Is AliExpress safe? Everything you need to know before you buy

AliExpress is one of the most popular platforms for low-cost international shopping, which naturally raises questions about safety, reliability, and what protections buyers actually have when something goes wrong.

This article looks at how AliExpress handles payments, refunds, and disputes, where scams or misleading listings can occur, and what risks shoppers should be aware of before placing an order.

What is AliExpress?

AliExpress is an online marketplace that belongs to the Alibaba Group, which is among the largest e-commerce companies globally. Launched in 2010, it allows independent sellers, primarily small businesses and manufacturers based in China and other parts of Asia, to sell products directly to buyers around the world. The platform hosts a wide range of consumer goods, including electronics, clothing, home items, and accessories.

How AliExpress works for international shoppers

AliExpress supports cross-border shopping for customers in more than 190 countries and regions. International shoppers use the AliExpress website or app to browse listings and place orders from sellers based overseas. Each seller is responsible for packaging and shipping the item, so delivery times, tracking, and shipping costs can vary.

International shipping usually means longer delivery times than domestic online shopping. Many sellers offer multiple shipping options, including low-cost economy mail and faster services through global couriers. Shipping availability varies depending on the destination country.

AliExpress handles the payment side of the transaction through an escrow-style system. The platform holds the money while the order is in transit and releases it to the seller once the item arrives or the buyer protection window ends. This setup helps reduce the risk of shopping from unfamiliar international sellers.

Why are products on AliExpress so cheap?

Lower prices don’t always indicate low quality. However, they do reflect how manufacturing location, direct sales, and marketplace competition make AliExpress significantly cheaper than equivalents sold in traditional retail stores.

• Proximity to manufacturing hubs: Many sellers operate directly from the manufacturer in China, where production costs are lower than in many other markets. China remains one of the world’s largest manufacturing centers, with comparatively lower labor and operational costs that let businesses produce goods at reduced prices.
• Direct-to-consumer selling: Cutting out intermediaries like distributors and retail chains reduces the markups typically added in a traditional retail supply chain. Sellers can list products directly from factories or wholesalers instead.
• Intense price competition: Many sellers offer similar or identical items, which incentivizes vendors to keep prices low to attract international buyers.

How safe is AliExpress for buyers?

AliExpress has a buyer protection system to reduce risk when purchasing from third-party sellers. It has rules in place that define specific conditions under which buyers can get their money back if something goes wrong.

Understanding the Buyer protection program

AliExpress’s Buyer protection program governs refunds, disputes, and payment release. According to AliExpress’s official guidelines, buyer protection generally applies in three situations:

• Orders that don’t arrive: Buyers can request a full refund if an item doesn’t arrive within the seller’s stated delivery window.
• Items that are not as described: If an item differs from the listing, such as incorrect specifications, missing parts, or the wrong color, buyers can request a refund. Depending on the case, this may involve returning the item for a full refund or receiving a partial refund while keeping it.
• Items that arrive damaged: If an item arrives damaged, buyers are covered under Buyer Protection and can request a refund or return.

Buyer protection may also apply when sellers fail to meet stated service commitments. This includes issues such as not honoring promised warranties, requesting additional shipping fees after an order is placed, or using a different shipping method than what was agreed upon.

AliExpress also extends Buyer protection to cases involving inappropriate or abusive behavior from sellers that could affect a buyer’s rights or experience on the platform.

How disputes and refunds work

When something goes wrong with an order, buyers can open a dispute through AliExpress.

If the buyer and seller can’t reach an agreement, the dispute can be escalated to AliExpress for review. Refunds are issued only after AliExpress approves the dispute outcome, and funds are typically returned to the original payment method.

Buyer protection applies only within a defined time window. Buyers can open a dispute starting on the 11th day after the seller ships the order, and up to 15 days after the delivery time has ended or after the buyer confirms receipt. If the Buyer Protection period expires, refund eligibility generally ends.

Secure payment options and what to avoid

AliExpress supports a variety of secure payment methods, depending on the country, but generally include major credit cards and locally supported payment options. Avoid paying sellers outside of AliExpress, for example, via direct bank transfer or external apps. AliExpress Buyer Protection doesn’t cover these payments, making it more difficult to recover costs if something goes wrong.

It’s also worth noting that in AliExpress’s Business Program User Agreement, it states that accounts may be suspended or terminated if buyers attempt to contact or build commercial relationships with sellers outside of the platform’s tools.

How seller reviews and ratings work

AliExpress doesn’t offer a public rating system for sellers, and buyers can’t access a seller profile or store page to review past performance. Currently, AliExpress only displays the seller’s name on the product page. Instead, buyers can read reviews and leave ratings for individual products, including star ratings, comments, and uploaded photos.

Common risks when buying from AliExpress

Buying from AliExpress involves the same risks that are typical of third-party marketplaces and international online shopping, including:

• Misleading or inaccurate listings: Some product listings may overstate features, use edited images, or omit important details. The item received may differ in quality, specifications, or materials from what was advertised.
• Counterfeit or replica goods: AliExpress hosts many independent sellers, which increases the risk of counterfeit or unauthorized products, particularly for branded electronics, accessories, and apparel.
• Long or unpredictable shipping times: International shipping can be slow, and delivery estimates aren’t always accurate. Delays may occur due to customs processing, carrier handoffs, or seller handling practices.
• Data and account security risks: As with any large online platform, users may encounter phishing attempts, fake messages, or fraudulent listings designed to move communication or payment off-platform.

How to spot counterfeit products on AliExpress

AliExpress acknowledges that third-party seller listings may infringe on trademarks or other intellectual property rights and provides a process for reporting and requesting removal of such items. Through Alibaba’s Intellectual Property Protection Platform (IPP Platform), rights holders and authorized representatives can submit takedown requests and track their status specifically for listings on AliExpress.

As AliExpress doesn’t verify products before they ship, buyers should look for signs that an item may be counterfeit:

• If a branded item sells for way below normal cost, it’s likely to be an unauthorized imitation.
• Product photos are generic studio photos, cropped or altered brand images, or show inconsistent packaging.
• Listings might avoid brand names or user near-miss spellings (for example, “Addidas” instead of “Adidas”).
• Item reviews mention fake products, poor-quality materials, or items that differ significantly from the photos.

How to avoid misleading listings on AliExpress

Misleading listings usually have common signs that include:

• Lifestyle photos rather than product photos, making the item appear larger, more premium, or more complex than it really is.
• Titles packed with keywords that don’t accurately reflect the item features.
• Missing details in the specifications, like materials, dimensions, or power requirements.

To avoid misleading listings, compare listing photos with review photos, look for exact measurements rather than visual estimates, read negative reviews to check for patterns, and avoid listings with unclear or contradictory descriptions.

Understanding brushing scams on AliExpress

A brushing scam is a common online scam that happens when a seller ships a low-cost item, often something small like an accessory, to a random address. This generates a false delivery record, which can artificially inflate the perceived activity of the seller or the product.

Brushing scams don’t require access to AliExpress accounts or result in charges for items. Scammers only need a name and mailing address to send an unsolicited package.

Note that brushing packages may not appear in your AliExpress order history. If an unsolicited item arrives and you see no matching order in your account, it may be part of a brushing scam.

How fake refund scams work on the platform

AliExpress requires that all refunds and disputes be handled through its official system. If a seller tries to move buyers outside AliExpress’s protected channels, it can create an opportunity for refund scams.

If a seller messages you and proposes an off-platform refund, it’s best to decline the offer, escalate the dispute to AliExpress with the necessary evidence, and allow AliExpress to review the claim.

How to shop safely on AliExpress

On AliExpress, online shopping safely depends largely on your evaluation of listings, reviews, and general communication. Here are some practical steps you can take to shop safely on the platform:

• Check item reviews carefully: Before ordering, read reviews to see if things like poor quality, missing features, or items that don’t match photos or descriptions are mentioned.
• Check photos from other buyers: Uploaded photos show what the product actually looks like when it arrives, revealing size differences, material quality, or missing components.
• Be cautious of low prices: Very low prices can indicate counterfeit or imitation products, low-quality substitutes, or potentially misleading listings that exaggerate features.
• Read the full product description: Some listings use keyword-heavy titles that imply features the item doesn’t actually have. The product description and specification are often more reliable than the title alone.
• Watch out for red flags in seller communication: Requests to complete payment or refunds off-platform, pressure to cancel orders before disputes are resolved, or vague answers to specific questions should be flagged to AliExpress immediately.
• Pay attention to shipping details and delivery estimates: Delivery times can vary widely depending on the seller, shipping methods, and customs. Listings with unclear shipping methods or unusually optimistic delivery estimates carry more risk.

What to do if you get scammed or your order arrives damaged

If your AliExpress order never arrives, arrives damaged, or is significantly different from the listing, you can open a dispute through AliExpress’s Buyer protection system. The process is the same in all of these cases.

1. Log into your AliExpress account, click your account profile icon in the top-left corner, and click the Disputes & Reports option in the dropdown menu.
2. Choose the Open Dispute option on the left to access your orders.
3. Click the order you want to dispute and select Open Dispute in the order details.
4. Here, you’ll be prompted to fill in a refund request form. Select the issue type, enter your request details, and upload supporting evidence such as photos, videos, or screenshots. Click Submit at the bottom of the form to send your dispute request.
5. If the dispute is approved, AliExpress processes the refund back to the original payment method.

Additional tips:

• Keep all communication on-platform: Use AliExpress messaging only, since off-platform messages can’t be reviewed or enforced.
• Escalate the dispute if needed: If no agreement is reached with the seller, escalate the case so AliExpress can review the evidence and make a decision.