Shopee is the largest online shopping platform in Southeast Asia and it has developed rapidly in the past few years. TikTok is the most popular social media platform in recent years, but TikTok Shop was launched in 2022 and attracted a large number of sellers once it was launched, and it is still a new player in the eCommerce business.

If you want to start your online business, do you know which platform you should select? This blog will compare TikTok Shop with Shopee, so you can make an informed decision and select the best one for your needs.



 

Overview of TikTok Shop

There is no doubt that TikTok is the No.1 social media app in 2022. TikTok has more than 1 billion active users and it started as a music-centric APP encouraging people to post the videos.

TikTok Shop was launched last year and it is a new feature that allows creators, brands or sellers to promote and sell their products, and the buyers can purchase directly through the video or Live stream. Undoubtedly, TikTok Shop attracts many sellers and creators with its user-friendly interface and lower transaction and commission fees than other platforms.


 

Overview of Shopee

Shopee was launched in 2015 in Singapore and expanded to other countries in Southeast Asia rapidly, and now it is the largest eCommerce platform in Southeast Asia. It has a huge group of sellers and buyers, and the mechanism is more mature.

It is more user-friendly, it is very easy for starters to build up a new store on Shopee. To get more sales, there are many measures you can take through the seller center, for example, join campaigns, set discounts, build ads, and affiliate program.


 

Pros and Cons of TikTok Shop and Shopee

Pros of TikTok Shop

1. Lower selling fees than Shopee. Shopee charges more than 5% transaction fees and commission fees, and  more service fees. And the commission fees and transaction fees on TikTok Shop are about 4%.
2. Convenient shopping experience. The buyers don’t need to go to another shopping website or APP to purchase products, the benefit is the ability to shop directly in TikTok APP.
3. Integration with TikTok. The TikTok Shop sellers can promote their products and services more easily through TikTok, also it is easy for buyers to access the shopping page and make purchases.
4. Large and engaged audience. TikTok has a large and active user base, allowing sellers to reach a large audience of potential interest.
5. Growth opportunity. TikTok Shop has only been established for 1 year, you still have many opportunities to grow with TikTok Shop and get more sales.

 

Cons of TikTok Shop

1. Functionality is limited. Currently, the functionality is limited in the TikTok Shop seller center.
2. The establishment time is short. TikTok Shop is a newer platform that may not yet have much popularity, trust, and reputation.
3. Smaller user base. Although TikTok has a large user base, it may still have smaller active shoppers.
4. Less logistics partner integration. Now TikTok Shop only integrates J&T Express, you have no other choice to ship out your packages.

 

Pros of Shopee

1. Multiple payment options. Shopee offers several payment methods, including cash on delivery, to make shopping easier for customers.
2. Powerful marketing center. There are many marketing and advertising options in the marketing center, which make it easier for sellers to get more sales.
3. User-friendly website. Shopee is very user-friendly and easy to start, even for newbies to eCommerce business.

 

Cons of Shopee

1. High competition. There are many sellers on Shopee and it is difficult to get orders.
2. Commission and transaction fees. Though it is free to create a new Shopee seller account, it charges more when you get each order.
3. Logistics restrictions. Shopee forces sellers to choose Shopee Express logistics, and the logistics is very slow and it is easy to lose packages.


 

TikTok Shop or Shopee: which is right for you?

As I mentioned the pros and cons of Shopee and TikTok Shop, I believe you have a certain understanding of the differences between these two platforms. You can try to open stores both on Shopee and TikTok Shop, then you can experience both platforms for yourself and choose the one that suits you best.

Besides, you can sell on both platforms to get more exposure and sales. Here I suggest you use BigSeller to manage multiple platforms, it will help you a lot on copying listings, processing orders, and syncing inventory.

In conclusion, both TikTok Shop and Shopee have their own unique advantages, and to select the best platform, it will depend on your specific needs.