Best 15+ Alibaba Alternatives In India List // How To Find Indian Products And Manufacturers

Written By James Kennemer

Finding the right sourcing platform is a key step for businesses globally seeking to tap into the vibrant and diverse Indian manufacturing and supply landscape. While Alibaba is a popular choice, numerous alternatives cater specifically to sourcing suppliers from India. These alternatives can offer more localized insights, tailored services, and a deeper understanding of the Indian market, which can be invaluable for businesses looking to source products from this region.

This article will explore some of the top alternatives to Alibaba for finding suppliers in India. These platforms range from local marketplaces that specialize in Indian goods and craftsmanship to global networks that have a strong foothold in the Indian market. Each platform brings something unique, whether focusing on traditional Indian products, a network of verified suppliers, or user-friendly interfaces that make finding and negotiating with suppliers easier.

We will dive into the details of what each alternative platform offers, including their specializations, the types of suppliers they host, and the products they focus on. This exploration will provide a clearer picture of where each platform stands out, helping businesses decide when to choose the best platform for their sourcing needs in India.

Join us as we delve into these Alibaba alternatives, shedding light on how they can provide targeted and efficient sourcing solutions in the Indian context. Whether you're an international business looking to connect with Indian suppliers or a startup wanting to explore local manufacturing options, this article will guide you through the landscape of sourcing platforms tailored for the Indian market.

What is the best India Alibaba Alternative? India is an emerging outsourcing destination for US companies looking to shift production from China to other cost-effective Asian countries. India is one of the world’s largest economies, with a large, continuously expanding manufacturing sector. India is known as one of the world’s leading outsourcing and offshoring hubs, even for small businesses. Many service-based jobs, such as call center, IT/programming, and administrative, are outsourced in India.

With many outsourcing to India, the question arises: Is India viable as a manufacturing center? How hard is it to source products in India? Is there an Alibaba alternative for India? This guide will focus on the biggest supplier websites in India that you can use to source your products. India’s export economy is estimated at $330B/year, and most of those hard goods are in the US and EU. However, India’s vast number of exports makes it one of the most valuable suppliers of goods, and investors can quickly source products.

The Indian Economy// Overview For Investors

India’s economy is among the largest in the world. India’s population is 1.3 Billion people, the second largest in the world after China. India’s GDP is $ 3.2 trillion, making it the #5th largest economy globally. India’s business advantage is that it provides solutions for small and large businesses alike. A country with a near-unlimited workforce and cheap labor costs is one of the most attractive locations for large companies looking to outsource manufacturing in Asia.

The large, abundant, high-skilled workforce, English-speaking population, and experience in the technology industries make India stand out and put up significant competition to China. While China stood out by offering basic manufacturing services combined with advanced engineering and product design solutions, India is now taking its place as the destination that can “do it all.” What’s more important for small business owners is that India’s wages are lower than China’s and significantly lower than in Europe and North America.

India is the Largest English-speaking country In The World.

India belongs to the British Commonwealth, which means most of the population is English-speaking. India’s English-speaking population means there is no language barrier when conducting business, compared to other countries where talking to suppliers is tough. India is the world’s largest English-speaking country, with more English speakers than the US and UK combined.

Communication between buyers/investors and workers in India is accessible. Therefore, they can convey their vision to suppliers without any hassle. In addition, most suppliers in India are proficient in English, meaning there will be fewer technical issues and production delays when it’s time to manufacture your product.

Manufacturing Products In India: Potential Downsides?

We discussed the upsides: The unlimited workforce, English-speaking ability, and convenient location. However, are there any downsides to investing in India? The main disadvantage of doing business in India is that the country has a high employee turnover rate. Companies must hire and fire people frequently when conducting business in the country.

Moreover, employee protection is higher than in other countries in the region, and employees can sometimes have more rights than employers. India’s conservative government attempted to protect jobs (especially on large-scale investments), making it harder to fire employees. While the harder-working employees may choose to leave quickly, the slackers are harder to fire due to government legislation.

There are also minor logistical issues regarding money transfers to and from the country. While it’s easy in countries like China and Vietnam to send money to suppliers when you must pay them, sending money to India is a bit harder. Many investors struggle to send money due to bureaucracy, and Indian officials may hold up the payment to investigate it. In addition, due to many online scams originating from the region, many payment processors are limiting payments to/from India, which may affect your business if your payments are delayed.

Top 16 Alibaba Alternatives In India: Full List

This list will focus on the most prominent Indian trade websites where you can buy and place orders directly from Indian suppliers. Alibaba operates in India, but there are other websites where you can source products from domestic suppliers. You can source directly from dozens of websites with thousands of products and suppliers. Most suppliers will speak English, making the transaction easy.

To see our Alibaba Alternatives worldwide for Global Sourcing, click here. 

Note: Even though India has an advanced IT sector, most trade is conducted the old-fashioned way at trade shows. If you need help sourcing the products you need on the websites below, consider visiting India and directly talking to suppliers.

The following is a list of the top 16 alternatives to Alibaba for India:

001 // Amazon Business India

Amazon Business is a unique Amazon service designed for B2B services. It makes a strong case as the India Alibaba Alternative. AB is one of the newest Amazon Services created in 2015, and the service is only offered in nine countries. Amazon Business is the most substantial alternative to Alibaba because it directly services businesses and buyers who want to deal with suppliers in large quantities. Amazon Business is one of the best ways to discover Indian suppliers.

Amazon created AB to cater to the Indian B2B market and expanded it to 8 other countries: the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Japan. Amazon Business only services nine countries in total. The service caters to investors/buyers looking to source products in countries like India. It’s also used by small businesses such as offices, stores, restaurants, hospitals, hotels, etc., to source products at a better price. Most Amazon Business listings are in popular niches such as decorations, office products, interior products, health, personal care, cleaning, etc.

ExportersIndia is a B2B trading platform for Indian suppliers with thousands of product categories and one of the country’s largest product selections. As one of India’s most popular B2B websites, ExportersIndia connects domestic manufacturers, suppliers, and exporters to international buyers.

ExportersIndia has nearly 25 years of experience in the business and stands out for offering a broad range of products. The website is open to buyers from all over the world and provides multiple payment and shipping options.

Wholesalebox is an Indian-based trading platform specializing in the wholesale market for female clothing and fashion accessories. As one of the largest Indian B2B platforms, the company has warehouses in Surat, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, from which it ships merchandise internationally.

Due to its large selection of products, Wholesalebox claims to reduce buyers' sourcing costs by up to 30%. Wholesalebox combines Western/casual and ethnic wear, including female fashion, such as lingerie, footwear, jewelry, and more. In addition, the company recently expanded by offering men’s and kids’ wear products.

Indiamart is among the top #3 largest Indian B2B online platforms and one of the largest alternatives to Alibaba in the country. It provides a broad platform for wholesaling products and discovering India-based suppliers for international buyers. Indiamart is one of the oldest Indian B2B websites, having been founded in 1995.

Indiamart has become a highly successful trading platform with thousands of Indian suppliers/distributors selling equally as many products. The most popular niche products on the website include furniture, construction materials, fashion/clothing, industrial supplies, machinery, and more. As a result, the company has a vast marketplace where buyers can narrow their search and discover their needed suppliers.

Milmila is a creative B2B marketplace founded by an Indian CEO to solve sourcing problems for Indian small/medium suppliers by connecting them to international buyers. Milmila was VC-funded in 2017, and the CEO is a previous employee of Alibaba India, who aims to solve issues concerning Indian suppliers. The company’s mission is to empower small/mid-sized suppliers and manufacturers in the country by giving them exposure while offering great wholesale rates for buyers.

Milmila’s two core company services are a product sourcing service where buyers can immediately source products and a reseller program where buyers take advantage of their drop shipping facility and send products directly to their buyers. The biggest categories are electronics, lifestyle products, and furniture.

go4WorldBusiness is an Indian B2B platform founded in New Delhi, India, with over two decades. The company was initially established to connect importers and exporters based in India with international buyers. It provides an alternative to other platforms by connecting buyers to suppliers directly and allowing them to trade via the platform.

Buyers can sign up and directly connect to interested parties, then trade on the platform. The site is relatively easy to use, allowing buyers to connect to thousands of potential suppliers quickly.

Textile Export is an Indian company that specializes exclusively in the textile industry. It provides wholesale textile buying services and collaborates with local exporters who cater to the international market. Textile Export is based in Surat, India. It has the largest collection of garments and clothing across thousands of categories and different quality/price ranges.

As one of the largest wholesale websites in the country, Textile Exports also offers easy online orders with different payment and shipping options. Buyers can purchase products in packs and have them shipped internationally via express shipping that arrives in 4-5 days.

Surat Fabric is one of India’s premier textile supplier websites, which specializes in the clothing and fabric business. It is also one of India’s oldest digital platforms, with nearly three decades in the industry. Surat Fabric is based in Surat (a large wholesaler city in India). Their service stands out by offering wholesale options for clothing ranging from suits to wedding dresses.

Surat Fabric has a minimum order quantity of 10 pieces and an extensive collection of clothing, including casual, formal, designer, and more. Surat Fabric stores its merchandise in a private warehouse and ships internationally. It’s a massive platform that connects India-based wholesalers to international buyers.

JimTrade is an Indian-based B2B directory that provides access to more than 150,000 Indian manufacturers for international buyers. JimTrade exclusively specializes in the Indian market and connects Indian manufacturers/suppliers to buyers who want to find more information or purchase directly.

The directory also helps with Indian trade fairs across different industries. Most business in India is conducted the old-fashioned way. JimTrade helps Indian manufacturers by allowing them to promote their products and buyers around the globe by helping them source products quickly. It is one of the most straightforward websites on which to source products from India, with hundreds of thousands of visitors.

E-IndiaWholesale is an Indian e-commerce company founded in Jaipur, India, seven years ago. It started as a subsidiary of Jaipur. E-IndiaWholesale serves as a comprehensive e-commerce platform for merchants in India and globally. E-India Wholesale’s marketplace focuses on resellers and buyers of Indian jewelry and fashion.

E-IndiaWholesale also has manufacturing capabilities and can provide quotes directly from the website. Their minimal order amount for Indian buyers is 5000RS, and it’s $100 and up for international buyers. In addition, e-IndiaWholesale offers rare Indian clothes and jewelry that are hard to source online. The company makes it easy to place an order and provides expedited shipping for international orders.

WebdealIndia is a platform that offers convenient access to merchants and regular customers, serving as a B2B and a B2C platform simultaneously. Its marketplace includes thousands of products originating in India, including thousands of categories. Customers can purchase single products or choose from wholesalers offering products in bulk.

WebdealIndia makes it easy to start sourcing your products in India. There are no minimum order quantities, and buyers can choose between numerous shipping options. Moreover, it is a trustworthy marketplace for products across the board.

Tradeford is an international B2B marketplace that is highly popular in India. It provides a broad import-export marketplace that connects domestic Indian sellers with international buyers. Tradeford is free for buyers and sellers. Sellers can showcase their inventory on the platform, making it easy for buyers to order products.

Tradeford offers a wide selection of products similar to Alibaba, including electronics, furniture, machinery, food, construction equipment, and more. The site has years of experience in the industry and allows suppliers worldwide to offer their products to international buyers.

Shopclues is primarily a B2C platform, offering wholesale options for businesses purchasing directly from suppliers. Founded in 2011, it has become one of the most reliable Indian websites with many products.

Shopclues’s most significant product niches are female fashion, men’s fashion, electronics, mobile accessories, outdoor/camping equipment, sports equipment, lifestyle, home/interior, kitchen products, and more. In addition, Shopclues stands out by offering products at very low prices, which makes it an attractive sourcing website for international buyers.

Wholesale Mantra is an ethnic online B2B marketplace specializing in selling home decor and fashion accessories for Indian and Pakistani communities. Its primary specialty is traditional Indian clothing, which it exports worldwide. It offers bottoms, sarees, kurtis, lehengas, and home decor items.

The website caters to Indians living abroad in the US, Canada, Australia, the EU, and more communities. Wholesale Mantra provides a custom tailoring service that allows buyers to source the products they need and design them according to their own needs. In addition, wholesale Mantra offers an expedited international shipping service that guarantees delivery in as little as five days.

Industry Buying is a vast wholesale B2B directory based in India that provides access to 600,000 products with over 5000 Indian manufacturers/suppliers. Industry Buying focuses on popular products manufactured in India, such as power tools, electronics, cameras/safety equipment, footwear, and more.

International customers can purchase low-cost wholesale by directly registering for the service and consulting suppliers. They offer domestic shipping with cash payments upon delivery and international shipping.

Textile Megastore provides competitive rates and a unique collection with various ranges of best-quality fabric, adding style and essence to the statement of women's dressing. Our dress materials stand out for their fascinating styles, from traditional to highly fashionable designer wear. We are dealing with all major brands.

Textile Megastore is the leading and awarded as the highest best Manufacturer, wholesaler supplier, and exporter of ladies’ clothing materials – Un-stitched Dress materials and Kurtis, Silk Dresses, Batik Dresses, Designer Lehenga, Bridal Sarees, Bridal Lehenga, Designer Sarees, Printed Cotton Dresses, Cotton Work Dresses, Designer Kurtis, and all kinds of Dress materials, Saree, Lehenga, quality of the fabric, glamorous designs and with the most reasonable price in the country. Customer satisfaction is our prime slogan, and we promise to continue this service over the years.

017 // TradeIndia

TradeIndia is the largest domestically run B2B website for suppliers in India and one of the oldest e-commerce websites in India, with over two decades in the business. It provides similar services to Alibaba by connecting local suppliers, manufacturers, service providers, import/export professionals, and buyers throughout the globe.

TradeIndia was initially designed for Indian service businesses but grew into an international platform that serves buyers and sellers from all over the globe. In addition, the platform offers other services, such as appointing local distributors, sales agents, franchisees, etc. TradeIndia currently has over 4M active users on the website and thousands of product categories. The site attracts over 20M visitors each month. Therefore, TradeIndia is one of the best starting points for small businesses looking to conduct business in India.

Alternative // India Wholesale from China

The main alternative for sourcing materials/products to India is shipping them directly from China if you can’t source them from the websites listed above. For example, suppose your business manufactures a product in India. In that case, you may lack certain materials that are impossible to source from India.

You can import from Chinese suppliers and ship the merchandise in as little as a day because India and China share a joint border. Areas where Indian manufacturers typically lack are fashion, toys, and machinery. Consider sourcing your products from China if the websites above need to provide the necessary solutions.

Sourcing Kit // Take Control Of Your Sourcing!

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Finding reliable suppliers on Alibaba alternatives in India can be challenging, but it’s crucial for ensuring product quality and supplier trustworthiness. With the Sourcing Kit, you’ll understand how to use these platforms to your advantage. Whether you need to vet suppliers, negotiate terms, or manage logistics, our comprehensive resources will help you master these aspects and avoid costly mistakes.

Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to sourcing, the Sourcing Kit provides everything you need to connect with top manufacturers in China and Vietnam—no more guesswork or uncertainties—just a seamless, efficient, and successful sourcing experience.

Don’t stop at the basics. Elevate your sourcing game, master using Alibaba alternatives in India, and achieve more than you ever thought possible.

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Take the first step towards mastering global procurement and transforming product sourcing. Your journey to sourcing excellence starts now—don’t miss out!

James Kennemer
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