Market research data by StrategyR™, an arm of the Global Industry Analysts (GIA), projects that the global dropshipping market, estimated at $126 billion in 2020, will expand to over $476.1 billion by 2026, an annual growth rate of 23.7%.
The data also shows that, among others, Chinabrands and AliExpress are some of the key dropshipping players.
In today’s article, we shall contrast Chinabrands and AliExpress, discuss some of their core features and key differences, and conclude with a discussion of which of the two is the best, and success tips for dropshipping with both platforms:
Before we cover Chinabrands and AliExpress individually, let’s do a quick features comparison:
目录
Chinabrands vs. AliExpress: Features Comparison
| Feature | Chinabrands | AliExpress |
| Payment options | Chinabrands offers three core payment options: PayPal, Payoneer, and Wire transfers | AliExpress accepts various payment methods, including PayPal, bank transfers, Qiwi Wallet Alipay, Western Union, and several other country-based payment methods like Webmoney, Giropay, etc |
| Product range | Chinabrands has over 500,000 products in over 19 categories | AliExpress has over 100 million products from over 200,000 sellers |
| MOQ | No MOQ for most products, but some suppliers may have an MOQ | Because it’s B2C and B2C, most items don’t have an MOQ. However, some may, especially when it comes to dropshipping suppliers |
| Buyer protection | Chinabrands offers a 15-days quality-issues return and refund policy, a 3C product warranty, and optional shipping insurance on some products | AliExpress has numerous buyer protection policies like a genuineness guarantee and a returns and refund policy |
| Customer Service | Offers various customer support channels, including social media, live chat, email, and a direct-to-seller messaging system | Besides contacting sellers directly, AliExpress has a customer service team that’s reachable via email, social media, and dispute resolution system |
| Returns and refund policies | Chinabrands a 15-days quality-related returns and refund policy | AliExpress has a 15-days, no-explanation-needed returns and refund policy |
| Shipping | Chinabrands ships worldwide and offers three main shipping options: Post/Flat Rate Shipping, Express Mail/Standard Rate Shipping, and Expedited Shipping using DHL and other such services | AliExpress has a presence in over 190 countries but is also cross-border and can ship worldwide |
With the key features covered, let’s now cover each platform individually:
What is Chinabrands?
Chinabrands is one of China’s largest B2B dropshipping platforms. It connects small business owners and wholesale buyers with Chinese suppliers and facilitates the supply chain/logistical system between suppliers, businesses, and buyers.
Chinabrands has over 300,000 wholesale products in 19 categories from over 100,000 registered global sellers, with claims of over one million orders processed daily.
Chinabrands: Pros
Some noteworthy things about Chinabrand are:
Easy to get started with dropshipping
One of Chinabrand’s core features is that you don’t need any registration, sourcing, packaging, processing, and in most cases, shipping fees because products have free shipping. That makes it relatively easy to start a dropshipping business with Chinabrands.
Additionally, the platform has an API system that offers an end-to-end system that integrates with Shopify, eBay, Amazon, and other eCommerce systems. This API can import detailed product information from Chinabrands, including images and descriptions, and update them on your dropshipping storefront, making it easier to run, manage and scale your dropshipping business.
Tons of product choices
Chinabrands has a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) of over 300,000 wholesale products in 19 categories, including but not limited to auto parts, beauty and health products, consumer electronics, shoes, jewelry, home and garden, and tons others. This variety makes it easier to source products, no matter your niche.
Quality control
Products posted on Chinabrands undergo a well-laid out quality control process meant to maintain a high-quality standard. Every product must meet all of Chinabrands’ quality requirements.
Good logistical systems
With more than 100 logistical routes across the world, Chinabrands can drop-ship items to customers in almost every part of the world. The platform offers different shipping methods like Post/Flat Rate Shipping, Express Mail/Standard Rate Shipping, and Expedited Shipping using services like DHL and 27 other carrier options.
Chinabrands: Cons
Some downsides to using Chinabrands include:
Shipping and delivery issues
Although Chinabrands has over 40 warehouses in over 12 countries, including the US, UK, and Europe, to mention a few, most of their products ship from China, and, as you probably already know, shipping from China does not have the best reputation, and customers may experience shipping delays.
Misleading and poor product descriptions
Although Chinabrands has a quality control system, it does not have the best, most-coherent product description, which, thanks to the API, it then pulls and posts on a dropshipping storefront.
This can be disadvantageous because when a product has a badly-cobbled-up product description, the API will pull that information and post it on your storefront, thereby misrepresenting the product to the end buyer.
Fewer payment options
Chinabrands offers three core payment methods: PayPal, the main payment method for drop shippers, Payoneer, and wire transfers into your CB Wallet.
In a world where other suppliers offer a wide spectrum of payment methods and systems, this can be limiting, especially if you cannot use any of these payment methods.
What is AliExpress?
AliExpress is a popular B2B and B2C platform owned by Alibaba, one of China’s largest eCommerce companies. Because it started as a B2B platform and later integrated B2C services, AliExpress has something for everyone: dropshipping business owners and businesses of all sizes and individual buyers.
With over 100 million products from over 200,000 suppliers, AliExpress is one of the top platforms for small businesses owner looking for dropshipping suppliers. The platform supports more than 20 popular payment systems, with shipping and logistical systems in more than 200 countries
AliExpress: Pros
Here are some of the pros of AliExpress as a source of dropshipping suppliers:
Variety
AliExpress is a multi-seller platform with products from different suppliers. This variety is one of its allure to dropshipping business owners; it means they can source products from different suppliers, and often, by getting in touch directly with individual suppliers, get better deals.
Because it’s a multi-seller platform, AliExpress has one of the broadest lists of products, and as mentioned, you have over 100 million products from which to choose. This variety makes it easy to start a dropshipping business in any niche.
Easy to get started with dropshipping
Unlike other dropshipping wholesales and suppliers’ platforms like Worldwide Brands and others that charge a monthly or startup fee, starting a dropshipping business with AliExpress is free, making it ideal for eCommerce startups with a lean budget.
Another key thing here is that many AliExpress suppliers have detailed product photos and descriptions that you can use on your store, making it easy to get started fast. However, it’s always good to go through the descriptions to ensure they’re well-worded and correct.
AliExpress: Cons
Some core downsides to using AliExpress include:
Shipping delays and issues
Most suppliers on AliExpress are based in China and usually ship products from there, with a small percentage warehousing their products in AliExpress’s warehouses in different global locations. As you probably already know, shipping from China does not have the rosiest of reputations among buyers.
In a world where buyers expect fast and seamless delivery, this can be a pain point for a dropshipping business owner, especially when shipping and delivery issues revolve around the delivery of the wrong item, receipt of damaged goods, etc.
Competitiveness
AliExpress is one of the largest sources of dropshipping suppliers and products. Therefore, no matter which products you choose to dropship, you can expect stiff competition from other drop-shippers who’ve probably bought the same product from the same supplier you source from.
Moreover, AliExpress is a multi-seller platform where you will find different suppliers/sellers listing the same item at different prices. This can complicate and lengthen the process of finding a good, reliable supplier who will give you the best price for high-quality products.
Quality control issues
Because it’s a multi-seller platform, AliExpress sellers maintain individual quality control standards. This can complicate things, especially for a dropshipping business that does not hold inventory.
Fortunately, because AliExpress does not have any minimum order quantity, you can periodically order items from your suppliers to verify quality, note any quality issues and changes, then communicate them with your suppliers.
Chinabrands vs. AliExpress: Key Differences
Chinabrands and AliExpress differ in the following key areas:
B2B/B2C Inclination
Chinabrands is inclined more towards a B2B business model; it focuses on selling to small businesses —even those that only need a few items at wholesale prices— and wholesalers.
On the other hand, AliExpress has a well-integrated B2B and B2C system that caters to businesses and customers alike.
Prices
Chinabrands has very competitive wholesale prices, depending on the number of products purchased. For example, orders above 100 pieces or $1000 attract automatic discounts.
On the other hand, AliExpress’s prices are somewhat static, primarily because of its well-integrated B2C system. In most cases, you will have to contact AliExpress suppliers directly to negotiate wholesale prices and discounts based on your MOQ, which can be both an advantage and a disadvantage: a disadvantage because of the time factor and an advantage because you can negotiate prices.
Products variety
Chinabrands have over 300,000 wholesale products, making it a great dropshipping supplier option, more so because of its B2B inclination.
On the other hand, even though AliExpress has more than 100 million product listings from over 200,000 sellers, you have to dig through tons of sellers targeting end buyers over businesses to find the right supplier. With Chinabrands, the sourcing process is much easier, whether you are a small business or a wholesale buyer.
Quality control
Chinabrands has a stringent quality control system, and all products listed on the platform must pass laid-down quality inspection checks. This makes it relatively easy to trust that you’ll get good-quality products at wholesale prices.
On the other hand, because it’s a multi-seller platform, individual sellers are responsible for quality control, which could explain why AliExpress has so many knock-off and low-quality products.
Chinabrands vs. AliExpress: Which is Better? The Verdict
Both platforms are great, and you should consider sourcing dropshipping products from both, but comparatively, Chinabrands has better quality control systems and friendlier wholesale prices and discounts.
On the other hand, AliExpress offers more payment systems and could be just right for you, especially if you can’t use the three payment methods supported by Chinabrands.
Additionally:
As mentioned, AliExpress is a multi-seller platform. Therefore, if you don’t want to spend hours rummaging through listings of a similar product to find an ideal supplier for your dropshipping business, you are better off going with Chinabrands because it’s more inclined towards wholesale buyers—it’s more B2B inclined.
Top Tips for Dropshipping with Chinabrands and AliExpress
- Check customer reviews and product feedback: Although both platforms have different business models, both sell dropshipping products. One way to avoid low-quality products on both platforms, but especially on AliExpress, is to read product reviews and feedback.
- Don’t overlook product descriptions: Chinabrands and AliExpress have one-click API integration with marketplaces like Shopify, Amazon, and eBay. This integration usually pulls products images and descriptions and populates them on your dropshipping storefront. As mentioned earlier, this can be problematic, especially in instances where sellers have created misleading or incomprehensible descriptions. Remember to read product descriptions and to customize them as much as possible to ensure your buyers understand the products well, thereby eliminating false expectations
- Opt to use PayPal: Both platforms support PayPal. Use that as much as possible to give yourself an extra layer of buyer protection.
Conclusion
All in all, Chinabrands and AliExpress are some of the largest and best sources for dropshipping suppliers.
Since you now know what to expect from both platforms, it should be relatively easier to choose between them but remember: if you can use both to source products for your dropshipping business, the better off your business shall be in the end.