Many people now want to buy things from 1688 because they believe there are better prices than Alibaba. Today, I’ll show you the differences between 1688 and Alibaba, then you’ll know if it’s the right fit for your China sourcing.
- What is 1688?
- Is 1688 the same as Alibaba？
- Why 1688 looks cheaper？
- Do most 1688 sellers sell internationally on Alibaba?
- 1688 vs Alibaba: any language difference?
- How to translate 1688 app to English？
- 1688 vs Alibaba in payment methods
- 1688 vs Alibaba in international shipping
- How to download the 1688 app？
- How to register and use the 1688 app?
What is 1688?
1688 is China’s largest local B2B wholesale platform, hosting millions of manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors. You can find various product categories there, from daily goods to large industrial items like production and agricultural equipment. Currently, it is available in both web and app versions.
Is 1688 the same as Alibaba？
Both are wholesale websites, but 1688 is focused on the Chinese domestic market, while Alibaba serves global buyers. Alibaba is usually the first choice for importing from China, thanks to the comprehensive protections it offers buyers, such as secure payment, reliable shipping, and platform guarantees.
Let me show you how 1688 works, and you’ll soon see why most buyers avoid it.
Why 1688 looks cheaper？
1688 prices may seem low, but that’s often just the factory or wholesale price, excluding international shipping, customs duties, insurance, and other export costs. In contrast, Alibaba quotes cover these costs upfront, so the price looks higher.
For buyers, Alibaba isn’t about paying more—it’s about buying security and peace of mind. The platform offers trade assurance, supplier verification, dispute resolution, and after-sales support that helps reduce risks. These services ensure consistent product quality, reliable delivery schedules, and stable long-term partnerships, which are far more valuable than a small difference in unit price.
Do most 1688 sellers sell internationally on Alibaba?
Some 1688 sellers also have an Alibaba profile. Those with export experience or overseas clients use Alibaba for both domestic and international orders. Most suppliers, however, operate exclusively on 1688, focusing on the domestic Chinese market. There is no clear public data on how many suppliers operate on both platforms, and the specific product categories vary by industry.
1688 is only in Chinese, but Alibaba is available in many languages.
Alibaba supports 16 languages, including English, French, and Spanish. You can switch to your native language. Suppliers can also communicate in basic English.
In contrast, 1688 is built for the Chinese domestic market. Its website and app are only in Chinese. About 98% of suppliers don’t speak English, which makes it much harder to use.
- Struggling to communicate with 1688 suppliers?
JingSourcing ensures clear communication, product consolidation, quality inspection, and door-to-door shipping.
How to translate 1688 app to English？
Honestly, it’s fucking awful. Every step feels ridiculously inconvenient.
In 1688 app, you can download translation tools like the classic Google Translate or newer AI tools like Hi Translate. These apps can float on your screen. You select a piece of Chinese text, and a pop-up will show the English translation. Text in images requires screenshots to translate. It doesn’t provide real-time translation for the whole page, which makes it clunky and frustrating to use.
Machine translation can be inaccurate for industry terms and product specs, sometimes causing misunderstandings.
In short, once you’ve used it, it’s completely useless and a total mess.
On a PC, you can install the Google Translate extension on your browser to translate whole web pages. However, you need to run it again for each new page, which is inconvenient. Due to machine translation, the results may not be entirely accurate. Additionally, it can only translate regular text, not text in images, so text within images will remain in Chinese. For example, when viewing product detail pages and factory information that are shown as images, the Chinese text cannot be translated.
1688 vs Alibaba in payment methods
Alibaba is oriented towards an international audience, and most mainstream international payment methods, including visa, PayPal, T/T, etc., can be used on the platform.
Moreover, Alibaba launched trade assurance to protect transactions between buyers and sellers. When you use it, if there are any issues with the suppliers, such as delayed shipments or unsatisfactory product quality, you have the option to raise a dispute or request a refund.
However, 1688 mainly caters to the Chinese market and primarily uses Alipay or online banking (only Chinese bank accounts). Very few sellers who are verified Enterprise Credit (诚信通) members support Cross-border Pay (跨境宝/KJB).
Unlike Alibaba, it doesn’t offer trade assurance. Your funds are not protected by the platform. The safety of your money mainly depends on the seller’s credibility. Most suppliers are reluctant to use PayPal due to high withdrawal fees. For small orders, the fees can easily eat up profits.
1688 vs Alibaba in international shipping
Alibaba has integrated resources from numerous freight agents to facilitate international shipping. You can utilize the platform’s logistics services or those offered by suppliers. Typically, suppliers have established partnerships with freight agents.
However, 1688 suppliers usually arrange domestic Chinese shipping. They often lack experience with international logistics. Their shipments tend to be more expensive, harder to track, and offer little safety guarantee. If something goes wrong, claiming compensation can be difficult.
If you’re buying multiple products from different suppliers, managing everything yourself can be stressful. That’s where a China sourcing agent like JingSourcing comes in. They coordinate suppliers, handle shipping, and make sure everything runs smoothly, without you losing sleep over it.
1688 is hard, JingWholesale makes it simple
- Step 1
Create your account and start sourcing
- Step 2
Add products to your cart
- Step 3
We collect goods and handle QC
- Step 4
We consolidate and ship to your door
How to download the 1688 app？
Android phone
First, check the app store to see if there is a 1688/阿里巴巴 app. Please note that the app’s icon should include ‘1688’, as shown in the image below.
If the app is not available in your app store, you can download it from Google Play. As another option, just search ‘1688 download APK’ on Google and install it on your phone.
iPhone
For iPhones, if you have a Chinese account, you can directly download 1688 from the App Store. The 1688 App is currently not available on App Stores in non-Chinese regions. To download and use it, you must switch your Apple ID to the China mainland region.
How to register and use the 1688 app?
After completing the app download, you need to register before you can use it.
Step 1
Open the 1688 app, click on the agreement to agree, and then locate the registration button at the bottom.
Step 2
After clicking, the following page will appear. Click again for registration.
Step 3
Click on “个人账号注册”.
Step 4
Select your country or region. 1688 supports mobile number registration for many countries, such as Canada, the United States, Australia, and more. Since the country names are in Chinese, it might be challenging to locate yours, so look for your country’s area code.
After entering your country, input your mobile phone number. Then, check the agreement box and click the orange button to proceed to the next step.
Step 5
Check your phone. You will receive a verification code from 1688 and then enter it. If you haven’t received it after a while, click the text below the arrow to request a new verification code.
After successful verification, you can use the 1688 app normally. The usage of the 1688 app is the same as the Alibaba app. You can search for the products you want through image search or product keywords. Please note that the text you input must be in Chinese.
Before wrapping up
We are a leading sourcing company in Yiwu, China, one of the largest industrial hubs. We have helped over 4,000 overseas clients source products efficiently. Our services cover the entire process, from supplier screening and factory matching to product customization, quality control, and door-to-door shipping.
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