Understanding the price increase on AliExpress at checkout

Many buyers notice a strange detail: the price displayed on AliExpress seems to go up when finalizing the order.

This change can be surprising, even discouraging, especially when you thought you had found a good deal.

So, why is the price higher at the last moment? Here are all the possible reasons and, most importantly, how to avoid unpleasant surprises.

1. Shipping fees added at the last step

Even if a product is listed with “free shipping”, that doesn’t mean it applies to all countries. Some sellers offer several shipping methods, and free shipping is sometimes limited to certain regions.

Example:

• A phone charger is displayed at €3 with free shipping.
• You click, add to cart, proceed to payment…

➡️ Surprise: an extra €4 shipping fee is added.

Why? Because the free shipping was only available for certain countries, not yours.

👉 What to do?

• Always click on “Shipping details” before adding to cart.
• Try different shipping methods to see if any remain free.

2. VAT and local taxes not included in the displayed price

Since the 2021 European regulation, AliExpress automatically collects VAT for orders delivered in Europe. But be careful: this tax is not always displayed from the start.

Example:

• You see a product at €10.
• When you go to pay, it becomes €12.

➡️ The extra €2 corresponds to the 20% VAT in France.

This is even more noticeable on items over €20: the difference becomes more significant.

👉 What to do?

• Carefully check the total in the cart, not just the price shown in the search results.
• Consider this VAT as a normal cost if you order from an EU country.

3. Automatic currency change

AliExpress adjusts its prices according to your local currency. But sometimes, the currency conversion (e.g., USD to EUR) only updates at the payment step.

Result:

• You see $9.99 on the product page.
• When paying in euros, it becomes €10.99 (including fees and conversion).

👉 What to do?

• Select euros as your default currency in the top-right corner of the site.
• This prevents surprises related to exchange rates.

4. Inflated price due to an algorithm or display bug

Some users suspect that AliExpress’s algorithm adjusts prices based on your behavior:

• If you view an item frequently, its price might go up.
• If you come from a price comparison site or an ad, the price can be different.

Sometimes, it’s also a simple display bug between the product page and the cart.

👉 What to do?

• Try viewing the same item from another browser or another account.
• Use an extension like AliPrice to track price changes.

5. End of a promotion between two steps

AliExpress offers time-limited promotions: flash sales, coupons, quantity discounts, etc.

If you add a product to your cart during a promo but wait too long to pay…
➡️ The promo may expire, and the price goes back to normal.

Example:

• A watch is €20 with a €5 coupon.
• You wait a few hours before paying.
• At checkout: the coupon expired, and you pay €25 instead of €15.

👉 What to do?

• Complete your purchase during the promotion.
• Check coupon deadlines before using them.

In summary: how to avoid these price increases?

Here is a clear summary of the causes and solutions:

Conclusion

If the price goes up on AliExpress at the payment step, it’s not necessarily a scam. It’s often due to shipping fees, taxes, currency conversions, or expired promotions.

By staying alert at each step (fees, currencies, coupons, taxes), you can avoid unpleasant surprises and pay the correct price.

👉 Keep your eyes open, compare, and don’t hesitate to finalize your purchases during promos!