Do you wish to steer clear of the scams reported on Alibaba from time to time or just wish to explore a wider variety of products and suppliers? Well, there comes a time when you just have to consider websites like Alibaba for your sourcing needs.
Alibaba is one of the largest eCommerce marketplaces in the world—giving you access to thousands of suppliers and a myriad of product categories and types. Even so, it cannot meet the sourcing needs of every business and individual buyer.
Read on to find out why you would need to use an Alibaba alternative as well as the top 11 websites like Alibaba you should consider.
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Why Would You Need to Consider Alibaba Alternatives?
Alibaba is, without a doubt, a popular eCommerce platform for retailers, wholesales, and individual buyers across the globe. The popular business-to-business (B2B) marketplace has numerous benefits to offer its buyers.
In addition to a rich diversity of products and suppliers, Alibaba is renowned for its revolutionary Trade Assurance buyer protection policy. Even so, the website just cannot meet the needs of every buyer out there. So, why would anyone wish to buy from Alibaba alternatives?
Here are some of the cases when you should consider websites like Alibaba:
- When you are just weary of growing number of unscrupulous sellers and suppliers on Alibaba
- When you are looking for a better deal—with regards to quality and cost
- Whenever you need to get more bargaining power
- Are after a wider range of products than Alibaba has to offer
- Are looking for a local supplier in an effort to get faster deliveries and cheaper shipping
- When you want to use a payment method that is not supported by Alibaba
- Need the eCommerce website to be in your language
- Want to shop on a website that is easy to navigate and offers more filters for products and suppliers
For these and other reasons, business owners and individual buyers are on the lookout for an Alibaba alternative that best-meets their sourcing needs.
Top 11 Websites Like Alibaba
Tens of wholesale eCommerce websites today claim to offer high-quality Chinese products at the best price points. Unfortunately, only a handful of these are worthy Alibaba alternatives. Reviewed below are some of the best websites like Alibaba you should consider:
1. HKTDC
This eCommerce platform is owned by Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)—an organization that actively promotes businesses in Hong Kong. To a great extent, the website facilitates B2B dealings but also supports business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions.
One of the things that sets HKTDC apart from other platforms is the fact that it groups similar merchandise from the same supplier. As opposed to Alibaba, HKTDC does not allow its sellers to flood the platform with multiple listings for variations of similar products.
Instead, this website features a wide range of product categories and an intuitive design—making it easier for you to navigate and browse the merchandise. You will also note that the HKTDC website does not display the annoying pop-ups you may encounter on Alibaba.
Pros
- Facilitates lower taxes, giving business owners higher profit margins
- Features an easy-to-use financial center
- Amazing customer support
- Boasts of expansive experience, having been in business for decades
Cons
Unfortunately, HKTDC does not offer a comprehensive buyer protection policy like Alibaba does. Again, some suppliers on this platform tend to impose higher minimum order quantities (MOQs).
2. EC21
The EC21 eCommerce website offers a myriad of products, including agricultural equipment, industrial goods, hardware, and industrial products. Some of the products sold on EC21 are hard to find on many other eCommerce websites.
Boasting of more than 1.5 million users across about 220 countries, there is always demand and supply of products on this website. One of the unique features of this platform is the ability to sort the suppliers by country. As such, you can easily narrow your search to just the suppliers in the USA, Korea, or China.
The site allows you to seamlessly find suitable suppliers using B2B classifications, keywords, or by quoting a supplier’s purchasing lead.
Pros
- Lists millions of products under multiple categories
- Records a high visitor traffic—offering ready market for various products
- Known to offer high-quality merchandise
- Supports international trading across multiple countries
Con
You may encounter communication problems when shopping on this website.
3. EC Plaza
Launched in 1996, EC Plaza has successfully carved out its place as one of the best eCommerce platforms available today. With over a million users and support for both online and offline transactions, EC Plaza is a marketplace to behold.
The platform mainly relies on Edi services, export marketing, and trade consultation to offer some of the best business opportunities and affordable prices. You will find this Alibaba alternative to be seamless and efficient in many ways.
Pros
- Supports more of the payment methods you may find to be convenient, including PayPal
- Their paid membership is cheaper than the one offered by Alibaba
- The website is available in multiple languages
- EC Plaza has local sites in the U.S, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the U.A.E
- Offers customer focused service
- Boasts of outstanding industry expertise and self-motivated agents
- The website supports both online and offline trading
Cons
The website only has a few registered members.
4. ECVV
As one of the best websites like Alibaba, ECVV connects retailers, dropshippers, wholesalers and other merchants to Chinese producers. Additionally, the company offers shipping as well as border control services.
Unlike most of the leading eCommerce marketplaces, ECVV verifies all its suppliers before allowing them to list on their website. If you are looking for a way to avoid fraudulent suppliers on Alibaba, ECVV is the way to go.
The website is also renowned for offering exceptional customer support in both English and Chinese. Here, you’ll also get significant discounts and occasional surprise gifts.
Pros
- Offers high-quality products from verified suppliers
- Customer support is offered in both English and Chinese
- Offers surprise gifts and generous discounts
- Offers comparatively affordable shipping
Cons
The website only allows for minimal contact between buyers and sellers. Again, affiliate payments on this site are very slow—may take up to two months.
5. Eezee
Launched back in 2017, Eezee has grown to become one of the best B2B marketplaces and supplier directories in the world. The Singapore-based platform is specifically designed to optimize online sales between suppliers and business owners.
The large number of sellers on this platform promotes healthy competition, which has helped lower product prices. Although the site sells pretty much everything, it kind of specializes in industrial and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Office and school suppliers are also popular product categories on Eezee.
Pros
- Supports B2B as well as B2C transactions
- Facilitates a friendly trading environment for both buyers and sellers
- Relatively easy to set up and buy products on this platform
- One of the most cost-effective eCommerce platforms
- Ideal marketplace for businesses of all sizes
- Supports integration with the leading ERPs and eProcurement solutions
- Features catalogs by some of the popular global brands like Philips, 3M, Ace, and Loctite
Cons
Prices on this website are only displayed in Singapore Dollars, which may be inconvenient for international buyers.
6. Chinavasion
Are you looking for websites like Alibaba that are better suited for dropshippers? Well, you need to try Chinavasion. To begin with, it is relatively easy for dropshippers to sign up and start sourcing merchandise through the platform.
Secondly, suppliers here do not have ridiculous minimum order quantity (MOQ) requirements—you can even order a single item. Chinavasion features numerous product categories, but is popular for tech gadgets, devices, and accessories.
Pros
- Offers reliable and timely logistic services
- The website employs stringent quality control measures to safeguard their buyers
- Offers payment agency services as well
- Most suppliers here do not have minimum order quantity requirements
- Great marketplace for OEM products
- Most of their products are backed by a three-month warranty
Cons
As the website suggests, almost all their products are “China versions” of popular name brand items—counterfeit so to speak. Some customers have also complained about the level of customer support offered by Chinavasion.
7. Gearbest
This one is essentially a Chinese e-retailer based in Shenzhen, China. Gearbest is mainly renowned for electronics and gadgets. However, the website also features other amazing product categories, such as tools, sports gear, toys, and clothes.
What is most striking about Gearbest is that almost all their products are budget-friendly—offering 20 to 50% in discounts. Buying on this website is comparatively easy, you won’t have to go through the lengthy checkout processes associated with some eCommerce websites.
Despite having some of the lowest prices in the industry, Gearbest is known to impose strict quality control requirements on their suppliers. Rest assured that all the products have been rigorously tested for quality and safety.
Pros
- Some of the lowest prices in the industry—thanks to generous discounts
- Features a great selection of electronics and related items
- Strict quality control measures
Cons
Customers have complained about delayed shipments while sourcing through GearBest. Again, you may find the shipping cost for some items to be rather high.
8. LightInTheBox
LightInTheBox Holding Co. is another Chinese eCommerce giant worth checking out. Their website offers a wide array of products and accessories—ranging from shoes and apparel to gardening products, and home furnishings.
A considerable number of individual buyers and business owners prefer this eCommerce website due to their relatively low prices. You will also find the website very easy to navigate and informative as they usually include lots of product information.
All these are meant to offer buyers a great shopping experience.
Pros
- Budget-friendly item prices
- Available in more than 20 countries
- Features numerous product categories
- Many suppliers on this platform offer free shipping
- Ideal for single as well as bulk orders
- Offers up to 10% in discounts for orders made through their App.
Cons
While it is one of the most affordable eCommerce platforms, LightInTheBox orders take longer to be delivered.
9. Target
Would you rather shop locally in the U.S? You should consider ordering from Target—one of the best websites like Alibaba in the U.S. With more than 50 locations and more than 10 million users, this website has one of the widest coverages in the industry.
Target offers a variety of products to suite people of all genders and ages. The site is relatively easy to navigate, with all the filters you need for a more precise search experience. According to their customers, Targets customer support is among the best in the industry.
Pros
- Affordable, yet high-quality products
- Offers a wide array of products—almost anything you can think of
- Features an exclusive customer reach
- One of the most preferred department stores in the region
Cons
The Target+ platform does not support fast delivery options like the Target.com site.
10. Walmart
Walmart is one of the largest multinational retails firms in the world. The chain store includes discount departmental stores, hypermarkets, and grocery stores. It is one of the largest eCommerce platforms in the globe—with regards to revenue generation.
One of the amazing things about Walmart is that it offers high-quality products at the lowest price points in the region. As compared to other eCommerce giants like Amazon and Alibaba, Walmart is reported to have a more loyal customer base.
It is a great platform for those who wish to have the best one-stop shopping experiences possible.
Pros
- Relative low prices as compared to other retailers in the region
- Features a more diverse business model
- Walmart has positive contributions to the economy—allowing low-income earners to afford things that would have been too expensive
- Offers a diverse range of products, ranging from clothes and groceries to car repairs, and electronics
Cons
Some of the operations by this retailer are not friendly to the environment—they were recently fined for violating water quality regulations.
11. Amazon
Amazon is a great eCommerce platform and retailer that boasts of more than 100 million users across the world. Amazon is not as old as Walmart, but is arguably the largest eCommerce platform in the world—enjoying a market share of more than 9%.
This alone makes it one of the best websites like Alibaba you should consider. As a matter of fact, about 54% of brands currently sell on the Amazon platform.
Pros
- Other than drugs and illegal items, Amazon suppliers can sell almost anything
- Relatively easy to sign up and sell or buy items on Amazon
- Enjoys an extensive customer base of at least 300 million consumers
- It is the largest Alibaba alternative in the world
Cons
Just like is the case with Alibaba, some of the sellers on Amazon are fraudulent out to scam potential buyers.
Conclusion
Finding a good supplier is an integral part of any business today. It is always easier when you have a comprehensive directory of reputable suppliers to choose from. Alibaba is one such directory. Alternatively, you can browse the above-reviewed Alibaba alternatives for a suitable supplier.
To avoid the risk associated with websites like Alibaba, you should just source through a proven sourcing and fulfillment agent like BestFulfill.