AliExpress Saver Shipping is a budget-friendly shipping option that sits between free economy shipping and AliExpress Standard Shipping. It typically delivers in 15 to 35 days, costs $1 to $5, and provides basic to moderate tracking. It’s designed for shoppers who want something cheaper than Standard Shipping but slightly faster and more reliable than completely free shipping. Best for non-urgent orders where you want some tracking without paying full Standard Shipping prices.
What Is AliExpress Saver Shipping?
AliExpress Saver Shipping is a lower-cost shipping tier introduced to give buyers a middle option between free shipping (very slow, minimal tracking) and AliExpress Standard Shipping (faster, better tracking, more expensive).
Key characteristics:
- Price point: $1 to $5 typically (cheaper than Standard, more than free)
- Speed: 15 to 35 days (faster than free, slower than Standard)
- Tracking: Basic to moderate (better than free, not as comprehensive as Standard)
- Reliability: Moderate (more consistent than free shipping, less guaranteed than Standard)
Think of it as the “economy plus” option. You’re paying a small amount to upgrade from the slowest free option without committing to Standard Shipping’s higher cost.
Who handles Saver Shipping:
Like AliExpress Standard, Saver Shipping isn’t a single carrier. It uses various logistics partners depending on route and availability:
- China Post economy services
- Yanwen Economic Air Mail
- 4PX economy routes
- Other budget logistics providers
The package typically flies to your country (not by sea like the slowest free options), clears customs, then hands off to your local postal service for final delivery.
Delivery Times: What to Expect
Official estimates: 15 to 35 days
Delivery by region:
- United States: 18 to 30 days to most locations. Major cities sometimes faster (15-25 days). Rural areas add 5-7 days.
- United Kingdom: 15 to 28 days typically. London and major cities at the faster end. Remote Scotland or rural areas at the slower end.
- Europe (EU countries): 18 to 32 days. Western Europe (Germany, France, Netherlands) slightly faster than Eastern Europe.
- Australia: 20 to 35 days. Major cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) around 20-28 days. Remote areas can push 35-40 days.
- Canada: 20 to 35 days. Canadian customs adds unpredictable time. Cities like Toronto and Vancouver faster than rural provinces.
- Middle East: 18 to 30 days to major cities (Riyadh, Dubai, Jeddah).
- Southeast Asia: 15 to 28 days due to regional proximity to China.
- South America (Brazil): 25 to 45 days. Brazilian customs is notoriously slow and unpredictable.
What affects delivery time:
Seller processing speed: Some ship within 24 hours, others take 5-7 days before actually dispatching.
Route optimization: Saver Shipping uses less-prioritized routes. Your package might wait for cargo space instead of taking the next available flight.
Customs clearance: Usually 2-7 days but can stretch longer during peak periods or if selected for inspection.
Local postal efficiency: Once it enters your domestic postal system, delivery speed depends on your postal service quality.
Seasonal delays: Chinese New Year, Singles Day (11/11), Black Friday, Christmas all add 1-2 weeks to estimates.
Cost: What You’ll Pay
Typical price range:
Small, light items: $1 to $2 Medium items (under 1kg): $2 to $4 Larger items (1-2kg): $4 to $6
Why costs vary:
Weight and dimensions: Heavier and bulkier packages cost more, same as any shipping method.
Destination country: Some regions cost more due to longer routes or less efficient logistics infrastructure.
Seller’s pricing strategy: Some sellers price products higher and include “free” Saver Shipping. Others price lower and charge separately. Always check total cost.
Comparison to other methods:
Free Standard Shipping: $0 (but slower and worse tracking) AliExpress Saver: $1 to $5 (slight upgrade in speed and tracking) AliExpress Standard: $3 to $8 (notably faster with better tracking) Express (DHL/FedEx): $20 to $60 (much faster, premium service)
Saver sits in that narrow gap between free and Standard, offering a small upgrade for buyers on tight budgets.
Tracking: How It Works
Saver Shipping tracking falls between free shipping (minimal updates) and Standard Shipping (comprehensive tracking).
What you can track:
- Order confirmed – Seller preparing shipment
- Shipped – Handed to carrier in China
- Departed from origin country – Left China (sometimes this update is skipped)
- Arrived in destination country – Entered your country
- Customs processing – Going through customs (updates often sparse here)
- Out for delivery – With local postal carrier
- Delivered – Successfully delivered
Tracking update frequency:
Better than free shipping: You’ll generally see more checkpoints and updates than with completely free shipping.
Not as good as Standard: Updates can be irregular. You might see “shipped” then nothing for 2 weeks, then “arrived in destination country.”
Where to track:
AliExpress app/website: Shows aggregated tracking from all carriers in the chain.
17track.net: Often provides more detailed updates by pulling from multiple tracking databases.
Local postal service website: Once package enters your country’s postal system, your national postal site (USPS, Royal Mail, etc.) gives most accurate final-mile tracking.
Tracking number format:
Similar to other AliExpress methods:
- LP123456789CN or LX123456789CN (China Post formats)
- Various alphanumeric codes depending on carrier
Realistic expectations:
Don’t expect real-time tracking. You’re paying $2 to $4, not $30 for DHL. Updates happen at major checkpoints but can be days apart. As long as the package keeps moving through stages, it’s fine even if updates are sporadic.
AliExpress Saver vs Other Shipping Methods
vs Free Standard Shipping:
- Speed: Saver is 5-10 days faster on average
- Tracking: Saver has slightly better, more frequent updates
- Cost: Saver costs $1 to $5 more
- Worth it? Yes, if $2 to $3 is worth saving a week of waiting time
vs AliExpress Standard Shipping:
- Speed: Standard is 5-10 days faster than Saver
- Tracking: Standard has notably better, more reliable tracking
- Cost: Standard costs $2 to $5 more than Saver
- Worth it? Often yes. Standard’s tracking reliability and faster delivery usually justify the small extra cost for orders over $15-20
vs ePacket (when available):
- Speed: Comparable, ePacket sometimes slightly faster
- Tracking: ePacket tracking is generally better
- Cost: Similar price range
- Availability: ePacket only ships to select countries; Saver has wider availability
vs Express Shipping:
- Speed: Express is 10-20 days faster than Saver
- Tracking: Express has premium real-time tracking
- Cost: Express costs $15 to $55 more than Saver
- Worth it? Only if you truly need speed or premium reliability. Massive price difference.
When to Choose AliExpress Saver Shipping
Choose Saver when:
You’re buying low-value items ($5 to $20) where Standard Shipping feels expensive but you want something better than free shipping.
You can wait 3-4 weeks but don’t want to wait 6-8 weeks.
You want basic tracking to know the package is moving, but don’t need comprehensive updates.
You’re on a tight budget and every dollar matters, but you’re willing to spend $2 to $3 to upgrade from free.
The seller doesn’t offer free shipping and Saver is the cheapest option available.
Skip Saver when:
The cost difference between Saver and AliExpress Standard is only $1 to $2. At that point, Standard’s better tracking and faster speed are worth the tiny premium.
You’re ordering something valuable (over $30-40) where Standard or Express make more sense for reliability.
You need the item within 2-3 weeks. Saver’s 3-5 week timeline is too slow.
You’re the type who checks tracking constantly. Saver’s irregular updates will frustrate you.
Free shipping is available and you genuinely don’t care about speed or tracking.
Value Analysis
Scenario 1: Buying a $8 phone case
Free shipping: $0, arrives in 30-45 days Saver Shipping: $2, arrives in 20-30 days AliExpress Standard: $4, arrives in 12-20 days
Analysis: Saver makes sense here. Paying $2 to save 10-15 days on a cheap item is reasonable. Paying $4 (50% of item cost) for Standard feels excessive.
Scenario 2: Buying a $35 smartwatch
Free shipping: $0, arrives in 30-45 days Saver Shipping: $3, arrives in 20-30 days AliExpress Standard: $5, arrives in 12-20 days
Analysis: Standard makes more sense. The extra $2 over Saver gets you 8-10 days faster delivery and much better tracking for a relatively valuable item.
Scenario 3: Buying 10 cheap items totaling $25
Free shipping: $0, arrives in 30-45 days Saver Shipping per item: $2 × 10 = $20 AliExpress Standard per item: $4 × 10 = $40
Analysis: Free shipping makes the most sense. Saver and Standard costs multiply badly across multiple items, doubling or tripling your total cost.
Scenario 4: Buying craft supplies for $15
Free shipping: $0, arrives in 30-45 days
Saver Shipping: $2.50, arrives in 20-30 days AliExpress Standard: $4.50, arrives in 12-20 days
Analysis: Depends on urgency. If you have 4-5 weeks, free shipping works. If you want it sooner without paying Standard prices, Saver is the compromise.
Common Issues with Saver Shipping
Inconsistent delivery times
Saver Shipping uses less-prioritized logistics routes, which means higher variability. One order might arrive in 18 days, the next in 32 days, both using the same method. This is the tradeoff for the lower cost.
Tracking updates going silent
Normal for Saver. You might see “shipped from origin country” then no updates for 10-14 days, then suddenly “arrived in destination country.” The package is moving, tracking just doesn’t update frequently.
Longer customs clearance
Packages on budget shipping methods sometimes get lower priority in customs processing queues. Not always, but it happens. Add a few extra days to customs clearance estimates for Saver.
Limited recourse for delays
Because you paid minimal shipping cost, there’s less leverage to demand faster service if the package is delayed. You get what you pay for. AliExpress and sellers won’t expedite Saver packages the way they might for Express shipments.
Package condition
Occasionally, budget shipping uses less careful handling. Most packages arrive fine, but the risk of damage is slightly higher than with premium methods. This is marginal, not a major concern, but worth noting.
Tips for Better Saver Shipping Experience
Order well in advance
Plan for the maximum estimated time (35 days) plus a week buffer. Don’t order something via Saver that you need in under 4 weeks.
Track weekly, not daily
Checking tracking every day with Saver will frustrate you because updates are infrequent. Check once a week. As long as the package progresses through stages, it’s fine.
Combine with other methods strategically
If ordering multiple items from different sellers, you can use different shipping methods:
- Saver for the cheap non-urgent items
- Standard for the moderately valued items
- Express for anything urgent or valuable
Read seller reviews about shipping
Some sellers ship Saver orders faster than others. Check reviews mentioning delivery times to see if the specific seller is reliable with budget shipping.
Know your buyer protection deadline
Saver’s longer delivery time means packages sometimes arrive with less buyer protection time remaining. Know your deadline (visible in order details) and be ready to open disputes if the package doesn’t show up in time.
Consider weather and season
During peak shopping seasons (November-December, Chinese New Year), Saver Shipping can stretch to 40-50 days. Avoid Saver during these periods unless you have extreme patience.
Is Saver Shipping Worth It?
It depends on your priorities and order value.
Saver makes sense for:
Budget-conscious shoppers wanting a slight upgrade from free shipping Low-value orders ($5-20) where Standard Shipping feels expensive Non-urgent purchases where 3-4 weeks is acceptable Shoppers comfortable with basic tracking and some uncertainty
Saver doesn’t make sense for:
Orders over $30-40 where better shipping is worth the small premium Urgent needs (anything under 4 weeks) Shoppers who need comprehensive tracking for peace of mind Situations where the cost difference to Standard is only $1-2 (just pay for Standard)
The honest assessment:
Saver Shipping occupies a narrow niche. For many orders, the cost difference between Saver and AliExpress Standard is so small ($1-3) that Standard’s superior tracking and faster delivery are worth it. For other orders, if you’re truly budget-constrained, free shipping works fine and saves even more.
Saver works best for low-value orders where you want something better than free but can’t justify Standard’s cost. That’s a real use case, but it’s relatively narrow compared to the broader appeal of Standard Shipping.
Country-Specific Considerations
United States:
Saver delivers via USPS for final mile. Generally reliable once it enters US. Customs in major ports relatively efficient. Expect 20-28 days to most locations.
United Kingdom:
Final delivery via Royal Mail. Reliable service. London and major cities see faster delivery. Expect 18-28 days typically.
Australia:
Australia Post handles final delivery. Reliable in cities, slower to remote areas. Expect 22-32 days on average.
Canada:
Canada Post handles final delivery. Canadian customs can be slow and unpredictable. Expect 22-35 days, sometimes longer.
European Union:
Varies by country. Western Europe (Germany, France) typically faster. Southern and Eastern Europe slightly slower. VAT collected at checkout, no customs complications. Expect 20-30 days.
Brazil:
Notoriously slow customs. Saver to Brazil can take 35-50 days easily. Consider faster methods if you’re in Brazil and have any time sensitivity.
Decision Framework: Saver vs Standard
Use this framework when deciding between Saver and AliExpress Standard:
Check the cost difference
If Standard costs $1-2 more than Saver → Choose Standard (small premium for notably better service)
If Standard costs $3-5 more than Saver → Evaluate based on order value and urgency
Evaluate order value
Order under $15 → Saver acceptable Order $15-40 → Standard usually better Order over $40 → Standard or Express, not Saver
Assess urgency
Need in 2-3 weeks → Must use Standard or Express (Saver too slow) Can wait 3-4 weeks → Saver acceptable Can wait 4+ weeks → Free shipping also viable
Consider tracking needs
Need reliable tracking → Choose Standard Basic tracking okay → Saver acceptable
Most of the time, when you work through this framework, Standard Shipping emerges as the better choice unless you’re on an extremely tight budget or ordering very cheap items.
Takeaway
AliExpress Saver Shipping occupies a narrow middle ground between free shipping and Standard Shipping. It offers a modest upgrade in speed and tracking for a small cost, but it’s not dramatically better than free shipping nor as reliable as Standard.
Best use case: Low-value orders ($5-20) where you want some tracking and slightly faster delivery but don’t want to pay Standard Shipping prices.
Most common situation: For orders over $20 where the cost difference between Saver ($3) and Standard ($5) is just $2, Standard is almost always the better choice. The tracking reliability and 5-10 day time savings justify the small premium.
Bottom line: Saver has its place, but it’s a niche option. Most shoppers will find better value in either free shipping (if they can wait and don’t need tracking) or Standard Shipping (if they want reasonable speed and reliable tracking). Saver works for that specific scenario where budget is extremely tight but you want a small upgrade from free.
Evaluate the cost differences for your specific order and make the choice based on what matters most: absolute minimum cost (free), small upgrade for low cost (Saver), or best balance of speed and tracking (Standard).