It’s Not Possible to Boycott Amazon; They Own EVERYTHING

Written By Emma Dendler

I’ve ranted and raved about why I personally boycott Amazon a ton over the years. This video explains why Amazon is so evil and bad for the planet, and this video talk about how we can break up with Amazon. Well, Amazon proper.

Amazon owns a ton of other popular brands that you may be supporting without actually knowing it. You could be earnestly trying to boycott Amazon, but accidentally still giving them money. Honestly, I think it’s more powerful to break up with these subsidiaries because they give Amazon so much power, reach, market control, and influence.

No, I’m not saying that you’re to blame for anything. I’m making this post to shed light on a dangerous part of capitalism: mega corporations and subsidiaries.

This is dangerous because it implies that we have market choice when we really don’t. When we scan the aisles of a grocery store, we don’t have 1000s of choices, we have maybe a handful of choices when we look at which companies are at the top getting all of that money.

And this isn’t just Amazon. It’s other giants like P&G, Unilever, Coca-Cola, and more. This is why it’s important now more than ever to shop small, learn more here.

After reading this post, I’m not demanding your perfection. You’ll see along the way how I can’t be perfect either. This post is about education and making us more conscious consumers. I hope it inspires you to find ways to avoid Amazon where you can.

What’s also hard is that a lot of Amazon-free alternatives are just other big, wasteful, evil companies. You’ll see what I mean as we go along. While I praise your quest to be Amazon-free, I urge you to keep going to try to be mega-corporation-free as well. They are all evil, but Amazon is one of the top evils in the world. Baby steps matter, just do your best! It’s hard to be perfect in this wasteful system.

Whole Foods

You’ve certainly heard of the grocery giant, Whole Foods. It’s seen as a chain health food store where you can get a quick snack, a meal from the salad and hot bars, and even a regular grocery trip. When someone shops here, they’re funneling money up to Amazon.

Acquired: According to CNBC, “Amazon officially acquired Whole Foods Market on August 24, 2017. The all-cash transaction was valued at approximately $13.7 billion.”

Alternatives to this Brand:

  • If you’re looking for that same vibe as a health food store with fun snacks, try Trader Joe’s. They are still family-owned and are smaller than Whole Foods and remain widely available. I reviewed Trader Joe’s in this video.

  • Another popular chain out west is Sprouts. I have my qualms with their sustainability, but they are leaps and bounds better than Whole Foods. I reviewed them here.

  • Better yet, try your local co-operative grocery store! They, too, often have the same vibe as Whole Foods. They focus on organic foods and small businesses, but co-ops are owned by you and your community, keeping the money local! Learn more here.

  • Don’t have access to any of these? Shop where you need to shop. We need to eat to live. If WF is your only option, use it. If Kroger (another near-monopoly) is your only choice, use it. Do what you have to to survive!

Audible

Likely your go-to audiobook provider, Audible lets you listen to audiobooks across devices. It might not seem bad on the surface since it takes more energy and resources to create a physical book. While it’s better to buy a digital book from Amazon than a physical book, it’s best to avoid Amazon entirely if you can.

Acquired: On January 31, 2008, Amazon officially announced it had reached an agreement to purchase Audible for approximately $300 million.

Alternatives to this Brand:

  • I am BEGGING you to get a library card and borrow audiobooks instead. My library card via the Libby and Hoopla apps have saved me $1000s of dollars over the years. Especially in years like 2024, when I listened to 98 audiobooks. I borrow them via the app on my phone and listen right from there!

  • But I get it, some folks want to own their media, and that’s totally valid! Try out Libro.fm instead of Audible. Libro.fm is a 100% employee-owned and privately held company that operates as a Certified B Corporation and Social Purpose Corporation. Many independent bookstores sell audiobooks through Libro.fm, too!

  • While we’re here, I’ll mention that Amazon deliberately sells physical books at a loss in order to put small bookstores out of business. Please shop small for physical and eBooks, too!

Kindle

Speaking of eBooks, let’s talk about the Kindle, Amazon’s very own e-reader device that was first developed in-house in 2007. Though not the first of its kind, the first e-readers were introduced in 1998.

Recently, I was reading on my secondhand Kindle that I got around 2018, and I was so Amazed that this piece of tech that is 8 years old is still kicking and working really well. Days later, Amazon makes an announcement. They had the same realization that I had: their old devices are still working in tip top shape. They can’t make money if everyone is keeping their device for eternity. So, they are decommissioning their old devices. Any Kindle older than 2012, you will now no longer be able to buy or even borrow books to. You can still access old purchases, but that’s it. All in an effort to make money and scam us.

Thankfully, I found out that my device was made in 2015. I can hold onto her for a while longer yet! But when my device does die, what next?

Alternatives to this Brand:

  • Another popular e-reader that is being talked about right now is Kobo, as more and more people try to ditch Amazon. Kobo is a good option. They are durable, built to last, have strong repair policies and help for customers, offer recycling, and use recycled materials in the creation of their devices. But, they are owned by a Japanese billionaire. Don’t love that.

  • Getting any device secondhand/refurbished. Though borrowing on your Kindle still supports the Amazon ecosystem, it’s still not a bad idea to get a device secondhand. Then you can get whatever device you’re used to, like a Kindle or an iPad, and continue reading how you most enjoy without supporting the company itself.

  • Use what you have! If you already have an iPad or a smartphone, borrow books from Libby or Hoopla right to that device and read on there!

Goodreads

Is there any book space that Amazon doesn’t invade? Nope! Even the most popular app we use to keep track of our never-ending TBRs and rate our most beloved and most hated books is owned by Amazon.

Acquired: Amazon officially announced its acquisition of Goodreads on March 28, 2013. This was kind of the last step Amazon needed to take over the bookselling space. And looks what it’s done for them!

Alternatives to this Brand: There are SO many great app alternatives to Goodreads, thankfully!

  • StoryGraph: The StoryGraph is privately owned by its founders, software engineer Nadia Odunayo and co-founder Rob Frelow. It has more stats than Goodreads and was designed to help folks get away from Amazon. Though they are not anti-AI.

  • Pagebound: Pagebound is an independent social reading and book-tracking platform owned and founded by Lucy Zhao and Jennifer Dobak. The self-funded, two-person team operates Pagebound LLC, focusing on human-curated book recommendations and a strictly anti-AI reading community. I’m swapping to this from StoryGraph as we speak!

  • Fable: The Fable reading app is owned by Scribd, Inc. The private company acquired Fable in June 2025. It offers community-focused book clubs and reading trackers with the digital library offered by its sister platform, Everand.

  • Manual tracking: I’m also not fully satisfied with any of these apps, so I track my own stats in a Google sheet. I know, Google is also evil. So I’m looking for spreadsheet alternatives!

Ring

You either have a Ring Doorbell yourself or you surely know someone who does have one. If not, you’ve likely seen the viral videos from these front porch cameras on social media. They’re everywhere! I could make an entire video on how these cameras are helping the surveillance state, but we will leave it to them being owned by Amazon for now. Let me know if you’d like to see that video.

Acquired: Amazon officially completed its acquisition of video doorbell and home security maker Ring on April 12, 2018. The tech giant had originally announced the agreement to purchase the company for approximately $1 billion on February 27, 2018.

Alternatives to this Brand: I get wanting to have safety, and I also get wanting to protect yourself from being surveilled all the time. I’m simply going to just offer up some Amazon-free alternatives for home security camera systems, and you can do further research to see if it meets your family’s needs:

PillPack

This fully online pharmacy makes getting your prescriptions and other medicines a breeze through the mail. It is designed for folks who take multiple daily medications since they put all of their daily pills into convenient single-use packs.

I get that the target audience here is disabled people. People who can’t drive, people who can’t open pill bottles, and even just folks who struggle to take their daily medications. If you cannot live without this service, this message isn’t for you. This is for folks who are able to get their medications elsewhere.

Acquired: Amazon officially acquired the online pharmacy PillPack on June 28, 2018. The deal was valued at roughly $753 million and paved the way for the tech giant to launch Amazon Pharmacy.

Alternatives to this Brand:

  • First, see if your local pharmacy has any sort of mailing service. As a veteran, I can opt into having my meds delivered to me through USPS via the VA without having to go through an Amazon-owned service!

  • OptumRx: OptumRx is owned by UnitedHealth Group, a massive American multinational health care and well-being company. So if you’re anti United Healthcare, maybe skip this one, too.

  • Express Scripts: Express Scripts is owned by The Cigna Group (acquired in 2018), a global health services company. Cigna Group is publicly traded, and its primary owners are, you guessed it, Vanguard and BlackRock. If you’re like, “No, that’s not obvious,” Vanguard and BlackRock own just about every company on the planet. This is why shopping truly small is so important!

  • Centerwell Pharmacy: owned by Humana, which is owned by Vanguard and BlackRock (again).

  • You can also try your local Walgreens (owned by Sycamore Partners) or CVS (owned by BlackRock and Vanguard, see what I mean now?)

Zappos

Zappos, according to Wikipedia, is “a popular American online retailer that specializes in shoes, clothing, and accessories for the whole family. Founded in 1999, it is widely renowned for its exceptional customer service, offering free shipping and a 365-day return policy.”

I’ve never used them personally, and honestly, I hadn’t even heard of them until this post!

Acquired: Amazon officially acquired the online shoe and clothing retailer Zappos in July 2009 for around $1.2 billion.

Alternatives to this Brand: Since I’ve never shopped here personally, it’s hard for me to offer alternatives since I’m not sure of their price, style, quality, and things of that nature. But here are some suggestions:

  • If you’re looking for eco and affordable, try online secondhand shopping on sites like eBay, OfferUp, ThreadUp, and Depop.

  • If you’re looking for eco clothing and you don’t care about budget, try Boody, Tentree, Girlfriend Collective, Subset, Allbirds, Quince, and brands of that nature.

  • Hit up a local boutique or thrift store in your town if you’re able to shop in person!

  • Wear what you have, mend what you have, and try a clothing swap to get “new” clothing for free!

MGM Studios

I was invited to watch Project Hail Mary with some friends this spring. I did NOT expect to see “brought to you by Amazon Studios” on the same screen as the famous MGM Lion. That was how I found out it was acquired. Even an innocent act of going to the movies supports Amazon these days.

Acquired: Amazon officially closed its acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) on March 17, 2022, following regulatory clearance. The $8.45 billion merger was initially announced by the two companies on May 26, 2021. Guess I was sleeping on this one until this year.

Alternatives to this Brand: I’m not going to dive into every major film company in this post. To keep it brief and Amazon-free, just opt for any other studio. As much as you can, opt for independent studios and filmmakers, support the little guys in the big Hollywood pool!

Twitch

Popular amongst gamers, commentators, and streamers of other kinds, Twitch is a platform that has been used for many years for content creators and influencers to connect with their audience and make a living doing so. Many of my favorite streamers are on this platform, and it sucks that they and I support Amazon in this way.

Acquired: Amazon acquired Twitch on August 25, 2014, in an all-cash deal worth approximately $970 million.

Alternatives to this Brand: The problem is, is your favorite streamer on this other alternative? Maybe, maybe not. As a content creator myself, it’s hard to break up with these evil giants since that is where the bulk of my audience lies, they pay me and allow me to do this for my job, and their algorithms are unmatched…which is why they reign supreme.

  • YouTube: I most often watch stream recaps on YouTube…which is owned by Google, I know. I am acutely aware that I make a bulk of my income via this other evil tech giant. But, hey, it’s Amazon-free I guess.

  • Kick: Kick is fully owned by the Australian technology company Easygo Entertainment. Easygo is controlled by two billionaire entrepreneurs, Bijan Tehrani (who holds a two-thirds majority stake) and Ed Craven (who owns the remaining third and serves as the platform's CEO).

  • Facebook Gaming: owned by yet another evil tech giant, Meta. This is also not a great environmental and ethical option.

  • TikTok Live: now owned by Oracle…yet another evil tech giant. I also hate this option personally.

This is what I mean when I say our only (well, best) Amazon-free alternatives are just as evil.

AbeBooks

Perhaps the saddest one on the list for me. AbeBooks is a secondhand book site. You feel so good ordering a used book to save the planet, only to realize that your money ultimately went to Amazon. Ugh. It’s not bad to buy used books, it just really sucks that that is where the money is funneled. Don’t worry, I have some better swaps for you!

Acquired: Amazon officially acquired the online rare and used book marketplace AbeBooks on August 1, 2008.

Alternatives to this Brand:

  • Thriftbooks: Amazon-free, but far from perfect, Thriftbooks is owned by KCB Private Equity (operated by the Knell family) and Midwest Mezzanine Funds (operated by the CEOs). This is a great place to shop for books secondhand online. You can sort by title, author, type of media, genre, and more and not have to support Amazon along the way.

  • Better yet, shop small and shop locally! I’m lucky enough to have an entirely secondhand bookstore local to me, but even my new bookstores have secondhand sections. This is always my first choice. Keep your money in your local economy!

Amazon Web Services

According to Wikipedia, “Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive, on-demand cloud computing platform provided by Amazon. It allows individuals, companies, and governments to rent computing power, storage, databases, and AI services over the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis. Instead of purchasing and maintaining physical data centers, organizations use AWS to build, deploy, and scale their software and websites instantly.”

I get the importance of this, sadly. Small businesses don’t have the funds to build their own infrastructure, so they can just rent a piece of Amazon’s infrastructure since Amazon is a near-monopoly with endless funds.

So many sites use AWS:

  • Netflix

  • Disney+

  • Pinterest

  • Canva

  • Canvas

  • Ford

  • BMW

  • Bank of America

  • Chase

  • Johnson and Johnson

  • and many more

This is why, unfortunately, I cannot offer any replacements for this one. If you bank with Chase, the best thing to do, for example, is to entirely swap banks. It’s possible, but hard. If you need to use Canva for work, you can’t get around that if that is what your employer asks you to use. If you’re a student, like me, you can only use what your school uses. For me, that’s Canvas.

When AWS goes down, all of this also goes down. This happened this spring, right before finals.

For me, I use the services I NEED to use for school and work and avoid the rest as much as I can.

And literally SO many more as seen in this graphic

Here’s what I’m encouraging you to do: swap as many of these as you can for the small business alternatives I mentioned in each category. I understand perfection is impossible and I hope my stories above proved that. Do you best. Every single dollar we divert and every piece of our digital data that we divert away from Amazon and to a small business is how we maintain our market choice and help protect the planet from evil, polluting companies like Amazon.

Want to keep working to become a more conscious consumer? Check out these videos next:

What does “no ethical consumption under capitalism” really mean?

How to break up with overconsumption

Stop buying and start trading with your local Buy Nothing Group

How to break up with Fast Fashion

Get your library card!!

Keep learning and keep trying your best. Every small action we take truly matters for the sake of the planet and for our fellow workers.

As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)

Emma

Emma Dendler
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