When it comes to finding the best deals online, Chinese e-commerce platforms are the first choice that comes to mind for many of us. However, with so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to decide which one to trust. Three of the most popular options for many people are DHgate, AliExpress, and Temu.
In this guide, I’ll help you determine which one suits your needs best. I will compare their product selection, buyer protection, shipping speeds, and legitimacy. Also, how they stack up against each other. So, let’s dive in.
DHgate – The Wholesale & Dropshipping Hub
Let’s start with the oldest one on our list, DHgate. It is a Chinese e-commerce platform launched in 2004 and known for its wholesale model. The platform serves as a B2B and B2C marketplace that connects businesses and individual buyers with Chinese manufacturers and suppliers. This is why it is popular among dropshippers and those who purchase in bulk.
DHgate is different from platforms like AliExpress; it facilitates negotiations for bulk discounts. In terms of products, the platform offers a wide range of selections (almost over 30 million products across 26 categories). From electronics and fashion to home goods and accessories at low prices.
Not only at low prices, but it also offers promo codes to help you save even more and encourage you to shop. If you are wondering where to find these promo codes, don’t worry. Here is a dedicated page that offers the latest DHgate promo codes for April 17, 2025. However, keep in mind that while prices are very affordable on DHgate, the quality of the products also varies significantly from one seller to another.
The shipping times take about 5 to 14 days if you pick air freight as a shipping method. 30 to 40 days if you choose sea freight, and about 3 to 5 days if you choose express shipping. Shipping times are generally longer unless you choose fast options.
In terms of protection, the company acts as a trusted third party between the buyer and the seller with its escrow system. If you are wondering how this system works, simply put, it holds the funds until you confirm as a buyer that you received your order, which protects you as a buyer.
One of the most asked questions about DHgate is its legitimacy. When it comes to that, the platform itself is legit. However, its wholesale business model increases counterfeit risk compared to AliExpress and Temu.
While DHgate offers the escrow system service to protect you, it is still important to be cautious when purchasing. Check the seller ratings and reviews to avoid scams. Read this detailed guide to get a full picture of most of the questions about whether DHgate is legit or a scam.
AliExpress – The Global Shopping Giant
AliExpress is one of the big marketplaces in China that caters to individual buyers rather than wholesale businesses. Although it launched lately in 2010, it is more popular than DHgate. The platform receives over 600 million visitors, compared to over 17 million for DHgate. And one of the reasons behind that is that it is part of the Alibaba Group.
Due to its B2C model, the company attracts shoppers who look for budget-friendly deals. The company hosts almost over 100 million products across different categories at affordable prices. Besides the low prices provided, AliExpress understands the power of coupon codes when it comes to marketing, so it provides its users with additional discounts after applying its coupon codes. You can find these AliExpress coupon codes listed here on this dedicated page.
AliExpress is different from a platform like Temu. It is a third-party marketplace where sellers and businesses list their products. The marketplace provides a strong buyer protection system that allows you to get a refund if your order is not as described or does not arrive.
The shipping times for AliExpress vary, but in most cases, it takes from 10 to 45 days. The standard shipping it offers is more reliable often than the free shipping provided by its competitor, DHgate. In recent years, AliExperss has expanded its local warehouses in Europe, the United States, and other regions, which allows it to ship the selected items even faster.
In terms of legitimacy, AliExpress is considered a safe-to-use platform. However, like any marketplace online that hosts third-party sellers, it does not have the most control over them. So, the probability of finding counterfeit or low-quality products exists, mostly in categories like electronics, branded fashion, and cosmetics. However, AliExpress is fighting back against these counterfeit sellers.
It enforces strict policies to protect buyers, like providing full refunds if you didn’t receive your order or if it is not as described. For buyers to shop safely, it is recommended to buy from well-rated sellers. To find these sellers, make sure to check their ratings, reviews, and product descriptions carefully. When you decide to purchase, use payment methods like PayPal if it is available.
Overall, AliExpress is a trustworthy and affordable marketplace. But if you are still curious about it, I recommend you read this blog post about whether AliExpress is a legitimate company.
Temu – The Budget-Friendly Challenger
Temu is the new player here. It was launched in September 2022 by its parent company, PDD Holdings, the parent company of its sister Pinduoduo. The key difference between Temu and its competitors, AliExpress and DHgat, is that it does not rely on third-party sellers.
It operates under a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model. This means it skips the middlemen by partnering directly with manufacturers so they can keep costs low and allow for bulk purchasing. Because of this, Temu is able to offer some of the cheapest prices, often undercutting AliExpress and DHgate on similar products.
The company regularly offers significant discounts by combining the automatically applied offers across their store, besides extra discounts that come in the form of discount codes for shoppers. I have collected and listed all these Temu discount codes here on this page to help you get the best prices possible. Check it now.
Temu also offers a wide and affordable selection of products (almost over 10 million) in different categories. But we can say that its biggest advantage is the free shipping that is offered with no minimum purchase required and on almost all orders. This is what made it stand out very fast to become a favorite destination among budget-conscious shoppers. Not only that, it has a strong focus on gamification, which features flash deals and referral discounts.
For shipping, Temu offers free standard shipping on All orders, which takes from 6 to 22 days to arrive. Also, it offers a faster option, which is express shipping that takes around 4 to 11 days. It is free if your order is over $129 and costs you $12.90 if the order’s total price is less.
Temu is a fully legitimate platform. However, as a buyer, you should be aware of any potential downsides. There are some concerns raised about product quality, data privacy, and shipping times. Some buyers report that the quality of products was lower compared to what’s advertised. But let’s be honest: if you’re after low prices, expect longer shipping times and varied product quality.
When it comes to privacy, Temu has faced controversy around its extensive data collection practices. Temu, on her side, makes up for these concerns by providing a 90-day buyer protection guarantee, hassle-free returns, and full refunds. If you want to know more about Temu, here is a well-detailed review of Temu’s legitimacy, controversy, and more.
Comparing DHgate, AliExpress, and Temu
Now after I covered the basics of each platform, let’s compare them so you can decide which one fits your needs more.
Temu vs. DHgate: Which One Is Better?
Actually, it is hard to decide which platform here is better because each one is different from the other. Temu, as I said above, is a direct-to-consumer site that cuts middlemen, which means buying directly from manufacturers at the end extremely low prices besides free shipping.
On the other side, DHgate is a wholesale marketplace where you can connect with third-party suppliers. It offers a wider selection of products (almost over 30 million) compared to 10 million in Temu. Also, it facilitates negotiations with sellers, which can lead to better deals if you’re willing to ask.
So, in the end, the decision is up to you. If you’re after the lowest prices and free shipping, Temu is the suitable choice. However, if you are a dropshipper, or you need bulk discounts, DHgate is a suitable option. To read a detailed comparison of these two platforms, read this Temu vs. DHgate blog post.
Temu vs. AliExpress: Which Is Cheaper and Safer?
Both platforms here target shoppers who are looking for affordable prices. However, each platform has its own specific approach. Temu is the newest platform here that offers lower prices due to its direct partnerships with manufacturers.
While AliExpress sellers set their prices, which can lead to higher costs compared to Temu. However, in contrast, AliExpress has a strong buyer protection system that adds a layer of protection to your shopping. Besides that, it offers more options in terms of fast shipping, and a wider selection of products, and is also better for those interested in dropshipping.
Also, here I will say it is totally up to you. Temu, as I said above, is better for affordability and free shipping on all orders. But AliExpress wins here when it comes to trust, wider selection, and dropshipping options. Read this full comparison of Temu vs. AliExpress for more information.
DHgate vs. AliExpress: A Detailed Breakdown
When it comes to DHgate and AliExpress, they are most comparable. Both of them operate as third-party marketplaces, while Temu operates as a direct-to-consumer platform. So, let’s start by examining their product selection.
- Product Selection: When it comes to products, DHgate hosts almost over 30 million products, mostly from sellers in China. It is considered somewhat smaller compared to AliExpress, which hosts almost 100 million products. However, as I mentioned above, DHgate focuses more on wholesale and bulk orders, while the wider range of products on AliExpress is aimed at individual consumers.
- Pricing: DHgate is known for very competitive pricing, however, for bulk buyers. AliExpress also offers competitive prices, but mostly for individual purchases, which makes it ideal for individual consumers.
- Buyer Protection: On this side, DHgate has a special service called escrow service, “which makes the company act as a trusted third party between you and the sellers. As I said above, it protects you by holding the funds until you confirm that you received your order. AliExpress also has stronger buyer protection that guarantees delivery dates and refunds.
- Counterfeit Risk: In terms of counterfeit risks, both platforms carry them actually. Don’t be surprised; it is a general challenge with marketplaces online. Since these two platforms are marketplaces, they allow sellers to list their products. This makes it difficult to guarantee the authenticity of every single item, especially since they deal with many suppliers. A lot of them are smaller or less established. So, in the end, it is your mission. Look for good sellers before purchasing by reading reviews and checking ratings.
- Shipping Speed: The shipping when it comes to AliExpress can be considered faster thanks to local warehouses in Europe and the US. However, for DHgate, it varies depending on the chosen method. Express shipping is faster but also more expensive for DHgate.
The decision is yours now. If you’re looking for individual purchases along with strong protection, AliExpress is the better option. But if you’re looking for wholesale deals, or you are a reseller DHgate is the suitable choice in this case.
Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Choose?
Choosing between DHgate, AliExpress, and Temu can be overwhelming. However, you can decide which one is suitable if you consider your preferences. Consider using DHgate if you need wholesale pricing, dropshipping options, or bulk orders.
AliExpress will be perfect if you prefer affordable prices, strong buyer protection, and a huge selection of products. And if you are after ultra-low prices and free shipping, choose Temu. But keep in mind that each of these platforms has its weaknesses also. So, the best option will depend on what you value most—price, protection, or bulk discounts.
Zouhair is a freelance writer, designer, and the founder of Couponfyi.com. He created this platform in 2023 to help online shoppers make the most of their hard-earned cash. Starting from smart shopping tips and honest reviews to the latest coupon codes & offers, Zouhair shares the best value to help others grow their savings. Before creating his business, he spent five years in logo design and marketing, helping businesses build their brands. Zouhair lives in Morocco.
