Taobao Overtakes Amazon?! Why Americans Are Ditching Big Retail for Chinese Apps？
The Chinese e-commerce app DHgate, currently ranked as the No. 2 free iPhone app in the U.S., is no longer alone in its sudden rise to popularity. Another major Chinese shopping platform, Taobao, has now joined the Top 5 on the U.S. App Store as of Thursday.
This unexpected surge in downloads appears to be fueled by viral TikTok videos from Chinese manufacturers. These videos allege that much of the luxury goods market is based in China, with products like clothing, handbags, shoes, and accessories being manufactured there before being shipped to countries such as Italy or France, where they are repackaged and branded. This content has led to a growing movement of American consumers looking to bypass luxury markups by shopping directly from Chinese suppliers.
Other TikTok creators, both Chinese and American, have started highlighting e-commerce apps like DHgate and Taobao as go-to sources for lower-cost luxury-style items. With rising prices on platforms like Shein and Temu, U.S. consumers have quickly pivoted to these alternatives.
In April, Taobao saw estimated downloads of approximately 185,000 — a staggering 514% jump from the 30,000 installs recorded during the same period last month, according to app intelligence provider Appfigures. The biggest surge came over the weekend, with installs increasing 5.7x between Friday and Saturday.
On Saturday, Taobao entered the iOS App Store’s Top Overall rankings (excluding games) at No. 461. By Sunday, it climbed to No. 188. As of Thursday, it reached No. 5 overall. The app also jumped from No. 49 to No. 2 in the Shopping category, surpassing major players like Walmart, Amazon, Shein, and Temu. (Alibaba.com, another Chinese app, is currently ranked No. 6 in the same category.)
Appfigures notes that Taobao has never before appeared on the U.S. App Store’s Top Overall charts in data going back to January 1, 2017.
While buying from these apps doesn’t shield U.S. shoppers from tariffs on Chinese imports, many believe that sourcing directly from manufacturers may help lower the final price. For others, it’s about finding affordable “dupes” for luxury items.
That said, experts caution consumers to approach these marketplaces with care, as product quality can vary significantly. Buyers are encouraged to read seller reviews and examine user-uploaded photos before making purchases.
