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If you’re the type who can spot a deal faster than your battery can drop from 100% to 81%, this guide is your happy place. We tested, compared, andyesshopped our way through today’s top mobile shopping apps for iPhone and Android. Below you’ll find the eight that deliver the best mix of selection, speed, savings, and delightful little features (AR try-ons! one-tap checkout! curbside pickup!) without annoying you to death. Let’s fill that cartresponsibly.
How We Chose
We focused on apps that combine a big, trustworthy catalog with genuinely useful mobile features: barcode/visual search, pickup and same-day options, order tracking, rewards, and wallet integrations. We also weighed ease of use, checkout speed, and how well each app supports the full journeybrowse, buy, track, and (when needed) return.
1) Amazon Shopping
Best for: Endless selection and camera-powered discovery
Amazon’s mobile app is the Swiss Army knife of shopping: scan a barcode in-store to compare prices, take a picture to find look-alike items, and get personalized results so fast you’ll swear your phone grew an espresso machine. Live visual search helps you point your camera at, well, lifeand the app suggests similar products you can buy in seconds. Order tracking, lists, subscriptions, and flexible delivery windows make it a one-stop cart-o-rama.
Standout features
- Visual search and barcode scanning for instant matches
- One-tap reordering, robust lists, subscriptions, and reminders
- Multi-channel customer support (chat/call) and easy returns
Good to know
Prime perks shine on mobile, including fast shipping and exclusive deals. If you’re comparison-shopping in a store, the app’s scanner is basically a superpower.
2) Walmart
Best for: Groceries + general goods with curbside convenience
Walmart’s app blends groceries with everyday everything. You can fill your cart, choose pickup or delivery, then tap “I’m on my way” so your order is waiting curbside when you arrive. If you’re a Walmart+ member, the in-store Scan & Go feature lets you scan items as you shop and skip checkout. Virtual try-on and “View in your home” AR for furniture/frames add the kind of sparkle that used to require a tape measure and a lot of hope.
Standout features
- Curbside pickup and express delivery
- Scan & Go checkout for Walmart+ members
- Virtual try-on and AR “place in room” tools
Good to know
Pickup windows are plentiful in most metro areas, and store mode can surface in-stock items near you.
3) Target
Best for: Fast Drive Up pickup and stackable savings
The Target app is famously friendly. You’ll browse with personalized recommendations, add Cartwheel-style offers (now under Target Circle), and tap into Drive Up or in-store pickupoften ready within hours. The app’s Drive Up flow is streamlined so your order arrives at your trunk like magic, and digital coupons auto-apply at checkout. It’s the happiest way to buy household staples, kids’ gear, and that throw pillow you definitely needed.
Standout features
- Drive Up and Order Pickup
- Target Circle deals applied right in the app
- Easy barcode scanning for price checks and coupons
Good to know
Drive Up timing can vary by store, but the whole “tell us when you’re coming” flow is built for real-world errands and nap schedules.
4) eBay
Best for: Thrifting, collectibles, and big-ticket resale with verification
eBay’s app is treasure-hunting made practical. Beyond auctions and offers, the mobile experience adds photo search for “what is this?” moments and tight alerts for watched items. For categories that mattersneakers, watches, handbags, trading cardsthe Authenticity Guarantee program adds expert inspection so buyers can shop the secondary market with confidence. It’s like having a team of graders in your pocket.
Standout features
- Authenticity Guarantee on eligible categories
- Saved searches and instant notifications for rare finds
- Photo search to match styles and parts
Good to know
Make offers from your phone, negotiate quickly, and keep an eye on shipping updates without babysitting your inbox.
5) Etsy
Best for: Unique, handmade, and vintage from independent sellers
Etsy’s app connects you directly to makers, artists, and vintage curatorsno massive warehouse, just millions of small shops. You’ll get early access to sales, price-drop alerts, tracking, and messaging that actually feels personal. It’s perfect for gifts, custom pieces, and one-offs you won’t see duplicated at brunch.
Standout features
- Seller messaging and customization options
- Price-drop and restock alerts
- Collections and discovery feeds tuned to your taste
Good to know
Shipping and processing times vary by shop, but in-app communication keeps expectations aligned.
6) Best Buy
Best for: Tech deals, store pickup, and add-on services
The Best Buy app nails the tech-specific details: spec sheets, open-box finds, and quick scheduling for pickup or delivery. You’ll also see member-only promos and an in-app wallet for rewards and receipts. It’s tailored for shoppers who want the right model at the right priceand want it today. Bonus: same-day courier options in many areas.
Standout features
- Curbside and in-store pickup with near-real-time updates
- Deal feeds and member-exclusive promos
- Integrated receipts, returns, and service scheduling
Good to know
Best Buy partners with delivery platforms for fast local drop-offs, which can be clutch for chargers and last-minute peripherals.
7) Shop (by Shopify)
Best for: One-tap checkout and package trackingeverywhere
Shop started life as a package-tracking app and grew into a powerful shopping companion. It centralizes orders from thousands of brands, tracks deliveries step-by-step, and offers one-tap checkout via Shop Pay. There’s also a rewards layer and a discovery feed that actually respects your preferences (what a concept!). If your inbox looks like “Order confirmation x 9,” this app restores sanity.
Standout features
- Universal package tracking across many retailers
- Fast, secure Shop Pay checkout
- Optional rewards and brand discovery
Good to know
Because Shop works across countless storefronts, it’s the rare shopping app that’s just as helpful after you click “Buy.”
8) Instacart
Best for: Same-day groceries and everyday essentials
If your fridge is a museum of condiments, Instacart is your curator. The app connects you to nearby grocers and specialty retailers for same-day delivery or pickup. You can chat with your shopper in real time, approve substitutions, and pay with EBT SNAP at participating stores. It’s a lifesaver for meal planning, sudden shortages, or “we forgot the birthday candles” emergencies.
Standout features
- Same-day delivery or curbside pickup from local stores
- Real-time chat for replacements and special requests
- Support for EBT SNAP at eligible retailers
Good to know
Instacart+ members get fee savings and occasional promos; speed options and order minimums vary by market.
Quick Comparison
- Fastest pickup: Target Drive Up, Walmart Curbside
- Broadest catalog: Amazon
- Best for unique gifts: Etsy
- Best resale safety net: eBay (with authenticity checks)
- Best for tech: Best Buy
- Best universal tracking + checkout: Shop
- Best grocery app: Instacart
Tips to Save More (Without a Spreadsheet)
- Use visual search when you’re in a store: scan a barcode and compare prices in seconds.
- Favor curbside for bulky items and last-minute giftspickup windows are often faster than delivery.
- Stack rewards: retailer membership + card offers + app-exclusive promos = happy wallet.
- Turn on alerts for price drops and restocks on items you’re eyeing.
- Keep receipts in-app (Best Buy, Shop) for warranty claims and returns.
Conclusion
There’s no single “best” shopping app for everyonethere’s a best app for the way you shop. If you need it all, Amazon’s your anchor. If you love fast pickup, Target and Walmart lead. For tech, Best Buy is purpose-built. If you live for unique finds, Etsy is your handmade haven. Resale hunters can bid with confidence on eBay, travelers and busy parents can keep every package straight with Shop, and the chronically snack-deprived should keep Instacart on the home screen. Happy (smart) shopping.
sapo: Looking for the best mobile shopping apps? We tested the top iOS and Android options for speed, savings and sanitythink Amazon’s visual search, Target Drive Up, Walmart Scan & Go, Best Buy tech deals, eBay’s authenticity checks, Etsy’s handmade gems, Shop’s universal tracking, and Instacart’s same-day groceries. Get the right app for the way you actually shop.
Real-World Experiences: What Using These Apps Is Actually Like ()
Theory is cute, but here’s how these apps behave when life gets messy. Picture a Saturday morning grocery run that you forgot to planInstacart’s “shop by recipes” and frequent-buy lists make it feel like your future self did the work. The chat feels surprisingly human: when a store is out of your favorite salsa, a quick “any medium heat is fine” reply keeps the order on track. If you opt for pickup, timing is realistic; you’re not handcuffed to a three-hour window.
For pickups, Target’s Drive Up usually wins on predictability. The workflow is “add to cart, choose Drive Up, tap when you’re on the way.” Your order often loads into your trunk in minutes. When it’s a busy weekend, Walmart’s Curbside still sings, especially for larger haulspet food, storage bins, and a surprise patio chair. The Scan & Go flow feels magical in-store: you scan as you go, see your running total, and walk out through a staffed gate where the receipt is verified. It’s like self-checkout on expert mode.
Amazon is where discovery gets fun. Visual search turns awkward “what even is this?” moments into product pagesscan a cable, snap a photo of a lamp, and boom, similar results. For everyday staples, Subscribe & Save in the app removes mental overhead; the re-order surfaces at just the right time, and delivery updates are reliable. When tracking matters, the Shop app is the adult in the room. It corrals all your shipmentseven from non-Shopify storesinto a single, tidy timeline. Push alerts arrive at the right moments, not just to say “hi.”
Tech shopping? Best Buy’s app gets nerdy in a friendly way. You can filter laptops by CPU generation, RAM, and port selection, then check which store has your configuration today. The app’s wallet and purchase history make returns painless. And if you’re in an urgent bind (headphones before a flight), same-day local delivery shows up as an option more often than you’d expect.
For gifts and one-of-a-kind finds, Etsy’s experience feels like wandering a well-curated craft fair from your couch. Shop pages have personality, and chat with sellers is baked in. Custom engravings, color tweaks, or size changes happen right in the thread, and the mobile proofs many sellers send are easy to review on the go. Yes, ship times vary, but the app sets expectations upfront and lets you follow along.
If you dabble in resale, eBay’s mobile flow is better than many desktop experiences. Saved searches with push alerts surface that elusive part or rare trading card the moment it’s listed. For big-ticket categories, the Authenticity Guarantee means you can buy a grail without wondering if you’re about to get a knockoff. The app’s messaging and offers make negotiation feel like textingquick, casual, and effective.
Bottom line: the right app trims friction at every step. You’ll spend less time queuing, fewer minutes hunting for shipping emails, and more time enjoying what you bought (or eating it). Start with the app that matches your weekly patternspickup for errands, visual search for deals, tracking for sanityand then add the rest as your cart, and life, expand.
