Straight to the point
Online shopping has completely transformed how we buy things.
Whether you’re scrolling on your phone while waiting for coffee or filling your digital cart at midnight, online shopping has become second nature.
We’ve come to expect same-day shipping and total convenience. Behind that convenience is a powerful set of companies that dominate the global market. These e-commerce giants didn’t just get big by accident. They innovated, adapted, and scaled. And they did it fast.
If you manage an e-commerce business yourself, taking notes from how the biggest companies in the field achieved their success can be helpful. We don’t just share fashion inspo around here, we also share business inspo!
So let’s take a look at some of the largest e-commerce companies in the world, who they are, how they got where they are, and why they matter.
Amazon (United States)
We have to start here. Amazon is the blueprint.
Founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 as an online bookstore, Amazon is now the most dominant e-commerce company on Earth. And it’s not even close. What started with books quickly expanded into just about everything: electronics, clothes, groceries, digital media, cloud computing, AI, logistics. Not only did Amazon build an e-commerce platform, but it also built an entire infrastructure.
Amazon has over 300 million active customer accounts and ships millions of packages every day. Its Prime membership alone would qualify as a massive business, with over 200 million global subscribers who get fast shipping, streaming, and exclusive deals.
And that doesn’t even touch Amazon Web Services (AWS), which powers a huge portion of the internet.
Amazon set the standard for convenience, fast delivery, and easy checkout. If you’re looking to optimize your store’s checkout, you can learn a lot from Amazon.
Alibaba Group (China)
If Amazon is the king of Western e-commerce, Alibaba is its Eastern counterpart.
Launched in 1999 by Jack Ma, Alibaba is actually a family of companies:
- Alibaba.com (B2B marketplace)
- Taobao (C2C marketplace, like eBay)
- Tmall (B2C marketplace, like Amazon but for brand stores)
Instead of handling logistics directly, Alibaba acts more like a matchmaker. It connects buyers and sellers, provides the platform, and lets third parties handle fulfillment. That model has scaled dramatically in China and beyond.
During China’s annual Singles’ Day shopping festival (think: Black Friday times ten), Alibaba routinely breaks records. In 2020, they hit $74 billion in sales… in a single day.
Alibaba shows how different models can win in different markets. They’ve shown they beyond that trust and infrastructure are just as important as having your own warehouses.
JD.com (China)
You can think of JD.com as Alibaba’s more hands-on cousin. It’s a direct competitor in China that takes a different approach.
JD.com (also known as Jingdong) owns the majority of their own warehouses (1600 warehouses in 2023), delivery fleet, and technology. That gives them a lot of control over quality, speed, and customer experience.
They also invested early in automation, robotics, and drone delivery. JD is big on innovation.
And JD is massive when it comes to size. It’s one of the world’s largest e-commerce retailers by revenue and serves hundreds of millions of active customers.
Walmart (United States)
Walmart is the world’s largest brick-and-mortar retailer. But that doesn’t mean it sat out the e-commerce boom.
Walmart has made huge investments to compete with Amazon, acquiring Jet.com (RIP), boosting its online grocery options, and offering next-day shipping to millions of customers.
Walmart’s secret weapon?
It’s 10,000+ physical stores. Those locations double as fulfillment hubs, pickup centers, and last-mile delivery points.
Walmart serves as a testament that e-commerce doesn’t have to online only. Hybrid models with physical infrastructure can win too.
eBay (United States)
One of the original e-commerce platforms, eBay was founded in 1995 and made peer-to-peer selling cool before it had a name.
Auctions. Collector’s items. Vintage goods. Side hustles. For years, eBay was the go-to for buying and selling unique items.
While its growth has slowed compared to other companies on this list, eBay still moves billions of dollars in merchandise each year and remains a key player in secondhand and niche markets.
Shopify (Canada)
Okay, granted, Shopify isn’t a traditional e-commerce company. Unlike the other companies on this list, they don’t have a site where they sell products. However, as a platform that powers millions of independent online stores, we figured Shopify could be considered one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world.
From garage startups to major brands, Shopify gives merchants the tools to sell directly to consumers without needing to build an entire backend. Easy product management. Sleek templates. Integrated payments. Shopify makes selling online simple.
There are currently more than 2.5 million active Shopify stores globally. Some run tiny niche shops. Others are full-blown enterprises doing millions in revenue.
Related: How to Integrate Sizebay Into Your Shopify Store for Accurate Size Recommendations
Rakuten (Japan)
Known as the “Amazon of Japan,” Rakuten runs a vast online marketplace that connects consumers with everything from gadgets to groceries.
However, Rakuten is more than just a storefront. It’s a whole ecosystem with credit cards, banking, streaming, mobile services, and its famous loyalty program: Rakuten Points.
It’s been around since 1997 and has expanded into the US, Europe, and Asia through partnerships and acquisitions.
Mercado Libre (Argentina)
Mercado Libre is the biggest e-commerce player in Latin America, serving 18 countries in the region, such as Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Chile.
It offers marketplace services, logistics, digital payments (through Mercado Pago), and even credit. With a strong mobile experience and deep understanding of local markets, Mercado Libre is growing fast in a region where digital adoption is booming.
Mercado Libre has a larger market share than Amazon in Latin America, proving that local expertise wins. Tailoring your model to your region beats copying someone else’s playbook.
Zalando (Germany)
We’re fashion experts, so of course we had to include at least one fashion retailer on our list!
Zalando is a major fashion-focused e-commerce company in Europe, offering apparel, shoes, and beauty products from global and local brands.
Founded in 2008, it started as a shoe store and expanded into fashion and lifestyle. It now serves over 25 countries and has built a strong reputation for style, logistics, and return policies.
Zalando has shown how niche focus, in this case, fashion, can still lead to massive scale.
Shopee (Singapore)
Owned by Singapore-based Sea Limited, Shopee is Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing e-commerce platform. It operates in countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines.
It combines mobile-first design with localized shopping experiences and integrated payment systems. Shopee also uses gamification and livestreaming to boost engagement.
And it’s not slowing down. Shopee has made inroads into Latin America, too.
In many ways, Shopee represents the future of e-commerce: social, mobile, and hyperlocal.
Flipkart (India)
Before Amazon really took off in India, there was Flipkart.
Founded in 2007, Flipkart became India’s leading e-commerce platform by focusing on local logistics, cash-on-delivery, and customer service. It offered what Indian consumers actually needed, instead of just porting in global best practices.
In 2018, Walmart acquired a 77% stake in Flipkart, showing just how valuable that market is.
Flipkart is a reminder that emerging markets need tailored solutions. E-commerce is never one-size-fits-all.
What Can We Learn From the World’s Largest E-Commerce Companies
You might look at these companies and think, “Well, they’re huge. What do they have to do with my store?”
Actually? A lot.
Each one of these businesses figured out what their customers wanted and found a smart, scalable way to deliver it. That’s the heart of good e-commerce, whether you’re selling to 100 people or 100 million.
Here are a few common threads:
- Convenience wins: Whether it’s one-click checkout, same-day delivery, or in-app payments, customers want smooth experiences.
- Local matters: Mercado Libre, Shopee, Flipkart—all succeeded by tuning into local needs.
- Technology is a multiplier: From AWS to warehouse automation, tech fuels growth.
- Branding isn’t dead: Zalando, Rakuten, and Shopify all show the power of positioning, loyalty, and voice.
Related: The Importance of Branding for Fashion E-commerce Stores
There’s Still Room For Other E-Commerce Companies
Yes, the companies on this list are huge. It can be overwhelming to read about the largest e-commerce companies in the world, but it doesn’t mean there’s no room for new players in the space.
E-commerce moves fast. Customer preferences evolve—technology shifts. Platforms rise and fall. The biggest players are constantly adapting, and so can you.
There’s still space to carve out your corner of the internet. Get the right tools. Understand your audience. Offer real value. And never forget that every giant was once just getting started.
If you run a fashion e-commerce business and want to make sure you’re on the right track, check out our article with 9 KPIs you should be keeping an eye on.
