Updated October 1, 2026 · LootCue Editorial Team
Character Online vs ShopTo.net
Where Character Online and ShopTo.net differ
| Compare |  Character Online |  ShopTo.net |
|---|---|---|
| Brand or store | Brand | Store |
| Price from | €6.95 | £28.99 |
| Return window | 28 daysHigher | 14 days |
| Markets | GB | GB, DE, FR, US, AT, BE, IE, IT, NL, PT, ESCovers more |
| Pre-orders | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Officially licensed only | Yes | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Character Online scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Return window is higher at Character Online: 28 days vs 14 days.
- Support channels: only ShopTo.net offers Chat, Community.
- Founded is lower at Character Online: 1991 vs 2006.
- Products: only Character Online offers Action figures, Prize figures, Plush.
- Products: only ShopTo.net offers Game keys, Gift cards, Game subscriptions.
- Franchises: only Character Online offers Disney, Sci fi.
- Franchises: only ShopTo.net offers Anime, Video games, Dc.
- Markets: only ShopTo.net offers DE, FR, US.
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.
ShopTo.net
ShopTo.net suits gamers buying console and PC keys, and also carries gift cards, top-ups and subscription time, with codes landing in your account after purchase and pre-orders charged only at dispatch. Physical orders ship from the UK with no delivery charge in the mainland and a 14 day return window.
Score breakdown
| Area | Character Online | ShopTo.net |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Delivery in mainland UK adds nothing above £20, so a bigger basket costs no more to send. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.2The catalogue spans action figures, prize figures, plush and more, under licences drawn from disney and sci fi. | 9.2Covers PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch with keys, codes, gift cards and top-ups, and pre-orders are charged only at dispatch. |
| 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. | 9.4ShopTo.net operates as an authorised reseller and shows eligible countries on each product page, so region-locked codes are clear before you pay. |
Choosing between them
Pick Character Online if trust and return window matter most.
Pick ShopTo.net if markets matter most.
If neither fits
Large has return window at 30 to 100 days, against 28 days for Character Online and 14 days for ShopTo.net.
Large reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Character Online | ShopTo.net |
|---|---|---|
| Statues, action figures and collectibles | 21 of 64 | 2 of 64 |
| Blind boxes and designer toys | 11 of 48 | 2 of 48 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Character Online | ShopTo.net |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Action figures, Prize figures, Plush, Blind boxes | Game keys, Gift cards, Game subscriptions, In game currency, Dlc |
| Franchises | Disney, Sci fi | Anime, Video games, Dc, Horror |
| Legal entity | Character Options Ltd, part of The Character Group plc | TradeTo Ltd |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Jersey |
| Founded | 1991Lower | 2006 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Fandom merchandise stores
| Fact | Character Online | ShopTo.net |
|---|---|---|
| Departments | Figures, Game merch, Plush | Not confirmed |
| Free delivery threshold | £20 | Not confirmed |
| Loyalty scheme | Not confirmed | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Character Online | ShopTo.net | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return window | 28 daysbelow the median | 14 daysbelow the median | 30 days |
Median across 39 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.
ShopTo.net
Pros
- Digital purchases appear in your account as soon as the order is confirmed, so there is nothing to wait for in the post.
- Members take a discount off the site price at checkout and collect points on what they spend.
- Nothing is added at checkout, and delivery within the mainland UK carries no charge.
Cons
- Codes are region locked under the suppliers' requirements, so the eligible countries printed on the product page decide whether the game will run for you.
- A faulty digital code has to be reported inside a fixed window after purchase, and that clock runs regardless of how long the product expiry lasts.
- Pre-orders are charged at dispatch, which keeps your card committed until a release date the publisher sets.
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.
ShopTo.net
Who it suits
- Players on console or PC who want digital keys, gift cards and top-ups gathered in one basket.
- Fans of plush collectibles in anime, video game and horror worlds who want their keys from the same site.
- Shoppers who would rather reach a person on live chat, email or the phone when a code misbehaves.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who need codes that are not region locked, since eligible countries are listed on each product page.
- Readers who shop purely by the lowest digital price, since the lowest figure shown on the site sits on the plush range rather than on a game key.
Country by country
| Country | Character Online | ShopTo.net |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
ShopTo.net
What can I buy on ShopTo.net?+
It sells game keys, gift cards, game subscriptions and more from one account, so console and PC shoppers can find a code, a card or a top-up without opening a second site. Pre-orders are supported, and they are not charged until the product is dispatched.
Which platforms does ShopTo.net cover?+
The catalogue spans PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch, and each code activates only on the platform it was sold for. Digital purchases show up in your account once the order is confirmed, so there is no disc to wait for.