AliExpress

AliExpress remains one of the largest online marketplaces in the world in 2026. The platform launched in 2010 and belongs to the Chinese Alibaba Group. Unlike a classic online store, most products are not sold by AliExpress itself but by thousands of independent merchants, brands and manufacturers. That is exactly why you will find an enormous selection and very low prices here, but also significant differences in product quality, shipping and the approach of individual sellers.

The best AliExpress coupons and current promotions

The biggest advantage of AliExpress is its regular sales and coupons, which can cut prices by tens of euros. Deal Planet tracks global and local coupons for your country, time-limited Promo Codes, Choice Day, Brand Day, Anniversary Sale, Summer Sale, 11.11 and Black Friday. The coupon is entered in the last step of the order and usually has a minimum purchase value. As a rule, one main promo code can be used per order, and it can be combined with the seller's automatic discount, coins or the sale price.

What is AliExpress Choice?

You will now see the AliExpress Choice label on a large share of the best-selling products. It is not a single specific seller but a logistics and service program in which AliExpress takes greater control over warehousing, order processing and shipping. Alibaba describes this service as "Fulfilled by AliExpress", so the seller can focus mainly on supplying the goods while the platform handles most of the ordering process.

Choice products often offer combined shipping, faster processing, a guaranteed delivery date and free shipping once your cart passes a certain value. The exact conditions vary by country, product and current campaign, so always follow the details shown directly at checkout.

Delivery to your country is much faster now

The days when every AliExpress parcel took two months to arrive are mostly over. Choice shipments and AliExpress Standard Shipping tend to be consolidated through the Cainiao logistics network, and delivery often takes roughly 7 to 15 business days. Cheaper shipments from independent sellers can still travel for several weeks. The safest choice is tracked shipping with a clearly stated delivery date.

For more expensive products, it pays to look for delivery from Poland, Germany, Spain, France or the Czech Republic. Goods from a European warehouse have already been imported into the EU, so you generally do not deal with import VAT or customs clearance. Delivery can take roughly 2 to 7 business days, although the product selection in EU warehouses is still smaller than when shipping directly from China.

VAT and the new €3 customs fee from July 2026

For orders from China, AliExpress usually collects local VAT during payment through the IOSS system. From 1 July 2026, however, the EU introduced a temporary customs fee of €3 per item in shipments worth up to €150 arriving from countries outside the European Union. The measure is set to apply until 1 July 2028, when it is due to be replaced by a new customs system based on standard rates by product type.

AliExpress may include this fee directly in the order price or show it separately in the cart. For orders from European warehouses, the new import fee does not apply, since the goods are already inside the EU. For products over €150, the customs tariff of the specific category applies and customs clearance may be required.

How to pick reliable sellers?

When shopping, do not look at the lowest price alone. What matters is the number of units sold, the product rating, the age of the store and real photos from customers. For electronics, we recommend official brand stores or sellers with thousands of orders. A 4.8 rating on a product with ten reviews does not necessarily mean more than a 4.6 rating on a product with tens of thousands of orders.

Also carefully check the selected variant, accessories and warehouse. Some sellers show the price of the cheapest cable or spare part in the listing preview, even though the main product costs considerably more. With smartphones, verify whether it is the global or Chinese version, the supported frequency bands, system language, Google services and how the warranty is handled.

Claims, disputes and returning goods

If a product does not arrive, is damaged or does not match the description, the issue is resolved through the order using the Return/Refund option. The most important thing is to have solid evidence. For a more expensive product, we recommend filming the entire unboxing including the shipping label, packaging and first power-on. Complement a photo of the damaged item with a short video where the problem is clearly visible.

AliExpress may decide on a full refund, a partial refund or a product return. The "Free Return" conditions are not shown identically on every order in 2026, and a free return label may not be available in all cases. Many users describe smooth returns, but there are also experiences with paid return postage or lengthy evidence gathering.

Product safety and customer protection in the EU

In the European Union, AliExpress is classified as a very large online platform and is subject to the Digital Services Act. In June 2025, the European Commission accepted the platform's commitments on better merchant verification, more transparent advertising and easier reporting of illegal products. For products that can affect health or safety (children's items, helmets, cosmetics, chargers), we recommend extra caution.

Payments and protecting your money

The most practical option is paying by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, if the option is shown in your account. The money does not go straight to the seller — the order stays covered by the platform's system until delivery is confirmed. Never send money to a seller outside AliExpress; by paying off-platform you lose access to the internal dispute process.

Pros and cons of AliExpress

The biggest positives remain the enormous product range, competition between sellers and low prices. Choice logistics, EU warehouses and regular coupons have moved the shopping experience much closer to classic European online stores. The downsides include uneven seller quality, less predictable claims handling and the risk of expensive return shipping.