America’s Best Stores 2026 is a consumer sentiment study that recognizes the best in-store and online retailers in the United States based on customer perspectives. The study combines a large-scale, confidential online survey conducted among U.S. customers with online reviews and an assessment of publicly available data.
An initial review considered over 7,500 U.S. retailers sourced through desk research and a partnership with digital market intelligence company Similarweb, which identified the top 5,000 shopping websites visited by U.S. consumers from January 2024 to June 2025. Of these, more than 2,500 e-commerce retailers and 1,200 physical stores were selected for an in-depth evaluation in a nationwide survey.
The survey interviewed more than 24,000 U.S. customers through multiple online access panels between September 2025 and October 2025. They evaluated their personal experiences with in-store and online retailers they purchased from or contacted in the past three years. In addition, responses from previous studies were incorporated with a lower weight. Wherever applicable, online customer reviews were incorporated to reflect broader consumer sentiment.
Retailers involved in consumer data protection incidents or publicly reported employment-related allegations within the past two years were excluded from the final rankings using the Critical Mention media monitoring platform from Onclusive.
Using a proprietary scoring model, an overall score was calculated for each retailer, considering all relevant weights on target groups, questionnaire items, categories, and desk research elements. The 500 highest-scoring online and physical retail stores were recognized by Plant-A Insights and USA TODAY as America’s Best Stores 2026.
The exclusion of a retailer from this list is not a reflection of its performance and is not disputed.
The list of awarded companies can be found here.
Rankings Placement:
Placement in the rankings is a positive recognition based on research of publicly available data sources as well as consumer surveys from the time period in question. For more information about how the rankings were compiled, click here.
Intellectual Property Rights:
The rankings are based on proprietary market research methodology, survey questionnaires and underlying data owned by Plant-A. The rankings lists and published articles are owned by USA TODAY and subject to copyright protection. Unauthorized use of any of these materials, including but not limited to the publication, reproduction, modification, distribution, transmission, or display of any material without the prior written consent of Plant-A and USA TODAY, is strictly prohibited.
Nature of the Rankings:
The rankings data are prepared by Plant-A based on primary and secondary market research that includes publicly available data and specific data provided directly to Plant-A. These rankings are published by USA TODAY and are provided solely for informational purposes, not as financial or business guidance or professional advice and should not be relied on.
Data and Periodicity:
The rankings are generated from data sources deemed reliable and are formed based on a methodological analysis of such data spanning the last 12 months. They are inherently a reflection of historical data and may not include subsequent developments, unforeseen events, or additional data not covered during the research period. Historical performance is not an indication of future performance.
No Endorsement or Quality Assurance:
Neither Plant-A nor USA TODAY endorses nor validates the business practices or the standing of the ranked companies. The inclusion or exclusion of any company in the rankings should not be used as a basis for investment, business, or other decisions. All decisions based on any information presented in the rankings should be made in conjunction with other available information and independent advice.
Disclaimer of Liability:
Each of Plant-A and USA TODAY, and their affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) disclaim all liability and responsibility for any errors or omissions in the rankings or for any actions taken based on the contents of the rankings publication. Neither Plant-A nor USA TODAY is making any representation or warranty as to the information provided in the rankings or its use. Neither Plant-A nor USA TODAY guarantees the completeness or accuracy of the information contained in the rankings. To the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, by accessing, using, or relying upon the rankings, you waive all claims and have no recourse against the Released Parties for any alleged or actual violation or infringement of any rights of any party, including privacy rights, proprietary rights, intellectual property rights, rights of publicity, rights of credit for material or ideas, or any other rights, including the right to approval of uses such as copy that may be deemed to be distorted, derogatory, or offensive. If any portion of this disclaimer is held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the disclaimer shall nonetheless remain in full force and effect to the maximum extent permitted by law.
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