Best online stores for shoes in the US
35 buying questions · the United States · 2 assistants
| # | Store | Named | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
dsw.com dsw.com |
21 / 35 +20 | 9 |
| 2 |
Allen Edmonds allenedmonds.com |
5 / 35 +4 | 2 |
| 3 |
bootbarn.com bootbarn.com |
4 / 35 +3 | 2 |
| 4 |
Foot Locker footlocker.com |
8 / 35 +7 | 1 |
| 5 |
famousfootwear.com famousfootwear.com |
7 / 35 +6 | 1 |
| 6 |
shoecarnival.com shoecarnival.com |
5 / 35 +4 | 1 |
| 7 |
Cole Haan colehaan.com |
3 / 35 +2 | 1 |
| 8 |
naturalizer.com naturalizer.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 1 |
| 9 |
Red Wing redwingshoes.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 1 |
| 10 |
Saks OFF 5TH saksoff5th.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 1 |
| 11 |
Sam Edelman samedelman.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 1 |
| 12 |
theshoemart.com theshoemart.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 1 |
| 13 |
Shoebacca shoebacca.com |
6 / 35 +5 | 0 |
| 14 |
Beckett Simonon beckettsimonon.com |
4 / 35 +3 | 0 |
| 15 |
Finish Line finishline.com |
4 / 35 +3 | 0 |
| 16 |
JD Sports jdsports.com |
4 / 35 +3 | 0 |
| 17 |
Thursday Boot Company thursdayboots.com |
4 / 35 +3 | 0 |
| 18 |
Timberland timberland.com |
4 / 35 +3 | 0 |
| 19 |
Birdies birdies.com |
3 / 35 +2 | 0 |
| 20 |
WorkBoots.com workboots.com |
3 / 35 +2 | 0 |
| 21 |
Grant Stone grantstoneboot.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 0 |
| 22 |
Johnston & Murphy johnstonmurphy.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 0 |
| 23 |
on-running.com on-running.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 0 |
| 24 |
Steve Madden stevemadden.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 0 |
| 25 |
Thorogood thorogoodusa.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 0 |
| 26 |
Wolverine wolverine.com |
2 / 35 +1 | 0 |
| 27 |
Amberjack amberjack.shop |
1 / 35 | 0 |
| 28 |
Converse converse.com |
1 / 35 | 0 |
| 29 |
ecco.com ecco.com |
1 / 35 | 0 |
| 30 |
journeys.com journeys.com |
1 / 35 | 0 |
| 31 |
shoemall.com shoemall.com |
1 / 35 | 0 |
| 32 |
thursdays.com thursdays.com |
1 / 35 | 0 |
| 33 |
Vans vans.com |
1 / 35 | 0 |
| 34 |
Vivaia vivaia.com |
1 / 35 | 0 |
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Category median: named in 1 of 35 questions (the middle store of all 62 stores we measured; +n is how many questions a store is above it).
Named means the store appeared in the answer. Recommended means the assistant clearly advised it. Being in a list is not the same as being advised, so we count them separately. The other 28 stores were named in none of these questions.
This ranking covers the 62 stores we measure in this category. That is not every store in the market.
The top 10, real questions with who AI named, the sites AI cites and how it describes #1. Free, by email.
Named is not recommended
Each dot is a store. Further right: named in more buying questions. Higher: recommended more often. Stores low on the right are known to AI but rarely the tip. That gap is what most stores can close.
Where AI sends shoppers
Review sites, comparison sites, marketplaces and communities that ChatGPT and Gemini mention in their answers in this category. Stores that are present and well reviewed there are easier for AI to recommend.
| Amazon Marketplace |
32 of 70 | AI sends shoppers there. Selling there too, or being clearly better on your own site, both help. |
| eBay Platform |
12 of 70 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
| GOAT Platform |
11 of 70 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
| StockX Platform |
10 of 70 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
| Poshmark Platform |
8 of 70 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
| Rakuten Platform |
3 of 70 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
| Google Shopping Comparison or test site |
2 of 70 | Make sure your products are listed there with full and correct data. |
| Grailed Platform |
2 of 70 | AI sends shoppers there. Check whether you can be listed. |
The questions we asked
Only the questions that could really name a store, because only those count. They are in the language of the market, because that is how shoppers there ask them.
- I usually just buy shoes from big general retailers but where can I find a specialized online shoe store in the US?
AI named: Zappos, Running Warehouse, Road Runner Sports - I want to buy boots from a dedicated shoe shop online in the US instead of a general marketplace, where should I go?
AI named: Zappos, DSW, Famous Footwear - are there any American online shoe stores besides the big department store websites?
AI named: Zappos, DSW, Shoe Carnival - what is a good US website to buy women's heels online?
AI named: Nordstrom, Zappos, DSW - what is a reliable American website to buy sandals online?
AI named: Zappos, Nordstrom, REI - what is the best online store to buy boots in the US?
AI named: Zappos, REI, Boot Barn - where can I buy affordable dress shoes for men online in the US?
AI named: Nordstrom Rack, DSW, Macy’s - where can I buy cheap sneakers online in the US?
AI named: Nike, adidas, New Balance - where can I buy dress shoes online in the United States?
AI named: Nordstrom, Zappos, Macy’s - where can I buy shoes online and get them delivered the next day in the US?
AI named: Amazon, Zappos, Nordstrom - where can I buy shoes online in the US and get a warranty if they fall apart?
AI named: REI, L.L.Bean, Costco - where can I buy shoes online in the US with free and easy returns?
AI named: Zappos, Nordstrom, Nike - where can I buy trail running shoes online from a store that specializes in outdoor footwear?
AI named: REI Co-op, Backcountry, Running Warehouse - where can I find a trustworthy online store for work boots in America?
AI named: Boot Barn, Red Wing Shoes, Thorogood - where can I find the best deals on boots online in America?
AI named: Sierra, 6pm, Timberland - where can I order loafers online from a reputable American shop?
AI named: Allen Edmonds, Rancourt & Co., Alden Madison - where do most Americans shop for shoes online?
AI named: Amazon, Nike, Adidas - where is the best place to buy shoes online in the US?
AI named: Zappos, Nordstrom, DSW - where should I shop online for professional work shoes for nurses in the US?
AI named: Nurse Mates, Uniform Advantage, Scrubs & Beyond - which American online shoe store has the biggest inventory so I don't run into out of stock items?
AI named: Zappos, DSW, Nordstrom - which American online store has a wide variety of casual shoes for men?
AI named: Zappos, DSW, Nordstrom - which American online store specializes in shoes for wide feet?
AI named: WideWidths.com, Hitchcock Shoes, The Healthy Feet Store - which American shoe website delivers the fastest?
AI named: Amazon, Zappos, DSW - which American shoe website sells shoes at the lowest prices?
AI named: 6pm.com, Sierra.com, Nordstrom Rack - which American website sells discount shoes without sacrificing quality?
AI named: DSW, Nordstrom Rack, 6pm - which American website should I use to buy sneakers online?
AI named: Nike, New Balance, Adidas - which US online shoe store gives the best value for money?
AI named: DSW, 6pm, Zappos - which US online shoe store has the best selection of running shoes?
AI named: Running Warehouse, Zappos, Road Runner Sports - which US online shoe store makes returns the easiest if the size doesn't fit?
AI named: Zappos, Nordstrom, Fleet Feet - which US shoe store has the best return policy?
AI named: Zappos, Nordstrom, REI - which US shoe website has the best reputation for selling athletic shoes?
AI named: Fleet Feet, Zappos, REI - which US shoe website is best for buying kids shoes online?
AI named: Zappos, Stride Rite, New Balance - which US webshop is well known for selling high quality hiking boots?
AI named: REI Co-op, Backcountry, Moosejaw - which US website is best for buying shoes for people with plantar fasciitis?
AI named: Zappos, Brooks, HOKA - which online shoe retailer in the US is most trusted by customers?
AI named: Zappos, Nordstrom, REI
How to read this
This is a snapshot
AI assistants change their answers. This list is what came out on the date measured, not a judgement about the stores. We measure again every month.
What is not in it
No paid positions. A store cannot buy its way in, and the order follows from the answers alone.
Why not every question counts
If someone asks about a brand or for general information, no store appears in the answer, not even the best one. Those questions are left out of the count. How we measure.
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