You’ve probably seen those little coin icons sprinkled around the AliExpress app and wondered whether they’re worth paying attention to. Good news: they’re not just decorative — AliExpress coins can shave a few pence off your order. Before you start collecting, it’s worth checking Groupon’s latest AliExpress discount codes, which often deliver bigger savings than coins ever will.

Here’s the straight truth: AliExpress coins won’t change your life, but they can add up to small, consistent discounts if you know how to earn and redeem them properly. The trick is deciding whether they’re worth the effort — or whether you’re better off timing your purchases around sales and understanding AliExpress’s refund system instead.

What Are AliExpress Coins?

AliExpress coins are a mini loyalty currency you earn through app-based activities. They act like digital pennies — small individually, but they add up over time. You earn coins for checking in daily, playing mini-games, leaving reviews and completing occasional tasks.

The goal is simple: keep you opening the app. Whether that works is another question entirely, but if you’re a regular shopper, the rewards can make a dent in your total spend.

How Much Are Coins Actually Worth?

Each coin is worth roughly $0.01, or around 0.8p in the UK. So 100 coins come to about 80p. Not exactly jackpot territory — but not useless either.

Just be aware: the value you get depends on the item. Some products offer excellent coin-to-discount ratios, while others quietly inflate the base price to compensate. If you’re serious about maximising savings, compare prices or cross-check similar listings — especially on items where pricing varies wildly across sellers.

How to Earn AliExpress Coins

You can only earn coins through the AliExpress mobile app — not the desktop site. Here’s where most of your coins will come from:

Daily Check-ins (Your Easy Win)

The simplest and most reliable method. Open the app, tap the coin icon and claim your reward. Expect 1–10 coins a day, with small bonuses for streaks. It takes seconds, and consistency pays off.

Games and Tasks

AliExpress regularly rotates mini-games and challenges that award coins. Prizes vary from 5 to 50 coins per activity. If you enjoy mobile games, it’s a fun extra — but the time-to-reward ratio isn’t always great. Casual participation is best.

Reviews and Other Activities

You’ll earn small coin bonuses for leaving product reviews, sharing listings and completing profile information. These rewards are modest, but if you’re reviewing anyway, you might as well pick up the bonus.

How to Redeem Your Coins

Earning coins is simple. Spending them… slightly less so. Here’s how it works:

Look for Coin-Eligible Products

Not all items accept coins. Your best value usually comes from the dedicated “Coins” section in the app. Products here tend to offer stronger discounts than random listings with a small coin icon attached.

Use “Buy Now”, Not the Cart

This catches most users out: coin discounts often only appear when you tap “Buy Now.” Many items don’t show coin options during normal cart checkout.

Once you’re on the checkout page, look for the coin icon or a “Use Coins” button. You’ll be able to apply your balance up to the item’s maximum allowed amount.

Spread Coins Across Multiple Purchases

You rarely get to use your entire coin balance in one go. AliExpress sets a limit on how many coins you can apply — usually 10–30% of an item’s value. This makes coins more useful for smaller, frequent purchases rather than big-ticket items.

Occasionally, coin discounts stack with seller coupons. Sometimes they don’t. It depends entirely on the listing.

Common Issues and How to Fix Them

Coins Not Appearing at Checkout

If your coins aren’t showing, check the following:

• You’re using the mobile app, not desktop
• You used “Buy Now” instead of adding to cart
• The product accepts coin payments
• Your coins haven’t expired

A quick logout/login often fixes disappearing coin balances.

You Can't Use All Your Coins

This is intentional. AliExpress restricts coin usage per transaction. Think of coins as discounts, not store credit — you’re meant to use them gradually.

Coin Expiry

Coins can expire if you leave them unused. The expiry date isn’t always obvious, so check your balance page and use older coins first.

Are AliExpress Coins Actually Worth It?

The Honest Math

Daily check-ins alone earn around 150 coins per month — roughly £1.20 in value. If the process takes 30 seconds a day, that’s about £24 per hour in theoretical savings. Not bad for something you do while sipping tea.

But real-world value is often lower thanks to item limits and inflated prices. Expect to realise 50–70% of your coin balance as actual savings.

When Coins Make Sense

• You shop on AliExpress regularly
• You open the app most days anyway
• You buy lots of inexpensive items
• You enjoy stacking small discounts

When to Skip Coins

Coins aren’t worth chasing if you’re an occasional shopper. You’ll save far more by timing purchases around major sales, comparing sellers, and understanding how AliExpress’s trust and safety system works.

And if an item never arrives — it happens occasionally — coins won’t help you there. You’ll need Buyer Protection, which we cover in detail in our guide to cancelling and refunding AliExpress orders.