Amazon vs Amazon Marketplace: Key Difference

Amazon and Amazon Marketplace are both eCommerce platforms owned by Amazon and offer different services. Amazon is the whole ecosystem — the website, services, technology, and products. The selling platform within Amazon that enables other companies to connect with millions of consumers is called Amazon Marketplace.

What is Amazon?

Amazon is one of the world’s biggest online shopping platforms. It started in 1994, founded by Jeff Bezos as an online bookstore. Today, it sells almost everything from groceries and gadgets to cloud services and smart home devices.

When you shop on Amazon, you’re buying:

• Products sold directly by Amazon
• Products sold by independent sellers

So even though everything looks like it comes from Amazon, many items are actually sold by small businesses and brands using Amazon’s platform.

Key parts of Amazon

• E-commerce platform – A global store with millions of products
• Amazon Prime – Fast delivery, special deals, and streaming services
• Third-party marketplace – Where sellers list their products
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) – Cloud services used by companies worldwide
• AI & machine learning – Powers recommendations, Alexa, and smart logistics

What is Amazon Marketplace?

Amazon Marketplace is the space inside Amazon where third-party sellers can sell their products. It’s fully integrated into the main site, so customers often don’t even notice they’re buying from a separate business.

If you’ve ever seen “Sold by ABC Store, Fulfilled by Amazon,” that’s Amazon Marketplace in action.

Key parts of Amazon Marketplace

• Third-party sellers – Small businesses, startups, and big brands
• Product listings – Sellers create and manage their own product pages
• Order fulfillment – Handled either by the seller or by Amazon (through FBA)
• Seller performance metrics – Ratings based on delivery speed, customer feedback, and service quality

Whether you’re a shopper or a seller, understanding the difference between Amazon and Amazon Marketplace helps you make better decisions. Customers know who they’re buying from, and sellers understand where their business fits in the Amazon world.

In detailed information - Amazon vs Amazon Marketplace