AliExpress is an established marketplace with longer shipping times but wider product selection and buyer protection, while Temu is a newer social commerce platform offering ultra-low prices and faster delivery through aggressive logistics but with stricter quality control concerns. AliExpress suits bulk buyers and niche products, while Temu appeals to budget-conscious consumers seeking trendy items quickly.
AliExpress vs Temu — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Chinese B2C marketplace specializing in direct-to-consumer sales with millions of small businesses.
Chinese e-commerce app offering ultra-discounted items shipped directly from Asia with minimal middleman costs.
Platform Age & Establishment. Average Shipping Time. Price Positioning. Buyer Protection. Product Categories. User Base. Quality Control Standards. Mobile Commerce Focus
Both platforms serve different shopping philosophies: AliExpress excels for those seeking variety, bulk purchases, and established buyer protections with patience for longer shipping, while Temu dominates in price-conscious, trend-driven, and impulse shopping with rapid delivery. Choice depends on priorities—AliExpress for reliability and selection, Temu for speed and ultra-low prices, though users should verify product authenticity on both platforms.
AliExpress: 15-45 days | Temu: 7-14 days
AliExpress: 500M+ listings | Temu: 50M+ listings
AliExpress: Strong escrow system | Temu: Limited coverage
AliExpress: 30-90 days | Temu: 7-30 days
AliExpress: 200+ million | Temu: 50+ million
AliExpress: 60 days | Temu: Case-by-case
AliExpress: 20-45 days | Temu: 30-60 days
AliExpress: 60 million | Temu: 150+ million
AliExpress: 10-15 days | Temu: 15-30 days
AliExpress: Moderate (Alibaba oversight) | Temu: High (FTC/EU investigations)
AliExpress: Transparent ratings (1-5 stars) | Temu: Minimal transparency
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: Variable (2-4 stars)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: Minimal oversight
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: Electronics, gadgets, home goods
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: Temu 620 million
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 7-15 days (varies)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 12+ main categories
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: Free (optional coins)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: Limited oversight, mostly China-based
Average Product Price Index (baseline=100)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: FTC Investigation (2024)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 14-day dispute window with store credit only
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 0 days (no returns)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: Non-compliant, Chinese data collection
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 60-65% positive reviews
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 22.5 days (15-30 range)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 35+ major categories
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: Ongoing (flagged 2024)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 2.4 stars (based on 1.8M reviews)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 7 days (severely limited; most items non-returnable)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 2 years (founded 2022)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 8+ categories (fashion, electronics, home, beauty, sports, gadgets, pets, food)
Estimated Price Savings vs Traditional Retail
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: No limit (typically $100+)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 30-50% dispute win rate
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 100+ million global
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 3/10 (data harvesting concerns)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 1000+ categories
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: ~3 years (major expansion)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 72% (all categories)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: Electronics, toys, home goods, apparel, gadgets (20+ categories)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 30-60% vs traditional retail
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 30 days (limited)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: $8 billion (est.)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: China-based, banned in US/EU countries, privacy concerns
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 21 days (average)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 7-14 days (disputed)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: 180 (per Reddit/Trustpilot analysis)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: $0 (always free)
AliExpress: N/A | Temu: High (U.S. Treasury ban threat as of 2024)
How to choose between AliExpress and Temu
AliExpress vs Temu — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for AliExpress vs Temu. Contains 106 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
AliExpress vs Temu — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for AliExpress vs Temu.
AliExpress offers superior buyer protection with its established escrow system, dispute resolution, and seller ratings spanning 16 years. Temu has improved its protection mechanisms but remains newer; both platforms carry inherent risks with international sellers. For maximum security, AliExpress is the safer choice, though both require verification of seller credentials.
How much faster is Temu compared to AliExpress?
Temu typically delivers within 7-14 days compared to AliExpress's 15-45 days—a 2-4x speed advantage. Temu uses optimized logistics networks with pre-positioned inventory in distribution centers worldwide, while AliExpress often ships direct from China. Temu's speed is a primary competitive advantage but comes with premium logistics costs absorbed by their aggressive pricing model.
Are products cheaper on Temu or AliExpress?
Temu generally offers lower prices, with items ranging $0.99-$15 versus AliExpress's $2-$50 average. Temu uses loss-leader pricing and volume strategies to attract users, while AliExpress balances pricing with sustainability. However, price comparisons show significant overlap; both offer competitive deals on specific products, so direct comparison is recommended.
What types of products should I buy from each?
Buy niche, specialized, or bulk items from AliExpress (electronics components, industrial supplies, rare items). Choose Temu for trendy gadgets, fashion, home décor, and impulse buys. AliExpress excels with 500M+ listings across all categories, while Temu curates 50M+ trending items, making each optimal for different shopping needs.
Do both platforms operate in my country?
AliExpress operates in 200+ countries and regions with established customs handling. Temu expanded to 70+ countries as of 2026 but faces regulatory restrictions in some markets (EU, parts of Asia). Check local availability and import regulations, as both may have restrictions on certain product categories or face tariffs depending on your location.
How to Choose Between AliExpress and Temu
Platform Age & Establishment: AliExpress has Founded 2010, 20+ million sellers, while Temu has Founded 2018, 600K+ sellers.
Average Shipping Time: AliExpress has 15-45 days standard, while Temu has 7-14 days expedited.
Price Positioning: AliExpress has Budget-friendly, competitive, while Temu has Ultra-low, loss-leader pricing.
Buyer Protection: AliExpress has Strong escrow, dispute resolution, while Temu has Limited, platform-dependent.
Product Categories: AliExpress has 500M+ products across all categories, while Temu has 50M+ products, trending focus.
User Base: AliExpress has 150M+ monthly active users, while Temu has 400M+ monthly active users.
Quality Control Standards: AliExpress has Seller-dependent, variable quality, while Temu has Curated selection, stricter vetting.
Mobile Commerce Focus: AliExpress has Browser & app balanced, while Temu has App-first, social features integrated.