Joybuy vs Amazon: How does the online newcomer match up against the retail giant?

Like Amazon, Joybuy's a one-stop shop, though stock can be limited

You can buy everything from tech to fridges, to food and baby wipes. It's a mix of big brands such as Apple, Sony and Nintendo as well as lesser-known brands. Everything you purchase from Joybuy is direct, so there's no marketplace or third-party selling like you get with Amazon.

From what I've seen, Amazon tends to be well-stocked, and products are usually replenished when they sell out, whereas once stock is sold out at Joybuy, there are no guarantees it'll come back, so it can be hit or miss if the product you want is available.

Joybuy offers fast Prime-like delivery without extra fees or a subscription

If you don't have an Amazon Prime subscription, or if you only have it for the speedy shipping, Joybuy is a decent alternative. In some cases, it can be quicker and cheaper than Amazon. Here's how its delivery works:

• Delivery is £3.99 for orders under £29. For orders over that amount, it's free. If you don't have Prime, Amazon's delivery is up to £4.99, or free on a £35 or more spend in most cases.

• Fast same/next-day delivery is available to Greater London, Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, Oxford and Cambridge. Order by 11am for same-day delivery by 11pm, or order between 11am and 11pm for next-day delivery by 3pm. Amazon does same-day delivery on selected orders too, for 81 towns and cities.

• Most other areas can get next-day delivery by 3pm when ordering by 6pm. Some areas such as the Scottish Highlands can only get standard delivery which takes up to five days. Joybuy doesn't deliver at all to Northern Ireland.

Both offer fast speed, but crucially, Joybuy’s same/next-day delivery doesn't cost extra or require a subscription. Of course, we don't know whether as Joybuy grows it'll necessitate a subscription or introduce delivery fees – we'll update here if it changes its model.

How does Joybuy compare to Amazon on price?

From my spot checks, they're largely evenly matched on price, especially when it comes to everyday household items, gaming, and general tech. Each retailer had a handful of items cheaper than the other – Amazon won on some higher-value electrical appliances and tech, while Joybuy won on some beauty, skincare, and home fragrance items.

Of course, this is just a small sample so it's an indicator, not a rule – always compare before buying, including checking other retailers. It's also worth reiterating that a lot of Joybuy stock moves quickly, and it's not a guarantee what'll be on the site. Most of the food and household items you can get at Joybuy aren't available at Amazon unless bought as part of an Amazon Fresh/Morrisons/Gopuff order, which can incur minimum spends and delivery fees.

Joybuy was cheaper than Amazon AND Morrisons for a grocery shop

Joybuy returns are free

If you change your mind, you can return most items within 30 days via DPD or Royal Mail, with the option to have your return picked-up from your home. See Joybuy's full returns policy.

What to watch out for – app-only pricing and late night flash offers

One thing I didn't like about the Joybuy shopping experience, was an item being marked as cheaper due to a discount...but you had to download the app in order for it to actually be that price.

Additionally, Joybuy offers limited-time deals on its app between 8pm and 11pm, with new offers dropping each hour. Obviously this is a marketing tactic to get people to download and use the app. However, good financial decisions are rarely made in the dark, and this Temu-style marketing could lead people to spend unnecessarily. Don't let the 'flash deal' tactic trick you into buying something you didn't plan for.

Joybuy sends you lots of push notifications with deals and price-drops – make sure you remember the Money Mantras so you're not tempted into needless spending.

I tested Joybuy out myself to see if it actually was a joy to buy from – here's my experience

I wasn't in the market for a £1,000+ iPhone, nor a four-person tent, so opted for a few items from this week's shopping list: toothpaste, loo roll, chewing gum, tanning moisturiser, and a "rustic pillar candle" for good measure.

I managed to get a £2 off coupon for downloading the Joybuy app. I bought it at 10.40am, and it arrived at 5pm – in 6 hours and 20 minutes, which I thought was impressive. Via the app, I was notified about every stage of the delivery process so I felt in the loop, though I couldn't track the delivery with 'number of stops' like I can with Amazon.

When my parcel arrived, I was greeted by a nice delivery driver sporting a red Joybuy jacket, and I had to sign for my package – perhaps a bit excessive for some loo roll and toothpaste – but I prefer this to the classically laissez-faire delivery attitude of some Amazon deliveries.

All the products were as expected, but when it came to the chewing gum, it was clearly a pack that wouldn't be sold in the supermarkets still. It had a competition on it which ran until December 2025. The best-before date is September 2026 so there's no impact on the flavour or texture, but maybe it's a clue on how Joybuy sources its stock.

My experience buying from Joybuy was incredibly positive. When Martin tasked me with exploring this new retail platform, I was sceptical. But based on the experience I had, I'd definitely use it again. I think it comes into its own for household goods – stuff you'd buy from the supermarket but would be overpriced on other "quick delivery" platforms such as Uber Eats or Deliveroo. Joybuy also sells smaller quantities of things, such as individual packs of baby wipes, and you often can't get these on Amazon unless it's an order with Amazon Fresh, which has minimum spend requirements.

Besides the candle, I'd previously used all of the brands I purchased. Of course, I can't attest to the quality of all the brands on Joybuy, so make sure you do your own research and price comparisons before buying.

What's JoyPlus, and is it worth it?

Joybuy has a paid-for monthly subscription, called JoyPlus. This gives you unlimited free shipping on all orders and allows you to collect points. It costs £3.99 a month or £19.99 a year – considering delivery on orders below £29 costs £3.99, this could be a good option for regular Joybuy shoppers. There's a reduced rate for students, of £2.99 per month, or £14.99 per year.

JoyPlus isn't too comparable to Amazon Prime, because of all the additional perks Amazon has with its scheme. However, apparently there are going to be 'Plus Days', a very clear riff on 'Prime Days', with special deals for JoyPlus members.

It's clear that JoyBuy is set on beating Amazon on speed, because there's no preferential speed for JoyPlus members, which is quite refreshing.

In summary...

There do seem to be good deals on larger ticket items, but I really think Joybuy is going to become a big player in the retail space for more rudimentary purchasing such as food and household products. As someone who regularly uses Amazon, I likely will be checking Joybuy before I check Amazon. If I were Amazon, I'd be worried.

Have you tried out Joybuy, or considering giving it a go? Let us know on X or Facebook.