Short answer: Alibaba is the easiest place for a UK or Irish business to start, because it is in English and suppliers ship abroad. 1688 usually has lower, factory-level prices, but it is in Chinese and sellers only work with buyers inside China. Taobao is a retail marketplace, best for small quantities, samples and trend products. Many businesses use all three, with a sourcing agent in China buying on 1688 and Taobao for them.
This guide compares the three platforms from the point of view of a small or medium business in the UK, Ireland or the EU. It is written by our team in Yiwu, China, where we buy on all three platforms every day for our clients.
1688 vs Alibaba vs Taobao at a glance
| Alibaba.com | 1688.com | Taobao | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | International B2B buyers | Chinese wholesale buyers | Chinese consumers |
| Language | English and other languages | Chinese only | Chinese (limited English app) |
| Prices | Export prices, usually higher | Domestic wholesale, usually lowest | Retail prices |
| Minimum order | Often set per product | Often low, sometimes higher for custom goods | Single items |
| Ships abroad | Yes | Rarely, only inside China | Limited |
| Payment | International cards, bank transfer | Chinese payment methods | Chinese payment methods, some cards |
| Best for | First orders, custom products, direct contact with exporters | Best prices, bulk and mixed orders | Samples, small quantities, trends |
Alibaba.com: the international option
Alibaba.com is built for buyers outside China. Suppliers write in English, quote in foreign currencies and are used to exporting. It also offers buyer protection programmes for orders paid through the platform.
- Pros: easy to use, suppliers export regularly, good for custom and private label products.
- Cons: prices are often higher than on 1688, and many listings are from trading companies rather than factories.
- Watch out for: very low prices that change after you order, unclear shipping terms and slow replies after payment.
1688.com: China’s wholesale market online
1688 is the domestic wholesale platform of the Alibaba group, used by Chinese shops, wholesalers and online sellers. Many of the same factories sell here, often at lower prices than on Alibaba.com.
- Pros: factory-level prices, a huge choice of ready-made goods, many suppliers accept smaller wholesale orders.
- Cons: Chinese only, Chinese payment methods, and sellers deliver only to addresses in China.
- Watch out for: products that do not meet UK or EU rules, missing test reports and photos that do not match the real goods.
To buy on 1688 from the UK or Ireland, you need someone in China to pay the seller, receive the goods, check them and ship them to you. This is exactly what a sourcing agent in Yiwu does.
Taobao: retail, samples and trends
Taobao is a consumer marketplace, closer to eBay than to a wholesale site. Prices are retail, but you can buy single items, which makes it useful for testing products before you order in bulk.
- Pros: buy one piece, huge range, fast way to follow trends.
- Cons: retail prices, quality varies a lot, sellers are not set up for business buyers.
- Best use: samples, niche items and small test orders, combined with bulk orders from 1688.
Which platform should you choose?
| Your situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
| First order, you want to deal with the supplier yourself | Alibaba.com |
| You want your own design, logo or packaging | Alibaba.com or a factory found on 1688, through an agent |
| You want the best price on ready-made goods | 1688, through an agent |
| You need samples or a small test order | Taobao or 1688 |
| You buy from many suppliers at once | 1688 and Taobao, consolidated by an agent |
How to check a supplier on any platform
- Check the company profile, business licence and how long it has been selling.
- Find out whether it is a factory or a trading company.
- Read buyer reviews and look at real product photos, not only catalogue images.
- Order a sample before a bulk order.
- Ask whether the product has the documents needed for the UK or EU market.
- Agree on packaging, labels and delivery to your agent’s warehouse in writing.
See real orders we have bought and shipped on our work samples page.
Getting the goods to the UK or Ireland
Whichever platform you use, the goods still have to be shipped and cleared through customs. Sea freight is usually the most economical choice for larger orders, and air freight is faster for urgent or light goods. Consolidating purchases from several sellers into one shipment saves money and paperwork.
On arrival you pay customs duty and import VAT, which depend on the product and the country. We recommend consulting a local customs broker before you import. For the full import process, read our Import from China to Ireland guide.
How SilkwayMall helps
We are a sourcing and buying agent based in Yiwu, with our own warehouse in China and an office in the EU. For clients in the UK, Ireland and Europe we:
- search and buy on 1688, Taobao and Alibaba in Chinese;
- talk to suppliers and check prices, samples and documents;
- receive and check every order, with photos and videos;
- consolidate goods from many sellers into one shipment;
- arrange sea or air freight to the UK, Ireland and the EU;
- issue an EU VAT invoice for your business.
See how our fees work on the price page, or send us product links through our contact form. We will check them and reply with a quote.
FAQ: 1688, Alibaba and Taobao
Is 1688 cheaper than Alibaba?
Often, yes. 1688 shows domestic wholesale prices, while Alibaba.com shows export prices. The real saving depends on the product, the order size and the cost of buying through an agent.
Can I buy on 1688 from the UK or Ireland?
Not easily on your own. The site is in Chinese, payment needs a Chinese account and sellers ship only within China. A buying agent in China can order, pay, receive and ship the goods for you.
Is Taobao good for wholesale?
Taobao is mainly retail. It is useful for samples, test orders and niche items, but for bulk orders 1688 or a factory is usually better value.
Are products from these platforms legal to sell in the UK and EU?
Only if they meet local safety and labelling rules. Many products sold in China are made for the Chinese market, so check marking, test reports and labels before you order.
Do I need a customs broker?
Most businesses use one. A local customs broker submits the import declaration, checks product codes and helps you avoid delays and extra costs.
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- Christmas decorations from Yiwu: wholesale guide for UK & Irish shops
- How to sell on Amazon.ie with products from China: a guide for Irish sellers
- Amazon UK FBA from China: how to source and ship products to the UK
- Yiwu market guide: how UK and Irish buyers source from the world’s largest small goods market
- How to check a supplier in China: a checklist for UK and Irish buyers
This guide is for general information only. Platform rules, customs and tax rules can change, so we recommend consulting a local customs broker before you import.