What people search for
Semrush records about 1,000 searches a month worldwide for "AliExpress spreadsheet". Google's autocomplete for the US, Italy and France (6 October 2026) shows what people add to it: “aliexpress spreadsheet”, “aliexpress spreadsheet eu”, “aliexpress spreadsheet uk”, “aliexpress spreadsheet pdf”, “spreadsheet for aliexpress”, “aliexpress best spreadsheet”, “aliexpress spreadsheet 2026”, “aliexpress tech spreadsheet”, “aliexpress spreadsheet 2025”, “aliexpress golf spreadsheet”, “aliexpress drip spreadsheet”, “aliexpress vape spreadsheet”.
Two direct-shipping marketplaces
AliExpress, owned by Alibaba Group, and DHgate, founded in Beijing in 2004, are the two big Chinese marketplaces that sell to overseas buyers directly. Both let you pay in your own currency and have sellers ship to your door, so neither needs a shopping agent. They differ in who they are built for. AliExpress is retail first: single items, standardised listings, frequent platform-wide sales and coupons. DHgate began as a wholesale platform and still shows it: tiered prices for multiples, more negotiation with sellers and more variation between shops.
AliExpress compared with DHgate
| DHgate | AliExpress | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Small wholesale and single buyers | Retail buyers |
| Prices on multiples | Tiered discounts common | Usually per item |
| Shipping | Each seller ships separately | Many items ship via its own logistics, some consolidated |
| Protection | Escrow until delivery, disputes | Buyer protection with refund for non-delivery or not-as-described |
| Coupons | Periodic sales and new-user coupons | Very frequent coupons and platform sales |
| Trustpilot (dhgate.com, 6 Oct 2026) | 1.5 / 5, about 34,000 reviews | Not compared here |
AliExpress is often easier for single retail items; DHgate can be cheaper for multiples from one seller.
Coupon spreadsheets
Autocomplete suggests "aliexpress coupon spreadsheet" and "aliexpress codes spreadsheet". These lists collect seller and platform codes with expiry dates. They save money when they are current, but codes expire quickly and many lists are copied without checking. Check the code at checkout before planning an order around it. DHgate has similar store coupons; in both cases, bundling items from one seller to hit a minimum spend is usually where the saving comes from.
Clothes and electronics lists
"Aliexpress clothes spreadsheet reddit" and "aliexpress electronics spreadsheet" reflect the same categories people search on DHgate. The advice carries over: size clothing by centimetre measurements, as on our clothing page, and treat chargers and batteries with caution, as on the electronics page. AliExpress has more branded electronics from Chinese makers selling under their own names, which is a legitimate and often good-value category on both platforms.
The dropshipping spreadsheet question
"Aliexpress dropshipping spreadsheet" is a common suggestion. Dropshipping means listing a product in your own shop and having the supplier ship directly to your customer. It is legal, but it carries real obligations: you are the seller to your customer, responsible for product safety, delivery promises and returns, and in the UK and EU for consumer rights. Long China shipping times and quality variation lead to complaints and payment-provider holds. Branded items are off limits entirely. Our reselling page covers margins and rules; this site does not run a dropshipping programme.
Shipping and duty
Duty applies to both platforms equally. US parcels owe duty on every order since 29 August 2025; UK consignments up to £135 have VAT charged at checkout; Australian orders up to A$1,000 have GST collected at checkout; EU orders, including the Netherlands, pay VAT from the first euro and, since 1 July 2026, €3 per item category under €150. AliExpress's consolidated shipping can reduce the number of parcels, which matters under per-parcel or per-category charges. See the Netherlands page.
Which to use for a spreadsheet find
If a find exists on both, compare the delivered price including tax, the seller's record and the shipping method. For one item, the cheaper delivered price wins. For several items from different sellers, AliExpress's consolidated shipping or an agent route for Taobao items often beats several separate DHgate parcels. The calculator helps with the comparison.
Seller vetting on AliExpress
The same checks as our DHgate seller checklist work: store age, recent photo reviews, and answers inside the platform's own chat. AliExpress shows a store's positive feedback percentage and follower count, which are quick first filters.
Archive and style lists
Autocomplete also shows "aliexpress archive spreadsheet" and "drip" style lists, curated around fashion aesthetics rather than categories. Treat them like any shared list: check the date, open a sample of links, and look for buyer photos.
Disputes on AliExpress and DHgate
Both platforms hold your money until delivery and let you open a dispute. AliExpress's process is more standardised, with fixed protection periods and a clear path for non-delivery refunds; DHgate's starts with negotiation between buyer and seller, then escalates to mediation. On both, photos taken on arrival, measurements against the seller's chart and keeping all messages on the platform decide the outcome. Neither refunds goods seized by customs as trademark-infringing.
Delivery times
AliExpress's own logistics often deliver faster than DHgate's economy lines, especially where it has local warehouses or partnerships. DHgate sellers vary: some offer fast couriers at a price, many default to slow economy post. If timing matters, compare the delivery estimate at checkout rather than the listing headline.
Using both alongside an agent
Many buyers end up with three channels: AliExpress or DHgate for single direct-shipped items, and an agent for Taobao and Weidian hauls. Keep a single sheet listing every find with its platform, using our template, so you can see which channel each item belongs in.
FAQ
Does AliExpress require a shopping agent?
No. AliExpress sellers ship internationally, like DHgate.
Is AliExpress cheaper than DHgate?
For single retail items often similar or cheaper with coupons; for multiples, DHgate's tiered prices can win.
Are AliExpress coupon spreadsheets reliable?
Codes expire quickly; check each at checkout.
Is dropshipping from AliExpress legal?
Yes for unbranded goods, but you take on seller obligations to your customers.
Do AliExpress orders pay customs?
Yes, under the same rules as DHgate orders in each country.
Is AliExpress faster than DHgate?
Often, through its own logistics; compare delivery estimates at checkout.
Can I use AliExpress and DHgate coupons together?
No; each platform's coupons apply only on that platform.