AliExpress 618 Sale 2026: Is the Discount Real? How to Check Before You Buy

The AliExpress 618 Mid-Year Sale (June 16–20, 2026) is the second-largest sale event of the year on AliExpress — after Singles' Day in November. Named after June 18, the founding date of JD.com (which popularised the event), 618 has grown into a platform-wide discount window that covers most major product categories.

The problem: not every "618 discount" is a real discount.

A common tactic among AliExpress sellers is to inflate the listed price 2–4 weeks before a sale window, then "discount" back to the normal price — making a 0% price change look like a 40% sale. This guide covers how to tell the difference before you buy, which categories are worth the 618 timing, and what to expect from the 618 promo codes.

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618 Sale Dates — 2026

The Summer Sale AFSO* / SS6FR* codes cannot be used during 618. A new code set specific to 618 will be published around June 14. This page will be updated when codes are confirmed.

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How to Check If a 618 Discount Is Real

The fastest method: compare the 618 price to the price from 60–90 days ago.

Method 1 — AliShopping Tools (automatic, on every product page)

Install AliShopping Tools and open any AliExpress product page. The extension displays a 90-day price history chart directly on the page — no external tools, no tab-switching.

What to look for:

• ✅ Real discount: Price was $25 for 3 months, now $16 during 618 → genuine 36% off
• ❌ Fake discount: Price was $16 for 3 months, seller raised it to $25 two weeks before 618, now "discounting" back to $16 → 0% real saving

Method 2 — Manual check via AliExpress price history (slower)

1. Copy the product URL
2. Open a price tracking tool in a separate tab
3. Paste the URL and check the historical price graph
4. Compare to the current 618 price

Method 1 is faster because the history appears inline on the product page without leaving AliExpress.

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Which Categories Are Worth Buying During 618

Based on historical 618 patterns, these categories tend to offer the deepest genuine discounts:

Categories with less reliable 618 discounts (price inflation risk):

• Trending viral products — sellers inflate aggressively before 618
• Single-seller items — no competition pressure to discount genuinely
• New listings (< 3 months old) — no price history baseline to verify against

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618 vs. Waiting: When Not to Buy

Sometimes the best move during a sale is to not buy. Skip 618 if:

1. The product has no price history — new listing, can't verify the "before" price
2. The seller opened their store within 60 days — unestablished track record
3. The review count jumped suddenly — often signals fake review injection before a sale event
4. The product is not heavily discounted in prior years — some categories (electronics, branded items) don't actually move on 618

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618 Promo Codes — What to Expect

Current status: 618-specific codes have not yet been released (as of June 5). AliExpress typically publishes the 618 code set around June 14, two days before the main sale opens.

When codes release, they will replace the expired Summer Sale series:

• Summer Sale codes (AFSO*, SS6FR*, USAFF*, AEUKSS*, FYAU*, AECAX*) expired June 10
• 618 codes will follow similar country/region structure
• Maroc/Algeria → expect global 618 codes (similar to AFSO structure)
• France → expect a France-specific 618 series (similar to SS6FR structure)
• US, UK, AU, CA → country-specific 618 code pools

Bookmark this page or install AliShopping Tools — the extension displays active promo codes automatically on every AliExpress product page. When 618 codes drop, they will appear there without needing to revisit this article.

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How to Spot Fake AliExpress Reviews Before 618

Big sale windows attract fake review inflation. The four fastest signals:

1. All reviews posted in the same 1–2 week window Real reviews accumulate steadily over months. A listing with 200 reviews all from "May 15–30" is a red flag.

2. Photos all shot from identical angles Genuine buyers photograph what matters to them — different angles, different use contexts. Fake review photos are often identical stock images from the seller.

3. Generic text with no product specifics "Great product, fast shipping, 5 stars!" repeated across 50 reviews with no specific details about the item.

4. Review count / star average inconsistent with order volume A product with 3,000 reviews but only 200 orders is mathematically suspicious.

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FAQ

When does the AliExpress 618 sale start in 2026? The 618 Mid-Year Sale main window opens June 16, 2026, with a warm-up period June 14–15.

Are the Summer Sale codes still valid during 618? No. The Summer Sale AFSO*, SS6FR*, and country-specific codes expired June 10. New 618 codes will be released around June 14.

How do I check if a 618 discount is real? Install AliShopping Tools — the extension shows 90-day price history on every AliExpress product page. If the "618 price" matches the price from 2–3 months ago, the discount is not genuine.

Which countries get 618-specific promo codes? The US, UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and several other countries typically get country-specific 618 code pools. Morocco, Algeria, Pakistan, and most other markets use the global 618 code series (similar to the AFSO structure).

Can I use a 618 promo code on any product? Most 618 promo codes have a minimum spend threshold and apply to all eligible products. Some codes are category-restricted. Check the code terms before adding to your order. Codes cannot usually be stacked with seller coupons.