Our Verdict
Who Wins?
Picking a winner is not what matters here, your wants and choice are the big deciders of this section. Do you know why? Worldwide Brands and AliExpress are both platforms that connect buyers and sellers, but they have different features and functions that make them unique. Therefore, don’t expect Worldwide Brands or AliExpress to act in the capacity of one another.
Worldwide Brands is a directory of wholesale companies and dropshipping suppliers. You can access over 16 million products in various categories, from clothing and accessories to electronics and toys by just paying a one-time fee of $299. Worldwide Brands is ideal for you if you want to start or grow your online store and need a reliable source of suppliers. You can also benefit from the customer support, market research tools, and educational resources that Worldwide Brands provides.
In contrast, AliExpress is an online marketplace in China that sells products from millions of sellers around the world. You can find almost anything on AliExpress, from fashion and beauty to home and garden. The prices are usually very low, but the quality and delivery time may vary depending on the seller. AliExpress also allows dropshipping, but you need to use additional software or plugins to automate and scale your process. Choose AliExpress if you are a buyer who wants to buy cheap goods for personal use or test different products for your online store.
So, who wins here? The answer depends on your needs and preferences. If you are looking for a platform that offers a wide range of verified and high-quality products, excellent customer service, and valuable business tools, then Worldwide Brands is the winner. If you are looking for a platform that offers a huge variety of cheap and diverse products, fast shipping, and easy dropshipping, then AliExpress is the winner.
But, wait! Do you know both platforms can serve you in a complementary style?
You don’t have to choose one over the other. You can use both platforms to complement each other and maximize your profits. For example, you can use Worldwide Brands to find reliable suppliers for your core products and use AliExpress to test new products or offer seasonal items. You can also use Worldwide Brands to find niche products that are not available on AliExpress and use AliExpress to find popular products that are in high demand.
Why Choose Worldwide Brands
Who Worldwide Brands Is Best For
Choose Worldwide Brands if you are a buyer or a dropshipper who:
- Wants to start or grow his/her online store and needs a trusted source of suppliers.
- Wants to find niche products that are not available on other platforms like AliExpress or Amazon.
- Is looking for ways to create his/her own brand identity and customer loyalty by using white-label shipping options.
- Wants to tap from the customer support, market research tools, and educational resources that Worldwide Brands provides.
- Is willing to pay a one-time fee of $299 to access the directory and enjoy lifetime product access.
Who Worldwide Brands Is Not Right For
Consider other e-commerce platforms if you are an online shopper who:
- Is not a dropshipper or buyer that buys at wholesale demand.
- Loves buying cheap goods for personal use or testing different products for their online store.
- Prefers popular products that are in high demand or have fast shipping options.
- Wants to avoid dealing with the delivery time and cost variations depending on the supplier and the destination.
- Prefers to handle the inventory, packaging, or shipping himself/herself.
- Is not interested in paying a one-time fee of $299 or prefer a free or subscription-based platform.
Why Choose AliExpress
Who AliExpress Is Best For
Pick AliExpress if you are a buyer who:
- Loves buying cheap goods for personal use or testing different products for their online store.
- Wants to find hot cake products with fast shipping options.
- Does not mind dealing with the delivery time and cost variations depending on the seller and the destination.
- Does not care about the seller’s branding or promotional materials in the package.
- Likes a free or subscription-based platform that does not charge any fees or commissions for buyers.
Who AliExpress Is Not Right For
Opt for other platforms if you are a buyer who:
- Wants to grow his or her online store and needs a reliable source of suppliers.
- Want to find niche products that are not available on other platforms.
- Like to have his or her own brand identity and customer loyalty by using white-label shipping options.
- Enjoys the customer support, market research tools, and educational resources that Worldwide Brands offers
- Takes seriously the quality and legitimacy of the products and services they buy.
Worldwide Brands vs AliExpress: Main Differences
Idea For
Know that these two platforms are excellent at connecting buyers and suppliers. However, choose Worldwide Brands if you value quality over quantity. You can use Worldwide Brands to find suppliers who offer high-quality products that meet your standards and expectations. Yes! You can also avoid scams, frauds, or counterfeit products that may be present on AliExpress. On the hand, AliExpress is capable of serving you with unimaginable convenience in your business. You can use AliExpress to browse through the millions of products and sellers available on the platform and place your orders with a few clicks. You can also use the built-in features and functions that AliExpress provides, such as buyer protection, dispute resolution, and a feedback system. In another instance, choose Worldwide Brands to access suppliers who are ready for a long-term business relationship, while sellers on AliExpress are only ready for a short-term relationship that is highly transactional.
Pricing
With Worldwide Brands, you can access the directory by paying a one-time fee of $299. Although, you may also find a discount offer of $199 on their website, know that it is only a short-term offer and you may not get it at all times. Once you pay the fee, you can enjoy lifetime product access, customer support, market research tools, and educational resources. Nonetheless, if you are a buyer on AliExpress, don’t expect any charges or commissions. But as a seller expect some charges which may vary depending on the product category. You can also use AliExpress for dropshipping, but you need to use additional software or plugins to automate and scale your process.
Accounting Integration
Don’t expect any accounting integration tools or plugins for your e-commerce platform. You need to use third-party accounting software, such as QuickBooks or Xero, to manage your finances. You also need to manually import or export your data between your e-commerce platform and your accounting software. AliExpress offers some accounting integration tools or plugins for some e-commerce platforms, such as Shopify or WooCommerce. You can use these tools or plugins to sync your orders, inventory, and payments between AliExpress and your e-commerce platform. However, you may still need to use third-party accounting software to handle more advanced accounting functions.
Standout Features
One of the major differences you need to keep at the back of your mind when comparing the two platforms is that Worldwide Brands is a supplier platform that offers dropshipping services, while AliExpress is a marketplace that only connects sellers to buyers. While Worldwide Brands charges some amounts to use its services, AliExpress is free to use for you if you are a buyer but ready to pay some dime if you are a seller on AliExpress.
Worldwide Brands vs AliExpress: Standout Features
Worldwide Brands
- Has numerous suppliers with over 16 million products.
- Carries out a strict registration process to verify its customer
- Charges one-time fees of $100 to 299$
- Lacks any accounting integration.
AliExpress
- Is an online marketplace in China
- lacks verification means for its sellers
- Offers international shipping, but the delivery time and cost may vary depending on the seller and the destination
- Doesn’t charge any significant fee
- Offers some accounting integration
Pros and Cons of Worldwide Brands
- Pros
- Offers over 17 million products in different categories
- Offers quality products and legitimate service
- Has on time charges fee that gives you permanent access to its products and services
- Offers white-label shipping options, which means that the supplier will not include any branding or promotional materials in the package.
- Works for both dropshipping and wholesale.
- Cons
- Does not offer any accounting integration features.
- Lacks free trial or refund policy.
- Does not offer any guarantee or warranty for the products or services you buy from its suppliers.
- May lacks accurate information about its suppliers
- Lacks competitiveness in most products
Pros and Cons of AliExpress
- Pros
- Offers a huge variety of products that suit your taste and preferences.
- Offers free services to its buyers
- AliExpress offers some accounting integration tools or plugins for some e-commerce platforms.
- Has a buyer protection
- Cons
- Lacks verification process for its seller.
- Lacks any up-to-date information on its sellers
- Does not offer any customer support or service for buyers.
Worldwide Brands vs AliExpress: Customer Reviews
Worldwide Brands defeats AliExpress in all aspects in this section. For example, Worldwide Brands has been an accredited business on BBB since 2001 and has the highest possible rating on the platform which is A+. Can you imagine that Worldwide Brands has had zero complaints on BBB in the last 4 years? AliExpress is not a BBB-accredited business and has an F rating, in addition to 1,030 complaints in the last 3 years and 477 complaints in the last 12 months.
Likewise, on TrustPilot, Worldwide Brands has a rating of 4.6 stars from 320 reviews, while AliExpress has a rating of 2.6 stars from 136,240 reviews. Although Worldwide Brands doesn’t have a ConsumerAffairs profile, AliExpress fails to capitalize on its absence as the company only makes 1.3 stars from possible 5 stars out of 1019 reviews.
Worldwide Brands and AliExpress Competitors
LightInTheBox
Choose LightInTheBox if you want an online store that sells products from various categories, such as clothing, home improvement, sports, and toys. LightInTheBox also offers international shipping and dropshipping services.
Geekbuying
Geekbuying is an online store that focuses on electronics and gadgets, such as smartphones, laptops, drones, and smart home devices. Select Geekbuying today and get access to dropshipping services and fast delivery options.
SaleHoo
SaleHoo is another directory of wholesale companies and dropshipping suppliers that offers over 2.5 million products in various categories. SaleHoo also provides you access to market research tools, customer support, and educational resources for its members.
DHgate
DHgate is an online marketplace based in China that sells products from millions of sellers around the world. DHgate also allows dropshipping, but you need to use additional software or plugins to automate and scale your process.
JD.com
Do you know JD.com (which many people also refer to as Jingdong) is an e-commerce company operating a platform for wholesale trade? If you pick JD.com as your preferred option, you can get access to a wide range of products, from consumer goods and electronics to fresh food and books.
Pro Tips
Follow these pro tips to successfully choose the right platform for your business.
- Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you want to achieve it with your online business. Do you want to start or grow your online store and need a reliable source of suppliers? Do you want to buy cheap goods for personal use or test different products for your online store? Do you want to use dropshipping as a business model or prefer to handle the inventory, packaging, or shipping yourself? Ensure you provide answers to the above questions.
- Compare the features and functions of each platform to know if they match your needs and preferences.
- Do your research with due diligence before buying or selling anything online.
- Use both platforms to complement each other.
Recap
Do you make a good choice? Whatever your choice is, understand that both platforms are great—even though they have their weaknesses and strengths. You may not necessarily have to choose one over another as both platforms can work hand in hand for your online business. However, don’t forget you need to do your own research and due diligence before buying or selling anything online.
