AliExpress Joins YouTube Shopping Affiliate in Four New Markets
Creators will be able to tag AliExpress products, but no commission rates have been published and no go-live date has been set.
AliExpress announced on 20 October that it’s joining the YouTube Shopping affiliate program for creators in the US, Brazil, the UK and Germany, after a first run in South Korea in March.
So you’ll be able to tag AliExpress products in your videos, Shorts and livestreams once the partnership reaches your country, and earn when your viewers buy through the YouTube Shopping affiliate program.
What you get
Social Media Today’s write-up of the deal says more countries will follow in phases, in step with YouTube’s own rollout.
Buyers pay on AliExpress.
Retail Technology Innovation Hub’s report on the expansion names the categories in focus:
- consumer electronics
- sports and outdoor
- home and living, plus lifestyle products
There’s a particular focus on Brand+, which that report describes as a dedicated selection of branded products from international and local brands.
You’ll also see bestselling and trending data to help you pick what to tag in YouTube Studio.
Tubefilter’s coverage of the partnership says AliExpress will use YouTube’s affiliate marketing infrastructure, which YouTube has been making more shoppable with Collections and timestamped shopping links.
Eric Zhang, a vice president at AliExpress, put the pitch in one line: “Content and commerce are converging globally.”
What’s still missing
What will you earn per sale? Nobody has said.
Two things are missing from every report I read:
- a commission rate, though YouTube’s affiliate program rules let each retailer set its own rates and attribution windows
- a go-live date for the US, Brazil, the UK and Germany
Based somewhere else? YouTube wants affiliate listings in 35 markets by the end of 2026, Social Media Today notes. But AliExpress follows that rollout in phases, so you could wait longer.
Why it matters
Tubefilter notes that the deal resembles YouTube’s earlier ecommerce agreements with retailers like Amazon and Rakuten.
AliExpress lists over 100 million products in its app, Social Media Today reports, citing WorldFirst.
AliExpress’s own example is tagging a consumer electronics product in an unboxing Short.
So tech and gear channels are where I’d expect the first real sales.
Then there’s trust. If the item arrives late or breaks in a week, your viewers will blame you and your channel, whoever shipped it.
So I’d only tag AliExpress products you’ve ordered and used yourself. Before you tag one, check:
- how long delivery takes to the country most of your viewers watch from
- the seller’s rating and recent reviews
- what a return looks like if it breaks
Is a cheap basket worth it? Compare the rate with your Amazon tags once it shows. Each retailer sets its own rate for each product, so the rate can differ by item.
Test it on one video first, and check the rate in YouTube Studio.
Common Questions
When can US creators tag AliExpress products on YouTube Shopping?
No date has been announced. AliExpress said on 20 October 2026 that the partnership will expand to the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Germany, and eligible creators can apply through YouTube Studio.
What commission does AliExpress pay YouTube creators?
AliExpress hasn’t published one. In the YouTube Shopping affiliate program, each retailer sets its own rates and attribution windows, and returns or cancellations can reduce what a creator earns.
Can I tag AliExpress products in YouTube Shorts?
Yes. Once the partnership is live in their country, creators in the YouTube Shopping affiliate program can tag eligible AliExpress products in long-form videos, in Shorts and in livestreams, and earn a commission when viewers buy.
