SHEIN vs Temu: how to choose (returns and what to check before you buy)
SHEIN vs Temu: what SHEIN publishes on returns in the United States and the United Kingdom, how to choose depending on what you are buying, what to check before you pay and what the SHEIN Brazil referral code is.
Quick answer
There is no store that is best for everyone. The choice depends on what you are buying and on how much being able to return it matters to you, and each store publishes its own rules in each country. On its US site, SHEIN publishes a return window of 30 days from delivery. On its UK site, it publishes 14 days by law, counted from receipt, and, for most items, up to 30 days after receipt under its own policy. We did not read Temu's rules for your country for this article.
This article does not measure prices or test deliveries. SHEIN's side comes from the policies on its websites, checked on October 12, 2026. Amazon and Shopee also appear in searches like this one, but this article does not compare them.
What SHEIN publishes in the US and the UK
Source, checked on October 12, 2026: the privacy and returns policies on SHEIN's website in each market.
| Market | Company that operates the site | Returns on SHEIN |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SHEIN US Services, LLC | Up to 30 days after delivery |
| United Kingdom | Infinite Styles Services Co., Limited (“ISSL”) | 14 days by law (right of withdrawal), counted from receipt. Under SHEIN's own policy, most items can be returned up to 30 days after receipt. Lingerie, underwear and costume jewelry only come back within the 14 days. |
We did not read Temu's policy for your country, so this article has nothing on Temu's returns or shipping there. Before you buy, check the shipping and returns pages on Temu's own site.
Import tax and customs
Import tax depends on the country, and this article does not cover customs rules. Before you pay, check at each store's checkout whether the total includes taxes, and compare that final figure, not just the price of the item.
Which to choose, depending on what you're buying
- You want room to return things: compare the return window, not just the price.
- You need it by a certain date: check the delivery time on the product page or in your order.
- The order comes from abroad: check the total with taxes at checkout.
- You will pay by card, with a digital wallet or in instalments: check the payment options at each store's checkout.
What reviews measure
Scores on complaint and review sites measure how a store handles customers who complain, not the quality of the product, and the number of complaints depends on the size of the store. Who operates SHEIN and what is known about its reputation are in our article on whether SHEIN is legit and safe.
Before you buy: what to check
- The final price, with shipping and taxes.
- The return window, and whether the item is one of those with a shorter window (on SHEIN UK, for example, lingerie, underwear and costume jewelry).
- Who sells it: the store itself or a partner seller.
- The delivery time shown in your order.
Partnership and referral code
Cecília is an affiliate of SHEIN and Temu and may earn a commission on purchases made through the links in this article, at no extra cost to you. That does not change the answer: the choice depends on what you are buying.
4CW5Y is Cecília's referral code for SHEIN Brazil (the Brazilian site and app). You search for it in SHEIN's search bar, not in the coupon field, and it may not work in your country. It is not a coupon.
Frequently asked questions
SHEIN or Temu: which is better?+
Neither is better for everyone. It depends on what you are buying and on how much being able to return it matters to you: compare the return window and the total at checkout, not just the price.
Which is cheaper, SHEIN or Temu?+
This article does not measure prices. Compare the final price of each item, with shipping and taxes, when you pay at each store.
Which arrives faster, SHEIN or Temu?+
This article does not test deliveries. Check the delivery time on the product page and in your order. We did not read Temu's rules for your country.
Which is safer, SHEIN or Temu?+
This article gives no verdict. See our article on SHEIN to find out who operates the store and what is known about its reputation.
Are SHEIN and Temu the same company?+
No. They are different stores, each with its own rules for shipping, delivery and returns.
How long do I have to return something to SHEIN?+
In the US, up to 30 days after delivery. In the UK, 14 days by law, counted from receipt, and for most items up to 30 days after receipt under SHEIN's own policy. Lingerie, underwear and costume jewelry only come back within the 14 days.
Is 4CW5Y a coupon?+
No. It is Cecília's referral code for SHEIN Brazil. You search for it in SHEIN's search bar, and it may not work in your country.
Interested?
Compare the final price, with shipping and taxes, when you pay
Related articles
View all
Store Comparison
YesStyle vs Stylevana: shipping, customs and returns side by side, with Olive Young, StyleKorean and Jolse
YesStyle, Stylevana, Olive Young, StyleKorean and Jolse side by side in the US, UK, Canada and Australia: who ships there, when shipping is free, who pays the tax and what each store takes back, from the official pages.
Shipping Guide
Does YesStyle ship to the US, UK, Canada and Australia? Delivery times, shipping costs and customs
What YesStyle publishes about delivery times, free shipping and taxes for the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, and how to get customs charges refunded.
Editorial
Is SHEIN legit and safe? Who runs it, where it's from and its return policy
Whether SHEIN is a legitimate store, which company runs its sites in the US and the UK, which country it comes from, whether it is safe to pay, the return policy and what to check before you pay.