Alibaba International Tops U.S. Charts as Chinese Shopping Apps Dominate Rankings

AsianFin -- Alibaba.com—also known as Alibaba International Station—briefly claimed the top spot on the U.S. Apple App Store’s shopping category before settling into the No. 2 position on Wednesday.

Since April 12, Chinese e-commerce apps have been surging in popularity across the U.S. market. DHgate initially took the lead at No. 1, with Taobao holding steady in second place. Now, Alibaba International Station has joined the ranks, marking a new wave of momentum for Chinese shopping apps amid growing consumer interest and shifting dynamics influenced by U.S. tariffs.

According to Sensor Tower data, Alibaba.com had been hovering between the 14th and 24th positions on the App Store’s free shopping app chart prior to April 12. But following that date, the app began a steady climb, reaching No. 2 on April 23 before sliding slightly to fourth place the next day.

Between March 26 and April 24, a span of nearly a month, Alibaba.com rose 12 places in the rankings. During the same period, in the overall free app rankings, Alibaba.com climbed as high as 18th place, marking an impressive 128-spot jump.

In the free shopping app rankings, Taobao had been hovering around the 100th position before April 7. From April 8 to April 13, its ranking soared rapidly. Between April 14 and April 19, it held the second spot for six consecutive days. However, by April 24, it ceded its position to Alibaba International Station and dropped to 41st place, reflecting a 60-spot improvement overall.

During this period, Alibaba's B2C cross-border platform, AliExpress, experienced a decline. On the free shopping chart, AliExpress hovered around the 10th position before April 16, but then steadily dropped to the 28th position by April 24, marking a total decrease of 18 spots.

Currently, on the free shopping chart, AliExpress ranks below Alibaba.com but above Taobao.

DHgate, which topped the shopping app charts earlier than Alibaba's shopping apps, fluctuated around the 30th position on the free shopping chart before April 13. From April 13 to April 21, it held the top spot for eight consecutive days, before dropping to the 9th position on April 24.

As of April 24, prior to the publication of this article, the rankings of major Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms on the App Store's free shopping chart were as follows: Alibaba.com (4th), DHgate (9th), Shein (10th), Temu (11th), AliExpress (28th), and Taobao (41st).

Meanwhile, U.S.-based Amazon ranked 8th, and eBay ranked 13th.

(Image credit: TMTPost, statistics as of 11:30 PM Beijing time, April 24)

Once considered niche platforms catering to wholesale buyers, Alibaba International and DHgate are now rising stars on the U.S. App Store, propelled by a surge in interest amid the ongoing U.S.-China tariff standoff. Historically overshadowed by B2C platforms, these B2B giants are now gaining traction with American consumers and inadvertently sparking a boom in factory-direct e-commerce.

On April 13, DHgate’s U.S. iOS downloads skyrocketed 940% compared to earlier periods. Taobao saw a 483% jump on April 16. Leading the pack now is Alibaba International Station, which has become a breakout hit in the U.S. app charts.

Three main factors are fueling this surge.

First is consumer anxiety over tariffs. The U.S. administration’s renewed duties on Chinese imports have disrupted previously duty-free models like Shein and Temu, triggering price hikes. With fears of future increases, American shoppers are turning to Chinese platforms for direct-from-factory pricing.

Second, Chinese e-commerce platforms have aggressively and effectively marketed on U.S. social media. Viral content on TikTok and Instagram—especially videos that break down global production chains and pricing markups—has driven consumer curiosity. For example, one viral clip calculated how a pair of leggings made for $5 in China ends up selling for $100 in the U.S., and how ordering direct (even with tariffs and shipping) could still bring the price down to $27.

Third is China’s unmatched value proposition. While other countries may offer low production costs, few can match China’s blend of quality and affordability—especially in consumer electronics and fast fashion. According to a New York-based sourcing executive, finding alternatives in countries like India or Bangladesh is often feasible for textiles but nearly impossible for tech products.

The result? Chinese apps like Alibaba International, DHgate, Taobao, Temu, and Shein are seeing a surge of interest from American consumers eager to stock up. Some have even gone so far as to travel to China specifically to shop, with Alipay data showing a doubling of spending by U.S. users in the first half of April 2025.

This wave of Chinese e-commerce success in the U.S. may seem sudden—but it reflects years of refinement in Chinese manufacturing and a strategic pivot by platforms to go directly to global consumers. With evolving White House tariff policies and growing demand for affordable goods, the cross-border e-commerce "drama" is far from over.