Beauty

Is Shein better than Temu?

WRITTEN BY
02/26/25
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Fact Box

  • Entrepreneur Chris Xu founded Shein as a fashion marketplace in Nanjing, China in 2012, but it is currently headquartered in Singapore. It serves customers in over 150 countries and employs more than 11,000 people. 
  • Temu was founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 2022 but owned by the global commerce group PDD Holdings by Chinese billionaire Colin Huang. Varied products, from clothing to home and kitchen goods, are sold directly from Chinese sellers at extremely low prices. 
  • A poll of 4,000 people across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia revealed that 48% of shoppers purchased from Temu and 42% from Shein. The most popular items from Shein were adult clothing, while household items were more frequently purchased from Temu. 
  • Forty-four percent of Generation Z purchase on Shein per month while Temu is a close second at 41%. Shein was rated at 7.1, and Temu, 6.4 out of 10.

Mary (Temu)

A good bargain can be found on both Shein and Temu. But while both are known for wallet-friendly prices, Temu steps it up a notch with frequent, aggressive discounts. Shoppers can find even bigger deals on Temu, making it a favorite for those searching for savings.

Temu also offers more than just fashion. With categories ranging from electronics to home goods and even pet supplies, it’s got a versatility that Shein can’t match. Shein might have you covered for trendy clothes and accessories, but Temu is a one-stop shop for a little bit of everything. 

Now, when it comes to quality, both sites can be hit or miss. However, Temu’s wider variety of suppliers gives shoppers more choices in quality and price, making it a bit easier to find items that meet your standards. And if you’re impatient to receive your finds, Temu often offers faster shipping, with frequent free shipping promos. Shein, on the other hand, can sometimes feel like a waiting game.

Temu’s app has its charm, too, designed to keep you engaged with a gamified shopping experience, offering frequent coupons and rewards that users find easy and fun to navigate. In comparison, Shein’s app can sometimes feel less intuitive.

Of course, there’s more to consider than just the shopping experience. Shein has faced serious criticism over labor practices and environmental impact, while Temu, as a newer player, hasn’t been scrutinized to the same extent. If ethical concerns are on your mind, Temu might appear slightly less damaging, though both still operate within the high-stakes world of fast-paced e-commerce.

So, whether you’re looking for deals, diversity, or a more engaging app, Temu could be worth checking out. After looking at the pros and cons, it's clear Temu comes out on top.


Sam (Shein)

Since Shein limits its product catalog mainly to clothing, the options are often more on-trend than those of Temu. Although both of these fast-fashion brands have struggled with quality issues, Shein holds their sellers to a higher standard and is generally regarded as having better quality clothing items than Temu.

Shein also derives advantages over Temu from being around longer. Because Shein is a more established business, many of its processes are more streamlined than those of Temu. For example, Shein has a more developed supply chain network, which makes the shipping process smoother. Another advantage of mature companies is that they are a safer investment for people who want to buy shares in the company. If accredited investors needed to choose between investing in Shein or Temu, Shein is the obvious choice, especially considering you can only invest in Temu indirectly through its parent company. 

Lastly, the clothing on Shein is often cheaper than the clothing on Temu. Ultimately, people use these websites to get the best deals on products. So, if someone is looking for the cheapest clothing, Shein is the better option. However, it is essential to consider why each of these companies are able to sell their items so cheaply. 

It’s clear that Shein stands out for its ability to rapidly adapt to fashion trends, offering a vast array of trendy clothing at affordable prices. With a global reach, user-friendly platform, and frequent sales, Shein ensures consumers can access the latest styles easily and conveniently. For anyone who wants to look good and feel confident in affordable clothes that look anything but, Shein is definitely the best choice!

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