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Amazon and Galaxus are among the best-known online marketplaces available to Swiss companies. Both platforms offer retailers attractive opportunities to sell their products online. But which platform is better suited for your business?

What's better: Amazon or Galaxus for selling in Switzerland? Galaxus is often the better choice for Swiss retailers, as the marketplace is specifically tailored to the Swiss market. Amazon, on the other hand, is suitable if you want to scale internationally and benefit from comprehensive logistics and advertising. The optimal platform depends on your target audience, your product range, and your goals.

In this article, we conduct a direct comparison of Amazon vs. Galaxus and highlight similarities, differences, as well as important factors such as fees, reach, and requirements.

Why Amazon and Galaxus are Particularly Relevant in Switzerland

Choosing the right marketplace is crucial for the success of your business in Switzerland. With Amazon and Galaxus, two strong, yet distinctly different platforms are available.

Amazon is considered the e-commerce giant worldwide and also generates significant revenue in Switzerland. According to an estimate by Carpathia, Amazon generates substantial revenue in Switzerland alone – despite lacking a local presence. You can find more information about selling on Amazon in Switzerland in our blog.

Galaxus, on the other hand, is the clear “local hero” in Switzerland and also the country's largest online marketplace. It scores with local customer support, uncomplicated returns processing, and targeted marketing to Swiss customers. If you want to sell on Galaxus, you can familiarize yourself with the requirements in our blog.

What Similarities Do Amazon and Galaxus Share?

Although the two platforms differ significantly, there are some fundamental similarities between Amazon and Galaxus:

• Online Marketplace Model: Both platforms allow third-party sellers to sell their products on their respective marketplaces.

• Wide Product Range: Both cover a variety of product categories – from electronics and household goods to fashion and beauty.

• Logistics and Customer Service: Both offer efficient logistics solutions, customer service, and returns management.

• Customer Reviews: Both platforms heavily rely on customer reviews as a trust factor.

• Target Audience Orientation: Both cater to a large, diversified customer base with varied interests.

If you already have a diverse product range and experience in e-commerce, you will find solid foundations for selling on both marketplaces. However, it becomes clear how differently the platforms actually operate in daily practice.

What are the Differences Between Amazon and Galaxus?

Despite some similarities, Amazon and Galaxus differ in key aspects that can be crucial depending on your business strategy. These include: 

• Market Positioning: Amazon operates internationally and dominates globally. Galaxus, however, focuses on Switzerland and selected European markets.

• Ownership Structure: Amazon is a publicly traded company founded by Jeff Bezos, while Galaxus belongs to the Swiss Migros cooperative.

• Origin: Amazon originally started as an online bookseller, while Digitec Galaxus originated from consumer electronics retail.

• Marketing Opportunities for Retailers: Amazon offers comprehensive paid advertising options (see Amazon Advertising), while Galaxus currently does not offer comparable paid marketing solutions.

• Fulfillment: Amazon offers a fully integrated warehousing and shipping solution with “Fulfillment by Amazon” (FBA). Galaxus does not currently have a comparable offering.

• Retailer Requirements and Penalties: Amazon is known for strict regulations and high penalties for late deliveries (see Prosper Show). Galaxus is still significantly more moderate in this regard.

• Brand Protection: Amazon offers the Amazon Brand Registry, a tool for protection against trademark infringement. Galaxus does not currently offer this option – here, an exclusive collaboration with a distributor like SURS is recommended to ensure optimal brand protection.

Amazon offers more control and tools but is also more complex and stricter in its dealings with retailers. Galaxus, on the other hand, places more value on collaborative partnerships and offers Swiss companies locally anchored access to e-commerce – with fewer entry barriers.

Amazon vs. Galaxus: The Direct Marketplace Comparison

After examining the similarities and differences in detail, the question arises: Which platform is a better fit for your business model, your target audience, and your resources?

While Amazon scores with international reach, powerful advertising, and fulfillment tools, Galaxus impresses with local proximity, lower entry barriers, and a strong focus on Swiss consumers. To help you directly compare the two marketplaces, we have clearly juxtaposed the most important criteria – from revenue and product range to fees.

This comparison will help you better assess the strengths and weaknesses of both platforms and make an informed decision. It also serves as an excellent foundation for your marketplace strategy – whether you start with one platform or plan to combine both in the long term.

If you want to sell internationally and have the resources to handle Amazon's policies, Amazon is a strong choice. However, if you want to specifically grow in the Swiss market and start with fewer entry barriers, Galaxus is the more pragmatic solution.

Conclusion: Which Platform is the Better Choice for Your Business?

When choosing between Amazon and Galaxus, there is no general "better" or "worse." Rather, the decision depends on the individual requirements and priorities of your company.

Amazon offers enormous international potential, but also complex requirements and higher entry barriers. Galaxus, on the other hand, scores with local proximity, uncomplicated processing, and a clear focus on Swiss end customers.

Generally, a clear marketplace strategy is recommended for every company above a certain size – ideally with a distributor like SURS as a distributor for Swiss marketplaces. SURS currently offers direct and efficient solutions for Galaxus, and an integration of Amazon could be possible in the future.

FAQs

Is it better for a company to sell on Amazon or Galaxus in Switzerland?

This heavily depends on your target audience, your company size, and your growth goals. Galaxus is ideal for companies that primarily want to serve the Swiss market – for example, with a local product range, limited resources, or as market entrants. They benefit from familiar structures, Swiss customer service, and consumer-friendly processing of returns and warranty cases.

Amazon is the right choice if you are aiming for international visibility, have scalable logistics solutions, and can meet the higher requirements. A combination of both channels is often the best long-term solution.

How do the fees and conditions for sellers on Amazon and Galaxus differ?

Both platforms operate with revenue-dependent sales fees, which vary by product category – typically between 5% and 15%. With Amazon, additional costs arise if you use the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) logistics program. Galaxus, on the other hand, does not charge separate logistics costs, as retailers usually organize shipping themselves or work with a distributor. This simplifies calculation and makes the fee structure more transparent at first glance – however, you must reliably handle logistics yourself or outsource it.

Galaxus or Amazon, which platform is better for brand building and long-term customer loyalty?

For international brand building, Amazon clearly has the advantage due to its enormous reach, brand tools, comprehensive analytics, and targeted advertising opportunities. Larger brands, in particular, benefit from scalable growth here.

Galaxus, however, enables stronger local brand loyalty: your brand is placed on a platform trusted by Swiss consumers. Since Galaxus incorporates editorial recommendations, product tests, and community comments, a high level of credibility is created – especially for niche providers or products with a benefit that needs explaining.

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