Get Free AliExpress Shipping in 2024: 55+ Tricks to Save Big
Online shopping has become more popular than ever with the convenience it offers. No need to fight crowds or deal with grumpy cashiers! But high shipping costs can quickly diminish the value of scoring a good deal.
So how do you get free shipping when ordering from sites like AliExpress? The key is to use coupons, promo codes, bulk order discounts, slow shipping methods, and good old-fashioned negotiation and communication with sellers.
In this guide, we’ll explore all the tricks for getting free shipping on AliExpress in 2024 so you can save big on your next order. You’ll learn how to:
- Understand AliExpress shipping policies
- Filter searches for free shipping items
- Unlock free shipping minimums
- Use coupons and promo codes
- Track orders properly
- And more!
Let’s dive in and start saving…
What is AliExpress & Why Shop There?
For the uninitiated, AliExpress is a popular Chinese e-commerce site that connects buyers to wholesalers, manufacturers, and exporters primarily based in China. It offers super cheap prices on almost any product imaginable – clothing, electronics, home goods, accessories, etc.
Items often cost significantly less than US or European retailers because there are fewer middlemen adding markups throughout the supply chain. AliExpress essentially provides buyers with direct wholesale pricing in many cases.
However, the low AliExpress prices come with longer shipping times – usually a few weeks for delivery. But savvy shoppers have found ways to score free AliExpress shipping to offset the wait.
Sellers offer free shipping promotions to attract higher sales volumes and better AliExpress search rankings. And AliExpress itself runs special coupons around the major Single’s Day 11.11 sale each November.
As you browse the site, keep an eye out for the sought-after “Free Shipping” tag. Let’s explore all the techniques to find it…
How Sellers Offer Free Shipping on AliExpress?
Chinese e-commerce culture is ultra competitive. There are often dozens of sellers offering the same products. So free shipping is one of the key incentives vendors use to stand out.
However, some dubious sellers advertise fake free shipping in attempts to game the system. Here are signs of reliable free shipping offers:
- High rating sellers – vet seller reputations carefully
- Accurate delivery timeframes – 15-30 day estimates are typical
- Transparent order pricing – breakdown shows $0 shipping fee
- Reasonable product pricing – not too far below market rate
Legitimate sellers make enough profit per item that they can absorb shipping expenses. Then they rely on higher order volumes driven by the free shipping promise.
Whereas sellers using sketchy tactics often have to hike product prices or surprise buyers with add-on fees later to turn a profit.
When narrowing down products, scrutinize seller ratings and reviews for red flags. Pay attention to both positive and negative experiences related to shipping policy bait-and-switches.
Search for Free Shipping Filter
Manually evaluating every seller per item takes forever. So take advantage of AliExpress search filters to zone in on products eligible for free delivery.
On Desktop:
Once search results populate, look for the filter bar above the product grid on the left side. Click the “Free Shipping” toggle. Products will update to only those offering zero shipping fees.
You can also toggle sorting by price. This surfaces the best valued products up top since base price no longer has to account for shipping expenses factored in.
On Mobile App:
After entering a search query, tap the filter icon in the upper left (it looks like a funnel). Then select the “Free Shipping” option and toggle it on. The mobile app works the same way by showing just the free shipping products in results.
Leveraging the free shipping filter saves tons of time. No more analyzing each product listing one-by-one to find delivery loopholes.
AliExpress presents all the best deals in one scrollable list.
Buy Multiple Items to Unlock Free Shipping
Struggling to find products offering free shipping by default? Don’t worry, there is another great option to score zero delivery fees…
Many AliExpress sellers provide free shipping if you meet a minimum order spend threshold. For example, $15+ cart value = free shipping.
The amount varies by seller. But once you hit a certain monetary value, shipping gets taken off the totalcarr during checkout.
Take the example below:
- Faux gold necklace = $5
- Shipping fee = $3
- Order total = $8
Separately, shipping applies. But if we purchase three necklaces:
- 3 x gold necklace @$5 = $15
- Free shipping unlocked!
- Order total = $15
For just a few extra bucks, the order value increased enough to qualify for a free delivery promotion.
So when hunting for deals, check item listing shipping sections to see if free shipping minimums apply. Consider grabbing multiples of cheaper products or small accessory add-ons to push the cart value over the free shipping threshold.
Worst case if you don’t love all the pieces, AliExpress offers hassle-free returns and refunds as well.
Use Coupons & Promo Codes
In addition to seller promotions, AliExpress itself runs regular site-wide free shipping coupons. Especially around bigger sales events like the annual Singles’ Day on November 11th.
These limited time AliExpress coupons typically offer free shipping with no minimum spend required on eligible items. Certain product categories like clothing or tech may be highlighted.
Where do you find AliExpress coupon codes?
- Check the mobile alerts dashboard
- Scroll down on the homepage banners
- Open category landing pages
- Checkout cart pages
Don’t forget to also search for third-party promotional codes on deal sites like CouponCause. External coupons provide the same free shipping perks directly through AliExpress.
As you browse, toss interesting finds in your cart. Before purchasing, visit the cart and try applying any valid AliExpress coupons from the promo code box.
See if total shipping gets reduced to $0 at checkout with the coupon applied!
New User Sign-up Bonuses
If you haven’t ordered on AliExpress before, sign up for a new account to qualify for first purchase perks.
Often new users get issued an automatic coupon at registration good for free shipping. The only catch is it may only work on selections from the “New User Deals” category.
But the new user deals section contains products with vastly discounted base pricing. So the free shipping perk just sweetens the savings even more.
AliExpress also rewards first-timers with sign-up gift packages. You can select freebie options like mobile phone cases, makeup brushes, screen protectors, and more. Products range around $1-$3 in value – and ship free.
Gift packages allow new users to test AliExpress shopping completely risk-free. And you may discover exciting finds to order more of later.
Slow Shipping Methods That Are Free
Veteran AliExpress users know…paying extra for fast DHL or FedEx delivery defeats the whole ordering direct from wholesalers cost savings thing!
So instead, choose slower ePacket, AliExpress Standard, or Super Economy Shipping options that are mostly free.
Just make sure your expectations match the timelines. Slow boat sea shipping routes can take 15-30 days in transit. But the wait pays off not pulling out your wallet again at checkout.
If you need items faster, it’s worth comparing a few related products to find ones offering free ePacket or AliExpress Standard. These shipping methods tend to deliver within 15-30 days since they use priority international air transit.
Free shipping options also rely more on China Post, Hong Kong Post, and other domestic carriers. So don’t expect super detailed tracking. But the packages eventually arrive safe and sound.
As long as you order far enough ahead of when you actually need the products, slow boat shipping is the way to go.
Order From Closest Warehouse Locations
AliExpress sellers use fulfillment centers around the globe to stock products. That means delivery distance can drastically vary.
On each product page, you’ll see a “Ship From” dropdown. Click to check if offerings from China, USA, Russia or your own country are available. Then you can select the closest warehouse location.
For example:
- Clothing ships from China – $5 shipping
- Same clothing ships from USA warehouse – Free shipping!
Even the slowest economy shipping from domestic warehouses only takes a week or so. And you’ll dodge international shipping fees in the process.
Certain products have limited supplier inventory stored locally. But for commonly purchased items like phone cases or beauty products, domestic stock is pretty reliable.
So checking that ship from dropdown allows you to score free and faster shipping simultaneously in many cases!
Review Item Price Breakdowns Carefully
We touched on this earlier briefly – but never take an AliExpress seller at face value claiming fake “free” shipping.
Always verify the final checkout tally matches what was advertised on the product page. Some shady sellers say shipping is free, only to reveal surprise processing or handling fees later at payment.
These extra costs offset shipping expenses so the seller still profits. But it ends up negating the value for buyers expecting truly free delivery.
Before completing checkout, review the full order breakdown:
- Product total
- Select free shipping method
- Apply coupons
- Final amount due
The final total should reflect the advertised free delivery. Call out discrepancies in seller communication to get fixed quotes honored before purchasing.
And consider reducing quantities or removing items if sellers refuse to adjust sneaky shipping fees. Otherwise you end up overpaying in the long run.
Buyer & Seller Communication to Lower Shipping
Don’t be shy about negotiating! Many AliExpress sellers expect back and forth discussion as part of closing sales.
If you find a product with reasonable pricing but paid shipping, ask the seller directly in a message if they can reduce or waive the shipping cost.
Especially when ordering multiple products or higher value items, sellers may discount or offer free shipping to incentivize the transaction.
Tips for getting sellers to agree to free shipping:
- Be polite in initial request
- Note you are an active AliExpress buyer
- Ask about their other product offerings too
- Share plans to order again in the future
A little courtesy goes a long way. Often sellers get flooded with demands rather than requests. Stand out by showing genuine enthusiasm for their entire catalog – not just to score one special deal.
If you build enough seller rapport, negotiating free shipping on future repeat orders becomes even easier!
Image Search to Find Cheaper Shipping Options
AliExpress sellers constantly tweak product listings to rank better in search results. So the exact same item may appear under multiple listings at different prices.
Manually digging through them all takes forever. So AliExpress now offers an Image Search tool in their mobile app.
Here’s how to leverage it:
- Install AliExpress mobile app
- Tap camera icon to launch image search
- Upload product photo or screenshot
- View results for identical and similar items
Image search scans the entire catalog for matching and alternative options based on visual similarity. Super handy for comparison shopping!
Pay attention to the cost breakdowns between product variations in results. Often you’ll spot options with free shipping even if the version you originally found had delivery fees.
This method also reveals product listing inconsistencies very clearly. For example, a $5 case with $8 shipping versus the exact same case priced at $10 with free ePacket delivery included.
Image search makes it obvious when sellers inflate base pricing to creatively bake in “free” shipping.
Track Your Packages Properly
No matter what shipping method you select, order tracking protects buyers on AliExpress. You gain visibility into important delivery events like:
- Label created in origin country
- Arrived at regional sorting facility
- Processed through customs
- Out for delivery!
Tracking means you have recourse if packages get stuck or lost. You can dispute with evidence to get refunds or resends.
Find tracking info in two places:
- Your AliExpress Orders dashboard
- Via official carrier websites (17Track recommended)
The AliExpress tracking shows basic scan updates. But checking directly through the shipping postal service sites often reveals more granular transit details.
Knowing precise delivery statuses also helps avoid “where’s my package” back and forth with sellers. Empower yourself to monitor orders every step of the journey!
2024 Coupons & Promo Codes
More free shipping opportunities come around AliExpress’s massive holiday sales.
Coinciding with Western Christmas shopping frenzies, AliExpress runs promotions throughout November and December. Shoppers have come to expect site-wide coupons offering free no minimum spend shipping anytime from Singles Day (11/11) through New Years Day.
So be sure to check the blog around mid-November 2024 onward for the latest December 2024 coupons as they release!
Conclusion
Scoring free AliExpress shipping may take a bit more work than Amazon Prime’s ubiquitous 2 day delivery.
But you save so much on the product costs in the first place that a little extra effort pays off big time!
Just utilize all the tricks in this guide to filter search results, review cart pricing carefully, pick slower shipping speeds, leverage coupons and promos, negotiate with sellers when possible, and track shipments proactively.
Stay patient and keep expectations set on longer fulfillment timeframes. Then the shipping convenience becomes a nice bonus on already rock bottom wholesale deal prices!
What tips do you depend on to keep AliExpress shipping fees at $0? Share your tricks in the comments!
