Nike, Inc. vs New Balance
Updated onCompare Nike, Inc. and New Balance side-by-side. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and target market.
Nike, Inc.
American multinational company that designs, develops, markets, and sells athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories under the Nike, Jordan, and Converse brands.
vs
New Balance is an American athletic footwear and apparel company that designs, manufactures, and markets running, training, and lifestyle shoes, clothing, and accessories worldwide.
Starts at $21.99 / per item
Which should you choose?
Nike, Inc.
Choose Nike if you want the broadest global range of sport‑specific and lifestyle footwear, advanced performance technologies and heavy athlete-backed marketing from the category’s largest brand.
New Balance
Choose New Balance if you prioritize precise fit (especially wide widths), comfort-first running and walking shoes, and heritage or MADE in USA models from a smaller, more craft-focused brand.
Typical cost comparison
Scenario: One pair of mid-range neutral running shoes (Nike Pegasus 41 vs. New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15) purchased at full MSRP on each brand’s U.S. website.
Nike, Inc.
$145 per year
New Balance
$149.99 per year
Nike, Inc. saves you $4.99 per year in this scenario.
Key differences
| Category | Nike, Inc. | New Balance | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainability & Climate Targets | Nike’s Move to Zero and New Balance’s sustainability roadmap both commit to renewable electricity, preferred materials and sizable Scope 1–3 emissions cuts by 2030, so their stated climate ambitions are broadly comparable even though specific targets and timelines differ. | ||
| Brand Scale & Market Presence | Nike is the world’s largest athletic footwear and apparel company with over $50 billion in annual revenue and around 80,000 employees, while New Balance is a much smaller, privately held brand at roughly $6–8 billion in revenue and about 8–10,000 employees. | ||
| Fit Range, Widths & Comfort | New Balance has long differentiated on fit with extensive width options (from extra-narrow to extra-extra-wide) across many models, whereas Nike offers wide and extra-wide sizing in select running and training shoes but with a narrower overall width range. | ||
| Heritage & Domestic Manufacturing | New Balance emphasizes heritage running silhouettes and operates MADE in USA and MADE in UK lines with at least 70% domestic value, while Nike’s products are primarily manufactured through overseas contract factories without a comparable mainstream domestically branded line. | ||
| Performance Tech & Pro Sports Integration | Both brands offer serious performance shoes, but Nike invests more visibly in proprietary foams (ZoomX, React/ReactX), Air and Flyknit uppers and sponsors a wider array of top-tier athletes and teams across global sports. |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Nike, Inc. | New Balance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated sustainability program with 2025–2030 climate goals | Nike’s Move to Zero and New Balance’s sustainability initiatives both set targets for renewable electricity, preferred materials, zero waste to landfill in footwear factories and substantial greenhouse-gas reductions by 2030. | ||
| Direct-to-consumer online store with membership perks | Both brands sell directly via their sites, with Nike offering member benefits like free shipping over a threshold and exclusive drops, and New Balance providing member free shipping, free returns and periodic promos. | ||
| High-end performance running foams & uppers | Nike leans on ZoomX, React/ReactX, Air units and Flyknit uppers, whereas New Balance focuses on Fresh Foam X and FuelCell platforms with engineered mesh; both offer modern tech for everyday and elite running. | ||
| Team sports & elite athlete sponsorships | Nike sponsors a very broad roster of star athletes and teams across basketball, football/soccer, athletics and more, while New Balance backs a smaller but growing slate of runners, baseball players and football clubs such as Atalanta. | ||
| MADE in USA / UK heritage collections | New Balance runs dedicated MADE in USA and MADE in UK ranges with at least 70% domestic value in footwear, whereas Nike does not promote a large-scale domestically manufactured collection. | ||
| Wide & extra-wide sizing across many models | New Balance explicitly markets itself as a leader for wide feet with multiple width codes across large parts of its line, while Nike offers wide/extra-wide options in a limited subset of running, walking and training shoes. | ||
| Consumer sneaker customization (online design tool) | Nike By You lets consumers customize popular models end-to-end on nike.com, while New Balance’s NB1 and team-custom programs exist but are narrower in scope and have been intermittently paused. | ||
| Premium lifestyle and fashion collaborations | Nike has a very large catalog of lifestyle icons (Air Force 1, Dunk, Jordan) and frequent high-fashion or streetwear collaborations, while New Balance has fewer but notable collabs and fashion-forward takes on models like the 99X, 9060 and 1906R. |
Review Consensus
Nike, Inc.
"Across major review sites, Nike’s direct-to-consumer channel is rated poorly (around 1–3/5), with complaints centered on customer service, delivery and durability issues despite strong appreciation for product style and performance. "
Based on 12,008 reviews
- ● Some reviewers praise specific shoes for style and on-foot comfort.
- ● A portion of customers report smooth online ordering and timely delivery when there are no issues.
- ● Brand recognition and product design are often cited as reasons people keep buying despite problems.
- ● Large volume of complaints about delayed, missing or misrouted deliveries.
- ● Many reports of unhelpful or hard-to-reach customer service around returns and refunds.
- ● Frequent mentions of quality issues such as shoes arriving used, dirty or wearing out quickly.
Data as of 1/19/2026
Based on 615 reviews
- ● Some customers like the traction and durability of certain performance models.
- ● A minority highlight positive in-store experiences versus online.
- ● When products are defect-free, users often find them comfortable for sport and daily wear.
- ● Numerous complaints about poor response to warranty or defect claims.
- ● Customers frequently describe frustration with refund timelines and dispute resolution.
- ● Reports of inconsistent sizing and shoes creasing or breaking down faster than expected.
Data as of 1/19/2026
Based on 548 reviews
- ● Roughly half of reviewers say they would recommend Nike based on their experience.
- ● Positive comments often mention stylish designs and good comfort for everyday use.
- ● Some customers report straightforward returns and exchanges when handled correctly.
- ● Negative reviews still highlight customer service as slow or unhelpful.
- ● There are recurring mentions of order fulfillment errors and shipping delays.
- ● A subset of buyers feel overall quality has declined relative to price over time.
Data as of 1/19/2026
New Balance
"New Balance’s online reputation is polarized: broad review platforms rate the brand’s direct channel poorly due to service and logistics issues, while Google’s store rating is very high, highlighting strong comfort and shopping experiences for many customers. "
Based on 1,305 reviews
- ● A minority of reviews praise shoe comfort, especially for flat feet and stability needs.
- ● Some customers are loyal to specific legacy models that worked well for them for years.
- ● In-store fitting experiences are occasionally highlighted as helpful and knowledgeable.
- ● Many reviewers report online orders going missing, stuck in carrier loops or arriving late.
- ● Customer service is frequently described as unresponsive or unwilling to resolve shipping and defect issues.
- ● There are recurring complaints about perceived declines in product quality and durability compared with older New Balance shoes.
Data as of 1/19/2026
Based on 101 reviews
- ● Some customers like the styling and color combinations of newer lifestyle models.
- ● A few reviewers note comfortable fit and support when they receive the right size and width.
- ● Free or low-cost shipping from the U.S. warehouse is appreciated when orders arrive correctly.
- ● Strong themes of dissatisfaction with refunds and order cancellations holding funds for days.
- ● Quality-control issues such as peeling uppers or premature wear are often cited.
- ● Service interactions are frequently characterized as rude, unhelpful or dismissive.
Data as of 5/30/2025
Based on 331 reviews
- ● Customers here commonly cite fast delivery and smooth checkout.
- ● Many reviewers describe themselves as long-time fans of New Balance shoes for comfort and durability.
- ● Overall shopping experience, including returns and payment options, is often called excellent.
- ● A small minority still mention occasional shipping or sizing issues.
- ● Some note that certain popular models can be hard to get in their preferred size or color.
- ● Isolated complaints suggest experiences may differ between regions and channels.
Data as of 1/19/2026
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