Standard pay-after-delivery is NOT available on AliExpress for most users worldwide. You must pay when you place your order, before items ship. However, your money goes into escrow (held by AliExpress, not given to the seller) until you confirm receipt or buyer protection expires. This provides similar protection to pay-after-delivery.
Limited exceptions: Some countries (primarily India, parts of Southeast Asia, and select Middle Eastern regions) may have cash-on-delivery options for specific products and sellers. Check your checkout page to see if it’s available.
The alternative: AliExpress’s escrow system and buyer protection function like pay-after-delivery by protecting your money until you’re satisfied.
Why Pay-After-Delivery Isn’t Standard on AliExpress
Understanding the business model helps manage expectations:
Reason 1: Cross-Border Logistics Complexity
The challenge:
AliExpress connects international sellers (mostly in China) with buyers worldwide. Traditional cash-on-delivery requires:
- Delivery personnel collecting payment
- Transferring that payment back to the seller
- Currency conversion
- International money transfer
- Risk of non-payment after shipping costs incurred
Why it doesn’t work: For a package shipped from China to Nigeria, the US, or Brazil:
- Delivery company would need to collect payment
- Convert local currency to seller’s currency
- Transfer money internationally
- Handle disputes about payment collection
- Absorb losses if buyer refuses package
This creates massive logistical and financial complications that make it impractical at scale.
Reason 2: Fraud and Risk Management
Seller risks with pay-after-delivery:
Scenario 1: Buyer orders item, seller ships, buyer refuses delivery
- Seller loses: shipping cost + return shipping cost + item
- Seller has no recourse
Scenario 2: Buyer claims they didn’t receive item but actually did
- Delivery company says delivered
- Buyer denies receipt
- Who absorbs the loss?
Buyer fraud becomes easier: With pay-after-delivery, unscrupulous buyers could:
- Order expensive items
- Refuse delivery repeatedly
- Claim non-receipt
- Exploit return costs
Current system (prepayment with escrow) balances risk:
- Buyers pay upfront (commitment to purchase)
- Money held in escrow (protected from seller)
- Both parties have incentive to complete transaction honestly
Reason 3: Business Model Economics
AliExpress’s role:
AliExpress is a marketplace platform, not a retailer. They:
- Connect buyers and sellers
- Process payments
- Provide dispute resolution
- Take commission on completed sales
With prepayment:
- AliExpress holds funds securely
- Takes commission when transaction completes
- Cash flow is predictable
With pay-after-delivery:
- Would need to front payment to sellers before collecting from buyers
- Massive working capital requirements
- Financial risk increases dramatically
- Commission collection becomes complex
Economics don’t support it at scale for international transactions.
How AliExpress’s Escrow System Works (Your Real Protection)
This is the key to understanding why prepayment on AliExpress isn’t as risky as it sounds:
The Payment Flow
Step 1: You place order and pay Your money leaves your account/card immediately.
Step 2: Money goes to AliExpress escrow (NOT to the seller) This is critical. The seller doesn’t get your money yet. AliExpress holds it.
Step 3: Seller ships the item They’re motivated to ship because they know payment is waiting.
Step 4: Item is in transit Money still held in escrow. Seller still hasn’t been paid.
Step 5: You receive the item Package arrives. You inspect it.
Step 6A: If satisfied → You confirm receipt
- Click “Confirm Receipt” in your order
- AliExpress releases payment to seller
- Transaction complete
Step 6B: If NOT satisfied → You don’t confirm receipt
- Don’t click anything
- Open a dispute before buyer protection expires
- Money stays in escrow while dispute resolves
- You can get refund if you win dispute
Step 6C: If you do nothing
- Buyer protection expires after 60-90 days
- AliExpress automatically releases payment to seller
- This assumes you received item and just forgot to confirm
Key point: The seller only gets paid AFTER you receive the item or after buyer protection expires. This functions similarly to pay-after-delivery – your money is protected until delivery is confirmed.
Buyer Protection: Your Safety Net
Buyer protection duration: 60-90 days depending on shipping method and destination.
What it covers:
- Item never arrives → Full refund
- Item significantly different from listing → Full or partial refund
- Item damaged or broken → Full or partial refund
- Wrong item shipped → Full refund
How to use it:
If item doesn’t arrive:
- Wait until tracking shows no delivery and protection is close to expiring
- Open dispute: “Item not received”
- Upload evidence (tracking screenshots)
- Request full refund
- AliExpress reviews and typically sides with buyer
- Refund issued to your original payment method
If item is wrong/damaged:
- Don’t confirm receipt
- Take photos of problem
- Open dispute: “Item not as described”
- Upload photos as evidence
- Request refund (full or partial)
- Negotiate with seller or escalate to AliExpress
- Get refund based on evidence
Critical rule: You MUST open disputes before buyer protection expires. After expiration, you lose the ability to get refunds.
This system effectively gives you inspection rights similar to pay-after-delivery:
- Receive item
- Inspect it
- If unsatisfied, dispute and get money back
- Seller hasn’t been paid yet, so money is available for refund
Cash-on-Delivery: Where It Exists
Limited availability in these regions:
India
Status: Cash-on-delivery available for many products.
How it works:
- Select products that show “COD available”
- Choose “Cash on Delivery” at checkout
- Order is placed (no payment yet)
- Item ships
- Pay delivery person in cash when package arrives
- Inspect before paying (in theory, though delivery person may pressure you)
Limitations:
- Not available for all products
- Not available from all sellers
- May have maximum order value limits
- Small COD fee sometimes applies
- Depends on delivery service supporting COD
Southeast Asia (Select Countries)
Countries with limited COD:
- Philippines (some areas)
- Indonesia (major cities)
- Thailand (limited)
- Malaysia (very limited)
How it works: Similar to India – select COD at checkout if available.
Reality: COD availability is inconsistent and depends on:
- Seller participation
- Product type
- Delivery location
- Order value
Middle East (Select Regions)
Countries with some COD:
- UAE (limited)
- Saudi Arabia (limited)
- Other GCC countries (very limited)
Status: Much less common than India, but occasionally appears.
Most Other Countries (US, UK, Europe, Africa, Latin America)
Status: Cash-on-delivery is NOT available.
Why:
- Logistics infrastructure doesn’t support it
- International shipping makes COD impractical
- Too much fraud risk
- Payment collection costs too high
If you’re in these regions: Prepayment with buyer protection is your only option.
How to Check if COD Is Available for You
Step 1: Add items to cart
Step 2: Go to checkout
Step 3: Look at payment methods
If COD is available in your region, you’ll see:
- “Cash on Delivery” option
- “COD” label
- “Pay when you receive” option
If you DON’T see these options: COD is not available for your location or for these specific products.
Product-level indicators: Some product listings show “COD available” badge if the seller supports it.
Alternatives That Address Your Real Concern
Understanding the fear: You’re worried about paying upfront and either not receiving the item or receiving garbage you can’t return.
Here’s how to protect yourself without pay-after-delivery:
Alternative 1: Start with Small Test Orders
Strategy: Don’t place a large first order. Test the waters.
How to do it:
- First order: Buy something cheap ($5-15) from the seller
- Evaluate: Did it arrive? Was quality acceptable? Was shipping time reasonable?
- If successful: Place larger orders with confidence
- If problematic: Avoid that seller, try different one
Why this works:
- Limits financial risk
- Tests seller reliability
- Builds confidence gradually
- You learn how to use buyer protection on low-stakes purchase
Alternative 2: Use Credit Cards (Chargeback Protection)
Why credit cards are better than debit:
Layer 1: AliExpress buyer protection
Layer 2: Credit card chargeback rights
If AliExpress buyer protection fails:
- Contact your credit card company
- File a chargeback dispute
- Provide evidence (screenshots, tracking, photos)
- Bank investigates
- Charge may be reversed, money returned to you
Timeline: 60-120 days from purchase (varies by card issuer)
This adds second safety net beyond AliExpress’s system.
Alternative 3: Use PayPal (Extra Buyer Protection)
Why PayPal is safer than direct card payment:
Layer 1: AliExpress buyer protection
Layer 2: PayPal buyer protection (separate dispute system)
How it works:
- If AliExpress dispute fails
- Open separate dispute through PayPal (within 180 days)
- PayPal investigates independently
- May refund even if AliExpress denied
Advantage: Two separate chances to get refunds if something goes wrong.
Alternative 4: Only Buy from Highly Rated Sellers
Risk reduction through vetting:
Criteria for “safe” sellers:
- 95%+ positive feedback
- 10,000+ completed orders
- Active for 1+ years
- Recent positive reviews with customer photos
- Responsive to messages
Why this helps:
- Established sellers have reputation to protect
- They’re less likely to scam
- Track record shows reliability
- Quality is more consistent
How to find them:
- Sort search results by “Orders” (shows best-selling items from popular sellers)
- Check seller ratings before buying
- Read recent reviews carefully
Alternative 5: Refuse Delivery (Last Resort Option)
If you’re concerned about item quality:
Strategy: When package arrives, if you have serious doubts:
- Don’t accept the package
- Tell delivery person you refuse delivery
- Package returns to sender
- Open dispute with AliExpress showing you refused delivery
- Request refund
Limitations:
- Doesn’t work in all countries
- Delivery services may not allow inspection before acceptance
- Some sellers charge restocking fees
- Return shipping is complex internationally
When this makes sense:
- You ordered something expensive
- Package looks damaged
- You’ve reconsidered the purchase
- Item took so long you no longer need it
The Psychology: Why You Want Pay-After-Delivery
Understanding your concern helps find the right solution:
Concern 1: “What if the item never arrives?” → Solution: Buyer protection covers non-delivery. Open dispute, provide tracking evidence, get full refund.
Concern 2: “What if the item is garbage?” → Solution: Don’t confirm receipt. Open dispute with photos. Request refund. Seller hasn’t been paid yet.
Concern 3: “What if seller scams me?” → Solution: Vet sellers carefully. Use credit card or PayPal for extra protection. Start with small orders.
Concern 4: “I don’t trust AliExpress with my money” → Solution: Understand escrow system. Money isn’t given to seller immediately. Protected for 60-90 days. Millions of successful transactions daily.
Concern 5: “I can’t afford to lose this money” → Solution: If you genuinely can’t afford to lose the money, don’t shop on AliExpress. The risk, while low, exists. Or start with very small purchases to build confidence.
The real answer: Pay-after-delivery would give you peace of mind, but the escrow system provides similar protection if you use it correctly. The key is understanding and actively using buyer protection.
What Happens When Things Go Wrong
Scenario: Item never arrives
Your protection:
- Tracking shows no delivery
- Buyer protection still active
- Open dispute before it expires
- Money is still in escrow (seller hasn’t been paid)
- AliExpress refunds you
- You lose nothing
This is effectively the same outcome as refusing to pay on delivery.
Scenario: Item is completely wrong
Your protection:
- You receive something totally different from listing
- You don’t confirm receipt
- Take photos of what arrived vs. listing
- Open dispute with evidence
- Money is still in escrow
- AliExpress reviews evidence and refunds you
- You might need to return item (seller sometimes waives return)
Outcome similar to refusing payment on delivery for wrong item.
Scenario: Item is low quality but matches description
Your protection: This is trickier. If the item technically matches the listing:
- You might not win full refund dispute
- Seller argues item is as described
- AliExpress might side with seller
Best practice:
- Read reviews before buying (avoid low-quality sellers)
- Manage expectations (a $10 item won’t have $100 quality)
- Accept that very cheap items are often mediocre quality
This is one area where pay-after-delivery would be better: You could refuse low-quality items even if they technically match descriptions.
Mitigation: Start with small orders to assess quality before buying expensive items from that seller.
How to Use Buyer Protection Effectively
Think of buyer protection as your pay-after-delivery substitute:
Rule 1: Never confirm receipt until you’re satisfied Don’t let sellers pressure you. Don’t confirm as soon as package arrives. Inspect first.
Rule 2: Know your protection expiration date Check each order in “My Orders” – it shows when protection expires. Set phone reminders.
Rule 3: Open disputes EARLY if there’s a problem Don’t wait until the last day. If something’s wrong, dispute with plenty of time left.
Rule 4: Provide strong evidence Photos, screenshots of listings, tracking info. Evidence wins disputes.
Rule 5: Don’t accept inadequate partial refunds If item is seriously wrong, push for full refund. Don’t let seller pressure you into 10% partial refund on a 100% problem.
Rule 6: Escalate if seller won’t cooperate After a few days of seller stalling, escalate to AliExpress mediation.
Rule 7: Use credit card chargebacks as final backup If AliExpress won’t help, your credit card company might.
Will Pay-After-Delivery Come to AliExpress?
Current trends:
Some e-commerce platforms are expanding buy-now-pay-later and pay-after-delivery options globally.
Likelihood for AliExpress:
Against widespread implementation:
- Cross-border complexity remains
- Risk management challenges
- Economics don’t favor it
- Current system works reasonably well
Possible limited expansion:
- More countries might get COD options
- Partnership with local delivery services
- Limited to specific product categories
- High-volume, trusted sellers might offer it
Realistic prediction: COD might expand to a few more countries (more of Southeast Asia, possibly parts of Latin America or Africa), but universal global pay-after-delivery is unlikely in the near future (next 3-5 years).
What to watch:
- Check your checkout page periodically
- COD options may appear as AliExpress expands regional partnerships
- No official timeline or announcements
Risk Acceptance: The Reality of International E-Commerce
Honest assessment:
Shopping on AliExpress requires accepting some risk:
- You pay upfront
- Shipping takes weeks
- Quality can be unpredictable
- Disputes can be time-consuming
- Returns are expensive or impractical
These risks are mitigated by:
- Escrow system holding money
- Buyer protection covering most issues
- Credit card/PayPal backup protection
- Ability to vet sellers through reviews
But they’re not eliminated entirely.
Is it worth it?
For most people, yes, if:
- You start small to build confidence
- You vet sellers carefully
- You use buyer protection actively
- You accept that shipping takes time
- You’re okay with occasional quality variance
Maybe not, if:
- You need items urgently
- You can’t afford any financial risk
- You want guaranteed quality
- You expect Amazon-level service
- You’re not willing to handle disputes if needed
Alternative if too risky: Shop on platforms with pay-after-delivery (local e-commerce sites, Amazon, etc.) even if prices are higher. The convenience and lower risk might be worth the price premium.
Takeaway
Traditional pay-after-delivery isn’t available on AliExpress for most users worldwide. You must pay when you order. However, AliExpress’s escrow system provides similar protection – your money is held until you confirm receipt or buyer protection expires (60-90 days), giving you time to inspect items and dispute if needed.
Limited cash-on-delivery exists in India and parts of Southeast Asia and the Middle East. If you’re in these regions, check your checkout page to see if COD appears as an option.
For everyone else, the best approach is:
- Understand escrow protects your money until delivery is confirmed
- Use buyer protection actively (don’t confirm receipt until satisfied)
- Pay with credit card or PayPal for extra protection layers
- Start with small orders to build confidence
- Vet sellers carefully before buying
The escrow system means sellers don’t get paid until you’re satisfied or protection expires – this functions similarly to pay-after-delivery by keeping your money safe until delivery is confirmed. The key difference is you need to actively use buyer protection and open disputes if needed, rather than simply refusing to pay on delivery.
If you absolutely need pay-after-delivery and can’t accept prepayment even with protections, AliExpress may not be the right platform for you. Consider alternatives with COD or better return policies, even if they cost more.