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The short version
- 1688.com is Alibaba's wholesale site for buyers inside China. Prices are in yuan and often well below Alibaba.com for the same kind of product, with smaller minimum orders than you might expect.
- There is no full English version, checkout needs an Alipay account verified in mainland China, and sellers ship only inside China. That's why most foreign buyers use a sourcing agent.
- Vet suppliers by their badges: 实力商家 (power merchant), 超级工厂 (super factory), 深度验厂 (on-site factory inspection) and the 回头率 (repeat-buyer rate).
- There is no Trade Assurance on 1688. Order samples, then a small first batch, and have the agent check the goods before they leave China.
What is 1688?
1688 is Alibaba Group's Chinese wholesale marketplace, where factories and wholesalers sell to shops and businesses inside China. It's the domestic sister of Alibaba.com, which serves international buyers in English. Many suppliers list on both, and the 1688 price is usually the lower one because it's aimed at Chinese resellers. In September 2026 Alibaba put 1688 and Alibaba.com under one president, but buying on 1688 from abroad works the same way for now.
| Site | Who it's for | Order size | English | Buyer protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1688 | Businesses in China | From one piece to thousands; price drops by quantity tier | No | Only for buyers in China |
| Alibaba.com | International businesses | Usually larger MOQs | Yes | Trade Assurance |
| AliExpress | Consumers worldwide | One piece | Yes | AliExpress buyer protection |
| Taobao | Consumers in China | One piece | Only in a few markets | Only through the app's own process |
Shopping for yourself rather than for a business? See how to buy from Taobao in English.
Can foreigners buy on 1688 directly?
You can open an account with a foreign phone number and browse with your browser's translation, but three things stop most foreign buyers at checkout:
- Payment: 1688 checkout uses Alipay linked to a mainland China identity. Even WorldFirst, 1688's cross-border payment partner, asks for a mainland-verified Alipay account linked to your 1688 account.
- Shipping: sellers ship to Chinese addresses only, so the goods need a warehouse in China before they can go abroad.
- Language: listings, chat and after-sales are in Chinese.
Alibaba has tested an overseas version of 1688 in a few markets, but it is not widely open to buyers in North America or Europe as of October 2026. In practice, you use a sourcing agent (who buys, checks and ships for you) or a freight forwarder (if a partner in China can pay for you).
How to buy from 1688 with a sourcing agent
- Find productsUse 1688's image search (the camera icon) with a photo of your product, or search with Chinese keywords. Browser translation works well enough for product pages.
- Shortlist three suppliersCompare price tiers, the minimum order (起批量), photos, reviews and the badges below. Save each listing link.
- Brief your agentSend the links, the quantity, colors and sizes, your target price and any custom work, such as your logo or packaging.
- Order samplesAsk for one or two samples (样品) from each supplier. Paying for samples and fast shipping is far cheaper than a bad batch.
- Place a small first orderStart with a quantity you can afford to lose. Ask the agent to confirm the price includes tax (含税) or not, and the lead time.
- Inspect before shippingHave the agent count, photograph and check the goods against the sample, then repack them if needed.
- Ship and clear customsExpress for small orders, air or sea for bigger ones. Our shipping from China guide compares the options.
A good agent works for you, not the supplier. Ask how they're paid: a fixed service fee, a percentage, or commission from suppliers. A percentage of the goods value, commonly around 5 to 10%, is the most common model.
How do you vet a 1688 supplier?
1688 shows a set of badges and numbers on every shop. Here's what they mean and how much weight to give them:
| Badge or number | Chinese | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Chengxintong membership | 诚信通 | A paid membership with a verified business license. The basic level: weak proof on its own |
| Power merchant | 实力商家 | A higher tier with stricter checks on the business and its service |
| Super factory | 超级工厂 | Top tier for manufacturers, with checks on factory size and capacity |
| Factory inspection | 深度验厂 | An on-site inspection of the factory itself. Stronger than 深度验商, which checks the business |
| Source factory | 源头工厂 | The shop says it makes the goods rather than reselling them |
| Repeat-buyer rate | 回头率 | Share of buyers who ordered again. Higher is better, especially on large order counts |
| Years on 1688 | 入驻年限 | Longer is better. Be careful with very new shops |
Badges are a starting point. Ask for a short video of the production line, compare the sample with the listing photos, and read our guide to the Alibaba Verified Supplier badge for the same thinking on Alibaba.com.
1688 also has copies of branded and patented products. Importing them can get your goods seized at customs and your selling account suspended. Stick to unbranded goods or your own brand.
Chinese terms you'll see on 1688
| Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 起批 / 起批量 | Minimum order to get the listed price |
| 现货 | In stock, ships now |
| 定制 | Custom made (your logo, color or packaging) |
| 一件代发 | Ships single pieces for you (dropshipping) |
| 包邮 | Free shipping (inside China) |
| 样品 | Sample |
| 含税 / 不含税 | Price includes tax / excludes tax |
| 发货时间 | Dispatch time |
Message 1688 and Alibaba suppliers in clear Chinese: 13 ready-made messages, from first contact to quality problems, in Chinese and English.
See the Supplier Message BuilderWhat does buying from 1688 really cost?
- Unit price at your quantity tier, and whether it includes tax (含税).
- Domestic shipping from the supplier to your agent's warehouse.
- Agent fee, plus inspection, repacking and storage if charged.
- International freight, by actual or volume weight.
- Duty and fees: in the US every shipment from China pays duty (no de minimis), Canada only lets parcels up to CA$20 in free, and Mexico charges a 33.5% rate on courier parcels from China. Check yours with our China tariff calculator or Mexico tariff calculator.
See your true cost per unit with freight, duty and fees before you place the order.
Open the free landed cost calculatorHow do you pay for 1688 orders from abroad?
You usually pay the agent, who pays the supplier in yuan. Agents take cards, PayPal or a bank transfer to their company account. Wise can send yuan to an Alipay account, but only to individuals in China, and business accounts can only send for salary or services, so it isn't a way to pay 1688 sellers for goods. For a bank transfer to an agent's company account, Wise is usually cheaper than a bank wire. Our guide on how to pay Chinese suppliers compares the options.
Paying a sourcing agent or supplier abroad? Wise Business sends money at the mid-market exchange rate with a low fee shown up front.
See Wise BusinessFrequently asked questions
Can I buy from 1688 in English?
Not fully. 1688 has no full English version, so most buyers outside China use browser translation to browse and a sourcing agent to buy, check and ship the goods.
Can foreigners buy directly on 1688?
It's hard. Checkout needs an Alipay account verified in mainland China and sellers ship only inside China, so foreign buyers usually go through a sourcing agent.
Is 1688 cheaper than Alibaba?
Usually, yes. 1688 is aimed at buyers inside China, so prices are often lower than on Alibaba.com for similar products. Add the agent fee, shipping and duty before you compare.
What is the minimum order on 1688?
It depends on the listing. Many items sell from a few pieces, with lower prices at higher quantity tiers (起批量). Custom work usually needs a larger order.
Is 1688 safe?
There is no Trade Assurance for foreign buyers, so check badges like 实力商家 and 深度验厂, order samples, start with a small batch and have your agent inspect the goods before shipping.
How do I pay a 1688 supplier from the US or Canada?
Usually through your sourcing agent, who pays the supplier in yuan. You pay the agent by card, PayPal or bank transfer.
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General information as of October 6, 2026, not legal or customs advice. 1688's payment and shipping options and agent fees change; confirm with your agent and customs authority before you order. SuanSupply is not affiliated with 1688 or Alibaba Group.