila and certain parts of Cavite, Bulacan, and Rizal.

Other features: Similar to the other online stores, EasyPC offers discounts every month. The homepage also has an Easy Build tab that can help you purchase parts for your new PC. Just select items for each component, and the page will compute the total cost.

Urban Gadgets

Maybe you’re not up for a new computer or laptop. Perhaps you prefer a new smartphone or pair of headphones. If that’s the case, Urban Gadgets might be the best online store for you. 

It’s an online shop that specializes in mobile devices. It lets you pick out a new case for your Android phone and audio accessories such as wireless earbuds.

Other products include remote-controlled drones, electric scooters, smartwatches, portable power supplies, and even compact generators!

If you’re on the lookout for a great deal, you’re in luck. At the time of writing, Urban Gadgets was offering a long list of discounted items. 

When it comes to mobile tech, Urban Gadgets is your best bet!

Payment methods: Debit card, credit card, linked bank account, GCash, GrabPay, over-the-counter banking, PayCash, PayPal, and TendoPay. Cash on Delivery is only available for orders up to ₱20,000. Urban Gadgets recommends using its online stores in Lazada and Shopee if you prefer CoD.

Delivery: Third-party couriers like Grab, Lalamove and Mr. Speedy deliver in Metro Manila. If you live in the provinces, LBC is your only delivery option. For small items, Urban Gadgets charges a minimum of ₱280 in Metro Manila, ₱390 in Luzon, and ₱415 in Visayas and Mindanao. Additional fees may reach ₱100, ₱200, or ₱300 for heavier parcels.

Other features: This online store usually has sales promos every month. Check the Urban Gadgets homepage and app to see the ongoing promos.

Best of Online Shopping Sites in the Philippines with Cash on Delivery

Cash on delivery by definition is the system of paying for goods when they are delivered. Meaning you can order a product(s) and not have to pay for it until the item(s) is delivered. If the goods are not paid for, they are returned to the retailer.

Shopping with the cash-on-delivery option is an easy way to transact your orders. It’s also safer in our opinion as you get the chance to check the goods before paying for them.

This makes for a safer shopping experience as there are no personal bank details included in the process. Payment information would not be needed as you will be paying for it yourself once it arrives.

Most online stores in the Philippines offer the cash-on-delivery option and as another added security, they can withhold your payment to their sellers if you have any concerns regarding their product.

Cash on delivery or COD remains one of the most popular payment methods with Internet-based retailers and customers as it does not require any banking details or credit card information. Therefore, if the COD option is available, it’s better to choose it for its convenience and safety.

Online Shopping Tips

Speaking of safety, you must know how to find the right online store for your needs. This article showed a lot of promising sites, but there are others not listed.

The online shopping trend is just warming up in the Philippines, so more Filipinos are taking the bold step for the first online startups. As a result, you can find so many of them popping up on the internet.

If you just stick to the recommendations in this article, you might be missing out on their incredible deals. You might find better prices or unique products that aren’t on the mainstream sites.

The current online market is still fresh, so you may find shady options among the quality choices. You should know how to keep yourself safe from such websites.

Otherwise, you’re putting your finances and even your sensitive information at risk. Keep the following tips in mind while you’re looking for the best online shop:

Learn all you can about the website.

It’s a lot easier to create websites nowadays. Sadly, scammers take advantage of this by creating fake eCommerce websites. Once you open them, they might ask for personal information immediately.

Others take their time and let you fill those in during checkout. Then, it turns out that the website doesn’t provide any of the products listed. Shortly after, you may receive numerous spam emails and text messages.

Fortunately, you can find so many online reviews from previous customers. See what they have to say about the products. Look for the ones with the most reviews, not the ones that have the highest ratings.

Most of them have glowing recommendations from only a handful of commenters that might be employees of that online shop. On the other hand, more reviewers have a higher chance of providing opinions from real customers.

See if the online shop has a physical location. If it’s offering a discount deal right now, see if it matches the one on the website. If any of the important details don’t match, then the website is probably fake.

Aside from security, verify that the website has the features you want. This means comparing various online stores that sell the same or similar products.

Also, look at the services of your chosen websites. You might find ones that offer free shipping, or a free complementary product from their promos.

The shop may have a wide range of online shopping features, but they might only be available in Metro Manila. Some may not accept cash on delivery to your home.

Make sure your online shopping sites accept your preferred credit card or debit card options. The best online shopping sites usually have a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page you can visit.

Be careful when sharing information.

It makes sense to provide your name, address, and contact details with eCommerce websites. Their couriers have to make sure they find your home and deliver it to you.

They need the contact details, so they can provide timely updates about your order. If it’s asking for irrelevant details, then it’s best to back out of your purchase.

The website might be a scam to gather personal information. Shady people can use that for even more scams or sell it to other businesses without your permission.

As I said, you could choose to pay cash on delivery if you’re uncomfortable with sharing your credit card information. Aside from your plastic swiper, you may choose to pay via online payment apps.

In the US, that may include Cash App or PayPal. In the Philippines, folks may choose to send payment via GCash. Either way, you just input details from the online seller or scan its QR code.

This works like a credit card, but you don’t have to share your number and security code. Again, this is why you have to choose your online shopping website wisely.

Keep track of your bank and credit card statements.

Make sure you record all the purchases you’ve made on the internet. Also, set alerts for every purchase you make. Your banking app can send email notifications about every transaction.

Some people may breach your credit card account to purchase stuff for themselves. If you don’t keep an eye out for your credit purchases, you may find it maxed out one day!

Another reason why you should be aware of your credit card purchases? You can easily lose money from buying stuff online. Studies show that people are more likely to spend if they’re using a credit card compared to paying with cash.

If you’re paying with cash, you feel that money slipping away from your hands. Then, you get to touch the money left as change, if any. Meanwhile, your credit card stays the same when it slides down the reader and goes back to your hand.

Online purchases further reduce that friction since you just click or tap your purchases. It could feel like you’re just spending points on Candy Crush or other online games. Little do you know, your purchases are crushing your finances!

Keep your devices free from viruses and malware.

This is probably a piece of advice you didn’t expect. Still, most people don’t realize that everything they do on the internet leaves a trace on their devices.

For example, your web browser saves a cache of temporary files. That way, you can open the same websites again but much faster than your first time.

Most websites leave cookies on your computer. These are trackers that gather information about your behaviors on the internet. That data is useful for online marketing.

The worst websites leave viruses and malware that could break your computer. It may keep popping up annoying ads or crash your PC.

That’s why you have to make sure your PC has its antivirus program active. You might want to use additional software such as Norton Antivirus as well.

Clear the temporary files in your web browser. This will keep other websites from gathering more info about you. Also, this will keep your browser running at optimal speed.

Use safe sources for Wi-Fi.

You didn’t expect this as an online shopping tip as well, did you? The world has adopted the internet so much that it’s a lot easier to get wireless internet access.

Some restaurants, cafes, and other establishments offer this for free as a way to entice customers. That’s why people have gotten used to this as a free feature.

Unfortunately, some people can create fake Wi-Fi hotspots. They could mimic the legit source, so unsuspecting customers may connect to it. Once you do, you provide free and open access to your device and everything in it.

If you plan on using Wi-Fi from outside your home, ask the staff for the right network. Otherwise, just use the mobile data of your smartphone. Both ways increase your safety when buying stuff on the internet.

Just keep track of the mobile data. Otherwise, you might reach the limit set by your telecom provider. That could keep you from using mobile data until the limit resets. If not, you might incur higher charges as you go beyond that data cap.

Final Thoughts

Those were some of the best online stores in the Philippines. Many of them offer great deals, so you can go on a shopping spree much easier.

If the options in this article don’t suit you, there are other platforms out there. Feel free to check those for a better shopping experience.

You might have noticed by now that online is the way to go for modern businesses. If you’d like to know more about these trends, check out the other articles from Inquirer USA.

SUMMARY

Each of these websites curates its own unique online shopping experience catering to any consumer. Each day online shopping in the Philippines flourishes with more and more online stores going up every day. Not to mention, cash on delivery is also gaining popularity with customers and e-retailers alike. Cash on delivery sets online shopping apart from traditional brick and mortar stores giving the consumer a completely new and convenient way to shop.

Published on May 16, 2019, Updated on March 10, 2022.

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