Temu vs DHgate: Which Should You Choose? Honest Review

Welcome to my updated Temu vs. DHgate 2023 review!

I understand that the majority of online guides are outdated or OUTRIGHT misleading. 

Brace yourself for an honest and well-researched guide…

I’ve been in the eCommerce business for the past decade. And shopped from hundreds of online shopping platforms. I’ll be BRUTALLY honest in this review. And help you choose the BEST platform that will save you time and money!

This guide will cover the core difference between Temu and DHgate. Including business models, product quality, shipping options, and MUCH MORE.

Let’s dive in! 

Temu vs DHgate: A Quick Overview

What is Temu, and how does it work?

Temu, the new kid in town, has taken the e-commerce streets by storm for the past year.

Temu is just like any other online shopping platform. You sign up and browse through millions of product listings before making a purchase. 

What differentiates Temu from other platforms? 

LOW PRICES and HIGH DISCOUNTS. 

Temu dashes out discounts and coupons more than any other platform in the world. Just fire up Temu.com, and you’ll receive your $100 coupon bundle for FREE. No sign up…nothing!

Temu first hit the airwaves in July 2022. And although they are just 1 year old, they have made MASSIVE moves. 

Statistics don’t lie…

• Temu currently has over 10 million product listings
• They hit 104 million users in April 2023…just 9 months old!
• Temu has over 37 million app downloads on both Android and iOS
• Temu’s yearly revenue now stands at least $6 Billion

We’ll dive more into what Temu offers in a jiffy, but first…

Suggested reading: Is Temu A Scam?

Suggested reading: Is Temu A Legit And Safe Platform To Buy From?

What is DHgate, and how does it work?

DHgate is an equally huge e-commerce giant boasting 36 million registered users. And 2.3 million sellers in China and other countries.

DHgate is known for connecting buyers with Chinese sellers, offering the LOWEST prices.

It was first launched in 2004. And has since risen to a REPUTABLE platform offering a wide array of daily necessities. And high-end products.

DHgate’s brand has recently been dragged to the pits by unsatisfied customers. There’s no need for panic as it’s still a RELIABLE platform with top-notch products.

I’ll talk more about DHgate and its advantages in the subsequent sections. And share insights on whether you should try it or not.

Suggested reading: How To Buy From DHgate

Suggested reading: Dhgate Reviews

Temu vs. DHgate: Details Comparison

Let’s see how these two giants clash head-on.

1. Business Models

Temu’s business model is similar to MOST Chinese platforms.

They offer incredibly low prices to gain a HUGE market share. Prices start from as little as $1 for some products.

Plus, they offer free shipping on ALMOST all products regardless of your location. 

That’s a big W for Temu. I mean, who doesn’t like free stuff?

On the other hand…

DHgate business model is like a whiskey with a twist: Double-sided and intricate. They HEAVILY rely on two customer segments to operate EFFECTIVELY. These include:

• Sellers. These are vendors who want to sell consumer goods to an international market
• Customers. These are buyers who want to source high-quality products from China

They’ve built a platform where vendors and buyers can interact freely. As they profit from the commissions from the trade.

DHgate MAINLY markets its platform on social media platforms. This has been very effective, evidenced by millions of buyers storming the platform.

2. Pricing and Discounts

Temu is GLOBALLY recognized as the platform with the craziest discounts. And it’s true!

Just head over to Temu, and a $100 coupon bundle welcomes you. (First-time users ONLY). Use this coupon for first order. 

Then start scrolling, and you’ll notice discounts as high as 60% on select products.

And if that didn’t shock you…wait till you find a waterproof Bluetooth speaker for $10. Man, the prices are just mind-blowing.

I bought my gym sneakers for $20, and they’re still as good as new! I bet they’ll last a few more years.

DHgate is also known for affordable prices in ALL their product listings. Prices can go for as low as $0.40 for certain products. The only downside is that some sellers have pretty high Minimum Order Quantities. Hence, not convenient if you just need a single product. 

WINNER

If you are looking for the lowest prices in the market. Temu is the place to be. You enjoy low product prices and free shipping. (much more on this later).

3. Product Variety & Quality

Temu has over 10 million products spread across 29 categories. 

Some of the diverse selection of product categories include:

• Fashion accessories
• Pet supplies
• Electronics
• Cosmetics & other beauty supplies
• Women’s Clothing
• Home and kitchen accessories
• Musical instruments and SO MUCH MORE

DHgate is an equally MASSIVE online shopping platform with over 40 million products. Across 20+ product categories.

Some of these categories are health & beauty, computers, shoes, cell phones, etc. 

What is the quality of products from both platforms?

I wouldn’t put my hopes HIGH over products that are 60% or cheaper.

Personally, I have bought from both platforms. And the products are holding on VERY WELL.

Yes, Temu is known for offering crazily discounted prices for almost anything on the site. 

But you need to be careful to avoid getting SCAMMED. Cross-check the products’ descriptions and ALWAYS read previous buyer reviews.

DHgate also offers competitive prices for MOST products listed.

WINNER

DHgate has more products compared to Temu. So, you enjoy a wide range of items to choose from.  

4. Interface Ease of Use

Temu’s interface has been engineered to offer an enjoyable experience for buyers. 

The colors and visuals just make Temu stand out from its competitors. Making you wanna scroll to more web pages.

Plus, all information regarding the product is easily displayed. And you can expand to read more about it by just touching the product.

Web pages are responsive, and you get EXACTLY what you want in seconds!!

I’ve been shopping from my mobile phones, and their app is pretty unique, too. It doesn’t lag or take an eternity to load. Good job, Temu!

DHgate’s website is also well-curated. You can easily navigate through their website. And find the products you are looking for in seconds.

Sadly, their app, at times, has load issues and won’t open for unknown reasons. While it’s important to note that this might be a developer’s fault. Keep in mind that this might occur if your phone has a smaller RAM.

WINNER

Temu has clearly invested in a magnificent user experience. Both their website and apps run smoothly with minimal lags and launch problems.

5. Shipping Options and Costs

Temu is slowly becoming my favorite e-commerce platform after Amazon. MAJORLY because of their crazy shipping costs. 

I’ve been ordering a lot from Temu lately. And when I’m not getting Free Shipping, the cost is usually $12.90 for Express shipping. (1-3 business days). And a flat rate of $8.99 for standard shipping (7 – 30 days) for MOST international countries.

Oh, and Temu delivers to countries including the United States, Australia, UK, Germany, etc

And the best part?

You get a $5 credit for LATE DELIVERIES!

While DHgate doesn’t offer as many free shipping options on products like Temu. I still find their shipping to be VERY convenient. My experience with their Express shipping confirms this.

Here’s why…

I opted for DHgate’s Express shipping and got my products in 4 business days. Pretty cool, isn’t it?

Here, the costs might vary depending on your country and the size of the products. 

Alternatively, you can pick their standard shipping package. Yes, it’s pretty AFFORDABLE ($2.99 for orders under $30). But the wait IS NOT WORTH IT.

They can deliver as late as 40 days with no VALID reason whatsoever.

WINNER

Temu carries the day once again for its FAST & POCKET-FRIENDLY shipping options. You get goods ON TIME and save more money to reinvest into your eCommerce businesses.  

Suggested reading: Dhgate Shipping Time

6. Return and Refund Policy

Customers can return their goods within 90 days and get a FULL refund. Or a replacement. 

I’ve only returned one pair of sneakers since I started using Temu. They were of the wrong size (We all have been through that, right?). And the process was SEAMLESS.

NOTE. Personal hygiene products, groceries, swimwear, and underwear are NOT eligible for refunds. 

To get your refund on Temu:

1. Contact Temu’s customer support via email, app, or website and start a return request
2. Repackage the item into its original box, invoices, and tags. Remember, missing parts might lead to refund deductions
3. Place the provided return label on the outer section of the package. And take it to the nearest courier station for shipment to Temu’s warehouses.
4. Get your refund in 2-7 business days

EASY PEASY!

I’ll keep it 100 with you! I haven’t returned ANY product on DHgate. But I’ve researched A LOT about it. 

The process is similar to Temu. And basically any other emerging online marketplace. 

WARNING: You should file a return request within 5 – 90 days from the date of delivery.

If you follow everything as per DHgate’s refund policy, you’ll get a refund within 10 days. 

WINNER

Temu issues refunds FAST compared to DHgate. Hence, it’s more convenient, especially if you are a seller or run an online store.

Suggested reading: How to apply for a refund on Dhgate?

7. Customer Support

I really love the customer support on both Temu and DHgate. 

Both these platforms offer informative articles on their respective help centers. You’ll get almost any solution to your query INSTANTLY.

OR. 

You can reach out DIRECTLY to Temu’s customer service team on their hotline number. (1-888-495-8368). I’ve interacted with one of Temu’s customer service members. Gosh…these guys are professionals: Polite and super-friendly.

DHgate also has a dedicated customer team. You can contact them at (86) 10 – 8202 8870 or [email protected].

The only downside is that DHgate might take ages to respond to their customers. They’ve received a lot of backlash online for their wack customer support. And I believe they’re working to resolve it! 

Here are some customer services reviews on DHgate’s customer support:

WINNER

I find Temu’s customer support to be more RESPONSIVE than DHgate’s.

So, yeah, unless you are comfortable with not getting answers to your late deliveries. Give Temu a try!

8. Payment Security and Options

Temu accepts credit cards such as Discover, Mastercard, Visa, and American Express. And they’ve set up world-class security measures to keep your bank account details SAFE. 

Here’s what I mean…

On Temu, ALL transactions are protected using SSL and TLS protocols. Rest assured that your sensitive details are in the SAFEST hands.

DHgate also allows you to pay using multiple payment options. You can use PayPal, bank-to-bank wire transfers, credit cards, and Western Union.

DHgate also uses security encryption protocols to safeguard your card details from hackers.

WINNER

Both these sites are STRICT on payment security. But I’ll recommend Temu as they allow a wider array of payment options than DHgate.

Temu vs DHgate: Dropshipping

Now, to the question parroted in every seller group. 

Can you drop ship with Temu? 

No. But! You can use Temu as a source for finding good products for your dropshipping company. 

The only downside is that you have to use Temu’s product packaging. This means that you won’t come out as an authentic seller. Thus limiting your potential to scale to WIDER markets. 

Can you drop ship on DHgate?

DHgate dropshipping is way better compared to Temu. Just log in to DHgate, create an account, and find your high-ticket products. Contact sellers and pitch your dropshipping idea. Build your own Shopify store. Market it through social media channels. 

Once you get your order, the seller ships it DIRECTLY to your buyer’s location. You pay the seller and get to keep the profits. SIMPLE!

WINNER

DHgate is a PERFECT spot to kickstart your dropshipping business. They have low wholesale prices. And you get to sell products without DHgate branding their name all over the products. 

Suggested reading: Temu Dropshipping

Suggested reading: Dhgate Dropshipping

Conclusion

Feature	Temu	DHgate	Winner
Pricing	Extremely low prices and high discounts	Relatively higher prices and MOQs (Minimum Order Quantity)	Temu
Product Quality	High-Quality Products	Reasonably quality products	Temu
Shipping	Faster shipping times	Longer delivery times	Temu
Interface ease and application	30+ million app downloads and a 4.5/5 overall rating	900K app downloads and a 3.47/5 overall rating	Temu
Customer Support	24/7 customer support	Unresponsive customer support	Temu
Payment Security	Secure encryption protocols	Secure encryption protocols	Both
Return and Refund Policy	Faster refund processes	Slightly slower refund processes	Temu
Dropshipping	Not recommended for dropshipping	Recommend for dropshipping	DHgate

Temu is clearly way BETTER than DHgate BY FAR. But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy on DHgate. It’s an equally good platform. Just that you need to be EXTRA careful to find RELIABLE sellers and quality products.

People Also Ask about Temu vs DHgate

What’s Next

Temu and DHgate are both incredibly good eCommerce platforms.

Choose Temu if you are looking for EXTREMELY low prices and crazy discounts. Temu also gives you crazy coupons that will help you save even more money on your purchase.

Choose DHgate if you want to start a dropshipping business. And you want to source for CHEAPER products. DHgate connects you with the BEST Chinese suppliers in the market.

Are you looking to find your next BEST SELLING product for your online store? Or you want to partner with a TRUSTWORTHY dropshipping supplier for your business. Don’t worry! Send us an email, and our professionals will be with you SHORTLY.