9 Best Places to Buy Discount Shoes Online

Having a growing family can drain your budget, especially if you need to purchase new clothes and shoes frequently. If it seems like you or your children constantly need a new item, saving money can be difficult.

Thankfully, the internet makes it easier to cut costs without sacrificing quality, even when purchasing new footwear. Our guide shares the best places to buy discount shoes online to help you stretch your budget.

Where to Find Affordable Shoes Online

It is possible to save money by shopping at online shoe stores. Many websites have flexible return policies, and some even offer free shipping.

Here are the best online shoe sites for both adults and kids.

1. Amazon

You can buy almost anything on Amazon, including shoes. If you need to find discount shoes, this should be your first stop.

As the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon has hundreds of shoe brands in stock. If you want a good deal on shoes, you can shop their warehouse offers or filter results to only show shoes that cost less than $25.

It’s also possible to buy designer brands on the platform. However, it’s important to read the fine print when it comes to authenticity and returns.

Some third-party vendors might be more expensive or not offer the same benefits as purchasing an Amazon product. Others may not offer a free return option.

*Related: Do you hate searching for promo codes only to find they don’t work? Try adding the Capital One Shopping browser extension to your phone or device to find active coupon codes.

Prime members might have the ability to enjoy a seven-day “try before you buy” period before purchasing select footwear. These listings may even offer free shipping and returns.

Shoe purchases often fall under their refund policy. You can return your purchase within 30 days as long as they haven’t been “worn.”

Make sure to keep the original packaging to qualify for a full refund. You might be able to exchange your shoes for a different color or size as well.

Another benefit of shopping at Amazon instead of a big box store is being able to redeem Amazon gift cards to save money.

Pros

• Amazon Prime perks for Prime members
• Easy return and refund policy
• Many brands, options, sizes, and colors available
• Shoes available for nearly any budget

Cons

• Need to make sure shoes have free return options
• Designer brands may be expensive

Best for: Amazon is an excellent option for anyone who wants to buy affordable shoes under $25.

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2. Zappos

Zappos is one of the best places for online shoe shopping due to its competitive prices and wide selection of products. The retailer has been around for over 20 years and is part of the Amazon family.

Amazon Prime members receive special benefits, including free expedited shipping and bonus Zappos VIP rewards points.

There is no cost to join the Zappos VIP loyalty program. It offers free expedited shipping on every order and has a rapid return policy.

If you’re looking for affordable children’s, men’s, or women’s shoes, this online shoe retailer is worth a look. The site offers most brands and styles.

Zappos is also a legit place to buy designer and name brands. Pricing might be higher than you’re comfortable with, so use their detailed filter option to find something that fits within your budget.

Free standard shipping is available on every order. Better yet, the retailer offers free returns and a generous return policy that allows you an entire year (365 days) to return your shoes.

You should receive a refund within ten days. Select VIP members can receive a refund within 24 hours of the initial UPS return shipping scan.

Pros

• Amazing customer service
• Easy to filter options
• Free shipping and returns
• 365-day return policy
• Options for the whole family

Cons

• Can be slightly more expensive than other websites
• They don’t offer coupons (unless you’re a student, teacher, or military member)

Best for: Zappos offers great prices on shoes for shoppers who want to buy brand-name products and need a flexible return policy.

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3. Target

Target makes shopping for cheap shoes online and in-store easy. Many sizes and styles are available for less than $30.

Plus, shopping with a Target RedCard can help you save an additional five percent.

On the store website, you have a bigger selection of shoes than at a physical location. You can browse their “shoe deals” section to see the current sales for adult and kid’s shoes.

It’s also easy to browse the online clearance section to find shoes at low prices.

Free standard shipping is available for most purchases. However, some items may require in-store pickup.

Target’s return policy is more flexible than most of the other sites. You have up to 90 days to return shoes to a local store or take advantage of free return shipping.

In addition, if you have a large family or like to save money, Target is a terrific choice to buy cheap clothes online.

Pros

• Larger selection than in-store
• Fast shipping (usually shipped the next business day)
• Free shipping/pickup if shipped to your local store
• REDcard perks (like free shipping on orders $35 and over)
• Generous refund policy

Cons

• Few perks for shipping if you don’t have a REDcard
• Third-party sellers may have fewer protections

Best for: Target is best for buying shoes under $30 and in-store returns.

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4. Shoe Carnival

Shoe Carnival is worth considering when buying discount shoes online. You can find shoes for the whole family and receive free shipping on orders over $75.

In addition to shopping online for discount shoes, the merchant lets you earn extra rewards by joining their Shoe Perks loyalty program. It’s free to join.

Some of the Shoe Perks benefits include:

• Earn one point per $1 you spend
• Redeem 200 points for a $10 certificate
• $5 Birthday Perk
• No receipt is necessary for returns

Points never expire with this program.

By spending $200 per year, you qualify for the Shoe Perks Gold loyalty tier. One special benefit of Gold status is free standard shipping on all orders.

The return policy is 60 days from the purchase date. Shoes must be new, unused, and contain all original packaging.

There is a $6 fee to return items in-store or by mail. Local drop-off locations include Shoe Carnival, Walgreens, and participating Nordstrom stores.

Pros

• No receipt necessary for returns
• Get $5 on your birthday as a part of Shoe Perks
• Free in-store pickup
• Daily deal each day

Cons

• Free shipping under $75
• $6 shipping fee for returns

Best for: Shoe Carnival is ideal for buying affordable athletic and dress shoes.

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5. Overstock.com

Overstock.com is an excellent way to find affordable items for your household. Beyond that, they have clothing and accessory sales that often make it easy to buy good shoes at low prices.

If you’re trying to save money on specialty shoes like boots or you want designer shoes at discount prices, you might be pleased with the selection of brands on Overstock.com.

They have great options for men, women, and children. Many purchases have free standard shipping. Some even offer free two-day shipping.

Return policies vary by vendor, and you should expect to pay return shipping costs. However, it’s possible to get a refund on the purchase price if you meet the merchant’s conditions.

Some merchants may require you to return your shoes within 15 days to qualify for a refund. Others have a return window of up to 90 days.

Pros

• Great selection of shoes for the whole family
• Free standard shipping on most purchases
• Some sellers offer free two-day shipping
• Often has sales of 20 percent off suggested retail

Cons

• Selection moves quickly
• May need to pay for return shipping
• Return window varies by seller
• Site specializes in furniture sales

Best for: Overstock.com is ideal for people who want to shop for cheap shoes online that are also on sale.

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6. Foot Locker

Are you looking for shoes for the athlete in your family? Or do you like to run? If so, Foot Locker is an excellent place to buy sneakers online or purchase discount athletic shoes.

Unfortunately, you won’t find any sandals, heels, or boots. Thankfully, there are other stores to purchase affordable shoes online for non-sports needs.

Free shipping is available for all orders above $50. It’s also possible to get free shipping on smaller orders by joining their FLX loyalty program.

The retailer lets you ship items to a local store to try on as well.

While you will pay more at Foot Locker, they do have a coupon page you can use to find discount codes.

You have 45 days from the original shipment date to initiate a return in-store or online. Foot Locker deducts a $6.99 shipping fee on returns. However, you can pay to ship the item yourself to avoid that fee.

There isn’t a return shipping fee for defective merchandise.

Pros

• Affordable styles for all sizes
• Free shipping on orders above $50
• Great sale options
• 45-day return policy

Cons

• Must have original everything, including tags, to return items
• Have to pay $6.99 to return items
• May be more expensive than other stores.

Best for: Foot Locker is best for buying athletic shoes, including Nike, Jordan, and Vans.

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7. DSW

DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) is for fashionistas who love trendy and affordable shoes. You can find almost any style at DSW, from boots to snakeskin heels and more.

Better yet, you can outfit the entire family at this discount shoe store.

If you’ve seen the DSW stores, they have ample selection. Their website is similar, and it’s easy to look for shoes online.

You can filter the shoes by:

• Occasion type
• Heel height
• Style
• Features

These advanced search filters can make it easier to find comfortable shoes for foot pain or special occasions.

Many pairs sell for under $35. This is cheap enough to enjoy the latest styles at great prices.

Free shipping is available on orders that are $75 or higher. Joining the VIP Rewards loyalty program provides free ground shipping on every order.

Additional DSW VIP benefits include:

• A 20 percent discount on your first purchase
• $5 off for your birthday
• Bonus points for donating gently used shoes

Return shipping costs $8.50 per order (standard delivery). Free returns are available for VIP Rewards Gold and Elite members.

All VIP Rewards members qualify for free in-store returns. VIP members must spend $200 annually to qualify for free online returns.

Spending at least $500 per year extends the return period from 60 days to 365 days.

Pros

• Trendy and regular options like tennis shoes and sandals
• Hundreds of brands to choose from
• Free exchanges within 60 days of purchase

Cons

• Free shipping on orders $35 or more (unless you join VIP Rewards)
• Online returns cost $8.50

Best for: DSW is best for people who want a great price on shoes that are on point with the latest fashion trends.

Start shopping

8. 6pm

Zappos has an outlet store to make cheap shoe shopping easier. The retailer sends their unsold items to 6pm as a last attempt to sell them.

As a result, you may find some incredible deals if you want to shop for shoes online.

According to 6pm, you can save up to 80 percent when you shop on their site. Name brand shoes and other brands you might be unfamiliar with are available.

Signing up for their daily email deals can help you find discount codes to enter at checkout for extra savings.

Shipping is free on orders above $50 or when you buy at least two items.

Returns must be done within 30 days. Buyers are responsible for paying return shipping fees.

Some of their items are considered final sale, so be careful when ordering.

Additionally, 6pm doesn’t offer exchanges.

Despite the return and exchange limitations, it’s one of the best stores to get discount shoes online.

Pros

• Free shipping for orders $50 or more, or 2+ items
• Designer styles for rock bottom prices
• Frequent discounts offered

Cons

• Only a 30-day window for returns
• No exchanges

Best for: 6pm is great for people who want to buy shoes at clearance prices.

Start shopping

9. Famous Footwear

Famous Footwear is a terrific option to buy shoes online for your family. Not only does the retailer have a massive retail footprint, but you can also shop for name-brand shoes online.

You won’t find designer styles here, but you can find options that you’ll wear every day.

If efficiency is important to you when shopping online, the retailer carries shoes for the entire family. There are even shoes for infants and toddlers, which is uncommon for some retailers.

Shipping is free on orders over $75.

There isn’t a shipping minimum for the Famously You Rewards members. This program is free to join and provides several incentives to get discount shoes, including:

• Earning up to $250 in rewards cash per year
• Special birthday month discounts and bonuses
• Exclusive rewards program savings
• Combining rewards points with other savings

The return time limit is flexible since you can bring items back at any time, according to the retailer. In-store returns are free. Returns by mail have a $7.95 service fee.

Items bought online can be returned locally or by mail. Exchanges are possible as well.

Pros

• Offers infant and toddler sizes
• Hundreds of shoes under $30
• Free in-store pickup
• Rewards program offers free shipping and money back for purchases

Cons

• You have to pay for return shipping
• Selection for shoes can be small if you’re looking for something specific

Best for: Famous Footwear is best if you want to buy infant shoes and casual adult shoes.

Start shopping

Other Tips to Save Money on Shoes

Getting discount shoes online is a terrific way to save money. However, that’s just one part of saving money.

Here are some other ways to cut costs when dealing with your footwear needs.

Use Valid Coupon Codes

Some cheap online shoe sites list coupon codes on their homepage or in a special coupons section. But, the special may not apply to you, or you might want to find other discounts.

Thankfully, there are other ways to reduce your bill. Capital One Shopping is a fantastic resource that compares prices and locates active coupon codes to apply to your purchase.

It works in the background for you so that you don’t have to waste time looking for discounts.

Read our Capital One Shopping review to learn more.

Get Cash Back on Your Purchase

If you shop online, you can often get a rebate at many merchants. For example, Rakuten gives you cash back when you shop online using its mobile app or browser extension.

Once you’ve made your purchase, the shopping portal adds the cash to your account. You can redeem your shopping rewards with a $5.01 minimum balance each quarter through PayPal, paper check, or select gift cards.

In addition to online shopping rewards, you can also earn cash back on in-store purchases by paying with a linked payment card. Most in-store offers are at department stores.

You can even receive a $10 bonus with your first qualifying purchase exceeding $25.

Read our Rakuten review to learn more.

Buy Discounted Gift Cards

Another way to save money is to buy discounted gift cards for your favorite stores. You can often combine them with money-saving apps or other discounts.

Gift Card Outlets is one of the best places to get discounted gift cards to almost any store, including DSW and Famous Footwear.

Expect to save up to ten percent on the gift cards you purchase.

Read our guide here on the best sites to find a deal on gift certificates.

Sell Your Old Shoes

Another way to save money on purchases is by selling your old shoes first. Designer shoes and those in like-new condition can fetch the best price.

Using a local buy and sell app can be the best way to sell your items. You don’t have to pay shipping or selling fees.

It’s often free to list your items, and you might be able to offer “porch pickup” for contactless transactions.

However, you may also consider Poshmark to reach more shoppers since this platform specializes in selling designer brands.

The buyer pays shipping costs, but your seller fee is either $2.95 or 20 percent, whichever is higher.

Bottom Line

Buying shoes online is convenient, easy, and often more affordable than buying them locally. While Amazon and Zappos are both fantastic choices for finding reduced-price shoes, they are just two options.

Other retailers provide similar savings and features. Plus, free shipping and flexible return policies make it easy to return or exchange anything that doesn’t meet your expectations.

With all the perks and savings that come with buying shoes online, there’s no reason to break the bank the next time you or your kids need new footwear.

Where do you go to find affordable shoes for your family? 

*Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up for Capital One Shopping using the links provided.