10 Big American Companies to Boycott Beyond the Supermarket

It’s not just Australia's supermarket shelves that are dominated by US corporations. From ride-sharing and fast food to online shopping and social media, many of the biggest brands are those of dodgy US billionaires and companies. In addition to the fact that they exploit workers, dodge taxes, and fund political extremism and discrimination, the money they make is sucked out of our economy. Last year Australians sent almost $50 billion to America to pay for stuff we bought from them.

So if you're looking to ditch US companies and support ethical and locally-owned businesses, you’ll be interested in this list I've pulled together. But be warned, avoiding US companies outside the supermarket is even harder than it is down the aisles at Coles and Woolies.

1. Amazon (Online Shopping & Web Services) 🇺🇸

🚨 Why avoid? Owned by mega-billionaire Jeff Bezos who stood beside Donald Trump at his inauguration, Amazon crushes small businesses, creates massive waste, underpays workers, and pays minimal tax in Australia while raking in billions.

✅ Better alternatives:

- Kogan (Australia) – General online shopping, locally operated.

- Your local bookstore or independent retailer – Keeps money in the community!

- Booktopia (Australia) – Aussie-owned, great for books, was in administration but back up and running.

2. Uber (Ride-Sharing & Food Delivery) 🇺🇸

🚨 Why avoid? Uber is infamous for exploiting drivers, gutting public transport, and using predatory pricing to destroy taxi industries worldwide.

✅ Better alternatives:

- 13cabs (Australia) – Traditional taxi service, supports local drivers.

- Shebah (Australia) – Female-only rideshare, Australian-owned.

- Try walking, cycling, or catching a bus or train.

3. Airbnb (Short-Term Accommodation) 🇺🇸

🚨 Why avoid? Airbnb has pushed up rental prices, hollowed out local communities, and allows large-scale property investors to exploit the housing market.

✅ Better alternatives:

- Riparide (Australia) – Supports local, nature-based stays.

- Locally-run motels, B&Bs, or eco-lodges – More ethical travel choices.

- Save money and stay with friends.

- Try camping in Australia's amazing national parks.

4. Netflix (Streaming & Media) 🇺🇸

🚨 Why avoid? Netflix dominates the streaming market and undercuts funding for Australian content while pushing a US-centric media agenda.

✅ Better alternatives:

- ABC iView & SBS On Demand (Australia) – Free, support local content.

- Stan (Australia) – Features Aussie shows & movies.

- Kanopy (Library streaming) – Free from your local library, supports filmmakers.

5. Maccas, KFC and Hungry Jacks (Fast Food & Coffee) 🇺🇸

🚨 Why avoid? McDonald’s supported Donald Trump's election and promotes low wages, environmental destruction, factory farming and excessive plastic waste. While Hungry Jacks is is technically Australian-owned, it pays franschise fees to Burger King which is just as bad as Maccas. And KFC is owned by Pepsi Co. Enough said!

✅ Better alternatives:

- Grill’d and Olivers (Australia) – Use local ingredients, better quality.

- Red Rooster, Kingsleys, Aporto (Australia) – Aussie-owned alternatives to KFC & Macca’s. - Your local fish & chip shop, burger joint, or cafe – Supports local small businesses!

6. Facebook / Meta (Social Media & Advertising) 🇺🇸

🚨 Why avoid? owned by mega-billionaire Mark Zuckerberg who stood alongside Donald Trump at his inauguration. Meta is a data-mining giant that that treats us like digital battery hens and profits from misinformation, political polarisation, and unethical ad practices.

✅ Better alternatives:

- BlueSky and Mastodon – Decentralised, privacy-friendly alternatives to Treads/Twitter/X.

- Signal or Telegram – Secure messaging instead of Facebook Messenger & WhatsApp.

- Reddit or Discord – Community-driven, less ad-focused.

- Try writing an email or letter, calling someone, or dropping over for a cup of tea.

7. Google (Search, YouTube, Gmail, Cloud Services) 🇺🇸

🚨 Why avoid? Google tracks everything you do online and controls vast swathes of the internet, shaping search results based on its ad revenue priorities.

✅ Better alternatives:

- DuckDuckGo – Privacy-focused search engine.

- ProtonMail – Secure, encrypted email alternative.

- Vimeo or PeerTube – Non-Google-owned video platforms.

8. Tesla, Starlink and X (Electric Vehicles, Battery Tech, Internet, Social Media) 🇺🇸

🚨 Why avoid? They're all owned by Elon Musk. Enough said!

✅ Better alternatives:

- Polestar and Volvo (Sweden) – EVs with a strong focus on sustainability.

- Hyundai & Kia (South Korea) – The Ioniq 5 and EV6 outperform Tesla in key areas.

- NBN SkyMuster and Telstra Satelite instead of Starlink.

9. Nike (Sportswear & Footwear) 🇺🇸

🚨 Why avoid? Nike is linked to sweatshops, worker exploitation, and greenwashing. It charges premium prices for shoes made in questionable factories.

✅ Better alternatives:

- Blundstones, Redbacks, R.M. Williams (Australian).

- Dr Martens (UK).

- Veja (France) – Ethical sneakers made from sustainable materials.

10. Visa & Mastercard (Credit Card Companies) 🇺🇸

🚨 Why avoid? These US financial giants make money every time we spend it! They charge excessive merchant fees and lobby against consumer protections.

✅ Better alternatives:

- EFTPOS (Australia) – Local payment network, lower fees for businesses.

- Bank Transfer (PayID, Osko, BPay) – Keeps money within the local banking system.

- Cash! – Still an option, supports small businesses by avoiding card fees.

Final Thoughts: Time to Break Free from US Corporate Control

From streaming and social media to fast food and finance, US corporations dominate our daily lives and fleece our pockets - but they don’t have to. Detoxing from US goods, services and companies ain't easy. But we can always make a start. By choosing ethical, non-US alternatives, you can:

✅ Support local businesses and workers.

✅ Reduce the power of dodgy billionaires and corporations.

✅ Keep Australia's economy independent and diverse.

💬 Have you started switching from US-owned brands? What alternatives do you recommend? Drop a comment below!

🔗 Related Reads:

📌 20 American Supermarket Products to Avoid – And What to Buy Instead

📌 10 More American Brands to Avoid – And What to Buy Instead

📌 Five Reasons to Stop Supporting US Companies