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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

AliExpress vs eBay online shopping & selling

AliExpress 4.7★ · Free to download 75
Winner AliExpress
eBay online shopping & selling 4.8★ · Free to download 40

AliExpress is the better choice for buyers seeking low prices and a wide variety of goods, despite potential customer service and return issues, while eBay struggles with app stability, high seller fees, and a problematic user interface.

Full reviews: AliExpress · eBay online shopping & selling

AliExpress offers great value and a vast selection, with many users praising fast delivery and product quality, though some report issues with customer service and returns. eBay, despite its long history, is currently plagued by app instability, high seller fees, and a heavily criticized user interface, making it a frustrating experience for both buyers and sellers.

Head to head

Features & Product Variety edge: AliExpressR6R8R39R48
AliExpress AliExpress is praised for its extensive range of products, from irrigation systems to iPad accessories, offering top-notch products from verifiable suppliers R6. Users appreciate finding quality products at a fraction of the price R8 and a wide variety of items, including specific collectibles R39. The app also offers games and incentives for discounts R48.
eBay online shopping & selling eBay is recognized for its ability to find almost anything, including discontinued favorites and specific collector's items like Pokemon cards . However, recent updates have removed useful features like searching sold/completed listings and the AI assistant for listing , while pushing unwanted 'eBay Live' content .
Ease of Use & App Experience edge: AliExpressR3R14R16R25
AliExpress AliExpress is generally considered simple and easy to use R14, with some users finding it a 'great app' . However, some find it a 'little difficult to navigate' R25 and complicated R16. There are also reports of the app data growing significantly, consuming a lot of storage R3.
eBay online shopping & selling eBay's app is frequently described as glitchy, slow, and unusable, with many buttons not working and pages failing to load . Recent updates have ruined the user interface, making the home screen 'ugly' and 'unusable' with an oversaturation of irrelevant items and forced 'eBay Live' content . Users also report issues with bidding due to pop-up keypads .
Reliability & Trustworthiness tieR7R10R13R18
AliExpress AliExpress receives mixed reviews on reliability. Many users report receiving exactly what they ordered and are satisfied with product quality . However, there are significant complaints about packages not being delivered and refunds not being issued R7R18. Some users also report issues with returning faulty goods, being forced to pay return postage to China R13R28. Account creation can also be problematic R10.
eBay online shopping & selling eBay faces severe criticism regarding reliability and trustworthiness, particularly for sellers. Sellers report being charged high fees even after cancellations , accounts being suspended without clear reason , and losing money due to scammers who replace items . Buyers also report issues with items not being received despite tracking updates R73 and problems with double payments . The app is also criticized for sales tax fraud .
Price & Value edge: AliExpressR8R22R30R34
AliExpress AliExpress is highly praised for its 'awesome prices' , offering products for a 'fraction of the price' R8 and being 'cheaper' R30. Users frequently mention finding great deals, including items for as low as $0.99 R34. However, some users complain about shipping fees doubling the cost at checkout R22.
eBay online shopping & selling eBay is heavily criticized for its fees, which many sellers describe as 'ridiculous' R63R73R76. Sellers feel they lose money rather than make it R73 and are looking for alternative platforms due to these costs R76. The app also has hidden fees and charges for transferring money to bank accounts .
Customer Service & Support edge: AliExpressR7R13R18R28
AliExpress AliExpress receives mixed feedback on customer service. Some users report positive experiences with communicative vendors and quick responses . However, many users describe customer service as 'very poor' R13, with issues like being unable to return faulty goods without paying for return postage R13R28 and difficulty getting refunds for undelivered packages R7R18.
eBay online shopping & selling eBay's customer support is widely criticized as 'horrible' . Users report an inability to contact human support, being directed to AI assistants or articles that don't solve their problems R94. There are also complaints about customer service not accepting tracking information, leading to sellers not receiving funds R94, and issues with refunds for improperly collected sales tax not being processed .
Pick AliExpress if

Pick AliExpress if you are primarily a buyer looking for a vast selection of products at very low prices, are willing to wait for shipping, and can accept the risk of potential customer service or return challenges R8R30R39.

Pick eBay online shopping & selling if

Pick eBay if you are a collector or buyer looking for specific, often second-hand items that might be hard to find elsewhere, and you are comfortable navigating a potentially buggy app experience .

Evidence note: eBay's recent reviews are heavily skewed negative, particularly concerning app functionality, seller fees, and the new UI. AliExpress reviews are more balanced, with positive comments often focusing on price and delivery speed, while negative comments highlight customer service and return issues.

Frequently asked

Which app is better for sellers?
AliExpress appears to be a better option for sellers, as reviews for eBay frequently mention 'ridiculous' and 'outrageous' fees, with sellers losing money and being charged even for canceled orders R63R73R76. eBay's app is also criticized for making selling difficult with buggy AI tools and a lack of human support R94.
Do these apps have good customer service?
AliExpress has mixed customer service, with some users praising communicative vendors but others reporting 'very poor' service, especially regarding returns and refunds for faulty or undelivered items R7R13R18R28. eBay's customer support is widely described as 'horrible', with users struggling to reach human assistance and being stuck with AI or unhelpful articles R94.
Is shipping fast on these apps?
AliExpress often receives praise for 'fast delivery' R5R30, with some users noting it's 'faster than any other e-shopping site' R6 and even 'faster than anticipated' . However, some users still complain about shipping taking 'sooo long' R26 and requiring patience R39. eBay reviews do not frequently mention shipping speed, but one user complained about a six-day delivery instead of five .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R6] AliExpress 3/5 · US Shopping: Everything from irrigation systems to micro pads for iPad. AliExpress has the best shops. Top notch products from verifiable suppliers who have excellent communication skills with the customer and professional services. Their deliveries are rapid faster than any other e-shopping site. Truly a 21st century online service.
  2. [R8] AliExpress 5/5 · US My go to: I do a lot of purchasing from these guys. Yeah we know where it comes from but I can’t beat the buys. Have definitely received some quality products for a fraction of the price.
  3. [R39] AliExpress 5/5 · US Great app for building blocks and figs!: Have used it many times and have been satisfied with the products. You need to have patience as the products take time to arrive in the US. Worth the wait.
  4. [R48] AliExpress 5/5 · US Deals and Sales Galore: I personally enjoy the app with all its fun little games and incentives to earn ways to get further discounts on top of the already highly discounted products from various vendors and official stores.
  5. [R3] AliExpress 3/5 · US App data grows significantly: Why app consume 800-900MB on ipho storage after few months usage? Right after first install its data and documents size about 60MB and it grows every day
  6. [R14] AliExpress 5/5 · US Simple and easy: I'm really pleased with how simple and easy the vendors have been to work with and the app has been to use
  7. [R16] AliExpress 2/5 · GB Overall…: So complicated, I don’t like to use it , using it because I hope to find something good. Feels like carrot on sticks, but when you get it, carrot tastes dry.
  8. [R25] AliExpress 5/5 · US Great value site: Wonderful site a little difficult to navigate but worth the effort. Very happy with purchases made and very fast shipping, good quality.
  9. [R7] AliExpress 1/5 · US Ali express: Be careful ordering. They will Say the package was delivered but never was. And they will not refund your money .
  10. [R10] AliExpress 1/5 · US Major issue: Tried creating a account for this app but both of them got locked even the mere second I signed in I have never had issues like that before and I believe the app is completely broken
  11. [R13] AliExpress 1/5 · GB Very poor customer service: It is impossible to return faulty goods.They say you can return up to 5 items a month free, but when I tried to return two faulty items I was only allowed to select that I was returning them because I didn’t want them and would have to pay the return postage to china “Self-return “As your return request is due to personal change of mind (e.g., no longer needed, unmet ex
  12. [R18] AliExpress 1/5 · GB A lot of scam, refund and complaints process almost impossible: Ordered a dashcam, seller sends a WhatsApp message asking me to cancel the order, I was charged, 2 time ordered and same seller, same story, when I refused, they updated the status delivered, and the app is just not user friendly
  13. [R22] AliExpress 1/5 · GB Scammers: Won’t use this app again . I’m fairly new to it anyway but I built myself a nice little shopping trolley and when I went to check out it more than doubled with shipping fees . Absolutely ridiculous.. Back to Temu for me
  14. [R30] AliExpress 5/5 · US The app is great: cheaper prices and fast delivery. · translated
  15. [R34] AliExpress 4/5 · US It's good but……..…: The AliExpress shop only has $.99, and it’s so good. I got something and I did a return, but it didn't work out. I love AliExpress, and please make my vid an ad on TikTok: thatgirlleilei. And when I get my packages, I'm going to post one!
  16. [R28] AliExpress 1/5 · GB Deceitful: I bought an electric bike which turned out to be faulty. They told me they would refund the postage once I paid for the return. I paid over £50 and then they refused to refund the money and only offer me coupons which you get free in the app anyway so if they tell you the same I wouldn’t trust them.
  17. [R63] eBay online shopping & selling 3/5 · US Fees: The selling fees these days are truly something to behold
  18. [R73] eBay online shopping & selling 1/5 · US They take WAY too much money from what you earn: eBay you take WAY too much money from what the seller sells😔☹️! Stop taking all of my money, I’ve lost more money selling than I’ve made! And stop letting the buyers say that their items haven’t arrived when the tracking says it has! eBay help out your sellers some!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLUS EBAY LIVE NEVER WORKS And buyers can just say “ item does fit de
  19. [R76] eBay online shopping & selling 1/5 · US Ridiculous fees: Too many problems with the app. Seller fees are outrageous anymore. Looking for somewhere else to start selling my items.
  20. [R94] eBay online shopping & selling 1/5 · US No human contact is offered: Recently not accept the tracking information sold an item and eBay’s tracking system wouldn’t accept the tracking number information. No way to contact a human being so no way to get tracking information to customer. No way for proof of delivery. No way to get the funds eBay owes me. eBay got its money, customer left perfect feedback, but I’m out my money.
  21. [R5] AliExpress 5/5 · US Soo good: Fast delivery
  22. [R26] AliExpress 1/5 · GB Shipping: Man this is so un OG this shipping takes sooo long 1 star

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store