Taobao vs 1688 — let's determine the winner here and now

Article content: 

1. How Taobao differs from 1688.
2. Where is cheaper — Taobao or 1688.
3. Which is better — Taobao or 1688.
4. Taobao or 1688 — together we’ll find the best solution.

1688 and Taobao are two Chinese marketplaces from Alibaba Group. The first one got the label “wholesale,” and the second — “retail.” But in practice, this is far from the only difference, and today we will prove it! At the same time, we will see which Taobao or 1688 is suitable for.

How Taobao differs from 1688

Taobao.com is a marketplace comparable to Prom or Rozetka. The platform mainly features retail sellers and individuals. On Taobao, you can find local, family businesses, original designs, small manufacturers producing unique, non-factory products, as well as second-hand items from private individuals.

1688.com is a B2B platform. Factories, plants, and large companies sell to other businesses with a focus on wholesale and direct purchases from the manufacturer. The assortment is exclusively mainstream: what clients of clients will buy, raw materials, supplies, etc.

Note that delivery from Taobao to Ukraine (as well as from 1688) is only possible through intermediaries. Now, to the features of each platform.

Taobao

The app turns shopping into an engaging game. “Coins” earned in games can be exchanged for discounts and coupons. Bright visuals, game-style interface, and a wide catalog of “untypical” products emphasize that the target audience is retail buyers.

Main functionality:

• Orders without a minimum quantity. Everything can be bought in one piece.
• Aesthetic cards and seller “showcases.” You can view the product from all angles, read the full description.
• Chinese interface, but with understandable mechanics: choose a product (color, configuration, size), add to cart.
• Payment via Alipay, on Taobao Global — international credit cards (but with a high fee).
• Difficult to arrange OEM and ODM production.

Taobao Global is an attempt to make the service accessible to foreigners, offering a partially English interface, international shipping (through consolidation warehouses), and payment by international cards.

So far, the global version is raw. Only a small percentage of sellers work with it, so for regular purchases, it’s more convenient to use the “original.”

Interestingly, suppliers on the platform test trends that are just appearing on the market. For new trends, you should go to Taobao. DiFFreight offers Taobao purchasing!

1688

This marketplace can be compared to a wholesale base. Clients do not need convincing because they already know what they will spend the yuan on. Essentially, 1688 is aimed at Chinese businesses. Few intermediaries, agents, most of the activity falls on factories (manufacturers) and trading companies.

Features of 1688:

• Interface in Chinese; sellers rarely know English because they seldom work with foreigners.
• Standardization: photos are the same, descriptions too, but prices vary. Manufacturers do not pay attention to aesthetics; details must be clarified in correspondence.
• OEM, ODM, and bulk orders can be arranged. However, most have a minimum order, which is unsuitable for small businesses.
• Reliability badges confirming verification, operation duration, “powerful seller” status, and other parameters for supplier ranking.
• Payment only via Alipay, bank transfer, and credit card (only Chinese).

The marketplace launched the AI assistant 1688AiBuy. The browser extension is designed to remove two main barriers for foreigners: language and currency, and also helps in searching and selecting products using artificial intelligence.

1688 is the perfect place for bulk purchases and finding suppliers/factories.

Where is cheaper — Taobao or 1688

Definitely on 1688, since it is wholesale without a middleman markup. Factories don’t spend on maintaining stores, promotion, or advertising. The price on retail Taobao is 20–40% higher.

Delivery of goods from China to Ukraine

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Does this mean the 1688 or Taobao dilemma is solved? No. For small businesses, it makes no sense to order cheaply and in bulk. It is more profitable to buy and immediately sell a small batch than to take a thousand units on 1688.

Which is better — Taobao or 1688?

And which is tastier — watermelon or melon? 1688 and Taobao have different target audiences with different needs. Both options can be profitable if they satisfy the needs of your business.

Summing up, let’s briefly describe who each marketplace is suitable for.

Taobao is optimal for:

• Businesses and private entrepreneurs are selling via social networks or small online stores.
• Testing new products. The platform allows ordering one or two units to evaluate quality and demand.
• Finding unique and niche products: designer clothing, handmade items, and products that are hard to find on wholesale platforms.

1688 is suitable for:

• Medium and large businesses. Minimum order (MOQ) is usually several units or dozens, making the marketplace ideal for wholesalers.
• Manufacturers and brands. They can purchase products at the lowest price, negotiate customization and OEM production.
• Saving on bulk purchases.
• Importing standard, mass-market products. If you are looking for popular items (electronics, household goods, accessories), 1688 is the best choice.

Questions of supplier verification, payment, and logistics from China are still relevant.

Taobao or 1688 — together we’ll find the best solution

DiFFreight has over 5 years of experience in the China–Ukraine direction. We work with wholesale and retail platforms: Alibaba, 1688, Made-in-China, Tmall, and others. Our services include:

• Negotiation and contract signing with Chinese partners. We search for both small suppliers and factories for production.
• Warehouse services in China for preparing your cargo and consolidation.
• Delivery of goods from China — express air or budget sea shipping.

We also offer delivery from Alibaba if you don’t want to deal with the Chinese interface. Not sure which platform suits your business? DiFFreight experts will help: call or leave a request for a callback online!