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Byrdie / Reese Herrington
Shoe lovers will attest that trying on shoes is a fun way to spend a day. However, shopping in-store can be particularly tiresome, what with having to skulk around a crowded store to find a mirror and the pressure of deciding to buy or wait a bit. Online shopping, on the other hand, comes with its own cons, such as scrolling fatigue or overbuying trendy shoes, leading to several returns to keep track of.
“The best shoe shopping experience is when you feel inspired, can digest all the new looks out there, and try them on easily to make sure you get the perfect fit,” says Regina Popp, the Senior Director at Fashion & Trend for Designer Brands, parent company to DSW. “Shoes are more about fit than any other style category out there, so you need to invest the time to take them for a test run, whether that’s in-store or at home in your closet.”
Whether you shop for knee-high boots or nude heels, we rounded up our favorite places to shop for shoes online. We’ve reviewed each retailer’s selection and fit guides, considered special features such as material quality, arch support, and grippy outsoles, and spoke with fellow editors to help you find you find the best places to shoe shop.
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Zappos
Shipping: Free standard shipping | Return Policy: Full refund within 365 days; free return shipping | Size Range: Women’s 1–20, Men’s 1–20 with additional wide and narrow sizing
Zappos.com is known for its seemingly never-ending supply of shoes in various styles and sizes, as well as its stellar customer service. These days, some things have changed, i.e., the company is now owned by Amazon and sells more than shoes, but it's still a great place to start if you’re looking for a wide variety and easy returns. In terms of benefits, Zappos VIP offers free expedited shipping (it already offers free standard shipping site-wide), a points-earning system for discounts, free UPS pick-ups, and more. The best part? It's free to sign up.
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Shipping: Free shipping with Amazon Prime | Return Policy: Free returns with Prime | Size Range: Women’s 3–15
Shopbop is known for its curated picks, mostly from luxury brands, and great deals in the sales seasons, so you shouldn’t be surprised if you end up with multiple shoes in your cart by the end of a spree. To keep you organized as you shop, you can filter by shoe style (e.g., boot, clog, pump, or rain boot), designer (Emme Parsons, Veja, and Jacquemus), heel height (flat to high heel, with a separate category for platforms), toe style (open, pointed, round, and square), and more.
If you have Amazon Prime, you can enjoy free shipping and returns on Shopbop as well. And, once enrolled in Shopbop’s rewards program, you’re sure to rack up points and enjoy earned benefits like early access to sales and new arrivals, birthday discounts, and surprise rewards.
Nordstrom
Shipping: Free standard shipping | Return Policy: Lenient | Size Range: Women’s 4–14, Men’s 5–20 with additional wide and narrow sizing
Nordstrom is, of course, known for much more than just footwear, but its shoe selection is notably expansive, especially if you’re looking for a good variety of affordable and luxury designer styles. You can always find a great steal in the sale section and the site has one of the best return policies. Nordstrom handles returns "on a case-by-case basis with the ultimate goal of making our customers happy.” Thus, there is no deadline for making a return. Plus, Nordstrom's rewards program, The Nordy Club, applies to any section of the store and allows customers to earn points for shopping that can be redeemed for discounts on qualifying purchases.
"It's my destination for shoes—as it offers a selection of chic casual finds, whether that's Nike Dunks or Sam Edelman loafers," says associate editorial director Jill Di Donato. "There are often sales that discount as much as up to 70% off, and returns are super easy if the fit and feel don't match up to my expectations."
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DSW
Shipping: $8 shipping | Return Policy: Free in-store returns within 90 days; free return shipping for DSW Gold or Elite members; $8.50 return shipping fee for all other customers | Size Range: Women's 4–13, Men’s 6–16 with additional wide and narrow sizing
DSW will help you find all of your basics with its range of shoe styles and sizes at a variety of price points (the majority of which are pretty affordable). The store also sells styles by popular brands like Birkenstock and celebrity collaborations that are exclusive to the company and often at a discount. The rewards program, DSW VIP, allows you to earn rewards on every dollar you spend, which can then be redeemed for gift cards. It’s free to join the program and offers a 20% off coupon just for signing up, free shipping and returns, $5 off on your birthday, and more.
“They always have the widest range of styles and the best deals, and I love the curated lists that make browsing so easy,” says senior commerce editor Lauren Pardee. “The shipping is always reliable, too, which is non-negotiable for me.”
Foot Locker
Shipping: $10 standard shipping | Return Policy: Full refund within 45 days | Size Range: Women’s 5–12, Men’s 6–18
When it comes to budget-friendly athletic and sporting shoe options, Foot Locker has you covered, whether you’re shopping online or in person. Sneakers? It has a robust collection of Jordans and Air Force 1s, among others. We already checked and confirmed they have the ever-popular On Cloudnova sneakers in several colorways. And, its rewards program, FLX Rewards, offers free shipping, early access to deals, exclusive rewards, and members-only sweepstakes.
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Shipping: Free with Amazon Prime | Return Policy: Usually free within 30 days of delivery | Size Range: Women’s 3–16, Men’s 4–20 with additional wide and narrow sizing
If you’re shopping for shoes in a hurry, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to check out what Amazon has to offer, Byrdie commerce writer Caitlyn Martyn points out. "It's a great place to buy footwear when you're short on time or want to score a major discount," she says, referring to the marketplace's Prime member benefits. Once subscribed, members can receive free two-day or overnight shipping on many styles. And whether you’re looking for a popular pair of Ugg slides, Allbird sneakers, or Olukai slides, Amazon likely has it, so you're almost certain to score. (It even comes through with designer styles—check out Aquazzura sandals for your next formal event.)
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ASOS
Shipping: Free over $49 | Return Policy: Full refund within 28 days, a voucher from 29–45 days | Size Range: Women’s 4–15, Men’s 10–14 with additional wide and narrow sizing
Asos is an excellent option if you’re in the market for trend-forward styles. Not only does it have the latest trending styles, but it’s often listed at affordable price points. In addition to Asos original styles, you can shop for shoes from popular brands like Converse, Puma, Dr. Martens, and more. While the online retailer doesn't have a rewards program, it does offer unlimited two-day shipping for a flat fee of $19 per year, which could be worth it if you shop there often.
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Road Runner Sports
Shipping: $10 standard shipping | Return Policy: Full refund within 60 days for new and unused items | Size Range: Women’s 3–15, Men’s 5–18 with additional wide and narrow sizing
Running shoes aren't cheap, especially the ones that will keep you moving comfortably for years to go. However, at Road Runner Sports, you can get a great pair for less than you'd expect. Road Runner Sports also has a vast selection of sporty sneakers and sandals (including the celebrity-loved Hoka Cliftons).
And, if your entire family happens to run, having access to a program like Road Runner’s Family VIP Rewards is key. It costs nothing the first year and $50 each year thereafter, but a family of four saves $284 a year on average with the benefits of the program, according to the brand. The program not only offers 10% off everything, 5% rewards cashback, and free shipping, but it also boasts a 90-day "perfect fit promise." This means you can run for three months in your shoes and still return them if they don’t work.
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McMullen Boutique
Return Policy: Exchange or refund on anything at full price within 10 days of delivery | Size Range: EU35–EU42
If you fancy a site with a tight edit of options from a curator with impeccable taste in high-end designer fashion, look no further than McMullen. The shop, which is based in Oakland but shares its inventory online, was founded in 2007 by Sherri McMullen and has since blossomed into one of the best-known designer boutiques in the country. McMullen carries luxury brands such as Rachel Comey, Victoria Beckham, Khaite, and Dries Van Noten and promises a hot-off-the-runway look. Benefits include free standard shipping and a “try before you buy” service, where customers can try six items at home for one week and pay for what they keep with free returns.
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What to Look for When Buying Shoes Online
- Filters and Reviews: “Filter in, filter out, and read the reviews,” says Popp. “I usually start by filtering down to the category/style/brand I am looking for, but then progressively remove the filters to see if I missed anything spectacular. And I look for cues on sizing, whether that’s new technology solutions or purely customer reviews.” She points out that this kind of filtering strategy will likely save you a lot of time and energy that you'd spend returning purchases based on less research and insights.
- Fit: Once your shoes arrive, no matter if you love them or aren't too sure about them, Popp recommends trying them on more than once—just not after a long day on your feet. “This will ensure that it wasn’t a fluke or ‘love at first sight’ and you are truly able to walk comfortably and style the shoes as you anticipated,” she says.
- Style and Comfort: When it comes to choosing the right styles for your wardrobe and lifestyle, Popp says she usually goes by the “know thyself” rule. “If strutting in stilettos isn’t your thing, pick a blockier heel with sexy strapping and call it a day. Snap judgments don’t usually pay off in the footwear department,” Popp says. “Pick the shoes that let you be your best self—shoes should never hold you back because they hurt, slip, et cetera.” Features like cushioning, arch support, and a roomy toe box will also add comfort.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Olivia Muenter wrote this article. For this piece, she researched all types of shoe retailers, evaluating customer reviews, return policies, varieties of inventory, and shopping experiences. She also spoke to Popp for further insight. Hayley Prokos, Byrdie’s Associate Fashion Commerce Editor, updated this article and signed off on all recommendations.
- Regina Popp is the Senior Director, Fashion & Trend for Designer Brands, parent company to DSW She was previously a senior fashion editor at Footwear News
