Complete Guide to Global Online Marketplaces 2025

As online sales continue to grow globally, businesses need robust marketing tools to stand out in competitive marketplaces. By 2025, online marketplace sales are projected to reach $7.4 trillion—creating massive opportunities for businesses to expand into new markets. But succeeding in this space isn’t just about showing up; it’s about knowing where to sell and how to stand out in each product category.

Navigating today’s marketplace landscape requires a strategic approach. The right platform can connect you with new customers locally, regionally, and globally—but with so many options, choosing the best fit can be overwhelming.

To make that process easier, we’ve put together a practical guide to online marketplaces. It breaks down the top platforms, their strengths, and how they align with different business goals. Whether you’re looking to scale internationally or strengthen your local presence, this guide will help you make informed decisions and drive long-term growth through effective digital product strategies.

Key Trends Shaping 2025

• Social Commerce on the Rise – Platforms like TikTok Shop are redefining how businesses engage with customers, blending social media with seamless shopping experiences.
• AI-Powered Personalization – Smarter AI tools are making customer experiences more relevant, driving higher engagement and conversions.
• Mobile Commerce Takes the Lead – With 72% of marketplace transactions happening on mobile, a mobile-first strategy is essential.

Staying ahead means recognizing these shifts and adjusting your strategy to meet customers where they are. Businesses that embrace these trends and pick the right ecommerce platform will be better positioned to drive growth and stay competitive in an evolving digital marketplace.

Top Global Online Marketplaces to Expand Your Reach

Online marketplaces have made it easier than ever for businesses to reach customers worldwide. Whether you’re looking to test new markets or scale internationally, the right platform can open the door to significant growth.

Three of the biggest names—Amazon, eBay, and Walmart—are often the first stop for businesses entering the online marketplace space. Here’s why they continue to be the top-picked ecommerce marketplace for sellers:

Amazon

Amazon continues to dominate the global e-commerce landscape, connecting businesses with millions of consumers worldwide. The latest figures show that Amazon Prime has an estimated 200 million+ subscribers, underscoring the platform’s vast reach and customer loyalty.

For sellers, Amazon provides access to a diverse international customer base, with a strong retail presence in key markets like the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, Australia, India, Brazil, Mexico, and the UAE. Beyond these core markets, its international shipping network extends to over 100 countries, making it a viable option for cross-border selling.

What sets Amazon apart is its extensive logistics infrastructure. With a vast network of fulfillment centers and its own air cargo fleet (Amazon Air), Amazon enables fast, reliable global shipping. The Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program further simplifies international expansion by handling storage, packing, and shipping—allowing businesses to scale without the burden of complex logistics.

For brands looking to reach a global audience, Amazon remains one of the most powerful platforms for driving online sales.

eBay

As one of the OG ecommerce marketplace, eBay continues to maintain a strong global presence. Its core markets include the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Spain, and Japan. While its focus in China has shifted over the years, eBay remains active in numerous other countries across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.

What sets eBay apart is its diverse product range, spanning everything from electronics and fashion to collectibles and home goods. While it remains a major player in multiple categories, eBay has carved out a strong niche in areas like automotive parts, refurbished electronics, and pre-owned goods. In fact, the platform has increasingly emphasized sustainability through its recommerce initiatives, making it a go-to ecommerce marketplace for secondhand and refurbished products.

For sellers looking to reach international customers, eBay’s global shipping programs help simplify cross-border trade, making it easier to sell to buyers worldwide. With its well-established infrastructure and dedicated buyer base, eBay remains a valuable marketplace for businesses looking to expand their reach.

Walmart

Walmart’s transformation from a traditional retailer to a major e-commerce force has opened new doors for online sellers. With over 430+ million monthly visitors and operations in 19 countries, Walmart Marketplace offers the scale of digital commerce with the added advantage of a massive physical retail network.

What makes Walmart unique is its omnichannel strategy. With 10,500+ physical stores worldwide, the platform connects sellers not just to online shoppers but also to in-store customers through features like buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) and local inventory advertising—advantages that purely digital marketplaces can’t offer.

Walmart’s fulfillment ecosystem has also grown significantly. Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) provides robust inventory management, fast shipping, and simplified returns, helping sellers scale efficiently while maintaining strong customer satisfaction. Add to that advanced advertising tools and a curated seller environment, and Walmart Marketplace presents a powerful opportunity—especially for brands that can meet its high performance standards.

For businesses looking to expand through an established retail giant, Walmart’s trusted reputation, international growth, and omnichannel reach make it an increasingly compelling choice.

While platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart dominate global e-commerce, a new wave of marketplaces is rapidly gaining traction. These emerging leaders are reshaping the industry with mobile-first experiences, social commerce, and direct-to-consumer models. For businesses looking to stay ahead of shifting consumer trends, exploring these platforms can unlock fresh opportunities for growth.

Emerging Global Marketplace Leaders

TikTok Shop

The rapid rise of TikTok Shop highlights how social commerce is transforming global commerce. What began as an experiment in Southeast Asia has grown into a major e-commerce force, blending entertainment, influencer marketing, and instant purchasing. The platform’s sophisticated product listing algorithms help sellers optimize their digital products for maximum visibility, while viral moments now translate directly into sales through features like live shopping and creator collaborations.

TikTok Shop’s unique mix of social proof and entertainment has proven particularly effective in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle product categories. With advanced marketing tools that deliver products to highly targeted audiences and a growing fulfillment network, the platform is positioning itself as a serious competitor to traditional e-commerce giants. Latest reports show that US-based consumers spent an estimated $363 million on TikTok Shop in 2024. For brands looking to engage younger customer bases, TikTok Shop is becoming impossible to ignore.

Shopee

With 342 million monthly visitors, Shopee has expanded from a regional Southeast Asian marketplace into a global e-commerce powerhouse. Its mobile-first approach and gamified shopping experience have fueled its success, especially in emerging markets. The platform’s expansion into Latin America, particularly Brazil and Mexico, demonstrates its ability to adapt its model across different regions.

What sets Shopee apart is its highly engaged user base and innovative features, including in-app games, live streaming, and social shopping tools. Its integrated payment and logistics systems help overcome traditional cross-border selling challenges. For businesses looking to tap into fast-growing markets with lower competition than Western marketplaces, Shopee presents a compelling opportunity.

Pinduoduo/Temu

Pinduoduo’s global push through Temu has been one of the most aggressive marketplace expansions in recent years. By leveraging Pinduoduo’s expertise in value-driven commerce, Temu connects manufacturers directly with consumers, offering prices 30–70% lower than conventional retailers. 

What makes Temu unique is its direct access to Pinduoduo’s vast supplier network, allowing businesses to sell at scale while keeping costs low. Its success in price-sensitive markets has forced established players to rethink their strategies. For brands and manufacturers targeting cost-conscious consumers globally, Temu offers a disruptive, direct-to-consumer model that’s changing the competitive landscape.

While emerging global platforms are reshaping e-commerce, regional marketplaces continue to dominate in their home markets. These platforms offer businesses unique advantages, including deep cultural insight, established logistics networks, and strong customer loyalty. For brands looking to expand into specific regions, partnering with these local leaders often provides the most effective route to success.

Specialized Marketplaces: Targeted Selling for Higher Conversions

While general marketplaces offer broad exposure, specialized platforms connect sellers with highly engaged buyers in niche categories. These marketplaces attract customers with higher purchase intent, making them valuable sales channels for brands and merchants looking to maximize conversions in specific product segments.

Etsy – The Leading Marketplace for Handmade & Vintage Goods

With 412.4 million monthly visitors, Etsy is the top platform for handcrafted, vintage, and personalized products. It provides sellers with customization tools, built-in social engagement, and a strong focus on sustainability, making it ideal for artisans and small businesses.

Newegg – The Go-To Marketplace for Tech & Electronics

A popular marketplace among tech enthusiasts and professionals, Newegg specializes in PC components, gaming gear, and enterprise IT products. Sellers benefit from detailed product specs, a PC-building configurator, and professional customer support, catering to a knowledgeable and loyal customer base.

Wayfair – Home Goods & Furniture Marketplace

Wayfair dominates the home and furniture sector, offering sellers access to advanced visualization tools, white-glove delivery services, and trade programs for interior designers. Its platform is designed to support both large-scale retailers and niche furniture brands.

Back Market – The Marketplace for Refurbished Electronics

Back Market has built a trusted marketplace for certified refurbished electronics, attracting value-conscious and eco-friendly consumers. With strict quality control, 12-month warranties, and environmental impact tracking, it provides a high-trust environment for electronics sellers.

Ruby Lane – The Trusted Platform for Antiques & Collectibles

Ruby Lane is a premium marketplace for antiques, art, and collectibles, offering sellers expert verification, provenance tracking, and direct communication with collectors. It’s an ideal platform for dealers specializing in authentic, high-value vintage goods.

For sellers in niche markets, these platforms provide highly targeted customer bases, category-specific tools, and a trusted marketplace environment, leading to better conversion rates and stronger brand positioning.

Regional Powerhouses

Regional marketplaces continue to dominate their home markets, each with unique customer service requirements and product category specifications that sellers must consider. These platforms offer businesses distinct advantages, including deep cultural insight, established logistics networks, and strong customer bases. For brands looking to expand into specific regions, partnering with these local leaders often provides the most effective route to driving online store sales.

Each regional marketplace has developed specialized marketing tools and customer service capabilities tailored to local preferences. From payment methods to delivery options, these platforms understand their markets intimately, helping sellers navigate complex local requirements while maintaining high customer satisfaction levels.

Asia Pacific

The Asia Pacific region is home to some of the world’s most dynamic e-commerce platforms, each dominating specific markets. Here’s a closer look at the key players:

Rakuten – Japan

With 487.2 million monthly visitors, Rakuten is more than just a marketplace—it’s an integrated digital ecosystem. Its unique points-based rewards program fuels customer loyalty, while its fintech services simplify transactions. For sellers, Rakuten offers sophisticated marketing tools and data-driven insights, making it a powerful platform for brands looking to grow in Japan.

Tmall – China

Tmall is China’s top B2C marketplace, offering sellers access to 800 million+ buyers and a premium, trust-focused shopping environment. Its strict anti-counterfeit policies and Tmall Global platform make it the best entry point for international brands looking to sell directly to Chinese consumers. With strong logistics support and built-in marketing tools, Tmall helps businesses scale efficiently in one of the world’s most competitive e-commerce markets.

Flipkart – India

Owned by Walmart, Flipkart dominates India’s e-commerce landscape with 161 million monthly visitors. Its success comes from its deep understanding of Indian consumers, offering solutions like Cash on Delivery and mobile-first, multilingual support to serve India’s vast and diverse customer base. Flipkart’s presence extends beyond major cities into smaller towns, providing businesses with access to a rapidly expanding digital economy.

Lazada – Southeast Asia

Lazada, with 211 million monthly visitors, operates in six major Southeast Asian markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Backed by Alibaba’s e-commerce ecosystem, Lazada gives sellers access to advanced technology and cross-border trade capabilities. Features like live-streaming commerce and gamified shopping have made it a favorite among Southeast Asian consumers.

United Kingdom: A Growing E-Commerce Hub

The UK e-commerce market is diverse and competitive, with regional marketplaces offering specialized opportunities beyond global giants like Amazon and eBay. These platforms cater to specific product niches, independent sellers, and cross-border trade, making them valuable for businesses looking to expand in the UK.

OnBuy

Founded in 2016, OnBuy has gained traction with millions of monthly visitors by offering competitive commission rates (5-8%) and a wide product range, from electronics and home goods to fashion. Unlike some competitors, OnBuy does not stock its own products, making it an attractive platform for independent retailers.

Notonthehighstreet

Specializing in handcrafted and personalized products, Notonthehighstreet carefully curates its seller base, ensuring high product quality and originality. This platform is particularly valuable for artisans and small businesses looking to reach UK consumers who seek distinctive, non-mass-market items.

Secret Sales

Once a flash-sale site, Secret Sales has evolved into a major marketplace for premium and luxury brands. It helps sellers manage excess inventory while maintaining brand positioning. With recent expansion into Ireland, the Netherlands, and other European markets, it offers brands a fashion-focused, high-value customer base.

Fruugo

Operating in 46 countries, Fruugo simplifies international selling by automatically translating listings, converting currencies, and handling VAT complexity. Its commission-based pricing (15% + 2.35% service fee) makes it an efficient platform for businesses testing the UK market or scaling globally.

Traditional Retailers Expanding into Marketplaces

Several established UK retailers have launched successful online marketplaces, providing category-specific opportunities:

• B&Q Marketplace – Ideal for home improvement and garden products.
• Littlewoods – A long-standing UK retail name transitioning into digital commerce.
• John Lewis – A carefully curated marketplace focused on high-quality brands.
• Next – Leveraging its fashion expertise to grow its marketplace model.

Europe

Europe’s e-commerce landscape is shaped by strong regional platforms that cater to local languages, shopping habits, and delivery preferences. These marketplaces offer sellers targeted access to specific European markets.

Allegro – Poland

With 200 million monthly visitors, Allegro is Eastern Europe’s largest marketplace, offering sellers access to a loyal Polish customer base. Its commission-based model, integrated marketing tools, and robust logistics network make it a strong entry point for brands targeting Poland.

Zalando – Europe

Operating in 25 countries with 149 million monthly visitors, Zalando specializes in fashion and lifestyle products. The platform provides advanced inventory management, localized sizing, and strong sustainability initiatives, making it ideal for brands looking to reach fashion-conscious European consumers.

Otto – Germany

Once a mail-order giant, Otto has successfully transitioned into Germany’s second-largest e-commerce platform. It focuses on home goods, fashion, and electronics, with strict quality standards and a trusted reputation among German consumers, making it an attractive marketplace for premium brands.

Cdiscount – France

As France’s leading local marketplace, Cdiscount serves millions of customers with a strong logistics network, 18,500+ pickup points, and competitive pricing. The platform’s marketplace and fulfillment services provide sellers with a seamless entry into the French market.

Latin America

Latin America’s e-commerce sector is experiencing explosive growth, fueled by rising digital adoption and improved logistics infrastructure. While the region presents challenges like complex regulations and diverse payment preferences, it also offers significant opportunities for sellers through well-established regional marketplaces.

Mercado Libre

With 360 million monthly visitors across 18 countries, Mercado Libre dominates the region. Its Mercado Pago payment system helps sellers reach unbanked consumers, while Mercado Envíos streamlines cross-border logistics, making it the top choice for brands looking to scale in Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico.

Americanas – Brazil

A major player in Brazil’s e-commerce market, Americanas leverages its 3,500+ physical stores to offer click-and-collect services, helping sellers overcome last-mile delivery challenges in Brazil’s urban centers. Its strong omnichannel presence makes it an attractive option for businesses expanding in the region’s largest economy.

B2W Digital – Brazil

Operating brands like Submarino and Shoptime, B2W Digital specializes in electronics, home goods, and appliances. Its robust logistics network and well-established customer base in Brazil’s major cities make it a valuable platform for sellers targeting specific product categories.

Middle East & Africa: Emerging E-Commerce Markets

While still developing compared to other regions, the Middle East and Africa offer strong growth potential, driven by young, digital-savvy consumers and increasing e-commerce adoption. These markets are characterized by high mobile commerce usage and a strong preference for cash-on-delivery payment options.

noon – Gulf market

Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, noon attracts 200 million+ monthly visitors across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. It offers local fulfillment centers, Arabic-language customer service, and support for cash-on-delivery payments, making it a key platform for brands entering the Gulf market.

Jumia – Africa

Often called the “Amazon of Africa,” Jumia serves multiple African countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Kenya. It has adapted to local market conditions with cash-on-delivery options, pickup stations for last-mile delivery, and support for mobile money payments, making it the top choice for sellers targeting Africa.

Amazon.ae – Middle Eastern market

After acquiring Souq.com in 2017, Amazon rebranded its regional operations as Amazon.ae, focusing on the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The platform offers Arabic-language support, integration with local payment systems, UAE-specific Prime benefits, and local seller programs, helping international brands enter the Middle Eastern market.

Your Path to Global Marketplace Success

Winning in global e-commerce isn’t about selling everywhere—it’s about choosing the right platforms and scaling strategically. Success in global marketplaces requires understanding local customer bases and leveraging social commerce trends effectively. The most successful sellers start with established marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, then expand into regional and specialized platforms that align with their business goals.

As social commerce and traditional e-commerce continue to merge, adaptability and operational efficiency will be key. Managing multiple marketplaces requires robust automation tools, and platforms like Linnworks help sellers synchronize inventory, streamline operations, and scale efficiently. Whether you’re entering new markets or optimizing existing ones, the key to long-term success is a sustainable, data-driven marketplace strategy that keeps your business agile and profitable.

Start your journey across multiple online marketplaces

To learn more about how Linnworks can help you list and sell your products across multiple online marketplaces, request a demo today or contact one of our online marketplace experts for more information.