Whether you are a seasoned online shopper looking for the best Amazon alternatives or new to digital deal hunting, Temu and AliExpress are likely on your radar.
AliExpress, Temu, and a few other Chinese-based ecommerce brands have taken the world by storm due to their affordable prices and wide selection of goods.
The real question is, which of these online marketplaces is the better option for your digital shopping or selling needs?
The answer may surprise you.
Here is everything you need to know about Temu vs AliExpress as both a shopper and seller, from shipping options to product quality and much more.
Temu vs. AliExpress: Quick Highlights
Pro Tips
- Compare Prices: Check both platforms for the best deals on common goods.
- Read Reviews: Always read customer reviews to avoid low-quality products.
- Use Secure Payments: Opt for PayPal or other secure payment methods to protect your transactions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring Shipping Costs: Factor in shipping costs when comparing prices.
- Overlooking Return Policies: Understand the return policies before making a purchase.
Falling for Scams: Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true and verify seller ratings.
What Is Temu?
Launched in 2022, Temu quickly became a leading player in the ecommerce sector.
The company’s explosion is largely due to its various shipping methods, extremely low prices, and a broad selection of goods, which include everything from consumer electronics to clothing and household items.
Temu didn’t just catch the eye of shoppers but of competitors as well. It’s already had numerous run-ins with SHEIN and has gone head-to-head with discount ecommerce retailer Wish.
Despite these challenges, the platform’s solid supplier connections have helped Temu carve out a strong market share in the competitive ecommerce sector.
It continues to experience rapid growth and is quickly gaining ground compared to both SHEIN and AliExpress.
What Is AliExpress?
AliExpress is a popular online retail service based in China. Alibaba Group founded AliExpress in 2010.
It functions as an ecommerce platform where shoppers can purchase a wide variety of products from sellers primarily based in China.
AliExpress caters to international buyers and heavily targets the US market.
The platform offers a vast array of items, ranging from electronics and clothing to home goods and accessories. It also offers free and discounted shipping, easy returns, and a seamless shopping experience.
While Alibaba and its subsidiaries are primarily based out of China, it is considering a US IPO, which is expected to launch sometime in 2024.
This move could have a huge impact on the AliExpress shopping experience. However, it remains to be seen if the company will follow through with its IPO.
Temu vs AliExpress Product Quality: What Can You Expect?
In the battle of Temu vs AliExpress, product quality should be one of your key concerns.
While you can get a huge haul of items at discount prices from either platform, it’s important to know whether those products will be any good.
They certainly can be, but you might also end up with poor-quality items.
AliExpress has had an alarming number of product quality complaints and customer service grievances over the years. The platform has a rating of just 2.6 stars out of more than 145,000 reviews on Trustpilot.
Temu has a little over 18,000 reviews and a slightly higher rating of 3 stars. The complaints cite both delivery issues and product quality concerns.
The good news is that you can avoid many product quality issues by carefully reading reviews and investigating listings extensively.
If you see a lot of complaints about a product not matching the description or images, you probably shouldn’t buy it. Watch out for fake reviews too as they are unfortunately common on all ecommerce platforms (even on the biggest players like Amazon)
Temu vs AliExpress Shipping and Delivery: How Long Will It Take?
In terms of shipping, Temu and AliExpress are incredibly affordable.
Both platforms offer free shipping, but getting your items can take a while. Temu’s estimated delivery time using standard shipping is 6-22 days. AliExpress averages between 15-30 days.
You can opt for express shipping, but it might not be worth the extra cost.
Temu’s website states that express shipping costs $12.90 for items priced at $129 or less. If your order exceeds $129, express shipping is free, and your estimated delivery time will be reduced to 4-11 days. If you’re near that amount and want free express shipping, consider adding a few more items to your cart.
Generally, express shipping on AliExpress will ensure your items reach you in about a week, but some orders can take two weeks.
If you are only spending a few bucks on an item, paying for premium shipping can double or triple your total costs. However, if you really need an item fast, it’s worth considering express options.
Temu vs AliExpress Pricing Structures: Where Are the Best Deals?
Overall, AliExpress tends to be the cheapest, though it will vary from item to item.
This may also be part of why the platform has more complaints about product quality. The sheer volume of sellers on the platform may make it difficult for AliExpress to maintain high quality.
However, any perceived savings can quickly disappear when you go to the checkout window. AliExpress sometimes charges extra handling fees. On the other hand, Temu pricing is transparent and has few, if any, hidden fees.
Many common goods may be available on both ecommerce platforms, so check them out and compare prices. Add the item to your cart to see what the final price is, and choose the best deal from there.
Temu vs AliExpress Return Policies and Customer Service
AliExpress and Temu offer return options in case something is wrong with your product. However, AliExpress’s service can be a bit tedious to navigate.
The “Free Return” service gives you 15 days after your on-time delivery date to decide whether you want to keep your products.
Independent sellers may not offer this same policy, which means that you might have to pay a restocking or return fee. Make sure to read the return terms and conditions on the item page.
The return terms are usually mentioned under the “Add to Cart” button.
At first look, Temu’s return policy seems quite flexible. Most products can be returned within 90 days. However, clothing that has been worn or has had its tags, hygiene stickers, or packaging taken off cannot be returned. Additionally, some other specific items are marked as non-returnable and cannot be refunded.
Therefore, you need to carefully inspect your order as soon as it arrives. Don’t take it out of the packaging. Instead, look through the transparent plastic wrapping, if applicable, and look for any concerns.
Payment Options Explained: How Can You Pay?
Temu and AliExpress accept all major debit/credit cards, as well as PayPal. AliExpress also accepts Google Pay and Apple Pay. Temu accepts all of these payment methods, as well as Affirm, Afterpay, and Klarna, which are buy now, pay later (BNPL) service providers.
Debit and credit cards are considered some of the most convenient payment options. However, using your debit card on any ecommerce platform could be risky.
PayPal and other alternative payment options might offer more protection, especially if you don’t leave much money on those platforms. If your information gets compromised, hackers may only get access to the small amount of funds on the account.
Generally, shopping on Temu and AliExpress is safe, meaning you can enjoy peace of mind while using your preferred payment method.
However, it’s important to protect yourself from fraudulent sellers.
Always monitor your statements for unauthorized charges, and avoid making purchases from sellers who have racked up a lot of complaints.
Chinese Ecommerce Scams and How to Avoid Them
As far as scams, overall, Temu is pretty safe compared to other ecommerce platforms, and so is AliExpress.
However, scammers have targeted both platforms. One of the most common scams involves people offering “free gifts” in exchange for your payment or personal information.
Temu rarely offers gift promotions (though it does offer tons of other kinds of promos), so beware if you get an unusual email or text message encouraging you to claim your prize.
Another common scam that is more prevalent on AliExpress is counterfeit, stolen, or knockoff goods. Avoid items with prices that are too good to be true, as well as goods that have minimal details or fuzzy images.
Does Temu or AliExpress Have a Better User Experience?
The pricing differences and delivery offerings of Temu and AliExpress are mostly negligible. That’s why, for many users, the decision comes down to which platform is easier to navigate.
As for the desktop sites, the two ecommerce giants are about even. Each site has clear labels, vibrant menus, and interactive layouts. Temu edges out AliExpress with its mobile app, which is a bit easier to use and more dynamic. However, Temu also likes to spam users with tons of discount and deal pop-ups that can get pretty annoying after a while.
Still, you should be able to quickly find whatever products interest you and place your order — once you create an account, of course.
Which Platform Is Better for Sellers?
Temu and AliExpress aren’t just appealing to buyers but to sellers, too.
If you’ve been caught up in the recent wave of Amazon seller suspensions or are simply tired of the platform’s referral fees and anticompetitive practices, switching to Temu or AliExpress might be a wise move.
It might also be a good idea to try multiple ecommerce platforms (if you are able to) at once to see which one works best for you.
AliExpress charges between 5% to 8% commissions on each transaction. They don’t have any other fees, which makes it easy to set store prices and maximize your revenue.
Temu’s fees are a bit higher, as the platform charges listing, commission, referral, and closing fees for each transaction. In total, about 15% to 30% of the purchase price will go to Temu.
If you are looking for an alternative to selling your own goods, consider an affiliate program.
As an affiliate, you’ll promote Temu’s products and earn a commission every time someone makes a purchase using your unique affiliate link. If you are thinking about becoming an affiliate, here’s a complete breakdown of the Temu affiliate program.
Controversies and Concerns
Despite being just two years old, Temu has been wrapped up in several major controversies, including allegations of tax evasion and forced labor.
These scandals bring about ethical concerns for shoppers and sellers alike.
The major concern surrounding AliExpress is the risk of counterfeit or knockoff products. Beware of goods that mimic genuine brands. Look at pricing, photo quality, seller reviews, and product descriptions to determine whether an item is real or fake.
Temu vs AliExpress: The Final Verdict
Both Temu and AliExpress have their unique pros and cons and you should choose whichever one fits your needs best.
Temu seems to edge out AliExpress in terms of quality control and transparency. On the other hand, AliExpress offers a larger selection of products (often at slightly lower prices), albeit with mixed quality.
Choosing between them comes down to your priorities.
If maximizing your savings is your top goal, check out AliExpress. If you want more protections and upfront pricing, give Temu a try.
Naturally, you could just try both to see which one is best for you. Either way, you’ll enjoy affordable products and a seamless checkout process.
Pro Tips for Safe Shopping
- Compare Prices: Check both platforms for the best deals on common goods.
- Read Reviews: Always read customer reviews to avoid low-quality products.
- Use Secure Payments: Opt for PayPal or other secure payment methods to protect your transactions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring Shipping Costs: Factor in shipping costs when comparing prices.
- Overlooking Return Policies: Understand the return policies before making a purchase.
- Falling for Scams: Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true and verify seller ratings.