Alibaba shook up the whole world. When it started in China in 1999, no one thought it would become the best place for sellers and wholesale buyers to meet online around the world. Not only that, but it is now the biggest online site where you can easily find suppliers for white label, private label, and even dropshipping business models.
Now, just because it’s the biggest doesn’t mean it’s always the best for buyers and sellers. As a buyer, there are some things you might not like.
For one thing, Alibaba is doing business to help China. People from western countries can’t buy shares in the company, so not much will be done to help businesspeople from the west.
Alibaba also gets a lot of complaints in the US, and the Better Business Bureau gave the company an F. So, if you don’t like Alibaba, you can use other sites.
Best Sites Like Alibaba Where You Can Find Cheap Products
Let’s look at some of the best Alibaba alternatives where you can find suppliers for your offline or online store.
Chinabrands
This is one of Alibaba’s most important rivals. You will also see tens of thousands of products in many different categories. The sellers here sell their goods in bulk, and dropshippers and wholesale buyers are welcome.
Chinabrands does a lot to promote their website, so it shouldn’t surprise you if you end up competing with them. What you can do is market your site better than Chinabrands, and then choose a specific niche so that customers can easily find the product they want on your site.
Pros:
- Lots of things to buy
- No fee to sign up
- Sellers are in favor of dropshipping.
Cons:
- Chinabrands doesn’t cover all return shipping costs.
- There are different return times for the things sold here.
- Before you get a refund, you have to show that the item is broken.
To buy from Chinabrands, you have to sign up to be a member. The sellers here help buyers from all over the world, and you don’t need a subscription to use it for business.
DHGate
Since 2003, DHGate has been in business. It was one of the first companies to set up a website where wholesale buyers and sellers can meet and do business. Here, you’ll find all kinds of things you’re looking for, and as you buy more things, you’ll spend less.
DHGate is great for people who want to buy a lot of things at once, because the system automatically lowers the price based on how many things you buy. To get a discount, you no longer have to talk to the seller.
Pros:
- Has protection for buyers
- Has prices that are lower for large orders
- Has prices for both retail and wholesale
- Ships everywhere
Cons:
- The discounts aren’t that big of a deal.
- For a refund, the buyer has to pay to ship the item back.
With an app from DHGate, you can easily buy things from your phone. If you buy through this app instead of the website, you will get a better deal.
HKTDC
You can find more than 130,000 suppliers on this site. HKTDC has been around for a while and is based in Hong Kong. Its goal is to help wholesalers and buyers do business together online.
HKTDC is not the same thing as an online market. You can’t buy anything here. Instead, you have to get in touch with the seller and talk about the price of the item and how much shipping will cost. If you want, you can also ask the seller to send you a sample of the item.
Pros:
- A long list of providers
- There are many things to choose from.
- White label and private label are both options.
- Goods of good quality from manufacturers
Cons:
- There is no help for dropshipping.
- No policy to protect buyers, so you have to deal with a seller at your own risk.
- Large minimum order requirement
After you talk to the supplier, you’ll get answers to your questions through email. This is the main way you’ll talk to the manufacturer.
Made-in-China
Like HKTDC, this is a hub for suppliers where you can buy in bulk and do white labeling or private labeling. You can’t buy directly from this site, and it’s best for business owners who are ready to keep a lot of stock.
This is a great alternative to Alibaba because you can also buy industrial goods and machinery here. This is also a great place for people who sell car parts or plumbing parts like valves, which can’t be bought cheaply in large quantities in the west.
Pros:
- Prices are really low
- There are thousands of items listed.
Cons:
- No option to buy
- Suppliers have a minimum order requirement
- No protection for buyers
To get the most out of the site, you need to get in touch with the supplier and ask for a sample. If you are happy, you can move forward and place a large order.
Light in the box
This is one of the best alternatives to Alibaba if you want to buy things for a store. On LightintheBox, you can buy clothes, shoes, electronics, gadgets, toys, and a lot more. This site was made for consumers, so it doesn’t have any heavy-duty equipment or machinery.
The fact that buyers don’t have to meet minimum order requirements is a good thing about this market. Also, there is always a flash sale where you can get things for really low prices.
Pros:
- Lots of things for sale
- has thousands of suppliers and products
- You can buy it in stores.
- There is protection for buyers.
- There are many ways to pay.
- Ships all over the world
Cons:
- There are no discounts on big orders
- Wholesale prices are only given on a case-by-case basis.
- If you want to buy in bulk, you need to send an email to the wholesale team. If the item you want is available, you can try to get a better price.
Banggood
Banggood is one of those companies that will compete directly with Jack Ma and Alibaba. It is one of China’s biggest online markets, and you can buy a lot of cheap things there.
You can find electronics, kitchen appliances, garden tools, toys, and a lot more on this site. You can even buy cheap cell phones here and then sell them on your site to make a lot of money.
Pros:
- Lots of things to buy
- Retail is backed up
- Dropshipping can be done.
- More than 20 payment options are available
- Has protection for buyers
Cons:
Four days after you get the item is not enough time to ask for a refund.
Shipping takes too long, and it can take up to 120 days.
When you use Banggood, you need to be patient. Processing time is different from shipping time, so it will take at least 60 days to get your items.
Yaaku
Yaaku is good at making clothes. You can find all kinds of clothes for women, men, kids, and babies on this site. Dresses, underwear, shoes, sports clothes, coats, and many other things are examples of these. You can also do dropshipping with Yaaku, since the suppliers on the site sell their goods at retail.
You can buy from the sellers here at wholesale prices. To do this, you need to get in touch with the seller and try to work out a price. Usually, if you buy $1,000 worth of Yaaku, you can think of it as wholesale.
Pros:
- There are many kinds of clothes to choose from.
- has four major partners in shipping
- Ships all over the world
Cons:
- Seven days from the date of purchase is not much time to ask for a refund.
- Goods are a little pricey, so you don’t make much money from them.
There is no minimum amount you have to buy. Also, it already has more things than just clothes, like watches, belts, hats, and other accessories.
It sounds like it’s taking over China, and that’s exactly what it will do. Chinavasion is a huge company with thousands of suppliers and products, so it’s bound to do that. Here, you can buy clothes, electronics, tools for the home and garden, clothing, jewelry, and a lot more.
Chinavasion allows dropshipping and has a lot of items on flash sale for people who don’t want to shop in stores. At the top of the home page, there is a link called “Hot Sale.” This is where you need to go if you want to buy in bulk.
Pros:
- Thousands of different goods
- Has a VIP program
- Dropshipping is allowed.
- Offers prices for wholesalers
- Many things are on sale.
- Ships to every country
Cons:
- To get wholesale prices, you need to get in touch with the company.
- It can take 30 days for cheap shipping.
With Chinavasion, you can buy just one item or up to 200 items at a time. If you want to buy more than that, you need to get in touch with the company.
DealExtreme (DX)
If you’ve never heard of DX, you’re in for a big surprise. This business has been around for 14 years, and it continues to grow. The site has thousands of products in many different categories. You can find electrical tools, items for hobbies, sports gear, and a lot more.
DX sometimes has sales that are only for business people. If you go to this sale, you can get things for really low prices that you can then sell for a lot of money.
Pros:
- There were many flash sales.
- There are thousands of new things to choose from.
- There are more than ten ways to pay.
- has hundreds of different types of products
Cons:
- The process for returning a bad item is long; you must first contact DX.
- It can take up to three days to confirm a payment.
With DX, your package should arrive in 14 days. You can choose between regular and fast shipping, depending on your needs.
TinyDeals
Even though it’s called TinyDeals, there are a lot of big deals happening here. This business is based in Hong Kong, and it works with a lot of wholesale suppliers and manufacturers in China. The site sells watches, electronics, toys, wearable tech, and a lot of other things.
The low prices on the site make it a great alternative to Alibaba, but only wholesalers should use it.
Pros:
- There are many ways to pay.
- Cheap prices
- There are thousands of items and shops.
- All items are shipped for free.
Cons:
- Not a good choice for dropshipping.
- Because shipping is free, it takes a long time.
One great thing about TinyDeals is that you don’t have to pay for return shipping if you report a bad product within 30 days. You will also get your money back if you told them about it within that time frame.
eWorldTrade
eWorldTrade is a website for international business to business trade. This means that most of its customers are business owners who need things for their stores. There are ten main types of products here, and the only thing that makes it different is that it also has a category for metallurgy and minerals.
You can’t buy anything here, and you can’t see how much things cost. Before you can buy, you have to make an account, and you have to talk to the seller to find out the price and the minimum order size.
Pros:
- There are a lot of products from many different companies on the site.
- The items are made especially for you.
Cons:
- There are no prices listed on the site.
- Only wholesale terms can be used for the purchases.
If you use eWorldTrade, you should be ready to wait at least 50 days for the seller to make your product. The items won’t be sent to you until then.
ECVV
ECVV isn’t like any other online market. Here, you can get in touch with the site that helps people and tell them what you need. They’ll find suppliers who can help you, and then you can tell the suppliers what you want and how much you’re willing to pay for it.
If the product you want is already on the website, all you have to do is get in touch with the company that makes it. Tell him how you want the goods to be packaged, and then negotiate the price of the goods, the minimum order size, and the cost of shipping.
Pros:
- There is also retail.
- Good for private label and white label
Cons:
- Does not accept PayPal
The site is a great alternative to Alibaba because it takes care of everything from start to finish. This means that the people who run the website will help you find the right suppliers at no extra charge.
TBDRESS
As the name suggests, this site is mostly about clothes. This site has clothes for both men and women, as well as accessories. TBDRESS is known for its sales, and while it does offer retail, it doesn’t have an app that you can use for dropshipping.
TBDRESS ships all over the world, and if you buy from them often, you can take advantage of their VIP program. You can also get discounts on the things you buy through a wholesale program. Through the VIP program, you can save up to 6% on everything you buy.
Pros:
- tens of thousands of clothes and other items
- There are low prices and bulk deals.
- There are a lot of sales for people who buy in bulk.
Cons:
- Return shipping costs are not covered.
- Few payment options available
You can pay for your purchases with credit cards, bank transfers, and PayPal.
GearBest
GearBest is one of the best places to find items for your hobbies. The site also sells a lot of electronic goods. If you want to sell chargers and USB cables, you have to go here.
Even though there are clothes and accessories on the site, you will still get more for your money if you buy electronics here.
Pros:
- Has ten payment options
- Ships all over the world
- Have warehouses around the world
Cons:
- It can take up to 28 days to ship.
GearBest has many ways to help you get the best deals.
The Partnership Program, Free Gift Cards, the Pro Program, the Associate Program, and the Influencer Program are all examples of these.
AliExpress
Even though Alibaba owns both AliExpress and Alibaba, the two companies are run in different ways. AliExpress is a shopping site, and the prices of the items are set so that people can buy small amounts.
Pros:
- There are thousands of vendors and goods
- No minimum order requirements
Cons:
- Since everything here comes from China, shipping can take more than 60 days.
AliExpress has a lot of the same merchants as Alibaba, so you can find a lot of the same products there. You don’t have to buy a lot of them, though.
Overstock
People who want to sell furniture, bedding, and other items for home improvement should use this site. Prices start at $100 and go up from there, though.
Pros:
- Good furniture and other things
- Different companies make different things.
Cons:
- Some things can’t be taken back.
- If it’s been 30 days since you bought it, you can only get a partial refund.
If you want high-quality decorations and furniture for your home, Overstock is a great alternative to Alibaba.
Wholesale7
Wholesale7 is the last site on our list. Its main product is clothing. Here, too, the goods come from China, and the sellers do let you make your own labels for the dress tags and the packaging.
Pros:
- There are many kinds of clothing.
- Labels can be made to order.
- Offers a VIP program
Cons:
- Not all countries are served.
- Packing the order can take up to five days.
Wholesale7 is great for retailers and wholesalers, especially those who want to do white label business. But before you order, you need to make sure that your country is supported.
Summary
Alibaba may be the biggest online market, but there are still plenty of other places to buy things. Today, there are more and more online marketplaces, and they all want to help businesspeople like you get a better deal. All you have to do is take the time to look at each site and decide which one will give you the best service and the most for your money.
