Sometimes, cheap is the name of the game. You know, like when you just need something small and functional, like a charging cable or a simple hat. In those cases, don’t spend more than you need to: buy on AliExpress, which ships stuff to you direct from abroad for incredibly low prices. (Back in 2020, often $2 to $5, including shipping!)
But what should you buy? Well, that’s what I’m here for. Below is my list of the best things to buy on AliExpress, with my 2020 price notes.
Here is what matters at checkout now: what US import charges mean, how AliExpress Buyer Protection works, a few things better bought elsewhere, and the current cashback picture. Miguel’s picks, prices and opinions are his own, and the prices are what he paid, not current rates.
Note: This post may contain affiliate or referral links. For more information, click here.What AliExpress is, and how ordering works
Similar to Wish, AliExpress is an online marketplace with a huge catalog of mostly small items. They sell for incredibly cheap prices and are shipped to you mostly from sellers in China.
Here is how Wikipedia describes it:
AliExpress is an online retail service based in China and owned by the Alibaba Group. Launched in 2010, it is made up of small businesses in China and other locations, such as Singapore, that offer products to international online buyers…It facilitates small businesses to sell to customers all over the world. AliExpress has drawn comparison to eBay, as sellers are independent and use the platform to offer products to buyers.
Items are usually off-brand, and back in 2020 they took about a month to arrive in the US.
How does it work? It’s similar to eBay. You download the app or go to the website, order your stuff, and wait for it to arrive. There are all sorts of coupons, though sometimes I find them confusing to use. Anyways, it’s still so cheap that it’s absurd.
For a current walk-through, this video from the same channel I embedded here back in 2020 shows how ordering in the AliExpress app works today:
Is AliExpress legit?
Is it a scam? No, at least not in my experience. I’ve ordered items on AliExpress and always received them.
The site takes the major US cards: its help center lists Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover and others, plus PayPal.
The stronger answer is the protection that comes with an order. Under AliExpress Buyer Protection, you can request a refund if your item does not arrive, or is lost in transit, within the guaranteed delivery window shown on the order page, or if it arrives damaged, short, or not matching its description or photos, reported within 15 days of receiving it. The route is My orders, then the order detail page, then Return/refund, after contacting the seller. AliExpress also offers a free return service within 15 days of delivery; with a change-of-mind return, you pay the return shipping.
What it costs now
Miguel’s receipts
Ha! Like I said, it’s ridiculous. Here is some stuff I bought back in 2020 (prices all-in, including shipping):
- Two Qi wireless cellphone chargers ($7.99 and $4.64).
- One USB-C cable for my phone ($2.62).
Back in 2020, the things I bought were ridiculously cheap, usually less than half of what I would have paid in the US, and they worked as well as any other. That is why I think chargers and cables are some of the best things to buy on AliExpress.
Import charges on US orders
One thing has changed since Miguel wrote this. Effective August 29, 2025, the United States ended duty-free de minimis treatment for shipments from all countries: according to US Customs and Border Protection, imported goods valued at or below $800 are no longer eligible for that exemption and are subject to all applicable duties, taxes, and fees. A CBP interim final rule that took effect on June 24, 2026 made the suspension indefinite for goods arriving by any mode other than the international postal network, and a companion rulemaking suspended it for postal shipments too.
This section covers US orders. The practical move is simple: compare the final checkout total, not the listing price, before you tap Place Order.
Cashback on top
Don’t just buy on AliExpress. Buy with cashback apps and extensions like Rakuten (formerly Ebates) and Swagbucks for even more hassle-free savings.
When we checked in October 2026, Rakuten’s AliExpress page was offering 8% cash back (it showed 2% before), excluding bulk, wholesale and reseller orders, gift cards, and purchases made with gift cards. Swagbucks was offering up to 3% back, at 3 SB per dollar and 2 SB per dollar on consumer electronics, with cash back pending for 90 days. Swagbucks does not credit orders that use promo codes not found on Swagbucks, and paying through a third-party payment service, including PayPal, may negate earning SB. Rates and terms like these change often, so read the portal’s terms before you shop.
The 15 best things to buy on AliExpress
Miguel’s picks, in his original order. The price notes are what he paid or saw in 2020: treat them as reference points, not today’s prices.
| Item | Miguel’s 2020 price note | Why he likes it |
|---|---|---|
| Wireless cellphone chargers | $7.99 and $4.64 | They work as well as any other. |
| Cellphone cables | $2.62 for a one-meter USB-C | Don’t overpay for cables. |
| Pill organizers | Under $1 | Keeps pills organized. |
| Party decorations | A few bucks | Insanely cheap, like everything else there. |
| USB flash drives | 32 GB for under $5 | Casual transfers only, not important files. |
| Night lights | Under $2 | A simple thing, simply priced. |
| Vases | $2 to $5 | They barely see wear and tear. |
| Cellphone holders or stands | Under $5 | A basic stand at a basic price. |
| Simple massagers | About $2 | A scalp massage for pocket change. |
| Mini tool sets | Under $1 | Eyeglass screws, handled. |
| Wall decals | $2 to $3 | Cheap wall decor. |
| Toothbrush holders | Under $2 | Sticks right to the wall. |
| Mason jar stickers | Under $2 a set | Labels for the whole pantry. |
| Baseball caps | $3 to $5 | For sun and bad-hair days. |
| Beanie hats | $2 to $3 | Why pay $10 or more? |
Wireless Cellphone Chargers
I’ve bought two Qi wireless chargers on AliExpress, and they work perfectly. Here is one of them:
As you can see, it works well:
I paid $4.64 for this one.
Cellphone Cables
Don’t overpay for cables. I keep a high-end cable in my travel briefcase, but my extra home cables are from AliExpress. I paid $2.62 for a one-meter USB-C cable. And if that briefcase is headed to the airport, our carry-on packing checklist covers the phone, charger and power-bank rules for flying.
Pill Organizers
Do you take medication every day? Then you probably need a pill organizer to make sure you actually took your pills and, on the other hand, don’t take them twice. That is why a pill organizer is one of the best things to buy on AliExpress, and in 2020 it could be yours for less than a dollar.
Party Decorations
Like everything else, party decorations are insanely cheap on this store: just a few bucks in 2020. Order them well ahead of the date. And if you would rather let the food be the decoration, our pizza party guide builds the whole night around that idea.
USB Flash Drives
OK, don’t use an AliExpress USB drive for something really important. But if you just need to casually transfer a file between computers, go ahead. In 2020 you could get a 32 GB drive for less than $5. (There is more on drives in the skip list below.)
Night Lights
Don’t overpay for a simple night light. In 2020, you could get one for less than $2 on AliExpress.
Vases
I think vases are one of the best things to buy on AliExpress because they’re one of those things that you set down and then rarely touch again. So it’s not like they’re going to get a lot of wear and tear. In 2020, you could find them for $2 to $5 or so.
Cellphone Holders or Stands
A simple cellphone holder or stand cost less than $5 back in 2020.
Simple Massagers
We all want a scalp massage at some point, right? Ah, so relaxing! Anyways, you could get one for about $2 at this online store in 2020.
Mini Tool Sets
You know, like those mini screwdrivers that you use for adjusting eyeglasses and whatnot. In 2020 you could buy a set for less than one dollar, making it one of the best things to buy on AliExpress.
Wall Decals
Decorative wall decals ran $2 or $3 in 2020, and they are an easy way to fill a blank wall.
Toothbrush Holders
You can buy toothbrush holders that stick to your bathroom wall; in 2020 they cost less than $2.
Mason Jar Stickers
So you can label and organize your mason jars. In 2020, a whole set cost less than $1 or $2.
Baseball Caps
If you just want a baseball cap to protect yourself from the sun or a bad hair day, don’t spend a lot of money on it. In 2020, AliExpress would hook you up for about $3 to $5.
Beanie Hats
Why pay $10 or more for a beanie? In 2020, AliExpress had them for $2 to $3.
What to skip, or buy somewhere else
Cheap makes sense for everything on the list above. For a few things, it does not.
- A flash drive for anything important. Miguel’s rule from 2020 still holds: casual transfers only. Fake-capacity drives are common enough that PassMark, a testing-software maker, keeps a help page on drives that claim more storage than they actually hold, particularly the larger ones.
- Plug-in chargers and power adapters from sellers you do not know. In a 2019 article, the UK charity Electrical Safety First reported that 98% of the fake Apple chargers it tested could cause a fire or a lethal electric shock. For anything that plugs into the wall, buy from a retailer you trust.
- A famous brand at a tiny price. Fakes are dressed up with imagery taken from official product sites, fake safety marks, and believable pricing, Electrical Safety First warns, so the deal that looks impossibly good is the one to distrust.
- Anything you need by a fixed date. Miguel’s 2020 orders took about a month, and Buyer Protection works off the guaranteed delivery window on the order page. If the guaranteed delivery window misses your deadline, skip that order.
Before you tap Place Order
Six quick checks from this post, made tickable. Tap or click to open.
No app, no account, nothing saved: tick each line as you finish it, and the ticks reset when you reload the page.
AliExpress versus Wish
AliExpress is similar to Wish. Both are online marketplaces where you can buy products from sellers, usually in China, and both are super inexpensive. Back in 2020, your stuff usually arrived in about a month from either site. In my experience, Wish was somewhat easier to use (the coupon system was less confusing), but I gave a slight edge to AliExpress because it normally offered free shipping, which tended to be extra on Wish. Still, both essentially did the same thing and seemed to be direct competitors.
One update since: in February 2024, ContextLogic agreed to sell Wish to Qoo10, a Singapore-based ecommerce company, for about $173 million (Retail TouchPoints), and wish.com was still listing products for sale when we checked in October 2026.
Summing up
I think AliExpress (and Wish) are underused, perhaps because items take so long to arrive. But really, the prices are unbeatable, and some things can wait. If you have the time, I just don’t see a good reason to pay more than necessary.
So think ahead, and don’t spend more of your hard-earned money than you have to!
AliExpress FAQ
Is AliExpress legit?
Yes. AliExpress is an online marketplace owned by the Alibaba Group and launched in 2010, with independent sellers, mostly in China. Its Buyer Protection program covers refunds if an item does not arrive within the guaranteed delivery window, or arrives damaged or not as described, reported within 15 days of receipt. Miguel’s orders all arrived, back in 2020.
Do US shoppers pay import charges on AliExpress orders?
They can. Effective August 29, 2025, the United States ended duty-free de minimis treatment for shipments from all countries, so goods valued at or below $800 are subject to all applicable duties, taxes, and fees, according to US Customs and Border Protection. Compare the final checkout total, not the listing price.
How long does AliExpress shipping take?
Miguel’s orders took about a month in 2020. Each order page shows a guaranteed delivery window, and Buyer Protection covers items that do not arrive within it.
Is Wish still around?
Yes. ContextLogic agreed in February 2024 to sell Wish to Qoo10, a Singapore-based ecommerce company, for about $173 million, and wish.com was still listing products for sale when we checked in October 2026.
Can you get cash back on AliExpress?
Yes. When we checked in October 2026, Rakuten was offering 8% cash back at AliExpress (excluding bulk, wholesale and reseller orders, gift cards, and purchases made with gift cards), and Swagbucks was offering up to 3% (no credit for promo codes not found on Swagbucks, and third-party payment services such as PayPal may negate earning SB). Rates and terms change, so read the portal’s terms before you shop.
Sources
All sources below were read in October 2026.
- US Customs and Border Protection: suspending duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries (help article 1919)
- Federal Register: Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption, 91 FR 37789 (effective June 24, 2026)
- AliExpress: Buyer Protection
- AliExpress Help Center: available payment methods
- Wikipedia: AliExpress
- Retail TouchPoints: Wish sold to Qoo10 for $173 million (February 13, 2024)
- Rakuten: AliExpress cash back (checked October 16, 2026)
- Swagbucks: AliExpress coupons and cash back (checked October 16, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Rakuten Rewards
- PassMark: detecting fake and oversize USB drive capacity
- Electrical Safety First: the dangers of online marketplaces (2019)
- Video: Tech Life Unity on YouTube, How to Shop on AliExpress App in 2026 (Full Guide)
- Images: the charging pad and phone photos are Miguel’s own from 2020. The small-buys flat-lay and the wall-decal image are AI-generated illustrations, not specific products.
This article is for general information and entertainment, not financial advice.
Updated October 2026 by Richie with the help of modern digital tools.
I’ve learned something new Miguel. I had never heard of AliExpress confirming your thoughts of under usage. That said, we really try to cut down on the stuff we buy and accumulate, but some of the items they sell are essentials. I will have to check it out. Tom
Thanks Tom,
It’s not the place for everything, but we’ve found that it’s a great place to buy some essentials.
Cheers,
Miguel
Actually Wish is extremely deceiving. An item shows one price, then once it goes into your cart it sometimes quadruples. The price they show is usually the shipping cost of THAT item! Those individual shipping charges add up!! Not as great a price as people think unless you buy the $1 free shipping items. Then again, they’re timed.