Updated October 18, 2026 · LootCue Editorial Team
Character Online vs Plaza Japan
Character Online
Higher score in this comparison
Plaza Japan
What sets them apart
| Compare | Character OnlineReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Plaza JapanReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Brand or store | Brand | Store |
| Price from | €6.95 | €3.60Lower |
| Return window | 28 daysHigher | 7 days |
| Markets | GB | AU, GB, NZ, SG, USCovers more |
| Pre-orders | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Officially licensed only (Yes).
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Key differences
- Character Online scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Price from is lower at Plaza Japan: €3.60 vs €6.95.
- Return window is higher at Character Online: 28 days vs 7 days.
- Founded is lower at Character Online: 1991 vs 2004.
- Products: only Character Online offers Blind boxes.
- Products: only Plaza Japan offers Scale figures, Vinyl figures, Chibi figures.
- Franchises: only Character Online offers Disney.
- Franchises: only Plaza Japan offers Anime, Video games, Marvel.
- Markets: only Plaza Japan offers AU, NZ, SG.
Our verdict on each
Character Online
Character Online suits fans who want officially licensed figures, plush and collectible surprise figures rather than copies, and collectables from €6.95 keep a first order easy to run. The catalogue, the delivery terms and the returns window all come from one long-established company, so the same rules apply to every order you place.
Plaza Japan
Plaza Japan is a Japanese collectibles and model retailer. Its catalogue examples include a Takara Tomy BEYBLADE X set, a Blokees Flash plastic model and a Good Smile Company Void figure. These listings show the range of collectible formats available to compare.
Score breakdown
| Area | Character Online | Plaza Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Delivery in mainland UK adds nothing above £20, so a bigger basket costs no more to send. | 9.8Higher |
| Offer | 9.2HigherThe catalogue spans action figures, prize figures, plush and more, under licences drawn from disney and sci fi. | 8.9 |
| Trust | 9.8HigherA store run by Character Options Ltd, part of The Character Group plc, a business founded in 1991, rather than an unknown seller. | 9.1 |
Choosing between them
Pick Character Online if offer, trust, and return window matter most.
Pick Plaza Japan if cost, price from, and markets matter most.
Also worth a look
Funko has return window at 30 days, against 28 days for Character Online and 7 days for Plaza Japan.
Funko reviewWhat we checked
Character Online
- character-online.com: 11 facts, checked October 1, 2026
Plaza Japan
- plazajapan.com: 11 facts, checked October 1, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Character Online | Plaza Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Statues, action figures and collectibles | 21 of 64 | 25 of 64 |
| Blind boxes and designer toys | 11 of 48 | 15 of 48 |
| Game, band and pop-culture merch | 41 of 75 | 45 of 75 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Character Online | Plaza Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Action figures, Prize figures, Plush, Blind boxes | Scale figures, Prize figures, Action figures, Vinyl figures, Chibi figures, Statues, Model kits, Plush |
| Franchises | Disney, Sci fi | Anime, Video games, Marvel, Dc, Star wars, Sci fi |
| Legal entity | Character Options Ltd, part of The Character Group plc | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Japan |
| Founded | 1991Lower | 2004 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Fandom merchandise stores
| Fact | Character Online | Plaza Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Departments | Figures, Game merch, Plush | Figures, Anime merch, Manga, Plush, Game merch, Japanese snack boxesCovers more |
| Free delivery threshold | £20 | Not confirmed |
Trading card shops
| Fact | Character Online | Plaza Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Card games | Not confirmed | Pokemon, Yugioh, One piece, Lorcana, Digimon |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Character Online | Plaza Japan | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | €6.95at the median | €3.60lowest quarter | €6.95 |
| Return window | 28 daysbelow the median | 7 dayslowest quarter | 30 days |
Median across 51 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Character Online
Pros
- Figures, plush and collectible surprise figures are officially licensed, made under agreement with the brand owners rather than copied.
- Collectables start at €6.95, so a first figure or a blind box is an easy first order.
- Unopened, non-defective items can go back within 28 days of delivery for a refund.
Cons
- The 28-day return route is written for unopened, non-defective items, so a figure you have already opened sits outside it.
- Published delivery terms are written for the United Kingdom, so orders to other destinations get a set charge decided at checkout.
- Below £20 of goods, a mainland UK order still carries a delivery charge, so one small piece costs more than its listed price.
Plaza Japan
Pros
- A Takara Tomy BEYBLADE X BX-53 All-in-One Set is listed.
- A Blokees DC Legend Edition Flash plastic model is listed.
- A Good Smile Company POP UP PARADE SP Void figure is listed.
Who each suits
Character Online
Who it suits
- Fans of characters from film, television, comics and games who want licensed merchandise.
- Collectors starting a shelf without a large first outlay, with collectables from €6.95.
- Gift buyers who want room to change their minds, since unopened items can go back within 28 days of delivery.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone hoping to send back a figure they have already opened, because the return route is for unopened, non-defective items.
- Collectors after limited or artist-edition pieces, as the offer centres on licensed mainstream lines.
- Shoppers planning a themed set who need every piece in a single order, as this is a single brand store.
Plaza Japan
Who it suits
- Shoppers looking across several collectible formats in one retailer catalogue.
Country by country
| Country | Character Online | Plaza Japan |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Character Online
How much do the collectables cost?+
A collectible figure on the collectables pages is listed from €6.95, so a single piece is a modest commitment. Prices are shown per item, and larger boxed sets and playsets sit higher up the range, which makes the entry point the useful number when you are budgeting a first order.
How much is delivery, and is it included?+
Delivery inside mainland UK is charged at a set rate, and it costs nothing extra once an order passes £20. Orders heading elsewhere are given a set delivery charge at checkout, so the total only firms up in the basket. Buying a couple of small pieces together is enough to cross the threshold.
Can I return a figure I do not want?+
Yes, if the item is unopened and free of defects. Unopened, non-defective items can go back within 28 days of delivery for a refund, and the days count from the day the parcel arrives rather than the order date. A blind box stays in that condition while its box is intact.
Are the figures officially licensed?+
Yes. Many products are based on popular film, television, comic and digital characters and are reproduced under licence from the brand owners, and those licensed lines sit alongside ranges the group makes itself through Character Options Ltd, part of The Character Group plc. That matters if the buyer is someone who spots the difference between official art and a copy.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Character Online
Plaza Japan