Enhance Your Supplier Network with these alternatives
AliExpress is renowned for its wide selection of affordable Chinese daily necessities and its popularity among individual shoppers and e-commerce stores for dropshipping purposes. However, some customers find the shipping time on AliExpress to be lengthy, and others prefer to focus on specific niche products. This article will present 23 alternatives to AliExpress for individuals seeking similar platforms.
It is important to note that AliExpress is not solely a consumer-to-consumer (C2C) or business-to-consumer (B2C) platform. Many suppliers also provide drop shipping services on AliExpress. Therefore, within the sites discussed in this article, we will categorize those more suitable for shopping than those, particularly for dropshipping.
- LightInTheBox
A Chinese online retail site, offers a more focused product range than AliExpress. It specializes in three, i.e., apparel, home & garden, and small gadgets & accessories. Similar to AliExpress, LightInTheBox also provides access to dropshipping suppliers.
LightInTheBox stands out because of its innovative data-driven business model. It offers customized products like evening or wedding dresses. If your business revolves around these specific product categories, exploring LightInTheBox could be worthwhile.
- American Greenwood
It is a specialized wholesale website based in the United States that primarily sells small items. It offers a limited range of product categories. Notably, their paper products are sourced from sustainably grown forests and are chlorine-free. Additionally, any plastic materials utilized are either compostable, made from recycled materials, or can be recycled. The majority of their products are compostable, ensuring minimal waste generation.
Similar to DHgate, the wholesale pricing on this website vary by the volume of your purchase. The price of items per unit decreases as the quantity increases. Therefore, American Greenwood is better suited for small-scale wholesale operations than individual shopping or drop shipping.
- Doba
According to users, Doba functions as a Dropship Aggregator, which means it is a centralized platform that brings together various wholesalers. Essentially, Doba acts as an intermediary, connecting dropshipping suppliers with retailers.
Moreover, Doba offers several technological features, including product search and filtering, inventory management, curated product lists, and proactive inventory and price change alerts.
Due to its role as a middleman, the wholesale prices for approximately 90% of the products on Doba are either the same as or even higher than the retail prices on Amazon. As for the remaining 10% of products, the prices are slightly lower than the prevailing rates on Amazon.
- DealXtreme
DX is a Chinese business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce website similar to AliExpress. It started in 2005. Like AliExpress, the shipping time on DX can be lengthy, particularly when choosing economical shipping methods such as postal services.
Unlike some other platforms, DX does not have a specialized dropshipping program. To dropship through DX, register a regular account and provide your customers with accurate shipping addresses. Then, your supplier will ship the items directly to your customers on your behalf. All packages sent by DX do not display the DX logo or any identifying information related to DX.com.
Before initiating dropshipping through DX, it is advisable to carefully review their Returns & Warranty terms to ensure a smoother business operation.
Additionally, DX also offers a wholesale option. To access this, you can fill out the provided form and negotiate with the seller to obtain a lower wholesale price.
- Banggood
Banggood, founded in 2006 and headquartered in Guangzhou, China, specializes in business-to-consumer (B2C) cross-border export e-commerce. It has established itself as an online hub for clothing, bags & luggage, and accessories. Therefore, if you want products within these niches, you can explore Banggood to find direct manufacturers.
Notably, Banggood offers an independent dropshipping program. To participate, you can apply for a dropshipping customer account and select the products you wish to sell. Banggood boasts 37 overseas warehouses that cover various regions worldwide. Check for a Banggood warehouse located in your country if you desire to reduce delivery times. Familiarize yourself with Banggood’s guarantees and return policy for further information.
Like DealXtreme, you can submit a wholesale inquiry on Banggood if you need bulk products.
- Kole Imports
It is based in Carson, CA, is a well-established wholesale website in the United States that has been operating for over 30 years. As one of the largest direct importers of general merchandise, it offers many products, including apparel, fashion accessories, automotive supplies, toys, and pet supplies.
In addition to wholesale services, Kole Imports also provides a dropshipping program. To access this program, register for a free account on their website.
What sets Kole Imports apart is its involvement in selling closeout products. In addition to wholesale and dropshipping, they offer reselling services for overstock items, excess inventories, and closeout products from third-party individuals and companies. It may be worth checking their selection of dynamic closeout products to see if any items catch your interest.
- Worldwide Brands
Worldwide Brands is a wholesale and dropship website catering to home businesses and internet retailers. Its key feature is providing customers with direct access to manufacturers that are 100% certified.
The platform offers various search options, allowing users to search for products by name, type, brand, category, or state or city. There is an option to submit a product request for unavailable items, and the platform will actively work on locating the appropriate wholesaler for that specific product.
Worldwide Brands offers iPhone and Android apps, facilitating easy business operations through the platform.
However, to access the services provided by Worldwide Brands, individuals need to become members by paying a subscription fee. This fee is approximately $274 and grants lifetime access to the platform.
- Sourcing Map
SourcingMap is a wholesale platform based in Hong Kong. It started in 2004. Its product categories encompass car equipment & accessories, home & kitchen tools, hardware, and stationery items. SourcingMap also operates a dedicated dropshipping program tailored for small businesses.
However, despite SourcingMap’s claim of having a business history of over 10 years, its website appears inadequately maintained. During our exploration, we encountered several product links that led to out-of-stock items. It indicates that they do not update the information on their website frequently enough.
- SaleHoo
SaleHoo is an online wholesale marketplace based in New Zealand, established in 2005. However, it distinguishes itself from other wholesale websites in a significant way. Instead of directly offering listed products, SaleHoo operates as a wholesale directory that requires a yearly subscription fee of $67 (or $127 for a lifetime membership). By subscribing to the SaleHoo Directory, users can access their extensive supplier database and market research tools.
In addition to the wholesale directory, SaleHoo offers two other core services: dropshipping and e-commerce training courses. For drop shipping, users pay a subscription fee on either a monthly or annual basis. These fees grant access to the dropshipping service provided by SaleHoo.
- TVCMall
It is an e-commerce platform specializing in wholesale cell phone accessories across international borders. The website started in 2008, and in 2016, they implemented an automated warehouse management system. TVCMall has garnered a substantial user base, with over 1.5 million registered users.
Headquartered in Shenzhen, China, TVCMall benefits from being located in a region known for hosting China’s most efficient and comprehensive electronics supply chain. Consequently, the electronic products on TVCMall may offer competitive pricing compared to similar items found on AliExpress.
When browsing product pages on TVCMall, you will find a price match table to compare the listed product prices within specified purchasing volume ranges with prices on other wholesale websites. This feature enables you to assess and identify the most cost-effective wholesale channel for your specific requirements.
- Lightake
It is an online B2C store based in China, specializing in various toy categories such as magic cubes, tactical apparel, educational toys, jigsaw puzzles, and building blocks. If your business revolves around these product categories, Lightake offers the opportunity to discover the latest models at competitive prices.
Furthermore, Lightake also provides dropshipping services. They offer unlimited dropshipping for orders valued below $50. However, for orders exceeding $50 in value, it is recommended to contact Lightake to inquire about qualification requirements and availability for dropshipping services.
- Geekbuying,
As suggested by its name, focuses on various product categories, including sports and outdoors, consumer electronics, computers and phones, wearable devices, and automobile accessories. In terms of business model, Geekbuying operates similarly to AliExpress, catering to retail customers and offering bulk purchases at discounted wholesale prices.
If you require customization or labeling of the products purchased from Geekbuying, they also provide relevant services to accommodate such needs.
Moreover, Geekbuying offers dropshipping services with discounts ranging from 1% to 5% based on order amounts. The large your order amount, the greater the rebate you can receive. Additionally, it is possible to negotiate directly with their customer service representatives for further price reductions.
- Tomtop
specializes in pet suppliers and accessories, although they also offer daily-use products in various categories. They started in 2004 and have built a reputable presence among suppliers on Alibaba.
Tomtop provides a dropshipping program through a partnership with Quarkscm.com. To access this program, sign in to your account on Quarkscm.com. If you wish to engage in dropshipping through this channel, it is essential to maintain a sufficient account balance to cover the costs of your orders.
- Gearbest
It is a wholesale website based in China specializing in electronic products, including mobile devices, smart wearable devices, and various electronic accessories. It is a significant potential competitor to AliExpress.
One notable aspect of Gearbest is its complete shipping and quality inspection process. They ship the goods available from their local warehouses located worldwide. They have established warehouses in Germany, Belgium, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, the USA, Australia, Japan, the Czech Republic, Russia, and the UK. Users can set their default location to any of these countries or regions.
Regarding dropshipping, Gearbest does not officially provide a specific program for it. Consequently, it may not be considered a particularly dropshipping-friendly marketplace. However, you can explore the possibility of submitting a wholesale inquiry to the seller and exploring alternative channels to facilitate the process if you want to dropship on Gearbest.
- Printful
It stands out among the websites mentioned in this article due to its unique focus on creativity and customization. It is a dropshipping website specializing in printable products or items that people can personalize with printable content, such as t-shirts, hats, posters, and similar items.
The name “Printful” is derived from the combination of “print” and “fulfillment.” With seven fulfillment centers strategically located in North Carolina, California, Mexico, Canada, Spain, and Latvia, Printful excels in dropshipping services for customized products.
If you have a design that you wish to bring to life or a business concept that involves printable items, Printful may be the ideal platform for you to explore and utilize.
With extensive experience spanning several decades, Pet Stores USA has emerged as a prominent wholesaler and provider of dropshipping services within the pet industry in the United States.
- Pet Stores
USA operates solely as a wholesale platform, emphasizing that they do not offer any products for retail sale to avoid competing with their retail partners. Their product categories are according to different types of pets, including birds, cats, dogs, and fish.
To initiate dropshipping on Pet Stores USA, interested individuals must complete a contact form on the website and await further communication from the company to finalize the sign-up process. Alternatively, they can make direct phone contact during their designated business hours.
- Chinabrands
It is widely recognized as one of the most popular platforms for dropshipping and wholesale worldwide. One of its notable advantages is the extensive range of Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) available on the website, accompanied by competitive prices catering to the needs of small business owners.
However, there is room for improvement in Chinabrands’ shipping and after-sales services, as several users have expressed dissatisfaction with shipping delays and subpar customer support.
Therefore, exercise caution when selecting products on Chinabrands by confirming with the supplier that sufficient stock is available and ensuring that the shipping process will proceed smoothly without encountering significant issues.
- Yaaku
It is a Chinese website specializing in wholesale and retail fashion clothing. It offers a range of products, including dresses, T-shirts, skirts, sweaters, pants, underwear, jackets, coats, and other trendy clothing items. If you want to purchase clothing in large quantities, Yaaku can serve as a viable alternative to AliExpress.
One of Yaaku’s notable features is its affordable pricing. Most of the products listed on the website are just a few dollars per unit. However, contact their customer service team to negotiate a lower wholesale price than the unit price displayed on the product page if you plan to place a larger order exceeding $1,000.
Yaaku also supports dropshipping, although they do not have a specific webpage providing detailed information. Therefore, communicate with their customer service team to clarify and finalize all the necessary details before initiating the dropshipping process.
- BrandsDistribution
It is an online B2B marketplace focusing on clothing and fashion accessories. Established in 2006, it differs significantly from the clothing-oriented wholesale website, Yaaku. BrandsDistribution predominantly offers branded clothing, shoes, and high-end fashion products like watches and sunglasses.
With over 120 fashion brands, BrandsDistribution provides wholesale and dropshipping services to its customers. You must complete a request form that includes details about your business, the specific brand you want, your annual purchase budget, and other relevant personal information if you are interested in bulk purchases. For drop shipping, BrandsDistribution offers a unique, self-developed system known as BDroppy, which provides customers with a comprehensive turnkey dropshipping solution.
- Wholesale2B
It is part of a software development company specializing in drop shipping. This unique background allows Wholesale2B to offer distinct advantages for the technical aspects of dropshipping. They provide features to streamline your business operations, including inventory tracking, order management, and site-building capabilities.
However, it appears that the customer service provided by Wholesale2B has received mixed reviews from users. People can reach customer support through email or a live chat channel, and their availability is limited to their working hours.
Wholesale2B offers a range of service plans to cater to the needs of different customers. You must select and pay for one of these plans to dropship. While it is possible to register a free account, its functionality is quite limited, allowing you only to browse the listed products without any capabilities.
- DHgate
It is an established online marketplace operating in B2B and B2C segments, with its roots in China. As one of the earliest e-commerce platforms, DHgate competes directly with AliExpress and follows a similar business model.
The name “DHgate” is derived from the gate of Dunhuang, an ancient Chinese city that served as a crucial link between China and the rest of the world. With a vast network of over 2.2 million sellers, DHgate has expanded its market reach to encompass more than 200 countries and regions worldwide.
For drop shipping, DHgate provides a dedicated platform called MyyShop. The dropshipping page on the DHgate website offers a user-friendly tutorial that guides you through starting your dropshipping business. You can initiate and manage your dropshipping operations by logging into MyyShop with your DHgate account.
- Global Sources
An established B2B marketplace in Asia, is one of the oldest and largest platforms. Present globally, it boasts a vast network of over 1.5 million buyers across more than 240 countries and regions.
The stated mission of Global Sources, as outlined on their website, is to connect high-quality buyers and suppliers worldwide by providing them with the correct information at the right time and through the proper channels. This commitment suggests their dedication to ensuring their services and products are easily accessible to potential users. However, it is worth noting that Global Sources may not be the most accommodating platform for small businesses looking for dropshipping opportunities.
On Global Sources, products are not readily available for direct access. Instead, interested buyers must submit inquiries for each specific product.
- Sprocket
It is a dropshipping platform with operations in the US and EU. It focuses on various product categories, including clothing, jewelry, automotive, home & garden, and gifts. Spocket offers convenient dropshipping plugins that integrate with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Aliscraper.
To cater to different drop shippers’ needs, Spocket provides various subscription plans. If you opt for monthly payments, there are three options. Starter plan for $24 per month, the Pro plan for $49, and the Empire plan for $99. For annual payments, the available plans are the Pro plan for $29 per month, the Empire plan for $59, and the Unicorn plan for $115. Each grants access to a specific range of products. Spocket offers a free scheme allowing users to browse its product catalog without charge.
Over to you
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FAQs:
Which country sells best from AliExpress?
China sells best from AliExpress.
Is AliExpress now Alibaba?
AliExpress and Alibaba are both part of the Alibaba Group, but they are separate platforms. AliExpress is a global online retail marketplace that allows consumers to purchase products directly from sellers. Alibaba.com is a business-to-business (B2B) platform primarily to source bulk products from manufacturers and wholesalers.
Is it safe to buy from Alibaba in the USA?
Yes, it is generally safe to buy from Alibaba in the USA. However, as with any online marketplace, exercise caution and research the sellers and products before purchasing. Choose reputable suppliers, read customer reviews, and communicate directly with the sellers to ensure reliability and quality.
Is it illegal to sell from Alibaba on Amazon?
No, it is not illegal to sell products sourced from Alibaba on Amazon.
Can I dropship from DHGate?
Yes, you can dropship from DHgate through their dropshipping platform called MyyShop.
