01
Books
Bookshop.org splits sales with local bookstores, at the same price as Amazon. Or just call your neighborhood shop — most will ship.
Resource Guide
Boycott Amazon, Without Rebuilding Your Whole Life
Amazon's scale gives it outsized power over workers, small businesses, and local economies. You don't have to quit overnight — start with one category, and build from there.
Amazon is convenient because it's designed to be the default — one login, one cart, one delivery truck. Breaking that habit isn't about willpower, it's about having a specific alternative ready before you need it. Below are real substitutes, organized by what people actually buy most.
Alternatives by category
Where to actually go instead
02
Household & Everyday Goods
Target, Walmart, and local hardware/grocery stores carry almost everything in Amazon's "basics" category — often for less.
03
Streaming Video
Swap Prime Video for a library card and Kanopy or Hoopla (both free with a Hennepin or Ramsey County library card).
04
Cloud Storage & Backup
Many "unrelated" apps run on Amazon Web Services behind the scenes. For your own files, try pCloud or Proton Drive instead.
05
Handmade & Small-Batch Goods
Etsy isn't perfect, but it keeps more money with individual makers than Amazon Handmade does.
06
Everything Else
Before you search a product on Amazon, try the manufacturer's own site first — many ship directly, often with better warranties.
Getting started
You don't have to do this all at once
1
Pick one category
Whatever you buy on Amazon most often — start there, not everywhere at once.
2
Find one real alternative
Use the list above, or ask in your local mutual aid or organizing group chat.
3
Try it for a month
Habits change faster with a trial period than with an all-or-nothing pledge.
4
Tell someone what worked
The easiest way to help a neighbor quit Amazon is to hand them a specific alternative, not a lecture.
Know a better alternative?
This list only stays useful if organizers keep it current. Tell us what to add.