Table of Contents

Introduction 

1. Understanding the Platforms 

2. Price Comparison: Who’s Cheaper? 

3. Shipping Speed and Options

4. Quality Control and Product Consistency

5. Communication and Customer Support 

6. Common Mistakes When Sourcing from AliExpress or 1688 

7. AliExpress vs. 1688: Which One Fits Your Business Stage? 

8. Alternatives to Consider

9. How FF Logistics Can Help You Source from 1688 

Conclusion 

Introduction 

For every dropshipper running a Shopify or WooCommerce store, product sourcing is the lifeblood of your business. And when sourcing from China, two platforms often come up—AliExpress and 1688. While AliExpress is globally recognized and tailored for international buyers, 1688 is a B2B powerhouse primarily built for domestic Chinese wholesalers. But which one is better for your business? In this article, we’ll break down their differences in pricing, shipping, quality, communication, and ease of use—so you can decide which platform better suits your long-term dropshipping strategy.

1. Understanding the Platforms 

AliExpress is an online retail platform under the Alibaba Group, offering a wide variety of products directly to international customers. It is geared toward small orders, making it perfect for beginner dropshippers. Many suppliers are middlemen or even dropshippers themselves.

1688, on the other hand, is also owned by Alibaba but targets domestic businesses within China. It serves as a B2B sourcing hub, providing factory-direct prices. However, it’s not designed for international users and can be difficult to navigate without Chinese language skills or a local agent.

Key difference:

• AliExpress = Global retail-focused

• 1688 = Chinese wholesale-focused

Knowing this foundational distinction is key when considering which one aligns with your operational capabilities.

2. Price Comparison: Who’s Cheaper? 

If price is your top concern, 1688 almost always wins. Products on 1688 are often 30–70% cheaper than their AliExpress counterparts. That’s because you’re often buying directly from factories or authorized wholesalers, cutting out the layers of middlemen.

For example:

However, lower pricing comes with trade-offs: you’ll need to manage Chinese communication, shipping arrangements, and potentially higher minimum order volumes.

AliExpress sellers often inflate product costs to account for platform fees, international buyer protections, and shipping. This convenience can be worth it for new sellers, but if you’re scaling and looking to improve margins, 1688 is worth exploring.

3. Shipping Speed and Options

Shipping is a crucial factor in customer satisfaction. AliExpress sellers typically use logistics services like Cainiao, Yanwen, or ePacket. Shipping times to the U.S. or Europe range from 7 to 20 days, depending on your chosen method. Some sellers offer “AliExpress Premium Shipping” with faster and more reliable tracking.

1688 sellers generally don’t handle international shipping directly. You’ll need to use a third-party logistics provider (3PL) like FF Logistics to receive goods, inspect them, and ship them globally via dedicated lines. This gives you more control and better shipping speeds—especially with optimized fulfillment routes.

Comparison Table:

If customer experience is a top priority, working with a 3PL may give you the flexibility and speed AliExpress can’t.

4. Quality Control and Product Consistency

Product quality is a common concern in dropshipping. With AliExpress, quality can vary significantly. Some sellers are simply resellers with no control over production. There’s also a risk of inconsistent batches, especially if you reorder from the same link months later.

1688, being closer to manufacturers, offers more consistent quality—assuming you or your agent verifies it. Partnering with a 3PL who offers QC (quality control) inspection and photo confirmation can mitigate the risks before products ever reach your customers.

In short:

• AliExpress: You’re relying on the seller’s honesty.

• 1688: You’re relying on your own system or partner’s ability to verify product quality.

5. Communication and Customer Support 

AliExpress is built for global buyers. Most sellers can communicate in basic English and offer dispute resolution via the platform. Customer support is baked into the experience.

1688 is built entirely in Chinese. Most suppliers don’t speak English, and the site isn’t optimized for non-Chinese speakers. You’ll either need to:

• Use translation tools (limited accuracy), or

• Hire a Chinese-speaking agent or 3PL partner.

While this adds complexity, it also reduces competition—many international sellers avoid 1688 due to this language barrier.

If you value hands-off simplicity, AliExpress may suit you better. If you’re ready to work with an agent or want better control and pricing, 1688 is worth the challenge.

6. Common Mistakes When Sourcing from AliExpress or 1688 

When sourcing from either AliExpress or 1688, many new dropshippers make the same critical mistakes that can cost time, money, and reputation. Understanding these pitfalls is essential to building a sustainable and profitable business.

1. Blind Trust in Supplier Ratings

It’s common to assume that a 4.8-star supplier is reliable, but both platforms are vulnerable to fake reviews. Instead of relying solely on ratings, look for long-term account activity, consistent product listings, and responsiveness. If possible, place a test order before scaling.

2. Not Accounting for Fulfillment Delays

Even though AliExpress claims 5–15 day delivery and 1688 is known for factory-direct shipping, actual fulfillment time can vary depending on supplier efficiency, warehouse location, and customs clearance. A 3PL partner can significantly help here by consolidating, inspecting, and shipping products from one central hub — often improving both speed and reliability.

3. Ignoring Total Costs

Many beginners fixate on item price but forget to consider add-ons: shipping fees, transaction costs, packaging, and customs. For example, some 1688 sellers only ship domestically in China, so you’ll need a warehouse or agent to handle international delivery. With AliExpress, the price may include shipping, but you could end up with hidden costs like long lead times or poor-quality packaging.

4. Failing to Localize the Experience

Neither platform was built specifically for Western consumers. Product descriptions may be inaccurate or poorly translated. Use tools or agents to rewrite product pages for clarity and conversion. Also, don’t forget to remove “Shipping from China” where needed to improve customer trust.

5. Skipping Quality Control

Whether it’s AliExpress or 1688, skipping product inspection is a gamble. What looks good online may not meet your quality standards in real life. That’s why working with a trusted fulfillment center like FF Logistics helps — we offer basic QC and even personalized packaging before orders ship out.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll set yourself up for long-term success — no matter which platform you choose.

7. AliExpress vs. 1688: Which One Fits Your Business Stage? 

• Beginner Dropshippers often start with AliExpress because of ease of use, low risk, and no language barrier.

• Scaling Brands start to feel the limits: higher product costs, lack of control over branding, inconsistent shipping.

• Advanced Sellers prefer 1688 + 3PL. This setup offers:

• Better pricing

• QC and branding options

• Faster fulfillment

• Stronger customer experience

If you’ve validated your niche and want to improve profit margins, switching from AliExpress to 1688 might be your next smart move.

8. Alternatives to Consider

If neither AliExpress nor 1688 is a perfect fit, here are some other platforms you can explore:

Platform Language MOQ International Friendly Notes

Alibaba English Medium–High Yes Better for bulk orders

DHgate English Low–Medium Yes Mix of B2B and B2C

Banggood English Low Yes Offers dropshipping program

Taobao Chinese Low No Great prices, but hard to navigate

1688 + FF Logistics English (via agent) Low Yes Optimized fulfillment, QC, branding

9. How FF Logistics Can Help You Source from 1688 

Many sellers avoid 1688 due to the hassle—but that’s where we come in. At FF Logistics, we help DTC brands around the world:

• Source directly from 1688 suppliers

• Perform quality checks on each shipment

• Consolidate and store inventory in our warehouse

• Offer fast, affordable fulfillment to your global customers

With 8+ years of experience, 90-day free storage, and dedicated customer support, we make sourcing from 1688 as easy as shopping on AliExpress—but with better pricing and control.

Learn more about our dropshipping fulfillment services here:

👉 Fulfillment Services by FF Logistics

Conclusion 

Both AliExpress and 1688 have their strengths. AliExpress is ideal for beginners looking for simplicity and fast setup. 1688, paired with a reliable fulfillment partner, offers lower costs, better quality control, and more scalability.

The choice depends on where you are in your business journey—and whether you’re ready to level up your sourcing strategy.

Looking to make the switch from AliExpress to 1688?

Let FF Logistics handle the heavy lifting—so you can focus on scaling your store.