15 Best Places to Buy Discount Shoes Online

October 24, 2019

I’ve never been up on the latest fashion trends.

So when it comes to shoes I’m happy buying discount shoes online or the cheapest brands from big box stores just to have something on my feet.

But more often than I’d like to admit, those shoes cost me more in the long run. The sandals have no support, the ballet flats rub my heels raw, and sneakers fall apart after only a few weeks of use. Then I have to buy them all over again.

As I’ve discovered, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to buy good shoes. There are dozens of cheap online shoe stores and saving tricks that make high-quality shoes affordable.

Here’s where to find the best discount shoes online to meet all your footwear needs.

1. Amazon

Amazon is the first place many people go to find the lowest price on everything, and shoes are no exception. You can find both major and new brands as well as Amazon’s own highly-rated products for low prices.

The best part about shopping for cheap shoes on Amazon is free shipping on qualifying listings. At Amazon, free shipping starts for $25 orders, and Prime members get two-day shipping for free.

Example of a Great Deal: Amazon Essentials Women’s ballet flat for $32 (similar styles regularly $59)

2. thredUP

Shopping secondhand is better for your wallet and the environment. thredUP is one of the largest fashion resale marketplaces and a great place to find discount shoes online. According to its website, thredUP carries more than 35,000 women’s and kids’ brands and has over 50,000 shoes.

thredUP is picky about the shoes it buys, so they’re usually like-new or in great condition. Free shipping starts at $79, and returns are free within 14 days if you choose store credit for reimbursement. thredUP frequently runs sales, so subscribe to its email for promo codes.

Example of a Great Deal: Steve Madden heels for $42.99, regularly $119.

3. Tradesy

If you’re looking for luxury brands like Christian Louboutin, Tory Burch, or Gucci, you can find them at a significant discount on Tradesy. Tradesy is a peer-to-peer resale marketplace just for women’s designer brands.

Like thredUP, shoes on Tradesy are secondhand, but at Tradesy you’re buying directly from the current owner, so the shoe’s condition and authenticity haven’t been inspected by Tradesy. Look at pictures thoroughly and ask the seller for more information when necessary.

Example of a Great Deal: Christian Louboutin metallic glitter pumps for $522.07, regularly $795.

4. Zappos

Zappos started as a small online shoe retailer. Twenty years later, it’s owned by Amazon and is a go-to place for men’s, women’s, and kids’ shoes.

What sets Zappos apart from other online shoe stores is customer reviews. You can see how others felt about the shoe, including its truth-to-size, width, and arch support. Since Zappos has been around for so long it has more reviews on its shoes than most other sites.

Check the Sale section for the best deals and join the free Zappos Rewards program to get free expedited shipping and early access to sales and special events.

Example of a Great Deal: Clarks Breeze Sea flip-flops on sale for $27.50, regularly $55.

5. 6pm

6pm is the outlet division of Zappos, offering closeout and discontinued items at low prices. Stock runs out quickly so you should jump on a deal you like. Because of the limited inventory, it’s possible to see different prices for the same shoe in different colors.

In addition to its already low prices, the site also offers occasional free shipping promos. Get coupons by signing up for daily emails and following 6pm on social media.

Example of a Great Deal: Coach Low Top sneaker for $55, regularly $195.

6. Zulily

Zulily is one of the best cheap online shoe sites. It sells name-brand shoes online at rock-bottom prices, but only for a short time. After a sale ends at another store, Zulily places an order on its excess stock and sells it for 24 to 72 hours for up to 70% off the original price. Sales refresh daily at 6am PST, and you can preview sales up to a day in advance.

Because Zulily sells stock from retailers 8 to 10 days before it receives the shipment, it can take a while to receive your order. If there’s a brand you like, sign up for emails and “heart” the brand to find out in advance when it’s on sale.

Example of a Great Deal: Badgley Mischka Rose Pauline sandals for $80, regularly $245.

Pro tip: DollarSprout Rewards offers cash back at Zulily.

7. Onlineshoes.com

With a variety of men’s, women’s, and kids’ shoes, Onlineshoes.com is definitely one of the best places to find discount shoes online. Prices are higher than other stores on the list, but shipping is free on every order and return.

You can get access to sales and discounts by signing up for its email list and following OnlineShoes on social media.

Example of a Great Deal: Sperry Top-Sider boat shoes for $35.99, regularly $89.95.

8. Foot Locker

While not inherently a discount shoe store, Foot Locker has a great selection of clearance athletic shoes and sandals. It also has a coupons page for current promo codes.

Save extra at Foot Locker by joining its free VIP Program. You’ll get $10 off your first purchase of $50 or more, early access to sales, and a birthday discount.

Example of a Great Deal: ASICS GEL-Nimbus 20 on clearance for $99, regularly $160.

9. Overstock.com

Overstock.com has a big selection of clothes and shoes. The Sales & Deals section has flash sales, and many items are 20% or more off retail. Join the Overstock email list to add a 12% off coupon.

If you’re a frequent shopper of Overstock.com, you can save more by joining Club O, Overstock’s loyalty program. For $19.95 per month after a 30-day free trial, Club O members get free shipping on everything, 5% rewards on every purchase, and a price-match guarantee for select competitors.

Example of a Great Deal: Sketchers Women’s Breathe Easy Slip-ons for $51.96, regularly $64.95.

10. DSW

Designer Shoe Warehouse has stores across the country, but you can sometimes find better pricing on in-store shoes on the website.

If you join the free VIP Rewards program, you’ll get free ground shipping on every purchase, a $5 reward on your birthday, and a $5 reward for every $100 you spend.

Example of a Great Deal: Hunter tall gloss rain boots for $115, regularly $160.

11. Shoes.com

Shoes.com is an online shoe store owned by Walmart, so you can expect some of the lowest prices around. Shipping is free on any of its over one million products with no minimums. But if you’re looking for the best deals, be sure to look in the sale section.

For coupons, subscribe to Shoes.com’s emails, follow the site on social media, or visit the coupon page to see current sales and discount codes. Shoes.com’s Shoefan Rewards program is free to join, and you get 100 points just for signing up. That equals $5 off your next purchase.

Example of a Great Deal: Converse Chuck Taylor low top sneakers on sale for $33.95, regularly $60

12. Famous Footwear

Famous Footwear is best known for its brick-and-mortar shoe stores, but they also have a great online selection. If you’re looking for athletic and casual shoes, you can find great deals on name-brands in Famous Footwear’s Clearance section.

Its Famously You Rewards program is free to join, and members get free shipping with no minimums, a $5 reward on your birthday, and $5 rewards for every $100 you spend. If you spend $200 in a year, you’ll double your rewards on your birthday and for every dollar spent during your birthday month.

Example of a Great Deal: Adidas Men’s Streetfire basketball shoes on clearance for $49.98, regularly $79.99.

13. Zumiez

If you’re looking for alternative styles, Zumiez is the go-to retailer for skate and snowboarding fashion brands. Zumiez’s outlet section has closeout prices on customer returns and discontinued items, sometimes with an additional 50%.

Example of a Great Deal: Emerica Dissent skate shoes on clearance for $43.97, regularly $64.95.

14. Lucky Feet Shoes

Lucky Feet Shoes specializes in comfortable shoes for foot pain. You can find walking shoes, custom orthotics, arch support, and more at affordable prices. Shipping is free on orders of $100 or more, and Lucky Feet Shoes will match the price if you find the shoes cheaper somewhere else.

The Lucky Feet Shoes Rewards Program is free to join and offers more ways to save. You can earn a $10 credit for referring a friend, $5 for reviewing the company on Yelp, and $10 each year on your birthday.

Example of a Great Deal: Spring Step Minna slip-ons on sale for $69.97, regularly $99.99

15. Shoe Carnival

Shoe Carnival has more than 20 different coupons and discounts available at a time and exclusive online discounts. Join its email list to get $10 off your purchase of $59.98.

The free Shoe Perks Rewards program offers a $10 reward for every $200 spent, $5 for your birthday month, and special deals not available to the public.

Shipping is free for orders over $75 or if you choose in-store pick-up. The Daily Deal has a 24-hour deal on a different shoe every day.

Example of a Great Deal: Men’s Fila Memory Countdown 5 running shoe on Daily Deal for $40, regularly $75.

How to Amplify Your Shoe Discounts

Looking to buy discount shoes online is a good start, but you still have to do a little extra work to save wherever you shop. Before you head to the best online shoe sites, check out the shopping apps here, and hacks below, to amplify your savings.

Use cashback apps

An easy way to get an extra 2-8% off your shoe purchase is to sign up for cashback apps. One of the most well-known apps is Rakuten.

Rakuten partners with more than 2,500 retailers and gets a commission for referring customers. When you shop your favorite stores through the Rakuten website or the Google Chrome extension, it passes a portion of that commission to you.

Sign up before you start shopping to get $10 cash-back on your first purchase of $25 or more at its partner retailers.

Buy discounted gift cards

Once you’ve decided where you want to buy your shoes, maximize your savings by purchasing a discounted gift card to that retailer.

Gift card reselling websites like Raise buy unwanted gift cards and sell them at a discounted rate. You can get gift cards up to 15% off from brands like Ann Taylor, New Balance, Adidas, and Reebok. Rakuten also offers cashback for shopping at Raise.

Sell your old shoes

If your shoe closet is bursting at the seams or you can’t justify buying another pair, sell your shoes online to make room for new kicks.

You can sell shoes through online stores like Tradesy and Poshmark. These sites require a little work on your end communicating and negotiating with buyers. For a hands-off experience, order a Clean Out Kit through thredUP and get cash or store credit for accepted items.

Shop around

Loving Nike doesn’t mean you’re restricted to shopping at the Nike store or at Nike.com. When you buy shoes online, you’re able to shop and compare prices on the same shoe from the best online shoe sites.

Start by doing a quick Google search for the shoe you’re looking for. If you haven’t decided on a shoe yet, the stores on this list have a variety to choose from.