Which company is the world's largest online retailer?

Amazon is the world's largest online retailer.

Amazon began as an online bookstore founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994. The company initially operated under the name Cadabra and opened its website in 1995. It expanded from books into electronics, clothing, household goods, groceries, media, and countless other categories, helping earn its “Everything Store” reputation.

Amazon’s retail business combines products sold directly by Amazon with a marketplace for independent sellers. Its fulfillment centers, logistics network, Prime membership, and recommendation systems helped make online shopping faster and more convenient for customers worldwide. Amazon’s marketplace is also one reason the company is often described as both a retailer and an e-commerce platform.

The wording can cause confusion because “largest” depends on the measurement used. Amazon is commonly identified as the largest online retailer by revenue and market presence, while rankings based on gross merchandise volume or particular national markets can produce different results. Walmart remains a larger overall retailer by total revenue.