Aliexpress fans? Join the club! Every now and then, when I feel the urge to spend some money, I go to Aliexpress and look for all kind of cheap stuff. A T-shirt, an iPhone case, you know, whatever. Just some stuff to wait for… Yeah, I know it’s a bit stupid, but I just love the waiting time until my goodies arrive… Oh, and sometimes I actually need something 🙂 .
Over the time I’ve discovered many websites similar to Aliexpress. There are dozens of them, and it took me a while to pick my favorite ones. If you happen to be a complete newbie, let me start by pointing out a few of the most important things you should know about these sites:
- All of these websites operate from China / Hong Kong.
- All websites offer free worldwide shipping (or very low shipping fee).
- Shipping time can be extremely long (up to 2 months).
- Returning items is almost impossible.
- As for product’s quality, it is always a bit of a gamble. You can get great cheap stuff, or useless junk.
So, as promised, here are 8 websites similar to Aliexpress. Enjoy!
1. DHGATE
Founded in 1994, DHGate is one of Aliexpress’s oldest and biggest competitor (Aliexpress was founded in 2010). You’ll find there a huge variety of cheap clothes, accessories, gadgets and pretty much everything you can think of.
Currency: USD
PayPal: no
Notes: Like in Aliexpress, you can’t use Paypal in DHGate. Your payment is submitted to DHGate, and once you receive your order, the money will be transferred to the seller.
>> Go to DHGate
2. GEARBEST
This is a man’s world 🙂 :GearBest offers a great combination of gadgets, tech accessories and men’s fashion. The prices are cheap, shipping to anywhere in the world is free and we can pay with PayPal. Some of the gadgets are simply hilarious, so if you are looking for a place to shop for fun gifts that every man would like to get, this is it.
Currency: localized
PayPal: yes
Notes: If you’re an early adopter, you really should check out the pre-sale department.
>> Go to GearBest
3. Light In The Box
Founded in 2007, Light in the box is also one of the most big and popular online stores in the world. The website is automatically translated to over 20 languages, and offers thousands of cheap products in many categories.
Currency: localized
PayPal: yes
Notes: “Light in the box” has a sister-company by the name “Mini in the box”, that has a very similar design. Clicking on one item in “Light in the box” may take you to “Mini in the box” and vice versa, without you even noticing. Although both websites are run by the same company, it’s always a good idea to know exactly who you are buying from.
>> Go to Light in The Box
4. Mini in The Box
As mentioned before, MiniInTheBox is The younger brother of Light in the Box. Founded in 2010, Mini In The Box offers electronic gadgets like iPhone/iPad accessories, video game and electronic accessories, LED lights, toys, computer accessories, home and office gadgets, pet supplies and much more.
Currency: localized
PayPal: yes
Notes: again, it’s important to pay attention to the store you shop whom you are buying from. The design is very similar, and you can’t always tell imidetally that you’re in a different site now. As I said before, it’s always a good idea to know exactly who you are buying from.
>> Go to Mini in The Box
5. DressLink
Dresslink is all about cheap clothing, shoes and accessories for women and kids (sorry, gentlemen). If you’re a heavy shopper at Aliexpress, the majority of the designs will probably look familiar, but every now and then I discover items that are new to me, so it’s not all the same.
Currency: USD
PayPal: yes
Notes: Shipping is not always free at DressLink, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll pay more. Check out this post for more information – ” The secret behind free international shipping”. You can, however, use Paypal, which is a great advantage.
>> Go to DressLink
6. SheIn
As the name suggests, SheIn (formerly SheInside) is only for the ladies, and offers mostly clothes, accessories and jewelry. The designs are super cute, and the t-shirts are just awesome.
Currency: USD, EU, GP and more.
PayPal: yes
Notes: By signing up for newsletter you’ll get 15% off your first order (you’ll get a code via mail), and 20% if you sign up with Facebook. Before buying anything, take a look at the reviews. Some of them have “buyers show” section, where you can see the items on real people rather than on a skinny model 🙂 .
>> Go to SheIn
7. FOCALPRICE
Focalprice is one of China’s leading B2C e-Commerce export site, selling to more than 500,000 people in over 180 countries around the world. Focalprice has 70,000 items across almost 100 categories – that’s a lot of cheap stuff 🙂 .
Currency: USD, GB, EU and more
PayPal: yes
Notes: Clicking on clothing items at FocalPrice will send you the a third-party website, called Vestt.com. Is it a problem? Not necessarily, but as I said before – it’s always a good idea to know exactly who you are buying from.
>> Go to FocalPrice
8. LIGHTAKE
LighTake has an extensive selection of products, ranging from electronics to home gadgets at amazingly low prices. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll probably find what you want here. You can choose products from multiple categories according to your needs, with Free Shipping anywhere in the world.
Currency: USD
PayPal: yes
Notes: LighTake has a great puzzles section, that can be perfect for gifts. You can also find many gadgets, toys, car accessories, but no clothes.
>> Go to Lightake
Tips for safe shopping:
1. Always check VAT,duty and all other costs for personal import in your country before you place an order.
2. Make sure that shipping to your country is available before you start shopping.
3. Check the size guide in every new store you’re visiting.
4. If you never bought online before take a quick peek at “Online Shopping: Basic Rules for beginners“.
See also:
