Online marketplaces have proven to be quite the cash cow. Brands are competing for your business, and that’s great news for you, the consumer. Two of the biggest to enter the squared circle are Thrive Market and Amazon.
More people are likely to think of Amazon as a store than a rainforest. But what about Thrive Market? Can this scrappy newcomer even think of competing with a giant like Amazon? You might be surprised to learn who comes out on top.
Let’s look deeper into this rivalry to see what each brand offers. There’s a lot here for everyone, and a lot of it comes down what type of food/products you’re in need of. Let’s start with the underdog.
Thrive Market
Founded in 2014, Thrive (see our full Thrive Market review) is pretty new to the game. But where they deserve praise is in their ability to start out small and turn into the heavyweight they are today. They took the proverbial ball and ran with it. And since doing so, they haven’t once stopped to look back.
Thrive Market isn’t all that different from other online vendors. They require that you pay a membership fee upon signup, and they offer their members high-dollar savings on foods and household goods.
The other big plus here is that Thrive Market guarantees savings. So much so that if you haven’t earned back your membership fee by year’s end, Thrive will put the difference on your account when you renew for another year.
On average, you can expect to save anywhere from 25 to 50 percent compared to what you’d pay in a big box store. Make no mistake, that’s a substantial chunk of change, and one worth signing up for.
And then there’s the product selection. Thrive Market currently offers over 500 unique brands that are spread across more than 6,000 items. That, too, is a lot of inventory of which most consumers will never even scratch the surface.
More folks are preferring to shop from the confines of their home. Thrive Market makes this easy, as they offer far more than healthy foods. From toilet paper to supplements, you’ll rarely need to make a store run again.
Orders ship quickly, and Thrive uses environmentally sound methods to do this. Every part of their packaging is 100 percent recyclable.
Oh, and if that alone wasn’t impressive enough, their warehouses produce no waste. If you’re looking for a brand that is conscious about protecting the planet, Thrive Market is right up your alley.
Thrive Market’s foods are non-GMO and organic, with plenty of dietary meals available to suit your needs. It’s a flexible brand that makes it easy for you to order from. Eating healthy foods can be costly, but Thrive makes the membership worth your while.
Which brings us to fees. To become a Thrive Market member, you’re looking at a yearly charge of $59.95. That equals out to $5 a month. Conversely, you may try their services on a monthly basis.
This will run you double what you’d pay as a member, coming out to $9.95 a month. But when you’re saving up to 50 percent on certain items, $5 to $10 a month sounds more than reasonable.
You also get free shipping on all orders equaling $49 or more. Even your first order with Thrive Market gets additional love. You need only spend a total of $25 your first time around to get free shipping.
You can even set up scheduled ordering to ensure that your household never runs out of food or other items.
Amazon
With a 20-year head start over Thrive Market, Amazon has had a lot longer to build its legacy. Most people are familiar with Amazon, but let’s cover the basics anyway. You can set up a free membership by simply creating a username and password.
They offer millions of items that are purchased with ease. You can also sign up to become a Prime member, in which you’ll see free, expedited shipping on your (eligible) purchases.
You can also stream movies and read online as much as you want. If you thought Thrive Market’s $60 yearly fee was bad, try doubling that to become a Prime member.
That’s right, you’re looking at $119 every year. Alternatively, you may pay monthly, just as you would with Thrive. This will run you $12.99 a month.
I compared several products from each marketplace, and more often than not, Thrive Market handily beat Amazon by DOLLARS. From food to toothpaste, I saved an average of $5 an item. That’s nothing to sneeze at.
Some items netted me savings of $20 or more. You just can’t replicate these kinds of savings from big box stores. Now, with all that being said, Amazon can’t be touched when it comes to variety.
Amazon currently carries more than 300 million products. Compared to Thrive Market’s modest 6,000, it’s nowhere near a fair fight. Plus, they’ve had a lot longer to amass their staggering amount of goods and services.
But that’s just inventory, and let’s face it, you’re never going to buy anywhere near that anyway. You likely stick to a routine set of products like everyone else, occasionally breaking from the norm to try something new.
Both brands offer more than enough for everyone to live comfortably in that regard. Yes, there are more items to look at and choose from with Amazon. But if you want to save money over a smaller selection of products, Thrive Market is the place to do it.
Thrive Market currently can’t touch Amazon on products like clothing, shoes, electronics, etc. But we’re focused more so on the food side of things. And as it stands, Thrive Market simply has the better savings between the two.
Bottom Line
If you’re interested in eating right and getting substantially-sourced foods, Thrive Market gets the edge. Both are obviously in it to make money, but Thrive Market seems to do more for the planet than Amazon. And considering Amazon’s name, there’s more than a little irony there.
Article reprinted with permission from MovetheMarket.org – Thrive Market vs. Amazon
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Thrive Market vs. Aldi
Thrive Market vs. Instacart
Thrive Market vs. Costco
Thrive Market vs. Peapod
Thrive Market vs. Trader Joe’s
Thrive Market vs. Whole Foods
