Does AliExpress Take PayPal in 2024? Answer May Surprise You
Online shopping has become incredibly popular, with consumers able to access products from all over the world with just a few clicks. However, when shopping on international sites, paying for your items can sometimes get confusing. Payment methods vary widely between countries and platforms.
So does the giant Chinese ecommerce marketplace AliExpress accept PayPal payments? The short answer is: it depends.
While AliExpress and PayPal were previously integrated, the partnership dissolved in 2011. Currently, the ability to use PayPal on AliExpress depends on both your location as a buyer and whether the specific sellers you’re purchasing from accept PayPal payments.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using PayPal on AliExpress, including:
- A brief history of AliExpress and PayPal’s relationship
- Up-to-date details on PayPal availability by country and seller
- How to check if a seller accepts PayPal
- Workaround methods for using PayPal
- PayPal’s safety and buyer protection
- Step-by-step instructions for paying with PayPal
- Pros and cons of using PayPal vs. alternatives
- List of AliExpress stores that accept PayPal
Let’s start from the beginning and review when and how the AliExpress-PayPal relationship took shape.
Brief History: When Did AliExpress Accept PayPal?
Back in April 2010, ecommerce platform AliExpress announced an integration with PayPal to enable the popular online payments system across the marketplace. This allowed buyers on AliExpress to seamlessly link their PayPal accounts to pay for any items across the platform’s thousands of sellers.
However, the AliExpress PayPal relationship was short-lived. Just over a year later in August 2011, it was announced that PayPal would no longer be accepted on AliExpress.
This sudden reversal was due to issues around fees and profitability for sellers. Specifically, PayPal charged a 7% processing fee for payments, which was taken in addition to the 5-8% in commissions AliExpress charged sellers per transaction. This high level of fees severely cut into profit margins for sellers.
Additionally, there were higher risks of claims, disputes, and chargebacks that caused uncertainty for PayPal. So after just 16 months, PayPal and AliExpress parted ways.
Or so it seemed…while PayPal never regained full official integrated partner status across all AliExpress sellers, there are still some remaining ways buyers can use PayPal on AliExpress today. Let’s take a look.
Does AliExpress Take PayPal in 2024?
In 2024, PayPal is still accepted by some sellers on AliExpress – but with limitations depending on where you are located as a buyer.
Here is the list of countries where AliExpress shoppers can use PayPal as of 2024:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Spain
- Portugal
- France
- Italy
- Germany
- Israel
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Norway
- Sweden
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
However, while PayPal is enabled at the platform level in the countries above, the story doesn’t end there. Whether or not you can actually pay with PayPal depends on one more key factor…
Each individual AliExpress seller chooses which payment methods to accept. So sellers have to opt in specifically to enabling PayPal payments.
To check if the seller you want to purchase from accepts PayPal, you’ll need to select the item you want, proceed to the payment section, and confirm if PayPal is listed as one of the payment options.
How to Check if an AliExpress Seller Accepts PayPal?
To determine if an AliExpress seller will allow you to checkout via PayPal, you have two options:
1. Check the payment methods
When you’re on the product detail page, add an item to your cart and head to checkout. This will bring you to the order confirmation page listing your shipping details, order total, and crucially – the payment methods.
Under the “Select payment method” section, review if PayPal is listed as one of the highlighted options.
If you see the PayPal logo, great news – that seller accepts PayPal! Select PayPal to continue checking out using your PayPal account login and payment details.
2. Contact the seller directly
If the previous step shows that the seller you want to buy from does not list PayPal, all hope is not lost. Your second option is to message the seller through AliExpress to ask if they can accept PayPal payments separately.
Chinese sellers may be less familiar with connecting their accounts to accept PayPal. But many sellers focused on international customers may be willing to manually accept PayPal payments.
Explain that you wish to pay via PayPal, and request the seller’s account details to send your payment outside of AliExpress if necessary. This may allow you to use PayPal still, despite it not showing as a checkout option.
Workaround Methods To Pay With PayPal on AliExpress
If you have your heart set on paying with PayPal for your AliExpress purchases, there are a few workaround methods that buyers have had success with:
Negotiate payment outside AliExpress: As mentioned above, some sellers who don’t accept PayPal formally may still be willing to accept a PayPal payment manually from you. The transaction just occurs outside of the AliExpress platform. Once paid, they simply ship you the purchased item.
Have the seller send you a PayPal invoice: Particularly for higher-dollar purchases, some sellers may be open to sending buyers a custom PayPal invoice covering the AliExpress order total. You can then easily pay the invoice from your PayPal account.
Use third-party PayPal agents or services: There are some independent agents and proxy shopping services that facilitate AliExpress orders using PayPal. Fees and reliability vary vastly however, so caution is recommended.
These methods have allowed some resourceful AliExpress buyers to continue using PayPal here and there. However it’s crucial to understand the buyer protection implications…
Is PayPal Safe For Buying on AliExpress?
When evaluating payment methods, safety is a primary concern – you want to know your money is secure. The good news is PayPal does provide solid buyer protection for AliExpress purchases in case issues arise.
PayPal’s policies protect buyers if:
- You don’t receive your order
- The item arrives broken or damaged
- The product is vastly different than as described
In these scenarios, PayPal gives buyers up to 180 days to file disputes to get reimbursed.
However – and this is critical – PayPal’s protections likely replace AliExpress’ standard buyer protections when using PayPal. So you need to rely on PayPal’s policies as AliExpress itself may deem such PayPal transactions as ineligible for its coverage since they happened off-platform.
In summary, PayPal does offer buyer safety nets on AliExpress purchases, but the exact restrictions differ from standard AliExpress terms so read carefully what is and isn’t covered.
Now that you know how to identify sellers allowing PayPal, let’s walk through completing AliExpress checkout with PayPal.
Step-By-Step Guide to Using PayPal on AliExpress
Once you’ve found a seller that accepts PayPal payments, it’s smooth sailing to place your order.
Here is the checkout process:
- Add desired item(s) to your cartBrowse AliExpress and when you find something to buy, add it to your shopping cart
- Select “Place Order”When ready, click Place Order to proceed to finalizing payment details
- Choose PayPal as payment methodOn the payment page, select PayPal logo to use your account
- Log into your PayPal accountYou will be redirected to PayPal site; log into your existing account
- Complete your AliExpress purchaseFollow prompts on PayPal to confirm order details and payment methodVoila! Once PayPal processed, you’ll receive AliExpress confirmation
And your new item will be on its way courtesy of PayPal payment processing. Nice and easy!
Now let’s compare some advantages and disadvantages to using PayPal instead of alternative payment methods available.
Pros and Cons of Using PayPal on AliExpress
Before choosing PayPal on AliExpress, it’s helpful to understand its main benefits as well as drawbacks compared to other payment options buyers have.
Advantages of PayPal on AliExpress:
- Buyer protection – PayPal offers 180-day coverage if issues arise
- No card details required – Keeps banking/CC info safer
- Familiar convenience – For frequent PayPal users
Disadvantages of PayPal on AliExpress:
- Limited country/seller availability – Extra steps required
- Higher fees – Relative to direct credit card payments
- No AliExpress protections – Must rely on PayPal’s policies
Bottom line: PayPal is great if available, convenient, and provides reassurance – but doesn’t make sense for everyone.
Fortunately, you have other solid payment methods to choose from if no seller you want to buy from takes PayPal.
What Payment Methods Does AliExpress Accept Besides PayPal?
The good news if PayPal isn’t an option or your preferred payment method: AliExpress accepts a wide variety of payment options.
Major credit cards, popular online payment platforms, bank transfers – AliExpress has based payments covered around the world.
Here is a quick overview of some of the top alternatives to PayPal for paying on AliExpress:
- Credit/debit cards – Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and other major issuers. Simple and widely accepted.
- Alipay – Leading Chinese digital payments platform. Efficient QR code scans.
- WebMoney – Virtual wallet and money transfer service popular internationally.
- Bank wire transfers – Direct bank-to-bank money transfers. Higher amounts only.
- Alternative payment systems – Yandex, Klarna, and more options depending on buyer location.
The availability of these options does vary somewhat across seller location and buyer geography. However, most customers have multiple payment method choices – so don’t hesitate to shop AliExpress if PayPal alone is stopping you!
That covers proactively selecting your preferred payment method. But what if issues come up unexpectedly?
What if I Have Problems Paying on AliExpress?
In an ideal world, every AliExpress order you place would process smoothly without payments hiccups.
In reality though, you may occasionally encounter frustrating payment problems that block you from completing your purchases.
Here are some common payment issues on AliExpress and troubleshooting tips:
- Verification failures – Refresh page or manually contact support
- Unavailable payment methods – Double check eligibility for buyer location
- Rejected payments – Confirm valid card details are entered
- Missing bank transfers – Allow several business days for transfers
As always, if problems persist, contact AliExpress customer service directly for troubleshooting assistance.
Providing order details and screenshots of any error messages can help them identify solutions. Their support team aims to respond within 1 business day.
With the right payment method insights and troubleshooting techniques, you can hopefully overcome any paying obstacles on AliExpress.
Now let’s look at some specific examples of popular AliExpress stores that accept PayPal.
List of AliExpress Stores That Accept PayPal
While PayPal adoption across AliExpress is fragmented, some seller stores stand out for embracing this payment option.
Electronics sellers were early leaders accepting PayPal, while fashion has also seensteady adoption.
Here is a sampling of top AliExpress stores taking PayPal currently:
Electronics
Keysion Digital Store – Cables, chargers, phone cases
Shenzhen Snode Store – Earphones, microphones, recorders
Data Frog Official Store – Gaming controls, Nintendo accessories
H&A Official Store – Bluetooth speakers and headsets
Fashion & Apparel
AOMEI Official Store – Trending women’s clothing styles
Uncle Jerry’s Store – Casual shoes, sneakers, sandals
Miss Ord Fashion – Dresses, jumpsuits, swimwear
ACELURE Store – Handbags, purses, luggage
And many more niche sellers support PayPal too. Discover new options by checking payment logos while browsing or asking sellers directly.
The list of AliExpress PayPal integrated sellers will surely continue evolving over time.
Conclusion: Using PayPal on AliExpress in 2024 and Beyond
In closing, hopefully this guide has shed light on the past and present possibilities for using PayPal when buying products on global ecommerce platform AliExpress.
Key takeaways to remember:
- Previously integrated from 2010-2011, issues around high fees led PayPal and AliExpress to split
- Limited availability continues today depending on buyer country and individual seller acceptance
- Check for PayPal logos when paying or ask sellers to confirm their support
- PayPal provides solid buyer protection, but AliExpress protections may not apply to off-platform PayPal transactions
- Plenty of payment alternatives to choose from if PayPal unavailable or you prefer options like cards or Alipay
The online commerce landscape changes rapidly, so be sure to periodically check back for the latest updates regarding PayPal acceptance when shopping on AliExpress. Their continued push towards international sellers and buyers may reopen doors for expanded PayPal adoption.
For now, savvy buyers willing to do a bit of extra work can still find ways to use PayPal here and there to fund their AliExpress purchases. Certainly keep it top of mind as a payment possibility to maximize convenience and security!
