Updated September 30, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team
ALTERNATE vs GEEKOM
What sets them apart
| Compare |  ALTERNATE |  GEEKOM |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €31.99Lower | €329 |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 to 3 yearsHigher |
| Return window | 14 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Most memory (GB) | 64 | 256Higher |
| Markets | DE, AT, BE, DK, FR, IT, LU, NL, CH, ES | AU, CA, DE, ES, FR, GB, IT, JP, US |
Same on both: Build to order (Yes).
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Key differences
- GEEKOM scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Price from is lower at ALTERNATE: €31.99 vs €329.
- Warranty is higher at GEEKOM: 2 to 3 years vs 2 years.
- Return window is higher at GEEKOM: 30 days vs 14 days.
- Most memory (GB) is higher at GEEKOM: 256 vs 64.
- Founded is lower at ALTERNATE: 1992 vs 2003.
- ALTERNATE is available in 1 more country.
- Products: only ALTERNATE offers Gaming laptop, Desktop, Gaming pc.
- Operating systems: only ALTERNATE offers Macos, Linux, Android.
- Graphics: only ALTERNATE offers Nvidia.
Our verdict on each
ALTERNATE
ALTERNATE suits shoppers in its home region who want one store for computers, phones, audio and gaming, with returns handled the same way as other European retailers. Its 2 years of cover and build to order machines make it a solid pick, though 14 days for returns sits mid-table.
GEEKOM
GEEKOM builds to order and sells mini pc and laptop that run Windows, with entry pricing at €329 and memory reaching 256 GB. It suits buyers who want a configured small machine rather than a tower or a laptop upgrade, and less so anyone shopping for a desktop or an NVIDIA card.
Score breakdown
| Area | ALTERNATE | GEEKOM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.2GEEKOM's euro store lists mini PCs from €329, against $219 on its dollar storefront. |
| Offer | 9.1Prices start at €31.99, with 2 years of cover and optional extended protection at checkout. | 9.5HigherOne store covers mini pc and laptop, built to order, with memory reaching 256 GB. |
| Trust | 9.2HigherOperating as ALTERNATE GmbH since 1992, with a 14 days return window and email, phone and help centre support. | 9.1Warranty of 2 to 3 years, a 30 day return window, support on email, phone and help centre. |
Choosing between them
Pick ALTERNATE if price from matter most.
Pick GEEKOM if offer, warranty, return window, and most memory (gb) matter most.
If neither fits
Coolblue Belgium has price from at €22.99, against €31.99 for ALTERNATE and €329 for GEEKOM.
Coolblue Belgium reviewWhere these facts come from
ALTERNATE
- alternate.de: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
GEEKOM
- geekom.de: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | ALTERNATE | GEEKOM |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop brands | 33 of 78 | 30 of 78 |
| Desktops and mini PCs | 35 of 62 | 31 of 62 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ALTERNATE | GEEKOM |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Laptop, Gaming laptop, Desktop, Gaming pc, Mini pc, TabletCovers more | Mini pc, Laptop |
| Operating systems | Windows, Macos, Linux, Android, IpadosCovers more | Windows |
| Graphics | Nvidia, Amd, IntelCovers more | Amd, Intel |
| Legal entity | ALTERNATE GmbH | Shenzhen Xinshimanhui Wangluo Keji Youxian Gongsi |
| Headquarters | Germany | China |
| Founded | 1992Lower | 2003 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community |
Monitors and peripherals
| Fact | ALTERNATE | GEEKOM |
|---|---|---|
| Highest refresh rate (Hz) | 540 | Not confirmed |
| Panel types | Ips, Va, Oled | Not confirmed |
| Zero dead pixel policy | No | Not confirmed |
| Wireless peripherals | Yes | Not confirmed |
Gaming gear
| Fact | ALTERNATE | GEEKOM |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Pc, Playstation, Xbox, Switch, Mobile, Standalone | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ALTERNATE | GEEKOM | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | €31.99lowest quarter | €329above the median | €149.95 |
| Warranty | 2 yearsat the median | 2 to 3 yearsabove the median | 2 years |
| Return window | 14 daysbelow the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Most memory (GB) | 64at the median | 256highest quarter | 64 |
Median across 45 listed brands.
Pros and cons
ALTERNATE
Pros
- Store categories run from computers and phones to audio, tv, gaming, appliances and refurbished goods, so most tech lists stay in one place.
- Returns run 14 days, a clear window to compare before you commit.
- Build to order is available, which matters for gaming laptops and desktops where stock configurations run out.
Cons
- The 14 day return window sits in the middle of the field, behind the brands ranked higher on that measure.
- A dead pixel policy is not offered, so a faulty panel has to go through the standard returns route.
- Monitor listings cap at 540 Hz, with ips, va and oled panels stocked, which narrows the top end of the display range.
GEEKOM
Pros
- Every machine runs Windows, so there is no bare metal version to set up first.
- It sells into AU, CA and DE, so the store reaches buyers well beyond its home country.
- GEEKOM scores 9.3 out of ten overall on this comparison.
Cons
- Graphics options are amd and intel, so a buyer set on an NVIDIA card has to look elsewhere.
- The range is mini pc and laptop, narrower than Scan at laptop, gaming laptop and desktop, so a buyer after a desktop or a gaming PC has fewer choices here.
- GEEKOM offers Windows only, which rules the brand out for anyone set on macOS or Linux hardware.
Who each suits
ALTERNATE
Who it suits
- Shoppers in Germany, AT and BE who want a single store for computers, phones, audio and gaming gear.
- Gaming buyers after laptop, gaming laptop and desktop and pc, playstation and xbox coverage from one seller.
- People who value click and collect and a long support list over the widest catalogue.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want the longest return window in the comparison, where a retailer ranked higher on that measure fits better.
- Anyone shopping mainly for cameras, since JBL does not list that category either but stays audio focused.
- Price hunters comparing the very cheapest baskets, where Banggood's broad category list is worth checking first.
GEEKOM
Who it suits
- Buyers who want a Windows mini PC or laptop built to order, with memory to 256 GB.
- Shoppers in Australia, CA and DE who want laptops and mini PCs from one manufacturer under a 2 to 3 year warranty.
- Anyone who wants phone support as well as written help, since support runs on email, phone and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want an NVIDIA card, since GEEKOM's graphics are amd and intel; read CyberPowerPC at laptop, gaming laptop and desktop alongside it.
- Buyers who want a wider catalogue, since GEEKOM lists mini pc and laptop while Scan lists laptop, gaming laptop and desktop.
- Anyone after hardware that does not run Windows, the only system in the GEEKOM range.
Current offers
GEEKOM
Current offer
Discount code
Autumn sale: extra 5% off with code HSG05: 5% extra discount (checkout code HSG05); sale advertised up to 45% off
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | ALTERNATE | GEEKOM |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark | Yes | No |
| Portugal | No | Yes |
| Switzerland | Yes | No |
| Austria | Yes | Yes |
| Belgium | Yes | Yes |
| France | Yes | Yes |
| Germany | Yes | Yes |
| Italy | Yes | Yes |
8 of 11 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
ALTERNATE
How long do I have to return something bought at ALTERNATE?+
You have 14 days from delivery to change your mind and send an item back. That is the standard withdrawal period and sits in the middle of this comparison rather than at the top. Keep the product in its original packaging and condition to keep the return straightforward.
What warranty comes with machines from ALTERNATE?+
Cover runs 2 years as standard across the range. Extended warranty is also available, which is worth adding on expensive gaming laptops and desktops. Fault cover and accidental damage are separate questions, so check the terms for the specific machine before you buy.
GEEKOM
What does a GEEKOM machine cost, and is there anything to pay later?+
Prices are set per machine rather than per plan, so there is nothing to renew. The euro store lists GEEKOM mini PCs from €329, and the dollar storefront lists them from $219. Buyers should check which store sets the currency on their order.
How long is the warranty?+
GEEKOM sets warranty terms at 2 to 3 years, above the median of 1 years across the brands compared here. That sits with the purchase itself, so the cover is the same on a mini PC and on a laptop.