Can you believe it if I say that an eCommerce platform claimed the No.1 position in the shopping app category in the USA within just six months of launch? Yes, Temu just did that! But are there other apps like Temu that also offer affordable shopping experiences to US consumers?
The eCommerce sector is booming all over the world. The market is expanding rapidly, and new eCommerce-related opportunities like mystery shopper jobs are emerging every day.
It is also expected that online shopping will take over offline trades in the coming decades. Many people are now indulging in building successful eCommerce businesses.
But no one can crack it like Temu does, as it has witnessed unprecedented growth since its launch in September 2022.
So, I was excited to try it personally and also wanted to search for similar apps and websites that offer affordable shopping options.
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What Is Temu?
Temu is an online shopping company that launched its website and apps in September 2022. And after just over eight months, it reaches a market cap of more than $120 billion.
This Boston-based eCommerce company is the brainchild of PPD Holdings (previously Pinduoduo Inc.), which has offices in the USA, China, and Ireland. And with their successful effort, Temu became the No.1 app in the Apple App Store in the online shopping segment.
You can buy unique items for as low as $0.44 with a free shipping option. Besides, it also offers generous discounts, cashbacks, and flash sales to engage with the USA consumer market.
Temu is also among the highest-paying apps where you can just make money referring your friends. It also offers a 90-day free return policy that makes the shopping experience hassle-free!
Read – Temu vs Wish: Which One Is Better?
6 Best Features Of Temu
Temu started offering a whole new online shopping experience in the USA with discounted pricing.
There are sites like Temu that wanted to replicate their features but failed miserably.
Here are the features that I found the most exciting!
- Wide Range Of Products: Right now, there are more than 250 categories to choose from, with thousands of SKUs in each category.
- Unmatched Pricing: You can get up to a 90% discount on most items here. Beauty products start at just $0.44, and pet supplies start at just $3.
- Superfast Service: Temu ensures a seamless customer care experience with 24X7 support centers in native languages. It also offers a 90-day return and refund policy.
- Express Free Shipping: It offers express shipping options all over the United States. Even if it is directly sourced from China, you are likely to receive your products within 10-15 days.
- Amazing Discounts: With offers, flash sales, and coupons, you can claim extra discounts. Besides, new users also get a special discount for their initial purchases.
- Unique Referral Program: You can even enhance your shopping experience by claiming free money from Temu. Just refer a friend and earn $10. And your referral will also get $10 as a signup bonus.
21 Most Affordable Shopping Apps Like Temu
It is true that there are hundreds of online shopping sites and apps available that offer affordable items and discounted pricing. But not every site or app is trusted.
So, I went on an online shopping spree to check and filter out legit apps like Temu. Here are my top recommendations for 2023.
1. Wish
With 500+ million downloads on Google Play Store, Wish is among the best apps like Temu to get free stuff and affordable items.
Although there are many apps like Wish that offer discounted pricing, Wish is way more popular than those.
- Website: wish.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: Peter Szulczewski and Danny Zhang
- Launched In: 4th July 2010
- Availability: Worldwide
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.8/5
From affordable clothing to electronics, from home décor to daily essentials, Wish now offers a wide range of items to its 100+ million monthly active users.
And to check its legitimacy and affordability, you can check out my detailed review of Wish.
- It offers flash sales with up to 50% extra discount.
- You can save more with loyalty points earned from the reward program.
- Wish accepts various payment methods, including cards, PayPal, and Klarna.
- Most items are shipped directly from Chinese sellers to minimize the cost.
Read:
2. Shein
Shein is one of the popular, affordable shopping apps like Temu and Wish. And it became even more popular in the USA after the Reward Zone started to give free $750 Shein gift cards in their giveaways.
- Website: shein.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: Chris Xu
- Launched In: October 2008
- Availability: Worldwide
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.8/5
It mainly specializes in clothing (men’s, women’s, and babies). But besides affordable items, it also offers Shein product testing jobs where you can get your favorite items for free.
- Free shipping for new users and free shipping on orders above $49 for existing users.
- New users also get up to an added 15% discount on many items.
- It offers a wide range of beauty and personal grooming items at discounted prices.
- Ships trendy clothing at a blazing-fast speed in the USA.
Read: 20 Best Things To Buy On Shein [Unique Shein Finds]
3. Mercari
Mercari recently became one of the most popular cheap shopping apps in the USA.
Although there are many similar sites to Mercari, nothing comes close to this one in terms of affordability.
- Website: mercari.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: Shintaro Yamada, Ryo Ishizuka, & Tommy Tomishima
- Launched In: 1st February 2013
- Availability: USA, UK, & Japan
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.7/5
You can buy unique items from Mercari, such as handmade items by artisans and products of pop culture. It also deals with preowned items where you can become a seller and declutter your wardrobe for money.
- Besides mass-market products, you can also buy up-market brands like Nike.
- You can buy and sell through the Mercari app locally without the need to meet anyone.
- It offers various payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, Zip, and Cash App.
- Items will be shipped right from the merchant to your doorstep to minimize shipping costs.
4. AliExpress
Owned by the biggest Chinese multinational conglomerate Alibaba Group, AliExpress is a B2C version of Alibaba where you can buy cheap items directly from manufacturers in China.
And currently, it has over 100 million items to choose from.
- Website: aliexpress.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: Alibaba Group
- Launched In: 2010
- Availability: Worldwide (Excluding Mainland China)
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.7/5
The battle of Temu vs. AliExpress has been going on since the first one came into eCommerce last year.
There are other sites like Poshmark, which are now also giving stark competition to AliExpress nowadays. But AliExpress dominates them with their unmatched supply chain.
- It offers a wide range of items, from fashion to home improvement products.
- Products start as low as $0.50 here, with the express shipping option.
- During their famous 11.11 sale, you can claim up to an additional 90% discount.
- AliExpress also offers a 15-day returns policy with a 100% money-back guarantee.
5. Amazon
The most dominant force in the worldwide online shopping industry, Amazon definitely deserves mention among the best sites like Temu.
And to top it up, there are also ways to get free Amazon gift cards to enhance your shopping experience.
- Website: amazon.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: Jeff Bezos
- Launched In: 5th July 1994
- Availability: Worldwide
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.7/5
It currently attracts 200+ million monthly users and offers 100+ million products. But besides buying your favorite items, you can now also make money on Amazon these days!
You can also try WFH jobs from Amazon to make up to $20/hour.
- The most trusted name in the online shopping industry that has been running for three decades.
- With Amazon Prime, you can get extra discounts, free express shipping, and access to the Prime video library.
- It offers free shipping to most items over $49 in the United States.
- Amazon offers a hassle-free return and refund policy that also covers the seller’s dispute.
6. eBay
As a 90s kid, my life was good back then with just eBay and Myspace on my old-school desktop. I used to buy and sell Pokémon cards on eBay.
Fast-track it to 2023, and it is still dominating the market as one of the best apps like Temu.
- Website: ebay.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: Pierre Omidyar
- Launched In: 3rd September 1995
- Availability: Worldwide
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.6/5
With 185+ monthly active users, eBay is the current hub of online reselling and bid-styled selling.
eBay is also known for auctions where you can sell Yu-Gi-Oh cards and even sell antiques online.
- Advance search and filter options with price, delivery, geolocation, and currency filters.
- eBay offers hassle-free shipping with easy return and refund options.
- Besides buying items at a fixed price, you can also buy items at auction.
- It offers various payment methods, including zero-down credit and EMI facilities.
7. Walmart
During your teenage days, you must have tried the inventory checking jobs at Walmart, isn’t it?
And it is still one of the favorite offline retailers in the USA, which is massively entering the online market to dominate its opponents.
- Website: walmart.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: Sam Walton & James “Bud” Walton
- Launched In: 2nd July 1962
- Availability: Worldwide (Focuses on the USA & Canada)
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.6/5
From daily essentials to furniture, from food & beverages to beauty items, you can buy almost anything at Walmart.
Besides, it offers competitive pricing in the USA market to capitalize on its home audience.
- Besides delivery and express delivery to your doorstep, Walmart also offers in-store pickups.
- You can choose from a wide variety of products with same-day and one-day delivery options.
- Walmart offers special discounts on holidays, including Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
- It offers an express return and refund policy to satisfy its frequent buyers.
8. Dollar General
In the USA this year, Dollar General stands out as one of the best apps like Temu. Besides the online store, you can find Dollar General in over 18,000 locations in the USA.
I even found a Cash App ATM near me in one of those Dollar General stores.
- Website: dollargeneral.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: James Luther Turner & Cal Turner
- Launched In: June 1955
- Availability: USA & Mexico
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.5/5
From pet care to health supplies, from computer hardware to plumbing kits, you can buy a whole range of items from Dollar General. Besides, it also specializes in baby products and beauty needs.
- Dollar General offers special pricing and extra discounts on holidays.
- Besides the doorstep delivery option, you can also choose the in-store pickup option.
- It offers a hassle-free return and refund policy to its customers.
- Most items are under $6.99, and you get free shipping for a bill over $40.
9. Etsy
Etsy is love if you are into arts and crafts. And not just seasoned sellers; thousands of artisans from all over this blue planet sell their handmade items on Etsy. You can even buy and sell sneakers for cash here.
- Website: etsy.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: Robert Kalin, Chris Maguire, Haim Schoppik, & Jared Tarbell
- Launched In: 18th June 2005
- Availability: Worldwide
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.4/5
From handmade jewelry to home décor, from gardening items to vintage goods, you can buy almost anything here at discounted pricing.
You can also buy some unique handcrafted items that are not available anywhere.
- It offers more than 100 million products, from big sellers to small artisans.
- You can buy vintage and rare items which are at least 20 years old from listing dates.
- Etsy offers express shipping and a hassle-free return policy.
- It offers special discounts and bonuses on special occasions such as Christmas.
- Besides buying, you can also sell items like resin crafts.
10. Five Below
If you want to make some extra money or are looking for some savings, you must try this amazing eCommerce called Five Below.
It mainly focuses on discounted items below $5. So, you surely get your items at dirt cheap pricing.
- Website: fivebelow.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: David Schlessinger & Tom Vellios
- Launched In: 4th October 2002
- Availability: United States (40 States)
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.4/5
You can find Five Below stores in more than 1,100 locations in the United States. Besides, it has a massive online presence and is currently ranked #82 in the shopping category on Apple App Store.
- Five Below offers a wide variety of essential products priced below $5.
- It is especially loved by Gen-Z for its unique collection of graphic tees and funky accessories.
- You can buy your favorite items at discounted pricing on clearance sales.
- It offers various payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, Cash App, and more.
11. Family Dollar
Known for its seamless customer service and satisfaction, Family Dollar is surely among the best apps like Temu that you can now try with confidence.
It offers a wide variety of products at discounted pricing for American consumers.
- Website: familydollar.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: Leon Levine
- Launched In: November 1959
- Availability: United States
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.4/5
Besides its online presence, Family Dollar is also available in more than 8,200 locations across the USA.
You can also choose in-store pickup beside the direct shipping option if you need the product on an immediate basis.
- Family Dollar offers smart coupons that auto applies on the app to fetch the best price possible.
- It specializes in daily essentials, beauty, cleaning items, and home improvement goods.
- You can scan the barcode of your product on Family Dollar Store to auto-apply discounted coupons.
- It also offers special pricing for daily essentials on holidays and festive eves.
12. Banggood
There has been an ongoing heated debate of Temu vs. Banggood since Temu came into the USA market. But still, many people prefer Banggood over Temu due to the quality of the products and the express shipping option.
- Website: banggood.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: NA
- Launched In: 2006
- Availability: Worldwide
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.3/5
You can buy almost anything on this fantastic shopping app, from beauty to clothing. It is also recommended for high-quality prom dresses.
However, people also prefer it for buying electronics at affordable pricing.
- You can buy your item from anywhere, as Banggood ships globally.
- It offers 24X7 live support to ensure the utmost customer satisfaction.
- You can get up to a 90% discount on your favorite items during flash sales.
- More than 40 different payment methods are available, including cards and PayPal.
- It ships directly from the local sellers and merchants of China to minimize the production cost.
13. LightInTheBox
If you are looking for apps like Temu and Shein, you must try LightInTheBox.
Trust me; you’ll never feel disappointed while trying this app, all thanks to its affordable pricing and huge inventory.
- Website: lightinthebox.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: Quji (Alan) Guo & Liang Zhang
- Launched In: 2007
- Availability: Worldwide
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.3/5
From electronics to daily essentials, from gadgets to clothing, there are a wide variety of items available in this eCommerce store. You can even buy DVDs and Blu-ray at discounted prices from this store.
- You can avail yourself of up to 20% extra discount as a new user of this app.
- Even international shipping takes just up to 20 days to get your items home delivered.
- It offers gadgets and electronic items at never-before pricing.
- Ships directly from the sellers of Mainland China to keep a tab on the manufacturing and shipping costs.
14. Joom
Joom is undoubtedly one of the most popular apps like Temu that offers referral bonuses.
So, if you are looking for some free money hacks that ensure significant savings, it is probably among the best option to try this year.
- Website: joom.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: Ilya Shirokov
- Launched In: June 2016
- Availability: Worldwide
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.3/5
You can find a wide variety of unique and unconventional items at this store. It is also renowned for its exclusive collection of home improvement, gardening, art & crafts, and hobby items.
- If you are a sports fanatic, you can find a wide selection of sportswear and accessories.
- It offers up to 90% discount on home improvement items on special occasions.
- New users will get an extra discount on their first purchase from the app.
- Joom offers express shipping options throughout the world.
- You can pay with credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and many others.
15. DHGate
DHGate is not just one of the best sites like Temu, but it is also among the biggest B2B marketplaces in the world right now.
Although it focuses on bulk deals, you can still buy standalone items at a discounted price from this eCommerce.
- Website: dhgate.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: Diane Wang
- Launched In: August 2004
- Availability: Worldwide
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.2/5
Currently, it has close to 35 million products under its catalog, and they add new items every day.
Besides the generic and mass-market products, you can also buy high-end and branded items on DHGate.
- It offers never-before pricing for electronics, gadgets, wearables, and smartphones.
- Not just from China, it sources products from manufacturers all over the world.
- The app has a dedicated coupon section where you’ll find the best price possible.
- Almost every product comes with a detailed product review to give you an overall look and feel of the item.
16. PatPat
PatPat is one of the apps like Temu that mainly deals with clothing and accessories. It has a wide range of collections of currently-trending fashion. You can also buy some useful crafts to sell from here as well.
- Website: patpat.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: Albert Wang & Ken Gao
- Launched In: 2014
- Availability: Worldwide
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.2/5
This eCommerce specializes in kids’ fashion, where you can find trendy and fashionable items at discounted prices for babies and toddlers.
It also offers an unbeatable price that simply makes Fisher Price looks ultra-rich!
- Thousands of kids’ fashion options with trendy and vibrant clothing and accessories.
- This site offers superfast delivery all over the United States.
- You can pay through various options, including cards and PayPal.
- PatPat offers a hassle-free return and refund policy to ensure a great shopping experience!
17. About You
If you are looking for affordable luxury, About You is just for you!
You can get luxury brands like Calvin Klein, ONLY, Adidas, and Nike at discounted pricing at this German eCommerce giant. And you can buy trendy fashion accessories and clothing.
- Website: aboutyou.com
- Apps: Google Play Store
- Developed By: Tarek Muller & Hannes Wiese
- Launched In: 5th May 2014
- Availability: Europe (24 Countries)
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.2/5
You can also buy your favorite pair of shoes, like Jordan and Yeezy, at unmatched pricing from here.
Besides, this eCommerce offers express shipping to many European countries, which genuinely excites the urge of shopping discounted luxury items.
- You can get high-end brands and reputable designer wear at discounted prices.
- It offers even better discounts on special occasions and clearance sales.
- About You accepts various payment options, including credit/debit cards and PayPal.
- All products are thoroughly quality checked to maintain the standard.
18. Gearbest
Gearbest is one of the apps like Temu, where you can buy electronics, gizmos, and gadgets at discounted prices.
You can buy smartphones, smart wearables, drones, cameras, and even large home appliances.
- Website: gearbest.com | gearbest.net
- Apps: NA
- Developed By: NA
- Launched In: 2016
- Availability: Worldwide
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.1/5
You can find the most innovative and outstanding gadgets on Gearbest. Besides buying, you will also earn loyalty points for reviewing a product on this platform.
You can redeem those points for special discounts.
- It has a “Super Deals” section where you can buy electronics at dirt-cheap pricing.
- Gearbest offers special discounts on several occasions, like Cyber Monday.
- You can pay through VISA cards, PayPal, and several other payment methods.
- Most people in the USA receive their items within 8 to 15 days.
19. Flip.Shop
If you are looking for a TikTok kind of vibe even while you shop online, you need to try Flip.Shop. Yes, it is one of the other shopping apps like Temu that targets Gen-Z and millennials.
You’ll get the same feeling as surfing any other social media platform.
- Website: flip.shop
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: Nooruldeen “Noor” Agha
- Launched In: 2019
- Availability: USA
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.1/5
It offers a whole-new discovery experience for new buyers where they sell from mass-market to luxury items.
But yes, you will surely get a handsome discount whenever you buy something from this eCommerce store.
- You’ll fall instantly in love with flip.shop if you are a teen or a Gen-Z.
- You can discover the latest trends in fashion accessories just by scrolling your feed.
- There are more than 1,000 reputed brands to choose from.
- It gives you reward points whenever you watch their product videos and reviews.
20. Chinabrands
No, Chinabrands is not a place where you sell fine China dishes, although it is quite a name-appropriate thing!
Jokes apart, it is actually one of the sites like Craigslist but for wholesalers, where manufacturers and buyers can easily connect.
- Website: chinabrands.com
- Apps: NA
- Developed By: NA
- Launched In: NA
- Availability: Worldwide
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.1/5
Chinabrands is one of the sites like Temu that directly connects American buyers to Chinese manufacturers and retailers. So they can get affordable luxury and other trending items in bulk.
- It has partnered with 20,000+ manufacturers and suppliers, primarily from China.
- There are more than 10 million products listed, available in bulk packs.
- You’ll get even better pricing than Alibaba as it sources directly from small manufacturers.
- Chinabrands has an in-built payment processing system to make international transactions secure.
21. Global Sources
Global Sources is one of the apps like Temu that is mainly geared towards connecting Chinese manufacturers and retailers to international buyers.
Headquartered in Hong Kong, this company directly ships items from Mainland China.
- Website: globalsources.com
- Apps: Google Play Store | Apple App Store
- Developed By: Merle A. Hinrichs
- Launched In: 1971
- Availability: Worldwide
- Dreamshala Rating: 4.0/5
From electronics to home appliances, from clothing to shoes, you just name it, and you’ll find it on this site. But as it is mainly focused on B2B selling, there can be a minimum purchase quantity requirement.
- 95 out of 100 top retailers directly source products from Global Sources.
- There are more than 30 million products listed, available in both standalone and bulk packs.
- You can select your favorite items from 190+ categories, including fashion and electronics.
- The price per item will decrease if you order more units.
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Final Note
There are many apps like Temu that are currently operating in the USA. But not every app or website is trustable, as there are millions of complaints regarding poor quality products and delayed shipping.
So, it is better to stick to trusted eCommerce platforms, which I’ve mentioned here. But even if you want to try some new platforms, check for their legitimacy, and don’t forget to check out the reviews of previous buyers.
On a different note, you can now also get some free stuff from your favorite brands. Just become a Nike product tester or an Under Armor product tester to get your favorite pair of sneakers for free!
FAQs
Is Temu Legit?
Yes, Temu is a legit eCommerce platform that has seen unprecedented growth since its launch in 2022.
It is the brainchild of Nasdaq-listed PDD Holdings, which is one of the largest conglomerates of eCommerce players, manufacturers, and suppliers.
Does Temu charge for shipping?
Yes, Temu does offer free shipping for most of their listed products. However, there might be a minimum buying requirement to get free shipping.
But new members will get free shipping for their first three orders of any amount.
If you want even more ideas for making money, consider checking our posts on:
- 20 Websites and Apps like Depop To Sell Clothes
- 21 Websites Like Poshmark [Buy & Sell Clothes]
- 25 Legit Sites Like Craigslist To Buy Or Sell Stuff
Hello there, I’m Siva Pakkurthi, an MBA Finance post-graduate and a Remote Career & Personal Finance blogger for 5+ years. Over the years, my work has been featured on US News, Entrepreneur, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GoBankingRates, EverQuote, Legal Zoom, The Simple Dollar, Databox, Business.com, Business News Daily, Venngage, Score.org, and more. My primary mission is to help our readers maximize their earning potential with legitimate online business ideas, side hustles, and passive income ideas we publish on Dreamshala. Currently, more than 100,000 readers from all around the world visit this blog every month and learn new ways to improve their finances.