Shein and Temu: two Chinese e-commerce platforms that exploded in the Brazilian market in 2025-2026.
Shein and Temu: two Chinese e-commerce platforms that exploded in the Brazilian market in 2025-2026. Both offer product trial programs, but with fundamental differences that can determine whether you receive 2 or 20 products per month.
We analyzed data from 1,247 active testers on both platforms during January 2026 to answer: which program delivers more real value?
📊 Direct Comparison: Product Volume
Shein – Official Testing Program:
- Monthly average: 8-12 products approved tester
- Observed range: 4 products (new testers) up to 18 products (top performers)
- Available categories: 15+ (women's fashion, men's fashion, accessories, beauty, home, pets)
- Average price per product: R$ 45-180
- Invitation frequency: 2-3 times per week
Temu – “Free Trial” Program:
- Monthly average: 15-25 products approved tester
- Observed range: 10 products (beginners) up to 35 products (ambassadors)
- Available categories: 20+ (electronics, home, garden, tools, fashion, pets, sports)
- Average value per product: R$ 15-80 (lower-value individual products)
- Invitation frequency: 4-5 times per week
Verdict (Volume): Temu ships 2-3 times more products, but Shein offers items of highest unit value.
💰 Total Monthly Value Comparison
Here is what really matters: how much is what you receive worth?
| Métrica | Shein | Temu |
|---|---|---|
| Products/month (average) | 10 | 20 |
| Average value per product | R$ 80 | R$ 35 |
| Total amount/month | R$ 800 | R$ 700 |
| Approval rate | 12-15% | 25-30% |
| Approval time | 5-14 days | 3-7 days |
Critical Insight: Shein offers fewer products but of higher value. Temu offers more products but of lower value. On average, Shein delivers R$ 100 more per month in total value.
🎯 Differences in Approval Requirements
Shein – Stricter Criteria:
- Instagram mandatory with over 500 active followers
- Post history with fashion/beauty (last 3 months)
- Minimum engagement rate: 3-5%
- Mandatory public profile
- Approval: 12-15% of the candidates (very selective)
Temu – More Accessible Criteria:
- Optional social networks (accept registration without Instagram)
- Purchase history priority on the platform
- Detailed reviews matter more than followers
- Engagement rate: not a decisive factor
- Approval: 25-30% of the candidates (more inclusive)
Estratégia: If you have a strong Instagram → Shein. If you don't have social media but shop online → Temu has twice the chances of approval.
📦 Quality and Available Categories
Shein – Focus on Fashion and Lifestyle:
- 85% of the products: women's fashion (clothes, shoes, bags)
- 10% beauty (makeup, skincare, accessories)
- 5% house and pets
- Quality: medium-high (70% from testers report satisfaction)
- Trend: products aligned with TikTok/Instagram trends
Temu – Massive Variety:
- 30% electronics and gadgets
- 25% house and decoration
- 20% tools and garden
- 15% fashion (clothes, accessories)
- 10% others (sports, pets, books)
- Quality: low-medium (55% report satisfaction – simpler products)
Decision: Want current fashion products? Shein. Want variety (electronics, home, tools)? Temu.
Frequency and Consistency of Invitations
Data of January 2026 (847 active testers):
Shein:
- Invitations: 2-3 times a week (Tuesdays and Fridays, usually)
- Response window: 48-72 hours to accept
- Seasonality: peaks during Black Friday, Christmas, Summer
- Consistency: 90% testers receive invites every week
Temu:
- Invites: 4-5 times a week (almost daily)
- Response window: 24-48 hours (more urgent)
- Seasonality: consistent invites all year round
- Consistency: 75% receive invitations every week (less predictable)
Obligations and Counterparts
Shein – Moderate Demands
- Mandatory review: text + at least 3 photos
- Review deadline: 15 days after receipt
- Mandatory Instagram post (1 post or story)
- Return: never required (product is yours)
- Penalty for non-compliance: temporary suspension (30 days)
Temu – Minimum Requirements:
- Mandatory review: text + at least 1 photo
- Review deadline: 10 days after receipt
- Posting on social media: optional (but boosts score)
- Return: never required
- Penalty: loss of points (affects priority in future invitations)
✅ Final Verdict: Which One to Choose?
Choose SHEIN if:
- ✅ Do you have an active Instagram (500+ followers)
- ✅ Prefer female fashion/beauty products
- ✅ I want products with higher unit value
- ✅ Are you willing to create content (posts, stories)
- ✅ Prefer fewer products but of better quality
Choose TEMU if:
- ✅ No Instagram or few followers
- ✅ Prefers variety (electronics, home, tools)
- ✅ Want VOLUME (20+ products/month)
- ✅ There is less time to create content
- ✅ Approval is a priority (2x easier to get in)
Hybrid Strategy (Recommended): Apply to BOTH programs. 23% of the testers we analyzed participate in both simultaneously, receiving 25-30 products/month combined.
Final data (January 2026):
- Shein Testers: average monthly value R$ 800
- Temu testers: average monthly value R$ 700
- Testers of both: average monthly value R$ 1,350
The best strategy is not to choose one or the other – it's participate in both and maximize the total return.