Should you buy on Alibaba or 1688? What is the difference between 1688 and Alibaba?
Alibaba and 1688 are consistently the two most mentioned platforms when it comes to wholesale sourcing. Both belong to the Alibaba Group ecosystem, boasting a massive supplier base and competitive pricing. However, many individuals and businesses still wonder: should they buy from Alibaba or 1688, and which platform is better suited to their business model?
General Overview of Alibaba and 1688
What is Alibaba?
What is Alibaba?
Alibaba.com is an international e-commerce marketplace operating primarily on a B2B model and expanding into B2C. This platform was built to bridge Chinese and international manufacturers and suppliers with businesses and importers worldwide.
The biggest advantage of Alibaba lies in its support for international buyers, featuring a multi-language interface, flexible international payment methods, and many suppliers who are experienced in working with foreign clients. Products on Alibaba are typically geared toward export standards, come with clear certifications, and are suitable for businesses importing in bulk for international markets.
What is 1688?
What is 1688?
1688.com is a domestic Chinese wholesale e-commerce site, also part of the Alibaba Group, but designed primarily for the internal market. This platform focuses heavily on the B2B model, directly connecting factories, manufacturers, and wholesale warehouses with buyers.
The hallmark of 1688 is its exceptionally low factory-direct wholesale prices, flexible order quantities, and an incredibly diverse range of goods. From fashion, accessories, and household items to industrial materials, decor, and machinery… almost every industry can be found on 1688. However, since it targets domestic users, the platform requires buyers to have an Alipay account and a delivery address within China.
Similarities between Alibaba and 1688
Despite their different orientations, Alibaba and 1688 share many similarities as part of the Alibaba Group ecosystem. Both are leading wholesale platforms that connect buyers directly with suppliers, helping to eliminate intermediaries and optimize import costs.
The product range on both Alibaba and 1688 is vast, covering nearly every sector from consumer goods to industrial equipment. Prices are lower than retail, and both offer buyer protection policies and supplier verification to reduce transaction risks. This is also why both platforms are highly regarded for sourcing Chinese goods to Vietnam.
How do Alibaba and 1688 differ?
How do Alibaba and 1688 differ?
The primary difference between Alibaba and 1688 lies in their target market and operational flow.
Alibaba targets international customers, supporting multiple languages and various international payment methods such as credit cards, T/T transfers, PayPal… and offers integrated international shipping services. Prices on Alibaba are generally higher than 1688 due to quality standards and the costs of serving a global market.
Conversely, 1688 focuses entirely on the Chinese domestic market. Prices on 1688 are often considerably cheaper because goods are sourced directly from factories without export overheads. However, foreign buyers face barriers in language, Alipay payments, and logistics, as most shops only ship domestically within China.
Regarding order quantities, Alibaba usually requires a higher MOQ, making it suitable for large-scale imports. Meanwhile, 1688 allows for very small orders, even from 1–10 items, making it convenient for sampling or small-scale businesses.
Should you buy on Alibaba or 1688?
There is no “absolutely better” platform; it depends entirely on your sourcing goals.
If you are a business targeting international markets, require export-standard goods, need easy payment options, and want direct shipping to Vietnam, Alibaba is the safer and more convenient choice.
On the contrary, if you want to source domestic Chinese goods at the lowest factory prices, need to test samples, run a small business, or want to optimize input costs, 1688 is the more suitable platform—provided you have an effective solution for local payment and shipping in China.
In practice, many businesses in Vietnam combine both Alibaba and 1688, leveraging the strengths of each platform for different product categories.
Viet Trung Company – Comprehensive and Safe Alibaba & 1688 Sourcing Solution
With over 15 years of experience in China-Vietnam logistics, Viet Trung Company provides a transparent, cost-optimized, and all-in-one sourcing service from Alibaba and 1688. We accompany our clients from sourcing, price negotiation, ordering, and payment proxy to official customs-cleared shipping to Vietnam in just 3–5 days.
Viet Trung Company helps clients eliminate barriers regarding language, Alipay payments, or domestic China shipping. Every order is inspected at our China warehouse before being shipped to Vietnam, with transparent tracking and a clear commitment to costs.
Contact Information:
VIET TRUNG TRADE PROMOTION COMPANY
Vietnam Office
- Hanoi Office: 189 Quan Hoa Street, Nghia Do Ward, Hanoi
- Da Nang Office: 2nd Floor, Savico Building, 66 Vo Van Tan Street, Thanh Khe Ward, Da Nang City
- Ho Chi Minh City Office: 264-264A Nguyen Thai Binh, Bay Hien Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
China Office
- Warehouse 17/2, Da Sha Tou, Guangzhou, China
- Jia Yuan Hotel, 405 YanJiang Dong Road, Guangzhou, China
Warehouse System At:
- Guangzhou – Foshan – Dongxing – Pingxiang – Zhejiang – Chongqing – Beijing – Shanghai
Contact Phone Numbers:
- Northern Region: 0965551166
- Central Region: 0935131816
- Southern Region: 0935086838
- China: 0086 13710964989
- Complaint: 0977 96 96 66
Với hơn 15 năm kinh nghiệm.Việt Trung Company tự hào là đơn vị nhập & vận chuyển hàng Trung Quốc chính ngạch TRỌN GÓI, NHANH CHÓNG, MINH BẠCH. Quý khách chỉ cần cung cấp nhu cầu (loại hàng, số lượng, ngân sách), phần còn lại chúng tôi sẽ xử lý A–Z từ: tìm nguồn hàng/xưởng uy tín, so sánh giá, chốt đơn, thanh toán an toàn, kiểm tra hàng, đóng gói và vận chuyển về Việt Nam, giao tận nơi. Giấy tờ và thuế phí hợp pháp để Quý vị an tâm kinh doanh.