14 Best Online Shopping Sites in Taiwan

person in taipei city, taiwan
Theodore
Travel Writer

Last Updated:

Published:

I may make commissions from purchases made through links. Read here for more information. And as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Taiwan offers many online shopping sites. On these sites, you can buy almost everything you’d need.

I’ve lived in Taiwan for more than 5 years and have ordered many things online from various eCommerce platforms. I want to share what shopping platform options you have available in Taiwan.

Throughout this list, I’ll provide an overview of each website. Details include their user experience, products they sell, and whether they’re worth shopping from.

  1. Costco: For Costco members
  2. iHerb: Best for supplements
  3. Shopee: Taiwan’s version of Amazon
  4. momo: Alternative to Shopee
  5. Ruten Auctions: Taiwan Ebay equivalent
  6. PChome: Another Alternative to Shopee
  7. Yahoo!: Alternative to Ruten Auctions
  8. Books.com.tw: Great for book shopping
  9. Eslite: Best for new books
  10. Rakuten: Best for discounts
  11. Facebook Marketplace: Best for second-hand goods
  12. Carrefour: Best for online grocery shopping
  13. ETMall: Best for Shop Rewards
  14. Amazon: Best place to get goods from other countries
  15. Pinkoi: Taiwan’s version of Etsy

Best Online Shopping Websites in Taiwan

The following guides will explain what each website is, payment methods accepted, and other relevant information.


1. Taiwan Costco: Best for Costco Members

What they sellBulk groceries, electronics, and household items.
International shipping?No
LanguagesEnglish & Chinese (Traditional)

    Pros

    • Website offers English language option.
    • Wide range of imported goods.
    • Bulk buying saves money.

    Cons

    • Membership is required for shopping.
    • Limited locations in Taiwan.
    • No international shipping option.

Costco.com.tw is best for expats seeking bulk goods and imported items in Taiwan.

Costco’s website in Taiwan (costco.com.tw) allows you to buy online-only and other Costco products from stores in Taiwan. You must have a Costco membership to use this website.

And you can use this website in English.

There are only some things you can buy online. You’ll see text like this:

Costco Taiwan screenshot
Costco Taiwan screenshot.

If you have a Costco membership in these countries, you can use Taiwan’s online Costco shopping [1]:

JapanMexicoNorthern IrelandUnited Kingdom
AustraliaFranceIcelandSouth Korea
Countries that can use Taiwan Costco’s online shopping.

And if you’re not already a member, you can sign up for a membership online or in a store. Foreigners will need an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) or ID number.

The time it’ll take to ship your product depends on your location and the product’s availability. The longest I’ve waited for a Costco order was 3 days.

The only online payment methods Taiwan Costco will accept include:

  • Cathay United COSTCO co-branded cards
  • Cathay United Kingdom Visa debit cards
  • US/Canada/Mexico/Korea/Japan/China COSTCO co-branded credit cards

You could save money on Costco shopping by shopping online. Since you won’t need an Uber or a car to carry you and your cart full of bulk bread home.

That could save on gas money, parking, or Uber fees.


2. iHerb: Best for Supplements

What they sellHealth & wellness products.
International shipping?Yes
LanguagesEnglish & Chinese (Traditional)

    Pros

    • Wide variety of products
    • Frequent discounts
    • International shipping

    Cons

    • Shipping fees may apply
    • Potential customs issues
    • Limited local language support

iHerb is best for health-conscious individuals seeking a broad range of wellness products.

It was the best place to find supplements in Taiwan.

In November 2021, they suspended their shipping to Taiwan because Taiwanese Customs Claimed the company didn’t submit required documents for importing supplements [2]. Who knows the truth of the matter.

They began shipping to Taiwan later on. But you’ll need to buy NT$1,900 ($60) worth of products to get free shipping.

Otherwise, you’ll pay at least NT$200 on most orders.

Pretty bad if you want supplements that are only NT$200.

The website has impressive localization. So you could change the website’s currency to match your own. Instead of relying on New Taiwan (NT) Dollars. It’s great if you work remotely from another country and primarily use that currency.

You can use this website to get many supplements not found elsewhere in Taiwan. For instance, Zinc Carnosine supplements.

Except for melatonin. It’s illegal to buy in Taiwan [3].

You WILL need to download the EZ Way app and verify your identity to receive international orders. As your orders will come in from overseas and go through customs.

Before buying on iHerb, check on Amazon (so long as you’re not boycotting them). You’ll have more product variety. Thus, it’s a bit easier to reach their free shipping threshold.


3. Shopee Taiwan: Best Overall

What they sellVariety of products
International shipping?No
LanguagesEnglish & Chinese (Traditional)

    Pros

    • Wide product range
    • Competitive prices
    • Convenient shipping options

    Cons

    • Interface not as user-friendly as other platforms
    • Requires personal ID for account verification
    • Risk of counterfeit products

Shopee.tw is best for residents in Taiwan seeking a broad selection of products at competitive prices.

The Singapore-based Shopee platform is Taiwan’s biggest eCommerce network. Most of the website’s user interface and listings are in Traditional Chinese.

Even though the website has an English translation option. To shop on Shopee, you’ll need a Taiwanese phone number and address.

You’ll need a Taiwan shopping agent if you’re outside of Taiwan. I haven’t used these services, so I can’t make any recommendations.

Shopee doesn’t target specific niches. They’re like Amazon regarding selection. Many third-party sellers post their products and have varying shipping options.

So long as you know the Traditional Chinese translation of the item you want, you’ll likely find it. You could even get hard-to-find imports like Reese’s Peanut Butter cup peanut butter.

Though it’ll cost as much as a mortgage.

You can’t deliver products from Shopee outside of Taiwan. You can only ship them to a Taiwanese address. Or to a convenience store where you can pick them up.

Payment methods for Shopee Taiwan include:

  • Shopee Wallet: credit balance from your Shopee account
  • Money transfer: through your bank
  • VISA and credit cards: only Taiwanese credit and debit cards
  • Cash on delivery: pay for your order in cash through Black Cat, 7-Eleven, or Family Mart

Fun fact: Shopee (蝦皮 in Traditional Chinese) translated to ‘shrimp skin.’


4. momo Taiwan: Best Shopee Alternative

What they sellVariety of products
International shipping?No
LanguagesChinese (Traditional) only

    Pros

    • Website primarily in Chinese
    • No international shipping
    • Limited customer service in English

    Cons

    • Offers a wide range of products
    • Affordable prices
    • Quality services

Momo.com.tw is best for local Taiwanese residents seeking a broad selection of affordable goods.

momo (momoshop.com.tw) is an online shopping mall just like Shopee. It doesn’t have an English translation.

Sometimes with momo Taiwan, you can receive shipped products within 24 hours. This likely depends on the product you buy.

I couldn’t find concrete information specifying whether momo ships outside of Taiwan.

You can use these payment methods with momo [4 the page is in Chinese]:

  • JCB
  • American Express
  • Union Pay
  • VISA
  • MASTERCARD
  • Cash on delivery: not applicable to jewelry
  • HAPPY GO points: deducts points from your HAPPY GO balance
  • Small Tree points
  • LINE PAY

The translation says you can use credit and bank cards issued outside of Taiwan. 


5. Ruten Auctions: Taiwan Ebay equivalent

What they sellVariety of goods
International shipping?No
LanguagesChinese (Traditional)

    Pros

    • Broad product range.
    • The site is tailored to the Taiwanese market, which can be beneficial for expats wanting to immerse themselves in local culture.
    • The site offers multiple payment methods, including local options.

    Cons

    • Language barrier
    • Limited customer service in English
    • Potential lack of international shipping

Ruten is best for expats in Taiwan who are comfortable navigating a website primarily in Chinese and who are interested in a wide variety of goods tailored to the local market.

Taiwan Ruten auctions is a joint venture between eBay and PChome and doesn’t have an English translation.

You can’t order from Ruten unless you have a Taiwan ID, ID number for foreigners, or an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC).

Those who don’t have an ID or live outside of Taiwan will need a Taiwan shopping agent. Again, I’ve never used these services and can’t make recommendations.

My research has shown these services charge $4 per auction (in 2011) [5]. Or NT$100 + 5% of your order.


6. PChome: Another Alternative to Shopee

What they sellVariety of consumer goods
International shipping?No
LanguagesChinese (Traditional)

    Pros

    • Offers a vast product range.
    • Provides quick delivery within Taiwan.
    • Regularly runs promotional events.

    Cons

    • The site is primarily in Chinese.
    • No international shipping option.
    • Customer service might not be English-friendly.

This site is best for locals and expats in Taiwan who prefer online shopping for a wide range of products.

PChome is one of Taiwan’s most popular eCommerce platforms that doesn’t have an English translation. If you shop within the ‘24 hour area,’ you can receive orders within 24 hours.

Otherwise, you’ll need to wait 1 to 3 days.

PChome DOES offer shipping outside of Taiwan. But you’ll need to visit global.PChome.com.tw. And you have to follow their instructions (written in Chinese) to ship to your country.

PC Home Taiwan accepts many payment methods like:

LINE PaySamsung PayATM transferCredit card
Cash on delivery7-Eleven Ibon paymentPi WalletStreet Pay
AFTEE Pay NowEasy PayTaiwan PayGoogle Pay
PChome creditsPi-Slow PayInstalment Fun
Payment methods PChome Taiwan accepts.

They don’t accept fax orders and request that you forgive them. So go easy on them.


7. Yahoo! Auctions Taiwan: Alternative to Ruten Auctions

What they sellVariety of items including fashion, electronics, and collectibles.
International shipping?No
LanguagesChinese (Traditional) only

    Pros

    • Wide variety of products available.
    • Localized for Taiwan, making delivery fast.
    • Frequent sales & promotions.

    Cons

    • The site is primarily in Chinese, which may be difficult for non-Chinese speakers.
    • No international shipping limits purchases to Taiwan residents.
    • Customer service may not be English-friendly.

This site is best for expats in Taiwan who are comfortable with Chinese and prefer a wide selection of products.

Yahoo! Taiwan is an online shopping mall that somehow doesn’t have enough money to translate its website to English.

You can buy products through third-party sellers, ‘sold by Yahoo,’ or through auctions.

When I hear of Taiwan online shopping, no one ever talks about Yahoo!. It’s an excellent option to help you find specific items. I have no examples because I’ve never had to resort to using Yahoo!.


8. Books.com.tw: Best for Online Book Shopping

What they sellBooks, electronics, beauty products, & more
International shipping?No
LanguagesEnglish & Chinese (Traditional)

    Pros

    • No international shipping.
    • Some product descriptions are only in Chinese.
    • Customer service may not be fluent in English.

    Cons

    • Wide range of products.
    • Website available in English.
    • Local delivery is fast and reliable.

Books.com.tw is best for locals and expats in Taiwan who don’t require international shipping.

It’s an online shop that sells books, stationary, event tickets, clothing, and more. It has an English translation.

Even though I set it to ‘English on many pages,’ they’re still in Traditional Chinese characters.

PCHome screenshot

Is the website broken? Who knows.

It’s a great way to get Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) and Japanese books. And they’ll ship outside Taiwan.

But you’ll have to visit their ‘overseas’ section: books.com.tw/web/ovs/?loc=en_website_006

You can use the following payment methods with Books.com.tw:

  • Open Point points
  • icash pay
  • EasyWallet: deducts money from your EasyCard
  • Unionpay Card
  • Cash on delivery: if you’re on an outlying island like Kinmen, you can’t use this option
  • JKOPAY
  • atome 
  • AFTEE
  • Credit card: UCARD, VISA, MASTERCARD, JCB
  • 7-Eleven (Seven) cash on delivery: pick up your product in 24 hours

You can ship these products to your home or a 7-Eleven. Not any other convenience store. Since Uni-President owns books.com.tw and Seven.


9. Eslite: Also Best for Buying Books

What they sellBooks, stationery, & lifestyle products.
International shipping?Yes
LanguagesEnglish & Chinese (Traditional)

    Pros

    • Website offers English language option.
    • Wide variety of English books.
    • International shipping available.

    Cons

    • Shipping can be expensive.
    • Not all products have English descriptions.
    • Website layout may be confusing.

Eslite.com is best for book lovers seeking English and Chinese literature.

Taiwan Eslite online is an online bookstore that also sells apparel and accessories. It doesn’t have an English version of the website.

I couldn’t find much information on this website with my horrendous luck with website translation. I recommend using books.com.tw for buying books online.

And if you can’t find a book, try a different website.


10. Rakuten Taiwan: Best for Discounts

What they sellVariety of goods, including electronics, fashion, & home goods.
International shipping?No
LanguagesChinese (Traditional) only

    Pros

    • Website offers English language option.
    • Wide variety of products available.
    • Frequent sales & discounts.

    Cons

    • No international shipping available.
    • Some product descriptions are only in Chinese.
    • Customer service may not be English-friendly.

Rakuten.com.tw is best for expats in Taiwan who want a one-stop online shop for diverse goods.

Rakuten Taiwan is an eCommerce platform that doesn’t have an English translation. They offer various products.

Google Translate wasn’t reliable when I researched this website. Thus, I can only provide information that Rakuten provided through images. They’ll likely offer more options than what I listed.

You can use these payment methods on Rakuten Taiwan:

  • VISA
  • MASTERCARD
  • JCB
  • UnionPay

And you can pick up your package from 7-Eleven or Family Mart.


11. Facebook Marketplace: Best for Second-hand Goods

What they sellSecondhand goods
International shipping?Yes
LanguagesEnglish & Chinese (Traditional)

Facebook Marketplace is best for foreigners and Taiwanese people who want to sell second-hand goods.

It’s a classified section on Facebook that makes it so you can buy or sell new and used products.

Most users on the website have their listings in Chinese. But you will find SOME English listings. I’ve sold several items with English listings.

You can just use Google Translate to communicate with sellers. It appears they can understand most translations. Practice caution when buying. Ensure you ask the right questions and inspect your product before paying.

Don’t let anyone give you counterfeits.


12. Carrefour Taiwan: Best for Grocery Shopping

What they sellGroceries, 3C (electronics), & more
International shipping?No
LanguagesEnglish & Chinese (Traditional)

    Pros

    • Website is in Chinese, familiar to locals.
    • Offers a wide range of products.
    • Provides same-day delivery.

    Cons

    • No English language option.
    • No international shipping.
    • Website navigation may be confusing for non-Chinese speakers.

Carrefour works best for anyone who wants same-day shipping on household goods, groceries, and more.

Carrefour Taiwan’s online shopping gives you the means to do your grocery shopping online.

You can get over 10,000 products from Carrefour Taiwan an hour after ordering. However, you’ll have to download the Carrefour mobile app.

You can use the following payment methods with Taiwan Carrefour online shopping:

  • LINE Pay
  • Apple Pay
  • Samsung Pay
  • Bank or credit card: VISA, JCB, and MASTERCARD

You can’t use credit cards from outside of Taiwan.


13. ETMall Taiwan: Best for Shop Rewards

What they sellVariety of products
International shipping?No
LanguagesChinese (Traditional) only

    Pros

    • Offers a wide variety of products.
    • Regularly holds discount events.
    • Allows accumulation of rewards.

    Cons

    • The website is primarily in Chinese.
    • No international shipping option.
    • No clear English customer support.

It’s best for local residents who understand Chinese and seek a wide variety of products.

ETMall Taiwan is an eCommerce mall that sells various products. It also has a horrendous user interface and user experience.

Like Amazon. The pages are crammed with copy and products. It also doesn’t have an English translation.

They also make it difficult to find helpful information about their website (like payment methods). So I didn’t want to bother with researching this website.

I don’t want to promote a site I don’t recommend. This website DOES work as a good last resort. Or you could just give up on what you want to buy.


14. Amazon: Best for Getting Certain Products

What they sellEverything
International shipping?Yes
LanguagesEnglish & Chinese (Traditional)

    Pros

    • Best way to access affordable goods from other countries.
    • Free shipping on many items when meeting threshold.

    Cons

    • Amazon may prevent you from buying stuff since you’re in TW.

Amazon works best for anyone who wants goods from the West and can meet Amazon’s free international shipping threshold.

You can order SOME products on Amazon and ship them to Taiwan. And if you have a shopping cart totaling a certain amount, you can get free shipping on certain products.

Amazon doesn’t have warehouses in Taiwan. So that means you won’t get 1-day or same-day delivery from an Amazon delivery driver who has to pee in a water bottle to avoid enraging their employers.

And you won’t get Amazon drone deliveries.

Amazon will ship your order through an international courier of their choice, then pass it to a local courier for the final mile. The distance from the customs warehouse to your home.

To see whether Amazon will ship a product to your location, you’ll need to set your location to Taiwan. In the upper-left corner (by the Amazon logo), click ‘Deliver to,’ then enter an address in Taiwan.

Meanwhile, other listings will say “This item ships to Taiwan” and provide an estimate for shipping and import costs.

If a product offers free shipping, you’ll find it under the product’s price beside the image. It’ll say something like, “No Import Fees Deposit & FREE Shipping to Taiwan.”

Amazon deals with all the customs declaration information for you. Even with hazardous items. In some scenarios, I’ve had to allow the order to enter Taiwan through the EZ Way app.

And in others, the order tracking notifications told me my items already went through customs, and it’ll arrive at my place soon.

Shipping doesn’t take forever, either. Some orders have even come 7 days earlier than what Amazon estimated.


15. Pinkoi: Best for Handcrafted Goods (Taiwanese Etsy)

What they sellHand-crafted goods
International shipping?Yes
LanguagesEnglish & Chinese (Traditional)

    Pros

    • Variety of languages available.
    • Automatically translates Chinese-language product descriptions.
    • Most vendors have a “where it’s made” section.

    Cons

    • Filter doesn’t offer many specifications.

Pinkoi is a website just like Etsy that provides hand-crafted and machine-made goods. And it’s best for anyone who wants hand-crafted goods.

It has a significantly better user interface than most Taiwanese shopping websites I’ve come across. And the English translations make this website a lot easier to navigate.

And the search filter. It isn’t too bad. You can filter search results by:

  • Material: what your product’s made from
  • Price range
  • Whether it offers free shipping and handling
  • Customization: e.g., engravings
  • Shop locations
  • Where products ship to
  • Color: it’s nice if you’re shopping for products to match a color scheme

Some users offer free shipping and handling and have varying return policies.

Speaking of:

You’ll see this information when clicking on a creator’s (or shop’s) page.

Pinkoi Taiwan screenshot
Pinkoi screenshot.

You can see where they’re based, response times, and other information to help you learn more about whom you’re buying from.

My favorite part about this website is that every item (that I’ve viewed) shows a country of origin.


Other Taiwan Online Shopping Sites

Let’s check out other shopping websites in Taiwan:

WebsiteURLWhat They SellEnglish Support?
LINE Shoppingbuy.line.meVarious products including fashion, beauty, and lifestyle items.No
Ubuy Taiwanu-buy.com.twWide range of products from sports gear to electronics, home goods, and beauty products.Yes
Shop.com Taiwantw.shop.comUnable to retrieve information due to technical issues.No
7-Eleven Online Shoppingshop.7-11.com.twVarious products including food, drinks, and lifestyle items.No
List of Taiwan shopping sites.

Buying From Taiwan: How to Order From Taiwan Websites

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to order from Taiwan websites:

  1. Choose a Taiwan online shop: Popular ones include Shopee Taiwan, Ruten Auctions, Momo Shopping, PChome 24h Shopping, Books.com.tw, Yahoo Auction Taiwan, & Rakuten Taiwan.
  2. Browse the site for items you want to buy.
    1. Note that some sites are in the Chinese language, but you can use automatic translation tools.
  3. Add items to your cart.
  4. If you live outside Taiwan, you may need to use a shopping agent or forwarder service to deliver your items.
  5. Check out & pay: Some sites may require a Taiwanese mobile number and Alien Resident Certificate (ARC).

Many Taiwanese websites don’t offer international shipping. In such cases, consider a mail forwarding service. Also, some sites may require a Taiwan phone number and Alien Resident Certificate (ARC).


How to Receive Packages in Taiwan

Here’s how to receive packages in Taiwan:

  1. Track your package: Use the tracking number provided by the courier to monitor your package’s status.
  2. Wait for the status update: The status “In Transit” means your package is moving within the courier’s network.
    • It will be delivered on the scheduled date unless there are transit or customs delays.
  3. Check for customs or clearance delays: If there are any, the courier will attempt to contact you for additional information.
  4. Change the delivery address if necessary: If your shipper has provided your email and/or mobile number on the air waybill, you will receive a notification that allows you to make delivery changes.
  5. Pick up your package: If you’re using a convenience store network like Family Mart, you can pick up your package from the designated store.

To receive packages in Taiwan, you’ll need a tracking number to monitor your package’s status. You may also need a Taiwan phone number to receive notifications and to pick up packages from convenience stores.


FAQs: Best Online Shopping Sites in Taiwan

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding online shopping in Taiwan.

How Do You Order Things Online in Taiwan?

You order things online in Taiwan like you would in most other countries. The only differences lie in whether you meet the website’s requirements to make an account. For instance, some sites require a Taiwanese ID.

Is Amazon Available in Taiwan?

Amazon doesn’t have warehouses in Taiwan, but you CAN order some products to the island nation. You will need to check the item you want to purchase to see whether it ships to Taiwan.


More Taiwan Shopping Guides

Even More Guides

Taiwan Delicacies to Bring Home

What to Buy in Taiwan Supermarkets

Taiwan keychain souvenirs

Things to Buy in Taipei for Souvenirs

Taiwan Tourist Tax Refund: Requirements & How To Claim

vector image of pineapple cakes

21 Souvenirs To Buy in Taiwan as a Gift

person standing on top of Taipei 101 tower in Taiwan City, Taiwan

About Theo

Theodore began first experienced the wonders of traveling when visiting Vietnam. Afterward, he went crazy and ventured to at least… More about Theo