Amazon’s Choice vs. Best Seller: A Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide
When shopping on Amazon, you’ve likely seen two prominent labels: Amazon's choice vs best seller. These badges are meant to guide buyers toward quality products, but they also hold significant value for sellers.

Introduction
When shopping on Amazon, you’ve likely seen two prominent labels: Amazon's choice vs best seller. These badges are meant to guide buyers toward quality products, but they also hold significant value for sellers. Understanding the differences between them can help both shoppers make informed choices and sellers develop effective strategies.
What is Amazon’s Choice?
Amazon’s Choice is awarded to products that Amazon deems as the best match for a specific search query. Unlike the Best Seller badge, which depends on sales volume, Amazon’s Choice is algorithmically assigned based on:
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High customer ratings
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Competitive pricing
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Fast shipping (often Prime eligible)
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Low return rates
This badge helps buyers quickly find high-quality products and provides sellers with increased visibility for relevant searches.
What is the Best Seller Badge?
The Best Seller badge is given to products that rank #1 in a specific category based on recent and historical sales data. Key factors include:
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Sales velocity (number of units sold in a given timeframe)
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Product category ranking
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Overall demand trends
Unlike Amazon’s Choice, which is tied to search relevance, the Best Seller badge is purely sales-driven.
Key Differences Between Amazon’s Choice and Best Seller
Feature |
Amazon’s Choice |
Best Seller |
Selection Criteria |
Search relevance, quality, shipping speed |
Sales volume within a category |
Update Frequency |
Changes based on performance and search trends |
Updated hourly based on sales |
Visibility Impact |
Increases ranking for specific keywords |
Higher rankings in category pages |
Availability |
One product per search term |
Multiple products per category |
Which Badge is Better for Sellers?
While both badges increase visibility and sales potential, they serve different purposes:
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Amazon’s Choice is more beneficial for targeted search term visibility.
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Best Seller is ideal for overall category dominance.
For maximum success, sellers should aim for a balance between optimizing for Amazon’s Choice and boosting sales to achieve Best Seller status.
How Buyers Can Use These Badges to Make Smart Purchases
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Trust Amazon’s Choice for well-reviewed, well-priced products with fast shipping.
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Prefer Best Sellers for trending and high-demand products.
How Sellers Can Optimize for Amazon’s Choice and Best Seller
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Optimize Listings –Amazon Tactical Arbitrage Software Use relevant keywords, high-quality images, and compelling descriptions.
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Encourage Positive Reviews – Excellent customer feedback boosts credibility.
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Competitive Pricing – Stay competitive without sacrificing profit margins.
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Ensure Fast Shipping – Products with Prime eligibility have a better chance at winning Amazon’s Choice.
Common Myths and Misconceptions
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Myth: Amazon’s Choice means the best product – It simply means the best match for a specific search query.
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Myth: Sellers can buy their way into Best Seller – Sales volume determines the Best Seller badge, not paid ads.
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Myth: Sponsored products influence Amazon’s Choice – While advertising may drive visibility, Amazon’s Choice is based on performance metrics.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between Amazon’s Choice and Best Seller badges can help buyers make smarter purchases and sellers craft better strategies. While Amazon’s Choice emphasizes search relevance and quality, Best Seller status reflects sales dominance. Optimizing for both can significantly boost a product’s visibility and credibility.
FAQs
1. How often does Amazon update its Best Seller rankings?
Amazon updates Best Seller rankings every hour based on sales data.
2. Can a product have both Amazon’s Choice and Best Seller badges?
Yes, a product can have both badges if it meets the criteria for each.
3. Is Amazon’s Choice influenced by paid advertising?
No, Amazon’s Choice is based on search relevance, quality, and shipping speed, not ads.
4. Do Best Seller products always have the best reviews?
Not necessarily. Best Sellers are determined by sales volume, not rating quality.
5. How can new sellers compete with badge-holding products?
By optimizing listings, gathering reviews, and using competitive pricing strategies.
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