ALTERNATE review

Updated September 30, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026

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Our verdict

ALTERNATE suits shoppers across Europe who want a single store for computers, phones, audio, gaming gear and refurbished kit, and who put the return window and support reach above the cheapest sticker price. It scores 8.7 overall, with 14 days to change your mind after delivery.

Key facts

Best for
A single basket for computers, phones, audio, gaming gear and refurbished kit, sold across DE, AT and BE.
Return window
14 days (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Click and collect
No (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Markets
DE, AT, BE, DK, ES, FR, IT, LU, NL, CH (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Legal entity
ALTERNATE GmbH (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Headquarters
Germany (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Founded
1992 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Departments
Computers, Phones, Audio, Gaming, Appliances, Refurbished
Official website
alternate.es

Phones

Price from
€1,226 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Warranty
12 months (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Return window
14 days (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Unlocked phones
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Markets
DE, AT, BE, DK, ES, FR, IT, LU, NL, CH (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Legal entity
ALTERNATE GmbH (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Headquarters
Germany (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Founded
1992 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Products
Laptop, Desktop, Gaming pc, Mini pc, Tablet
Condition grades
Like new, Excellent, Very good, Good
Operating systems
Windows

Computers

Price from
€1,226 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Build to order
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Return window
14 days (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Markets
DE, AT, BE, DK, ES, FR, IT, LU, NL, CH (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Legal entity
ALTERNATE GmbH (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Headquarters
Germany (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Founded
1992 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Products
Laptop, Desktop, Gaming pc, Mini pc, Tablet
Operating systems
Windows
Graphics
Nvidia

3D printers and laser cutters

Price from
€1,226 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Largest build size (mm)
300 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Multi-colour printing
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Top print speed (mm/s)
600 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Enclosed models
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Markets
DE, AT, BE, DK, ES, FR, IT, LU, NL, CH (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Legal entity
ALTERNATE GmbH (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Headquarters
Germany (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Founded
1992 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Products
Laptop, Desktop, Gaming pc, Mini pc, Tablet

Gaming gear

Price from
€1,226 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Wireless peripherals
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Battery life
70 hours (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Markets
DE, AT, BE, DK, ES, FR, IT, LU, NL, CH (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Legal entity
ALTERNATE GmbH (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Headquarters
Germany (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Founded
1992 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Products
Laptop, Desktop, Gaming pc, Mini pc, Tablet
Platforms
Pc, Playstation, Xbox, Switch, Mobile

Monitors and peripherals

Price from
€1,226 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Highest refresh rate (Hz)
500 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Wireless peripherals
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Markets
DE, AT, BE, DK, ES, FR, IT, LU, NL, CH (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Legal entity
ALTERNATE GmbH (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Headquarters
Germany (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Founded
1992 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Products
Laptop, Desktop, Gaming pc, Mini pc, Tablet
Panel types
Oled

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Returns run for 14 days, which places ALTERNATE at 58 of 80 brands compared on return days.
  • Support runs on email, phone and help centre, with a help centre listed on 96.7% of the group's stores.
  • Refurbished stock is graded like new, excellent and very good and carries 12 months of cover, so used kit arrives with a stated condition.
  • The store ships across DE, AT and BE, so buyers outside their own home market are still served.
  • The range covers computers, phones and audio, adding computers, phones and appliances to the audio, gaming and refurbished set that JBL lists as audio, gaming and refurbished.

Cons

  • Click and collect is not offered, so collection is out of reach while 65.2% of the group hands goods over in person.
  • Chat is missing from email, phone and help centre, and only 34.9% of the group lists it.
  • Graphics cards listed are nvidia, while 67.6% of the group covers AMD builds as well.
ALTERNATE

Ready to try ALTERNATE?

Scored 8.7 / 10 by GizmoCue.

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Who it suits

  • Shoppers in the store's European markets who want computers, phones, audio, gaming gear and refurbished kit in one basket.
  • Refurbished buyers who want a stated grade from like new, excellent and very good and 12 months of cover behind it.
  • Players shopping across pc, playstation and xbox, where wireless is offered rather than wired only.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone shopping mainly for televisions: Banggood lists computers, phones and audio, which adds tv to ALTERNATE's computers, phones and audio.
  • Buyers whose list includes cameras: Akkuk.hu covers computers, phones and audio, a spread ALTERNATE does not carry.

Core features

Returns sit at the top of the list when you compare stores, and ALTERNATE runs a 14 day window for changing your mind on an order. That figure is store-wide rather than set category by category, so a refurbished phone and a monitor carry the same allowance. In the wider ranking of stores on return days, ALTERNATE places 58 of 80 brands compared, which puts a typical window in front of you and leaves room to look further afield if you decide slowly. Collection is the part that is simply off the table. Click and collect is not offered here, so a laptop, a headset or a refurbished handset arrives through delivery only. That matters most for bulky kit: a gaming PC or a monitor is awkward to send back, and a shop counter would let you size it up first. Across the group, 65.2% of listings belong to stores that do hand goods over in person, against 34.8% that do not. If seeing a machine before committing is the priority, that gap is the one to weigh.

The company behind it

ALTERNATE GmbH is the legal entity behind the store, headquartered in Germany and trading since 1992. That is the party you deal with at checkout, and the date explains the shape of the catalogue: a long-running European retailer rather than a new storefront, with a range rebuilt as hardware cycles turned over. The practical side of that history is support, and it runs on email, phone and help centre. Email is the channel most often listed across the group at 78.9%, phone support appears on 53.9%, and a help centre is common at 96.7%. Live chat is the rarest at 34.9%, so if you would rather type to someone than wait on a reply, plan for the slower route and keep your order details handy before you ask.

How ALTERNATE compares

Where ALTERNATE is available

Available
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to change my mind after delivery?+

ALTERNATE gives you 14 days to return an order, and that window applies across the store rather than category by category. In the ranking of brands on return days, the store places 58 of 80 compared brands, so it sits in the middle of the group. If you tend to deliberate longer than that, check the terms on the product page before you order.

Can I order online and pick the product up in person?+

Click and collect is not offered, so every order goes out for delivery instead of being handed over at a counter, small items such as a refurbished phone included. Across the wider group, 65.2% of listings sit with stores that do offer collection, so buyers who want to inspect a laptop before paying will need a different route.

Which countries does the store ship to?+

The store covers DE, AT and BE, which spans most of western and central Europe. Its legal entity, ALTERNATE GmbH, is registered in Germany and has traded since 1992. Prices and stock can differ between those markets, so it is worth checking your own country before planning a basket around a price you saw.

What cover does refurbished kit come with?+

Refurbished devices carry a 12 months warranty, and condition is graded rather than left vague, with grades running like new, excellent and very good. Across the group the common warranty length is 12, reaching 12 at the upper end. Refurbished phones in the range are unlocked, so a graded handset can go straight onto a network of your choice.

How do I get help after buying?+

Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so you can email, call or work through the help centre. Email is the most widely listed channel in this group at 78.9% and phone support appears on 53.9%. Chat is thinner at 34.9%, which is worth knowing if you expect an instant answer while a delivery is stuck.

What product types are actually in stock?+

The catalogue spans laptop, desktop and gaming pc, alongside the store categories computers, phones and audio. Computers and audio are the deepest shelves, and gaming hardware sits under the same roof. In the ranking of stores, 49.4% of listings include a refurbished range, so used stock is a real part of the offer rather than a corner of it.

What do the PCs start at, and can they be configured?+

ALTERNATE's PC listings start at €1,226, and build to order is offered, so a machine can be specified rather than taken as it sits in the box. Operating systems listed for the range cover Windows. Across the group, 56.8% of listings are built to order and 48.6% run Windows, so neither choice here is unusual.

Does the gaming section cover the platforms I play on?+

Gaming headsets list pc, playstation and xbox, and wireless is offered rather than wired only. That spread runs across pc, playstation, xbox, switch and mobile, so a single listing can serve a console and a phone together. Battery claims reach 70 hours on one pair, against a 40 median across the group.

Sources

Compiled from 14 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.

What changed

  • September 30, 2026: score was 8.8, now 8.7
ALTERNATE

ALTERNATE

A single basket for computers, phones, audio, gaming gear and refurbished kit, sold across DE, AT and BE.

8.7/10See alternatives

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