Temu Vs Shein Vs AliExpress: Which One Is Better For You? [2024]

Today, it is super easy to find the best deal available for your favorite item across online stores – where you often get free shipping, millions of products to explore, unique items to check out, great deals throughout the year, and the lowest prices. 

However, we still have many consumers who want to stick to one online store that can help them with all their regular shopping needs, instead of moving from one store to another every time.

So, we have several users comparing Temu, Shein, and AliExpress to see which is the better option – and if you’re one of them, then just continue reading because this article includes an unbiased comparison battle between Temu Vs Shein Vs AliExpress. 

Temu Vs Shein Vs AliExpress: Overview 

Temu

Temu is one of the leading online marketplaces established by a Chinese e-commerce company, PDD Holdings. It is known for offering heavily discounted goods from various categories – mainly covering your regular needs.

Additionally, it is also chock full of great deals available all the time of the year, and if that was not enough – then it also offers referral programs, contests, and more fun ways to save extra on your purchases. 

Shein

Shein is a well-known fast fashion retailer, operating in many prominent countries across the globe, and yet another brand founded in China. It is mainly focused on women’s clothing and fashion – offering a good variety of categories to explore.

Moreover, Shein is popular for some of the greatest deals available under the fashion category overall, and while the prices are reasonable, Shein is also one of the first brands to bring in new styles and trends in the industry. 

AliExpress

AliExpress is an online retail service, and as you might have already guessed, its origin is in China. It combines several small businesses from China and some other locations, including Singapore to offer cheap products to international buyers.

Furthermore, AliExpress is probably the oldest brand among the three, has a customer base of millions, and covers almost every category you can think of, for regular lifestyle as well as occasions. 

Product Range

Temu

Temu is your one-stop destination for cheap items across a big list of departments, that includes anything and everything you are looking for in your daily life.

Whether you are looking for a gadget under kitchen essentials or a recently launched makeup tool to make your makeup better – clothes, shoes, jewelry, beauty products, electronics, pets, sports toys, and many more are included in the list. 

Shein

Unlike Temu and AliExpress, Shein is specifically focused on clothing, and that too, only women’s clothing and accessories. It has a good list of categories to cover, including tops, bottoms, shoes, etc. 

Additionally, the brand also has plus-size clothing, and many of its collections cover the plus size. 

AliExpress

Similar to Temu, express can get you anything and everything from a vast range of collections, and it also covers almost everything. Temu does.

Additionally, there are millions of trends, styles, and colors you can explore on this platform, including some of the latest themes in the market.

Winner: AliExpress and Temu. But, if you want trendy clothes and accessories, then Shein is the winner for you. 

Pricing: Which Is The Cheapest?

Temu

Temu is popular for the cheapest prices in the market, where you literally get products starting from as low as $0.75. 

On top of that, it also has several discount offers and promotions all the time of the year, and there would be low chances of you buying something without saving some bucks. 

Shein

Shein, compared to Temu and AliExpress, doesn’t offer products from $1 and $2, but if we compare some other factors, then goods at Shein are probably the cheapest in the market for a women’s fashion store. 

AliExpress

AliExpress, similar to Temu, is known for the cheapest rate in the market, so you can see prices starting from as low as $0.50.

Now, the main highlight is that the more you increase the quantity of a specific product, the lower the total amount you will have to pay.   

Winner: Tie. While Temu offers multiple discounts and deals throughout the year, AliExpress lowers the price per item if you increase the quantity. 

Quality 

Temu

Unfortunately, quality at Temu is not a highlight, and although they claim to offer you only good quality items – that is false, because, well, what exactly will they give you in quality for an item worth a dollar or two? 

Shein

Shein also claims to offer you good quality clothes and accessories, but for a few dollars, it is not going to give you good quality, mind that, and even if you get that, then you are nothing but lucky. 

AliExpress

Similar to what you saw on Temu, AliExpress is no different, and you don’t talk about quality here because you’re not going to be entirely satisfied unless your standards are low from the start. 

Winner: Shein, because, although it doesn’t have the best quality clothes, items from this brand are far better than the ones you buy from Temu and AliExpress. 

Shipping 

Temu

Temu usually offers only standard shipping, which is free for all orders for all customers, but takes a good two weeks on average to deliver. 

Yet, if your region is supported for express shipping, then you will get that from Temu, but with an additional cost of $12.90, unless your order worth is over $129. 

Shein

Shein offers Standard and express shipping for almost all orders, and while standard shipping takes anywhere between a couple of weeks to deliver, express shipping will deliver faster, although there is no estimated time. 

Additionally, you can get guaranteed faster shipping, but you will have to opt for the Shein Plus Membership program for that. 

AliExpress

AliExpress offers a good variety of shipping options that will change according to different factors, but the time is usually between 15 to 45 days or even more if you have chosen the cheapest shipping option.

As for the cost, there are no estimated rates because the rates and options waver all the time, with tracking available only for selected shipping options. 

Winner: Temu, because not only does it offer you free standard shipping all the time, but it also has an average timeframe compared to AliExpress and is similar to Shein.  

Returns

Temu

Temu allows you to return the product you are dissatisfied with within 90 days from the date of purchase, after making sure that it is in the steam state it arrived at, with no damage caused whatsoever.

Apart from that, your first return will be free, but after that, you’ll have to pay the shipping amount, and in some cases, you have to ship the product yourself. 

Shein

Shein has a return time frame of 30 days of receipt, but there are multiple items you can’t return, even if you are dissatisfied with them, while free gifts and customized goods are also not eligible for returns. 

Also, similar to Temu, your first return on Shein will be free of cost, but from the second order onwards, return shipping will be charged. 

AliExpress

AliExpress offers a free return service, and there is no extra charge for shipping while returning. If the product is in perfect condition according to terms and conditions, then you can return it within 15 days of receiving it. 

Winner: AliExpress, because it offers free return service. But, if you want a brand with a bigger return time frame, then Temu is the winner for you.

Customer Service

Temu

Customer service at Temu has received a mixed reaction from customers – where some didn’t have any of their issues resolved, others were able to get the solution and resolution instantly. 

So, we think the customer service experience varies for different customers and issues. 

Shein

Similar to Temu, Shein customer service has received a mixed reaction from users, where some stated that they received helpful and fast assistance, while others stated miscommunication issues with longer wait periods to get the issue solved. 

AliExpress

AliExpress customer service seems to be wearing in speed and quality based on the type of issue you have.

In simple words, if you have a harder or longer issue to solve, then they will take their sweet time, but if it is a simple query or issue, then you will get answers quickly. 

Winner: Tie, because all three brands offer average customer service. 

Final Words: Which One Is The Best For You?

To be honest with you, since Temu and AliExpress were going hand-in-hand and winning alternatively – we think that you should try experiencing both brands one after the other unless you already have a winner in mind.

Apart from that, Shein is a good option if you want to go on a shopping spree with a tight or small budget. 

Frequently Asked Questions