Most people who shop on AliExpress know about 11.11. Far fewer know that there’s a second major event in March or April that delivers comparable savings, with less competition for coupons and a purchasing window that’s much easier to plan around.
The AliExpress Anniversary Sale marks the founding of the platform and is the second-largest sale event of the year. For anyone who needs to buy something in Q1 and doesn’t want to wait until November, this is the event worth preparing for.
This guide covers exactly what the Anniversary Sale is, when it runs, what the discounts look like, and how to get the most from it.
Check AliExpress for upcoming Anniversary Sale promotions →
What Is the AliExpress Anniversary Sale?
AliExpress launched in 2010. Every year since, the platform has marked its founding with a sale event, commonly called the Anniversary Sale or the 3.28 Sale after its anchor date of March 28.
The event typically runs for several days around late March, sometimes extending into early April. AliExpress adjusts the exact dates each year, but the window is consistently in that range. Check the app in mid-March for confirmed dates.
What makes it a genuine event rather than a marketing exercise:
- Platform coupons are issued specifically for the event and are larger than standard daily coupons
- Sellers across most categories reduce prices for the event period
- Flash promo codes appear during the event window
- Coin earning multipliers sometimes run for purchases made during the sale
- Free shipping thresholds are frequently lowered
The scale is second only to 11.11. For purchases in the first half of the year, it’s the best savings window available on the platform.
When Does the Anniversary Sale Run?
Late March to early April, anchored around March 28. The exact dates vary year to year and AliExpress doesn’t always announce them far in advance.
The practical way to track it: watch the AliExpress app homepage from around March 15. The platform typically starts showing countdown banners and releasing preparatory coupons about two weeks before the event starts.
Enable app notifications in mid-March. AliExpress sends advance notice when the sale is confirmed and when event coupons are available to collect.
Unlike 11.11, which falls on a fixed date every year, the Anniversary Sale window can shift slightly. Don’t assume March 28 is the exact start date without checking the current year’s announcement.
How It Compares to 11.11 and Other Events
The honest picture:
11.11 is bigger. Platform coupons during 11.11 are more generous. More sellers participate. The flash code infrastructure is more developed. If you can wait until November for a major purchase, 11.11 delivers the higher ceiling.
The Anniversary Sale is meaningfully better than everything else. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, the Mid-Year Sale, and standard daily stacking all deliver less than the Anniversary Sale. For anyone buying in the first half of the year, it’s the right event to target.
One practical advantage over 11.11: less competition. Fewer buyers are preparing for the Anniversary Sale than for 11.11, which means event coupons are available for longer before the event starts and are less likely to run out before you collect them. Flash codes during the event are also easier to catch because fewer people are competing for them simultaneously.
What the Discounts Look Like
On a standard day with full coupon stacking: 15-25% off most orders.
During the Anniversary Sale with full stacking: 30-45% off is achievable on well-chosen purchases, depending on what platform coupons are released and which categories are being promoted.
A realistic example on a $55 order:
| Discount Layer | Saving | Running Total |
| Listed price | $55.00 | |
| Seller Anniversary discount (~12%) | $6.60 | $48.40 |
| Seller coupon: $4 off over $40 | $4.00 | $44.40 |
| Platform coupon: $12 off over $40 | $12.00 | $32.40 |
| Flash promo code: $3 off | $3.00 | $29.40 |
| Coins: 10,000 redeemed | $1.00 | $28.40 |
| Free shipping | $3.00 | $25.40 |
$55 item for $25.40. About 54% off with all layers applied. Not every order hits this. Not every item will have all six layers available, and catching a flash promo code requires being present during the event. But orders in the 35-45% range are realistic for prepared buyers across most product categories.
Browse AliExpress ahead of the Anniversary Sale →
What to Buy During the Anniversary Sale
The sale covers all categories, but some deliver more reliable results than others.
Electronics and accessories. Consistent top performer across every AliExpress event. Earbuds, cables, phone cases, smart home devices, and computer peripherals all see solid discounts. Competition among sellers in this category keeps prices sharp even before event reductions.
Home goods and organisation. Kitchen tools, storage, small appliances, and bedding. Good value on AliExpress year-round, better during events. Items in this category ship reliably and have low return risk.
Outdoor and garden. March to April is when buyers in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia are thinking about spring. Sellers in garden tools, outdoor furniture accessories, and camping gear often discount ahead of the season, and the Anniversary Sale timing aligns with that.
Fashion and jewellery. Decent event discounts, but buy carefully. Sizing risk on clothing means international returns are difficult. Check the seller’s size charts and reviews before committing during a sale.
What to approach carefully: Very high-ticket purchases (above $150) warrant more research than a sale day allows. Take your time verifying seller ratings and reading photo reviews before buying anything expensive. The Anniversary Sale comes back every year.
How to Prepare for the Anniversary Sale
Preparation is what separates 35-45% off from 20-25% off.
From March 1-15: Start noting prices on items you’re planning to buy. Write down or screenshot current listed prices. This gives you a baseline to verify actual discounts later. Some sellers adjust prices before major events.
From March 15-20: Add planned items to your AliExpress wishlist. The platform sends price drop notifications on wishlisted items, and some sellers specifically target wishlist users with early event offers.
From March 20-25: Check the Coupon Centre daily. Anniversary Sale platform coupons typically appear 5-7 days before the event starts. Collect them as soon as they’re available. These have quantity limits and the best ones go earlier than people expect.
2-3 days before the event starts: Collect seller coupons from each product page you’re planning to buy from. Look for the “Get coupon” button near the seller’s store banner on the listing. Some seller coupons only apply if collected before adding to cart. Order matters.
The day before: Finalise your cart. Confirm your total clears the minimum spend on your platform coupon. Check your payment method is working. Enable notifications so you catch promo code announcements during the event.
During the event: Watch the app’s event page and notification centre for flash promo codes. These are time-limited. Some last hours, some last 20 minutes. Have your cart ready so you can apply a code and checkout quickly when one appears.
The Coupon Mechanics During the Anniversary Sale
Same as any AliExpress event, with event-specific coupons replacing standard ones.
Platform coupons: Larger than standard daily coupons. Collect from the Coupon Centre before the event. One per order. Check the minimum spend requirement.
Seller coupons: Set by individual sellers. Collect from the product page before adding to cart. Apply automatically at checkout.
Flash promo codes: Released during the event. Enter in the promo code field at checkout. Stack on top of all other discounts.
Coins: Apply at checkout by enabling the toggle near your order total. Small saving individually, meaningful over many orders.
Free shipping: Many sellers lower their free shipping threshold during events. Check the shipping section on the listing before adding to cart.
The application sequence at checkout: enable coins first, apply seller coupon (usually automatic if collected), apply platform coupon, enter promo code if one is live. Confirm the total before paying.
Shipping During the Anniversary Sale
Standard AliExpress shipping to the US, UK, Canada, and Australia takes 15-45 days. During the Anniversary Sale, order volume increases and shipping can trend toward the longer end of that range.
If you need something by a specific date, account for the longer shipping window when placing your order.
AliExpress Choice products, marked with a “Choice” badge on listings, often ship from local warehouses in the US or EU. These typically deliver in 5-10 days rather than the standard international timeline. Worth filtering for Choice products if faster delivery matters for your purchase.
Expedited shipping options are available at checkout for most standard orders, typically delivering in 7-15 days at additional cost. Factor the shipping cost into your total savings calculation if you’re using expedited.
Is the Anniversary Sale Worth Planning Around?
For purchases above $40 that you’re planning in Q1, yes. The platform coupon values during the Anniversary Sale are significantly better than what’s available on a standard day, and seller discounts add on top. Stacking everything during the event delivers savings that aren’t replicated outside the main AliExpress sale windows.
For smaller purchases or urgent needs, use standard coupon stacking and buy when you need to. The Anniversary Sale is worth waiting for if you have flexibility. It’s not worth holding off a month if you need something now.
The clearest use case: you’re planning a $50-100 purchase in March or April anyway. Waiting a few weeks to time it with the Anniversary Sale, collecting coupons as they become available, and stacking at checkout turns a straightforward purchase into one that costs 30-40% less.
Prepare your AliExpress cart for the Anniversary Sale →
FAQ
When exactly is the AliExpress Anniversary Sale? It anchors around March 28 but the exact dates shift each year. AliExpress announces the confirmed window in mid-March. Watch the app homepage from March 15 and enable notifications for the announcement.
Is the Anniversary Sale as good as 11.11? Close, but not quite. Platform coupons during 11.11 are typically larger. More sellers participate in 11.11. For purchases in the first half of the year, the Anniversary Sale is the best available alternative and delivers genuinely strong discounts. For purchases that can wait until November, 11.11 has the higher ceiling.
How do I find Anniversary Sale coupons on AliExpress? Check the Coupon Centre from around March 20 onward. Event platform coupons appear there and are free to collect. Seller coupons are on individual product pages. Collect both before the event starts, not on the day.
What categories get the best discounts during the Anniversary Sale? Electronics and accessories consistently deliver the deepest discounts. Home goods, outdoor and garden products, and fashion also see solid event pricing. Most categories participate to some degree.
Can I use my regular AliExpress coupons during the Anniversary Sale? Standard platform coupons may still be valid if they haven’t expired, but event-specific coupons released for the Anniversary Sale are larger and worth collecting separately. Check your coupon section when the event starts for any new event coupons available to claim.
Does the Anniversary Sale apply to buyers in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia? Yes. The event is global. Platform coupons, seller discounts, and flash codes all apply across these markets. Shipping times and options vary by country but the discount mechanics are the same.
Takeaway
The AliExpress Anniversary Sale is the best place to buy in Q1 if you’re willing to plan a few weeks ahead. Collect platform coupons when they appear in late March. Grab seller coupons before adding to cart. Watch for flash codes during the event. Stack everything at checkout.
Done right, it’s 35-45% off on a well-chosen order. That’s not available any other time of year until 11.11.
Start planning your Anniversary Sale purchases on AliExpress →
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