What is AliExpress, and why are smart shoppers and digital entrepreneurs obsessing over it?It’s not just another online marketplace. It’s a global engine of opportunity, where jaw-dropping deals meet borderless e-commerce. Think of it as your all-access pass to everything from bargain tech to fashion finds, even your next big dropshipping breakthrough.

Whether you’re browsing out of curiosity or building an empire from your laptop, understanding how AliExpress works isn’t just helpful — it’s a competitive edge. Let’s break it down, decode its real value, and show you how to make it work for you.

What is AliExpress?
What can you buy on AliExpress?
A closer look at how AliExpress works?
    How creating an account works on AliExpress
    How product navigation works on AliExpress
    How buying on AliExpress works
What’s the quality of the products on AliExpress?
How safe is shopping on AliExpress?
How good is AliExpress for dropshipping?
    Tips to help reduce dropshipping pain points
Final words
FAQs

When the Chinese giant Alibaba created its Alibaba.com marketplace in 1999, it mostly focused on a B2B model. However, the group lacked a direct connection to everyday consumers due to minimum order quantities (MOQs) and a platform primarily targeted at businesses. Hence, the Alibaba Group created AliExpress in 2010.

AliExpress became Alibaba’s consumer arm, creating a direct link between Chinese suppliers (though anyone can sign up and sell these days) and everyday consumers. You can think of AliExpress as China’s Amazon, as it offers a platform for suppliers to sell in various categories without middlemen (which helps the platform to provide those excellent prices).

The better question here is, what can’t you buy on AliExpress? The platform is packed with a massive selection of items, divided into numerous categories. While you can find almost anything you want on AliExpress, here are some of the most popular product categories.

The best part is that you can find many more categories on AliExpress. However, you won’t be able to buy digital media, software, and weaponry on the platform.

While you can browse AliExpress as a guest, you must create an account (don’t worry, it’s free) to make purchases. Creating an account will also enable the platform to understand your preferences and help refine your search for the best results. You can use filters to refine your search if you want something specific (such as a particular size or color).

Like other platforms, you can easily create an AliExpress account by visiting the AliExpress official page. Typically, creating an account involves filling out the sign-in form, which requires manually entering your email address and other details. However, you can now sign in faster using your Facebook or Google account.

After completing the initial steps, AliExpress will request your personal information, including your preferred categories. Once that’s over, you can proceed directly to your cart to make a purchase (if you browsed the platform as a guest) or continue browsing to see if anything catches your eye.

Now that you have your AliExpress account, it’s time to fill out your cart. This part is where you’ll either search for something or check the category menu, where you’ll see so many categories. And you can expand a category by hovering over it—a great way to go even more specific without searching.

Once you find an interesting category, click on it to view the available products. If you already have something in mind, using the search bar will be a better option. You can easily type what you’re looking for (and check AliExpress’s recommendations if you want) and click the search button for results.

As mentioned earlier, you can always be more specific with filters. A healthy selection is on the top or left side of the screen, allowing you to sort your search by new products, price, best match, and more. Also, when you click on a product you like, you’ll find a product page containing everything you need to know about it, including description, price, shipping options, and reviews.

So, when you see products you like on AliExpress, you can complete your buyer’s journey by adding them to your cart or clicking “Buy Now.” Then, the platform will redirect you to a payment page to complete your purchase and await the delivery of your order.

AliExpress has so many sellers that it’s almost impossible to make a general statement about the quality of their products. To find the best deals, be prepared to do extensive filtering. However, checking the seller’s reviews is one of the best things you can do to ensure you’re getting nothing but good quality.

If you click on the “Feedback” tab, you’ll find a deeper look at the seller’s reputation compared to other sellers and their ratings. Thanks to details such as “Item as described,” “Communication,” and “Shipping Speed,” you can generally determine if the seller is reliable by taking a quick look at this page.

Note: You’ll also see how long the seller has been on Aliexpress and how much positive feedback they have compared to negative ones.

It’s normal to wonder whether AliExpress is a safe platform. After all, it’s a huge marketplace, and some undesirables will always find a way to slip through. The good news is that AliExpress is generally safe to shop on—you’ll usually pay and get your order safely.

However, that doesn’t mean you won’t be cautious of common scams. The key to ensure you browse and shop safely is always to check seller feedback and customer reviews and take advantage of AliExpress’s Buyer Protection (a service that protects your payment with a money-back guarantee if something goes wrong).

AliExpress is great for end-consumers, but what about businesses looking for opportunities without building an inventory with Alibaba.com? What’s great is that you have the option to dropship with AliExpress. You can easily find products you want to sell and add them to your dropshipping store quickly and easily.

The best part is that you can utilize various apps, such as AliScraper, DSers, and Dropshipping Copilot, to find and integrate them into your store. The supplier will ship directly to your buyer when you receive and pay for the order.

Dropshipping with AliExpress is a great way to run a business, but you may need to address issues like product quality, timing, and shipping-related costs. Here’s how most dropshippers solve them:

• While you can use product pages imported from AliExpress without issues, changing them on your store is always better. A detailed product page gives consumers more information; different product images differentiate you from other stores. You should also include well-structured marketing messages.

Note: Don’t forget the product description. Try to make it more informative while also being attention-grabbing.

AliExpress is popular today because it offers cheaper prices than Amazon and other e-commerce platforms. And, it’s nothing different from what online shoppers are used to. They only need to create an account, browse the platform, add items to their cart, and complete the purchase. Remember that while the platform is safe, you must pay close attention, especially if starting a dropshipping business.