Alibaba is an excellent solution to import products from China – you have access to thousands of suppliers who can produce almost every product that exists.
But what if there are Alibaba alternatives that are better for your business? Alternatives with more high-quality suppliers? Or alternatives with more local suppliers?
In this post, we will introduce you to the top 18 Alibaba alternatives for 2023. Plus, we will also share some valuable information on how to source your products.
Why Should You Buy From Sites Like Alibaba?
Before we look at the best sites like Alibaba, it’s important to understand why you should source products from such marketplaces. Here are the most important benefits:
- Marketplaces allow you to explore thousands of high-quality suppliers
- Sites like Alibaba offer payment protection in case a supplier fails to honor agreements
- Suppliers from China can offer products at a lower price because they have lower wages (only for Chinese marketplaces)
- Chinese manufacturers can deliver large order quantities in a short amount of time
- Nowadays, Chinese manufacturers produce high-quality products
Basically, these are the reasons why sites like Alibaba are so popular and why you should look for suppliers on these platforms.
Why Should You Look at Alibaba Alternatives?
Alibaba is the most popular B2B marketplace to source products from China and offers some significant advantages like Alipay to protect customers. In most cases, Alibaba is the first choice for ecommerce businesses and Amazon Sellers. So, why should you look at alternatives to Alibaba?
Here are the top reasons why you should explore other sites like Alibaba to find the best supplier for your business:
- If you search for products only on Alibaba, you will find the same products as other businesses because everyone searches for products on Alibaba
- You can probably get a better price or quality for a product
- You might want to look for local suppliers to reduce shipping costs
- There is probably a more comprehensive selection of products on another marketplace
These are only the most important reasons why you should check out other sites like Alibaba. Basically, you should look at all alternatives because you don’t want to limit yourself to one marketplace.
The Top Alibaba Alternatives for 2023
GlobalSources
GlobalSources is probably Alibaba’s most significant competitor and works quite similarly. The platform is entirely in English, and you can find manufacturers from all over the world.
However, there’s a difference between Alibaba and Global Sources. On GlobalSources, you can find more real manufacturers instead of so-called “Trading Companies” because the admission procedure is stricter.
You can’t see the prices for all products, so sometimes you have to contact a supplier to get them. Keep in mind that Alibaba’s prices are often incorrect.
Pros:
- Wide range of products
- Regular trade fairs and events
- Quality control
Cons:
- Mainly suppliers from China and Asia
- Can be expensive for small companies
- Higher Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs)
DHGate
DHGate not only looks similar to Alibaba, but it also works like Alibaba. On the platform, there are products of all kinds, and the prices are pretty similar to those on Alibaba. You can also contact suppliers and negotiate with them.
Pros:
- Purchase of small quantities possible
- Versatile product range
- Secure payment and delivery process
Cons:
- Quality varies greatly between suppliers
- Product counterfeiting can occur
- Communication barriers with some suppliers
Supplier Database
Jungle Scout’s Supplier Database is the absolute best alternative to Alibaba. You can search the database for high-quality manufactures and get valuable insights such as customer volume or confirmed shipments.
You can also manage quotes and generate purchases directly within the Supplier Database.
Definitely check out all features here.
Pros:
- Targeted search possible
- Allows comparison of different suppliers
- Supplier search via ASINs
Cons:
- Not suitable for complex procurements
- Timeliness of data can vary
- Often requires additional research
all.biz
all.biz is an online B2B marketplace with lots of suppliers from Europe. The company provides different subdomains for most countries, which makes it easier to navigate through the marketplace. You can also choose between various currencies.
Pros:
- Wide product range
- Multilingual platform
- User-friendly interface
Cons:
- Less well-known than other B2B platforms
- May not be suitable for companies with limited resources
- May have regional limitations
Chinabrands
Chinabrands is also an excellent alternative to Alibaba. Chinabrands offers not only a vast selection of products but also a dropshipping service.
Pros:
- Wide variety of products
- Dropshipping support
- Worldwide shipping
Cons:
- Might not be suitable for companies with their own supply chains
- Quality can vary
- Slow deliveries in some cases
Lightinthebox
Lightinthebox is a B2B marketplace with more than 60,000 products, including electronics, toys, furniture, clothing, and many other things.
Pros:
- Wide range of fashion and lifestyle products
- Global shipping of products
- Many payment options, including credit cards, PayPal and Klarna
Cons:
- High shipping costs in some cases
- Quality can be inconsistent
- Return policies can be restrictive
Made in China
Made in China exclusively offers products from Asia. You can also contact individual manufacturers and negotiate with them. Compared to other B2B marketplaces, you will find reasonable Minimum-Order-Quantities.
Pros:
- Comprehensive database of Chinese suppliers
- Supports quality certificates
- Tools and resources that can help with sourcing products
Cons:
- Might not be suitable for companies with their own supply chains
- Quality variance between suppliers
- Focus on Chinese suppliers
1688
1688 is only available in Chinese and is aimed at the Asian market. However, this should not stop you from contacting one of the manufacturers on 1688.com. Since Asian resellers and manufactors are much more price-sensitive than European ones, they are more price-flexible.
Pros:
- Many Chinese suppliers
- Products are often cheaper
- Subsidiary of Alibaba
Cons:
- Mainly for the domestic Chinese market
- May not be suitable for business with limited language skills
- Quality differences between suppliers
IndiaMART
IndiaMART is one of the largest B2B marketplaces in India. As the Indian supplier market becomes more interesting, especially as an alternative to the Asian market, IndiaMarket is worth a look.
Pros:
- Large database of Indian suppliers
- Various product categories
- User friendly platform
Cons:
- Focus on the Indian domestic market
- Quality of suppliers can vary
- Requires careful supplier selection
TradeIndia
TradeIndia is another Alibaba alternative from India, and it’s beneficial for businesses related to textile/clothing. If you’re interested in the Indian supplier market, you should also check out TradeIndia.
Pros:
- Extensive supplier directory
- Provides useful market information
- Trusted platform
Cons:
- Focus on the Indian domestic market
- Quality variance among suppliers
- Website can appear cluttered
EC21
A B2B marketplace with mainly Korean suppliers – but there are also suppliers from China or the USA. What’s helpful is that you can filter suppliers by country.
Pros:
- Global B2B portal
- Multi-language support
- Easy handling and search
Cons:
- Quality variance with suppliers
- Sometimes insufficient product information
ECPlaza
A South Korean company owns ECPlaza. It’s a B2B Marketplace with suppliers from all over the world.
Pros:
- Broad base of suppliers and buyers worldwide
- Diverse product categories
- Provides marketing services to suppliers
Cons:
- Some unverified suppliers
- Confusing website design for new users
eWorldTrade
eWorldTrade was founded in 2006 and is based in Dallas, Texas. It’s one of the largest B2B marketplaces for electronic devices.
Pros:
- Verified suppliers
- User friendly interface
- Integrated purchase process
Cons:
- Fewer suppliers compared to other platforms.
- Technical issues on the platform can occur
Quality Trade is an exclusive B2B marketplace for ISO-certified companies, making it an excellent alternative to Alibaba.
Pros:
- Certification of suppliers
- User friendly platform
- Focuses on B2B market
Cons:
- Limited number of suppliers and products
- Main focus on Australian and New Zealand companies
- Not as well known as other platforms
Thomas Net
Thomas Net has been serving the needs of B2B buyers for 120 years now. On the platform, you can find manufacturers, resellers and service companies such as marketing agencies.
Pros:
- North American manufacturers and service providers
- Detailed supplier profiles and ratings
- Long history and good reputation
Cons:
- Focuses primarily on the U.S.
- No integrated buying process
- Some industries may be underrepresented
Europages
Europages is not a B2B marketplace but rather a business directory. It lists companies from Europe. The website is available in any language.
Pros:
- Extensive database of European companies
- Support of multiple languages
- Different business areas
Cons:
- Sometimes outdated entries
- Main focus on Europe
SoloStocks
SoloStocks is the leading online sales portal for businesses in Spain and has a strong international presence, especially in Latin America.
Pros:
- Focus on Spanish-speaking markets
- Different product categories
- Direct connection between buyer and seller
- Translation feature for non-Spanish speakers
Cons:
- Main focus on Spain and Latin America
- Some product categories are underrepresented
China.cn
China.cn is a B2B marketplace with only Chinese suppliers. It’s nearly the same as 1688.com, but you can also view the site in English.
Cons:
- Official trading platform of China Internet Information Center.
- Verified Chinese suppliers
- Diverse product categories
- Tools and resources to select suppliers with high quality
Pros:
- Main focus on the Chinese market
- Potential communication barriers
Summary
Alibaba has established itself as one of the dominant platforms in the B2B segment. However, there are a multitude of other marketplaces that may be more specialized and potentially advantageous for certain business models in specific areas and regions.
Here’s a list of the best Alibaba alternatives for 2023:
- GlobalSources: Known for its wide range of products, especially in the electronics sector
- DHGate: Ideal for purchasing individual items and small quantities
- Supplier Database: Allows for targeted supplier search
- all.biz: An international marketplace offering a variety of products and services
- Chinabrands: A platform specializing in dropshipping
- Lightinthebox: A leading platform for fashion and lifestyle products
- Made in China: A portal covering a large portion of the Chinese manufacturer market
- 1688: Alibaba’s B2B trading platform for the Chinese domestic market
- IndiaMart & TradeIndia: Two leading marketplaces for Indian suppliers and products
- eWorldTrade, EC21 and ECPlaza: Global B2B platforms offering a wide range of products and services
- QualityTrade: Specialized in high-quality products and suppliers
- ThomasNet: The go-to resource for North American manufacturers and service providers
- Europages: A central portal for European businesses and suppliers
- Solostocks: A key player in the Spanish-speaking market
- China.cn: Another trusted source for Chinese suppliers
If you’re looking for the B2B marketplace that’s best suited for your business, it’s recommended to take a closer look at the specifics and strengths of each platform and possibly test them in a pilot phase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Finding the best suppliers on Alibaba isn’t easy. However, there’s a tool called Helium 10 Chrome Extension that can help you with it.
You can also do product research with it, and check the demand and competition of products.
If you know what product you want to source, you can search for that product on Amazon.
Let’s say you want to source a garlic press. Type “garlic press” into the Amazon search bar…
Once the Amazon search results appear, start the Helium 10 Chrome Extension.
This is where the fun starts. Click on “Find Suppliers on Alibaba” to display the search results for the same keyword on Alibaba.
You can then narrow down the search results by setting some filters…
This is the best way to find a suitable supplier on Alibaba.
Use this 50% discount to try Helium 10 for one month or sign up for free. If you sign up for free, you’ll have limited uses. After you’ve signed up, head over to Black Box:
Then, set all the parameters to find high demand and low competition products. Here are some parameters that can indicate high demand and low competition:
- Revenue: High revenue implies high-demand
- Reviews: Few reviews means low competition
- Sales Year Over Year: High growth indicates a trend product
- Number of Images: Low number of images indicates low competition
You can enter your desired values into the Helium 10 Black Box and the tool will show you all products with these values. You can then sort the list according to your preferences:
If you want to sell on Amazon, you need to source products… and Alibaba is the largest online marketplace to find professional suppliers.
There are some benefits of Alibaba, which include:
- Ability to source private label products
- Lower manufacturing costs
- Increased control over product packaging
- Lower Minimum Order Quantities
- A wide range of suppliers
- One-stop-shop
There are lots of reasons why you should source your products in China:
- Wages are lower
- Materials are cheap
- Lower compliance
- Expansive supplier base
- Excellent product quality
- Manufactures deal with the buyer directly
- Low Minimum Order Quantities
There might be a few reasons why you want to use another option instead of Alibaba:
- There are lots of middle men on Alibaba, who usually offer higher prices than the real manufacturer
- Some trading companies or manufacturers may provide a low quality
- A lot of businesses source their products on Alibaba, so it will be hard for you to differentiate your product from the other ones
- If you rely on Alibaba, you’ll never find other reliable (perhaps better) suppliers who are not on Alibaba
Here are some Indian equivalents of Alibaba:
- TradeIndia
- Indiamart
- ExportersIndia
- Wholesalebox
- MilMila
- E-IndiaWholesale
- Tradeford
Yes. Alibaba also offers Trade Assurance.
When you’re searching for suppliers on Alibaba, you need to look for suppliers who offer Trade Assurance. You can easily find them by looking for the Trade Assurance symbol.
Keep in mind that Trade Assurance is only enforced when you pay online via Alibaba.com.
If there’s an issue with your order, you can request a refund within 30 days of product delivery.
Here’s a video about Alibaba Trade Assurance which you should check out.
One cannot claim that one of the marketplaces is better. Alibaba is a Business-to-Business marketplace. AliExpress is mainly a Business-to-Customer marketplace. Thus, Alibaba is more suited for businesses and AliExpress is more suited for private customers.
Alibaba is not a wholesaler. Alibaba.com is just a platform on which many different wholesalers can offer their products. There are also other wholesalers that do not offer their products on Alibaba.
The best opportunity to find suppliers outside of China is to go to local trade fairs. You can visit trade fairs in the US, the European Union or in India.
No. There are primarily manufacturers from India on Alibaba, but there are also manufacturers from other countries like India. Here’s a blog post from Alibaba that describes how to find Indian Suppliers on Alibaba.
