It is hard to pick between AliExpress and Amazon, right? Both online stores are big, but they work differently. AliExpress has cheap items from all over the world, while Amazon is fast and trustworthy. In this 2025 guide, I will compare their prices, shipping, item quality, help for buyers, ease of use, payment choices, deals, safety, and more. This way, you will be able to choose the best marketplace to shop from, whether you love low prices, sell items, or need things quickly. So, let’s dive in.
What is AliExpress?
AliExpress is a Chinese company owned by the Alibaba Group. Since its start in 2010, it has grown quickly to be a large marketplace where you can buy directly from sellers, mostly in China and other countries. AliExpress is known for low prices and unique products, making it popular worldwide, especially for budget shoppers.
What is Amazon?
Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 in the United States, started selling books but now offers almost everything, from electronics to clothes. Amazon sells its own products and lets other sellers use its platform. It’s famous for fast delivery and great customer service, especially in North America and Europe.
Prices: Where Are the Best Deals?
AliExpress is famous for low prices because it sells items straight from makers, mostly in China. For example, a phone case might cost $3–$5 on AliExpress but $8–$15 on Amazon. AliExpress has big sales like 618 and Double 11 with coupons, which are great for saving money. But buyers from other countries might pay extra for taxes.
Amazon’s prices are usually higher, but it offers great deals during events like Prime Day or Black Friday. You can join Amazon Prime, which costs $139 a year, to get free shipping on tons of items, which helps if you shop a lot. It also includes extras like movie streaming and more benefits. Here is an ultimate guide to learn how to maximize your savings on Amazon.
| Item | AliExpress Price | Amazon Price |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Case | $3–$5 | $8–$15 |
| Wireless Earbuds | $10–$30 | $25–$80 |
| T-Shirt | $5–$12 | $15–$25 |
Winner: AliExpress for cheap prices; Amazon for deals with fast shipping.
Shipping: Fast or Cheap?
AliExpress shipping is better in 2025, taking 15–25 days for items to arrive from other countries. Free or cheap shipping is common, but faster options like ePacket (15–20 days) or DHL cost more. Shipping prices depend on where you live—$1–$3 for local orders, over $3 for faraway places.
Amazon is super fast, delivering in 1–2 days with Prime or even the same day in some places. Without Prime, shipping takes 5–10 days and costs $4.99–$8.99 for faraway orders. Prime’s free 2-day shipping works for millions of items in the U.S..
| Store | Shipping Cost | Delivery Time |
|---|---|---|
| AliExpress | Free–$10 | 15–25 days |
| Amazon (Prime) | Free with membership | 1–2 days |
| Amazon (No Prime) | $4.99–$8.99 | 5–10 days |
Winner: Amazon for fast shipping; AliExpress for cheap shipping.
Item Quality and Choices
AliExpress has lots of items, like special Chinese crafts, gadgets, and clothes. But quality can be hit-or-miss, and fake items are a risk. You need to check seller reviews and ratings (95% or higher).
Help for Buyers and Returns
AliExpress has a help system where you can send a message or use live chat 24/7, but it’s slower. They protect buyers if items don’t arrive or are broken, with refunds in 5–10 days. Free returns work within 15 days if the item is perfect and in its box.
Amazon offers help 24/7 by phone, email, or chat. They fix problems fast, and refunds come in less than 3–7 days, often in 24–48 hours. Returns are free within 30 days, but you might pay shipping for items you just don’t want.
Avoid risky practices—check >> Amazon Refund Trick: Why You Should Avoid
| Part | AliExpress | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Help | Messages, live chat 24/7 | Phone, email, chat 24/7 |
| Refund Time | 5–10 days | <3–7 days, often 24–48 hours |
| Protection | No delivery, not as shown | No delivery, not as shown, not happy |
Winner: Amazon for quick help; AliExpress is okay if you wait.
Buyer Protection
Both stores keep buyers safe, but they do it differently.
AliExpress: Has a strong protection plan for items that don’t arrive, are broken, or aren’t what was shown. You can start a complaint within 15 days of getting the item, and AliExpress helps solve it. Refunds take 5–10 days if you win the complaint. You need proof, like photos or videos.
Amazon: The A-to-Z Guarantee covers items that don’t arrive, are broken, or aren’t right. Amazon usually helps buyers fast, giving refunds in less than 3–7 days, often in 24–48 hours. You can even return items if you change your mind.
Winner: Amazon for fast, easy protection; AliExpress is good but slower.
AliExpress vs. Amazon: Ease of Use
AliExpress: The website and app are easy to use with a search bar, filters, and categories. But there are so many items that it can feel messy. Tools like wish lists and tracking help, but the design isn’t perfect. Some sellers use different languages, which can be tricky.
Read Also >> AliExpress vs. DHgate vs. Temu: Which One Is Best for You?
Amazon: Has a super-easy website and app. You can find items fast, get suggestions, and buy with one click. The search works great, and filters are simple. The app has cool features like voice search and scanning barcodes.
Winner: Amazon for easy shopping; AliExpress is okay, but busier.
Payment Choices
AliExpress: Takes many payments, like credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard), PayPal (in some places), AliPay, and mobile payments like Apple Pay or Google Pay. It also works with local payments in different countries.
Amazon: Takes credit/debit cards, Amazon Pay, and gift cards. It doesn’t take PayPal, which some people don’t like. Amazon Pay lets you pay on other websites with your Amazon account.
| Payment | AliExpress | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Credit/Debit Cards | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes (some places) | No |
| Digital Wallets | AliPay, Apple Pay, Google Pay | Amazon Pay |
| Other | Local payments (e.g., iDEAL, Sofort) | Gift cards |
Winner: AliExpress for more choices, including PayPal; Amazon for easy Amazon Pay.
Deals and Coupons
AliExpress: Has big sales like 618 and Double 11, with huge discounts, quick deals, and coupons. New buyers or app users often get extra savings. Quick deals can cut prices by up to 70%, but you have to act fast. Grab the latest verified AliExpress promo codes for April 25, 2025 for more savings.
Amazon: Holds sales like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, with special deals for Prime members. Quick deals give short-time discounts, and coupons work on some items. Prime members get early deal access. Use these latest verified Amazon promo codes for April 25, 2025 to secure the best prices.
Winner: AliExpress for lots of big discounts; Amazon for Prime deals.
Trust and Safety
AliExpress: Is safer now with better seller checks, but fake items can still happen, especially for brand-name stuff. Always check seller ratings (95%+), read reviews, and use protection. Record opening your package for proof.
For more on safety, see >> Is AliExpress Legit? A Guide for Savvy Shoppers
Amazon: Has strict seller rules and a program called Project Zero to stop fake items. Its reviews are very helpful, and Amazon’s Choice shows trusted items. It follows laws in places like the U.S. and Europe, making it safer.
Winner: Amazon for better safety; AliExpress is safer but still risky.
Good and Bad Points
| Store | Good Points | Bad Points |
|---|---|---|
| AliExpress | Cheap prices, special items, many payment choices, lots of deals | Slow shipping (15–25 days), uneven quality, slow help |
| Amazon | Fast shipping, good quality, great help, Prime extras | Higher prices, no PayPal, Prime costs ($139/year) |
For Sellers: AliExpress vs. Amazon
Dropshippers: AliExpress is great for cheap items and has no starting fees, perfect for small businesses or new sellers. Tools like AliTools help find good items, but you handle shipping and problems yourself.
Read Also >> AliExpress vs. Temu: Which Is Cheaper and Safer?
Small Business Owners: Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) makes selling easy by handling shipping, but fees are 8–15% per sale. In 2025, Amazon gives new sellers free fees for new items and free shipping for the first 100 items (from December 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025). The Brand Registry helps bigger sellers.
Winner: AliExpress for cheap selling; Amazon for easy selling with extras.
Where They’re Popular
Amazon is the biggest in North America and Western Europe because of fast shipping and trust, with 37.6% of U.S. online sales in 2024.
AliExpress is popular in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, where people love cheap items, getting 1.02 billion visits in December 2024.
Tips for Safe Shopping
On AliExpress:
- Pick sellers with 95%+ ratings and lots of orders.
- Look at reviews and buyer photos to see the real item.
- Record opening your package for proof if there’s a problem.
On Amazon:
- Use Prime for free, fast shipping.
- Check for “Amazon’s Choice” for good items.
- Compare prices with AliExpress to save money.
FAQs
Yes, AliExpress has lower prices, with items as low as $1, especially during sales like Double 11. Amazon’s deals and Prime can be a better value.
Amazon delivers in 1–7 days, often 2 days with Prime. AliExpress takes 15–25 days for faraway orders.
Yes, if you pick sellers with 95%+ ratings and use buyer protection. Record opening packages for complaints.
AliExpress is cheap for starting out. Amazon’s FBA is good for bigger sellers, with 2025 extras making it better.
Amazon’s A-to-Z Guarantee is fast and easy. AliExpress’s protection is good, but it takes longer.Is AliExpress cheaper than Amazon?
Which store is faster for shipping?
Is AliExpress safe to shop?
Which is better for dropshipping?
Which has better buyer protection?
Conclusion
AliExpress and Amazon are great for different things in 2025. For cheap prices, special items, and lots of payment choices, AliExpress is best if you can wait 15–25 days for shipping. For fast shipping, good quality, and great help, Amazon is awesome, especially with Prime’s $139 yearly fee. Check prices, read reviews, and think about what you want—cheap or fast—to pick the right store. Shop AliExpress for cheap deals or Amazon for fast shipping today.
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.
