The Best Allbirds Alternatives in 2026, Picked by What You Loved About Them
By Entrashop Editors · Last updated
Quick answer: For merino-wool comfort, Giesswein and Baabuk. For transparent sourcing, VEJA and Saola. For polished everyday comfort, Rothy's and Birdies. For walking and running, On and Hoka. Allbirds shoes are still sold under new ownership.
At a glance
| Brand | Best for | Price tier (from) | Good to know | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allbirds | Soft everyday sneakers | $$ — Wool Runner from $99 | Shoe brand now owned by American Exchange Group | Visit |
| VEJA | Sneakers with transparent sourcing | See official site | Organic cotton and wild rubber (brand) | Visit |
| Rothy's | Polished all-day comfort | $$$ — Court Sneaker $150 | Also makes flats and bags |
The brands
Allbirds
Best for Soft everyday sneakers
Soft, low-key sneakers built from natural materials. The kind of pair you forget you're wearing. The Wool Runner line started from $99 when we checked.
Visit official site (opens in a new tab)VEJA
Best for Transparent sourcing
Clean, simple sneakers with transparent sourcing. Easy to wear every day. Its sneakers use organic cotton and wild rubber, according to the brand.
Visit official site (opens in a new tab)Rothy's
Best for Polished all-day comfort
Comfortable flats, sneakers and bags with a polished look. Easy to wear all day. The Court Sneaker was $150 when we checked.
Visit official site (opens in a new tab)On
Best for Cushioned daily miles
Lightweight, cushioned running shoes with a distinctive design. Comfortable for daily miles. A good fit if comfort for long walks is your top priority.
What happened to Allbirds?
In 2026 the public company behind Allbirds changed direction. On March 29, 2026 it agreed to sell its footwear business and brand to an affiliate of American Exchange Group; the sale closed on June 9, 2026. In April the company announced a move into AI compute infrastructure and a planned name, NewBird AI, and in June it renamed itself Smartbird, Inc. The Allbirds shoe brand itself continues under American Exchange Group, so Allbirds shoes remain available.
Can you still buy Allbirds shoes?
Yes. The brand and its footwear assets were sold rather than closed, and allbirds.com continues to sell shoes, including the Wool Runner line from $99 at the time we checked. If you love your current pair, buying again is a perfectly good option; the alternatives below are for anyone curious about what else is out there.
For soft, natural materials
If the wool feel is what won you over, start with wool specialists. Giesswein, an Austrian company with a long history in knitwear, makes merino knit sneakers and runners. Baabuk's Woolers are another favorite in Reddit threads about Allbirds alternatives. VEJA works with organic cotton and wild rubber for a different natural-material take.
For sustainability and transparent sourcing
Brands in this group publish a lot about how their shoes are made. VEJA is known for its sourcing transparency, Nisolo focuses on fair production for leather shoes, and Saola and Thousand Fell are frequently named by Reddit users looking for a similar values-led brand.
For easy, packable everyday shoes
Rothy's makes flats, sneakers and bags with a polished look, while Vivaia is another knit-shoe brand some shoppers compare with Allbirds. Check each brand's care instructions on its official site.
For all-day walking comfort
Several Reddit users who moved on from Allbirds said they switched to cushioned running brands such as On and Hoka for long walks. These are performance-led shoes with a sportier look.
For a dressier comfortable shoe
If you wore Allbirds to the office, Birdies' cushioned flats and Speedbird sneaker, Thursday Boots' Premier Low Top and Nisolo's leather court sneakers offer a smarter look.
For rain and wet streets
Saola lists waterproof models such as the Tsavo 2.0 Waterproof, and Vessi offers the Weekend Neo. See each official site for weather details.
How we picked
Entrashop editors chose brands that match the main reasons people buy Allbirds, using each brand's own product pages, the brands most often recommended in public Reddit discussions, and our hand-picked store pages. We did not wear-test these shoes. Prices checked October 2026 on official sites and change often.
FAQ
What is the best alternative to Allbirds?
It depends on what you loved: Giesswein and Baabuk for wool comfort, VEJA and Saola for transparent sourcing, Rothy's and Birdies for a polished look, and On or Hoka for walking comfort.
What shoes are most similar to Allbirds Wool Runners?
Wool knit sneakers such as Giesswein's Merino Runners and Baabuk's Woolers are the closest in material and feel.
Is Allbirds still in business?
Yes. In 2026 the former parent company sold the Allbirds footwear brand to an affiliate of American Exchange Group, which continues to sell Allbirds shoes. The former parent company is now called Smartbird, Inc.
Who owns Allbirds now?
An affiliate of American Exchange Group acquired the Allbirds brand and footwear assets in a sale that closed on June 9, 2026.
Sources
- https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1653909/000162828026043145/bird-20260609.htm
- https://ir.allbirds.com/news-releases/news-release-details/allbirds-inc-executes-50m-convertible-financing-facility/
- https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/951432/allbirds-became-newbird-ai-now-its-smartbird
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Allbirds/comments/1snhrwo/what_other_shoe_brands_do_you_recommend/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Allbirds/comments/1e8tdlj/alternatives_to_allbirds/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/ydm2d6/allbirds_alternatives/
- https://en.giesswein.com/pages/about-us
- Official product pages (prices checked October 2026): allbirds.com, rothys.com, birdies.com, nisolo.com, thursdayboots.com, baabuk.com, saola.com, thousandfell.com, vessi.com, kizik.com