Hey everyone, welcome to another spirited thread! Let’s dive into the great debate: AliExpress or Temu—which one deserves your hard-earned cash this year? I’ve been scouring both apps for the past month, testing prices, delivery times, product quality, and more. Drop your experiences below!

💰 Pricing: Who’s the Real Bargain King?

• AliExpress: Still boasts an insane variety of tiered pricing. You’ll find items as low as $1, but watch out for hidden shipping fees on smaller orders.
• Temu: In 2025, Temu doubled down on flash deals—think “50¢ earbuds” every few hours. Shipping is now often free for orders over $15, making small splurges painless.

DealHunter88: “I snagged a set of silicone baking mats for $2.99 on Temu, free delivery—AliExpress wanted nearly $5 just to ship!”

📦 Delivery & Logistics: Speed vs Reliability

• AliExpress Standard Shipping: Averages 14–20 days globally. The upgraded AliExpress Premium shipping cuts that down to 7–10 days, but it’ll cost you extra.
• Temu Express: Launched early 2025, offering 5–8 day delivery to most urban centers in the US and EU. Rural areas can still see delays up to 14 days.

FastPackFan: “Temu Express is a game-changer. My order from Germany arrived in 6 days—AliExpress took over two weeks for the same seller!”

🔍 Product Quality & Authenticity

Both platforms are notorious for some hit-or-miss items. Here’s what I’ve found in 2025:

• AliExpress: More established vendors with long review histories. You can often sift out the fakes by checking 50+ reviews and detailed buyer photos.
• Temu: Newer marketplace model. They’ve beefed up vetting in 2025, flagging over 30% more counterfeit listings than last year. Still, proceed with caution on “luxury” knock-offs.

💬 Customer Service & Returns

• AliExpress Dispute Center: Robust but sometimes bureaucratic. Refunds typically take 7–14 days after approval.
• Temu Guarantee: Launched “Instant Refund” pilot in Q1 2025. Claims approved within 24 hours, with money back in your account in 3–5 business days.

RefundQueen: “Temu refunded me instantly when my sunglasses arrived scratched. AliExpress took two weeks and multiple chats!”

📱 App UX & Features

• AliExpress App: Clean interface, AI-powered recommendations, and “Group Buy” deals where you can team up with friends for extra discounts.
• Temu App: Gamified shopping—spin-to-win coupons, daily check-in rewards, and social sharing for bonus credits. Feels more like a mini-game than a store.

🏆 Verdict: Which App Should You Use?

If you’re a bargain hunter after ultra-cheap peripheral items and don’t mind a bit of gamble on quality, Temu is your playground in 2025. Their free-ish shipping and rapid refunds make low-cost shopping risk-light.

But if you need consistency, vendor transparency, and don’t mind paying a few extra bucks for peace of mind, AliExpress remains the veteran champ. Their established seller base and detailed review system can save you headaches down the line.

🗣️ Over to You!

Which app are you leaning towards in 2025? Got horror stories or jackpot finds? Share below, and let’s help each other score the best deals this year!