Alibaba vs DHgate vs 1688: Which Platform Should You Use?

You’ve probably already heard of at least two of these three platforms. All three connect buyers to Chinese suppliers. But they serve different buyers, different order sizes, and different risk tolerances.

Choosing the wrong platform wastes time and money. This guide gives you a direct comparison so you can pick the right one for your situation.

What Each Platform Actually Is

Alibaba.com is the international B2B marketplace. It’s built for overseas buyers who need English support, payment protection, and supplier verification. Most listings come from trading companies, not factories. Prices are higher than Chinese domestic platforms because suppliers bake in the cost of dealing with foreign buyers.

DHgate is a B2B and B2C hybrid. It targets smaller buyers and dropshippers who want low minimum orders. You can buy 1 unit on many listings. It’s the most consumer-like of the three platforms, but it also has the highest concentration of counterfeit or low-quality products.

1688.com is the Chinese domestic wholesale platform owned by Alibaba Group. It’s where Chinese businesses buy from Chinese suppliers. Everything is in Mandarin, payment requires Chinese bank accounts, and there’s no foreign buyer support. But it has the lowest prices of the three.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Price Differences

1688 is consistently the cheapest of the three for the same product. Prices run 20% to 40% lower than Alibaba before you add agent fees and domestic shipping.

DHgate pricing is complicated. Unit prices are often higher than Alibaba at equivalent quantities because you’re paying a low-MOQ premium. But for very small test orders where Alibaba won’t go below 200 units, DHgate may be your only option.

Alibaba sits in the middle. It’s not the cheapest, but you get English support, real supplier vetting options, and Trade Assurance protection. For most importers, that price premium is worth it on the first few orders.

Here’s a rough comparison for wireless earbuds (no brand, white-label):

The 1688 advantage grows at higher volumes. At 500 units, the gap can widen to 35% or more.

MOQ Differences

DHgate wins on minimum order quantity. Most listings allow 1 to 10 units. This is useful when you’re testing a new product or need a small ongoing restock.

1688 has lower MOQs than many people expect. It’s common to find listings starting at 10 to 50 units, often lower than Alibaba’s 100 to 500 unit minimums. The caveat is that pricing at the minimum is much higher than at volume.

Alibaba has the highest typical MOQs for electronics. Expect 100 to 500 units as a floor for most electronics categories. MOQs are negotiable, but suppliers will push back if you’re well below their threshold.

Buyer Protection Differences

This is where the platforms differ most sharply.

Alibaba Trade Assurance is the strongest protection of the three. If products don’t match specifications or arrive significantly late, you can file a claim. Quality protection covers up to $30,000 per order. You must pay through Alibaba’s platform to qualify. It’s not perfect, but it’s a real safety net.

DHgate’s Buyer Protection Program covers non-delivery, items significantly different from the listing, and damage reported within 72 hours. In 2025, DHgate resolved about 68% of claims in buyers’ favor. Resolution takes around 11 days on average. Weaker than Alibaba but better than nothing.

1688 has no buyer protection for foreign buyers. You’re paying a Chinese agent who pays the supplier. If something goes wrong, your recourse is limited to whatever relationship you have with your agent. This is why agent selection is so important on 1688.

See our payment methods guide for how to protect yourself when wiring money to suppliers or agents.

Language and Access Barriers

Alibaba and DHgate are both in English. You can search, communicate, pay, and file disputes entirely in English on both platforms.

1688 is Chinese only. Browser translation tools help you read listings, but you can’t communicate with suppliers or pay without either speaking Mandarin or using a sourcing agent. This is a hard barrier, not a minor inconvenience.

If you don’t have an established agent relationship and don’t speak Mandarin, 1688 isn’t practical for you yet. Start with Alibaba and build experience before trying to work with 1688.

Who Should Use Each Platform

Use Alibaba if:

• You’re importing for the first time
• Your order value is $1,000 or more
• You need supplier verification and documentation
• You want the order covered by buyer protection
• You need compliance documents (CE, FCC, RoHS)
• You’re sourcing a new product category

Use DHgate if:

• You need fewer than 50 units
• You’re testing a product before committing to a real supplier
• You want to check market prices before negotiating on Alibaba
• You need something shipped fast without a large minimum

Use 1688 if:

• You have an experienced sourcing agent you trust
• Your order value is large enough to justify agent fees (usually $2,000+)
• You’re reordering a product you’ve already validated
• You want the lowest possible cost and have experience managing the process

The Honest Verdict

For most importers reading this, start with Alibaba. The price premium is real, but so are the protections. Getting burned on your first order because you chased a cheaper platform costs more than the savings you’d get.

Once you know your products, know your supplier types, and have relationships established, try 1688 through a good agent. The savings at scale are significant.

Use DHgate for what it’s actually good at: small test orders and quick restocks when you need flexibility on quantity. Don’t use it for branded electronics or large purchases.

For help verifying any supplier you find on these platforms, read our verify suppliers guide and our quality control guide.

And if you’re just starting out, the beginners guide to importing from China is the right place to start before diving into platform specifics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 1688 cheaper than Alibaba? Yes. Listed prices on 1688 are typically 20% to 40% lower than equivalent products on Alibaba. After adding sourcing agent fees of 3% to 10%, the net savings are usually 15% to 35%. The advantage grows on larger orders where the fixed agent cost is spread across more units.

Is DHgate better than Alibaba? Neither is universally better. DHgate allows much lower order quantities, which is useful for testing. Alibaba has stronger buyer protection, better supplier verification, and lower per-unit prices at volume. Most serious importers use Alibaba for bulk orders and only use DHgate for small test purchases.

Can I use 1688 without speaking Chinese? You can browse 1688 with a browser translation tool, but you can’t pay or communicate with suppliers directly without Chinese language skills or a sourcing agent. Most foreign buyers use a China-based agent who handles everything in Mandarin and pays suppliers in RMB.

Which platform has the best buyer protection? Alibaba has the strongest buyer protection through its Trade Assurance program, covering up to $30,000 per order on quality disputes. DHgate has a moderate buyer protection program that resolves most claims within 11 days. 1688 has no buyer protection for foreign buyers.

What is the minimum order on each platform? DHgate allows 1 unit on many listings. 1688 often starts at 10 to 50 units. Alibaba typically requires 100 to 500 units for electronics, though MOQs are negotiable. DHgate is the best option if you need fewer than 50 units.

Which platform is best for a beginner importer? Alibaba is the best starting point for beginners. It offers English language support, supplier verification badges, Trade Assurance payment protection, and a large supplier pool. The slightly higher prices are worth the reduced risk when you’re learning the process.

Are the same products available on all three platforms? Often yes. The same factory may sell on 1688 at domestic prices and list on Alibaba at higher international prices. Trading companies buy from those same factories and resell on all three platforms. This is why 1688 prices are lower: you’re cutting out the international markup.