Ayesha KhanSelling online in Southeast Asia means entering a fast-changing and highly competitive market. New platforms keep appearing. Buyer behaviors shift. To succeed, sellers need to make smart, strategic choices.
Choosing the right platform isn’t just about listing products. It’s about finding a partner that fits your business model, one that helps grow your audience and supports your goals. Two big names in this space are TikTok Shop and Lazada. Both have strong points and challenges.
This guide offers a seller-focused comparison of the TikTok shop vs Lazada. It helps you understand their differences and pick the right one or both for your e-commerce journey.
Let’s start with onboarding.
Seller Onboarding & Setup: Ease and Requirements
A smooth setup can shape your whole seller experience. Here’s how TikTok Shop and Lazada compare in setup ease, requirements, and early hurdles.
TikTok Shop
TikTok Shop has a simple setup, especially for creators and small businesses. It connects easily to the TikTok app. Sellers just need to add basic info, ID, business registration, and bank details in TikTok Shop Seller Centre.
Setup is fast, approval usually takes 1–3 days. There’s no upfront fee, but a commission fee applies depending on category. It’s built for those who know social media. With 80% of TikTok users on mobile, setup is extra easy for small sellers.
Lazada
Lazada is also easy to join but more detailed. Regular Lazada sellers can sign up with basic business documents and start listing products quickly.
However, LazMall is a premium channel within Lazada, designed specifically for certified brands and authorized distributors. It offers higher visibility, better customer trust, and exclusive campaign access but comes with stricter entry requirements.
LazMall sellers must provide brand authorization letters, undergo stronger verification, and may need to pay a refundable deposit ($100–$500). Onboarding takes 3–7 days or more, depending on the brand’s status and documentation.
While general Lazada commission fees range from 1–10% depending on the category, LazMall sellers pay an additional 5% fee for premium placement and branding benefits.
TikTok Shop is faster and cheaper to start, ideal for small sellers. Lazada is stricter with setup but gives credibility, especially for brands.
Product Listing & Management: Tools and Efficiency
Once you create your seller account, the next step is to list your products. Let’s have a look at how this process varies between the TikTok shop and Lazada.
TikTok Shop
On TikTok Shop, you can list products by linking them to videos or live streams. This makes your items more engaging and easier to discover. The platform is designed for mobile, so uploading is quick and simple.
For bulk uploads or managing many products, you’ll need to use the desktop version. Advanced tools like bulk listing and inventory sync are only available there.
To list a product, you must use TikTok’s official template. Choose the correct category and fill in all the required details. Clear product names, strong visuals, and following TikTok’s rules will help your listings perform better.
Want a step-by-step walkthrough? Check out our full guide on How to list products on TikTok Shop (Full Guide with Examples) to get started the right way.
Lazada
Lazada’s Seller Center gives you a full set of tools to manage and list your products. You can add detailed descriptions, upload multiple images, manage SKUs, and track inventory with different variations.
If you have a large catalog, you can use the bulk upload feature with CSV or Excel files, multiple SKUs per file. However, limits can vary by region or integration.
You can also connect third-party inventory systems for easier syncing. Overall, it’s built for traditional e-commerce, where detailed product info and organized catalog management matter most.
TikTok Shop is great for small, visually engaging catalogs. On the other hand, Lazada offers better options for large, complex inventories with forecasting and sync tools.
Fees, Payouts & Financial Considerations
As a seller, it’s important to consider factors like platform fees and payout schedules before you start selling. Here’s a clear and simple comparison of TikTok Shop vs Lazada:
|
Category |
TikTok Shop |
Lazada |
|---|---|---|
|
Commission Fees |
3–9% (e.g., 6% for fashion, 3% for electronics) |
No commission for new sellers (up to 120days) 1% – 5% (standard sellers, VAT-inclusive) ≈11.08% for LazMall (from Jan 5, 2025) |
|
Additional Fees |
– |
+5-6% for LazMall |
|
Payment Processing |
~2% per transaction |
1–2% depending on payment method |
|
Shipping |
Seller-managed (e.g., J&T, DHL) |
Lazada Express (LEX) with discounted rates (~$1–$3 per order) |
|
Advertising Cost |
Campaign-level: Minimum $50/day Ad group-level: Minimum $20/day |
CPC/CPM model |
|
Payout Schedule |
1-31 days after order completion depending on assigned settlement period |
7–15 working days after order is delivered and status confirmed |
TikTok Shop has lower startup costs but sellers may need to spend on ads. Lazada’s fees are higher, but it offers better shipping rates and stable payout schedules.
Audience Reach & Traffic Generation
Who’s actually shopping on these platforms and how they find your products can shape your entire sales strategy.TikTok Shop
TikTok Shop
TikTok Shop utilizes TikTok’s massive user base of over 298 million users in Southeast Asia, with around 60% under the age of 34 that makes it an ideal platform for Gen Z and Millennials.
Sales are often driven by discovery, impulse purchases, and entertainment-based shopping experiences. With the potential for content to go viral, organic reach can be substantial, offering new sellers a fast track to visibility.
Live selling is especially effective, with many sellers seeing a 200–500% ROI. For those looking to scale, paid advertising is seamlessly integrated via TikTok Ads Manager, enabling highly targeted campaigns. Ad costs are competitive, with CPCs ranging from $1 to $1.50 and CPMs starting at $10 per 1,000 views.
Live commerce and influencer marketing are central to TikTok Shop’s traffic strategy. Our TikTok Shop agency can connect you with the right influencers to increase visibility and boost your sales.
Lazada
Lazada boasts 160 million active shoppers across Southeast Asia. The platform attracts a broader audience across various age groups between 18-65, with a strong emphasis on search-based and planned purchases. Its traffic is driven by direct search, category browsing, and platform-wide promotions.
Organic reach depends on product SEO, seller ratings, and participation in campaigns. Lazada offers various paid advertising tools, including keyword ads and display ads, and its LazMall feature provides enhanced visibility and trust for official brands.
TikTok Shop is best for impulse buys and viral exposure. On the other hand, Lazada is great for intentional purchases and long-term customers.
TikTok Shop vs Lazada: What Sells Best in 2025?
TikTok Shop is all about trends, viral videos, and impulse buying. On the other hand, Lazada focuses on everyday needs, reliable delivery, and consistent demand.
Here’s a quick side-by-side look at what sells best on each:
|
Category |
TikTok Shop |
Lazada |
|---|---|---|
|
Beauty |
Viral serums, lipsticks, face masks; seen in GRWM videos |
Bestsellers include makeup, skincare, vitamins, collagen |
|
Fashion |
Y2K, streetwear, minimal looks; pushed through OOTDs and hauls |
Clothing, shoes, bags; niche items (e.g. only sweaters or hats) |
|
Home Items |
Aesthetic candles, humidifiers, cleaning tools (#CleanTok) |
Wallpaper, lamps, pots, and clocks for cozy home setups |
|
Electronics |
Phone stands, speakers, desk setups from unboxing videos |
Monitors, headphones, webcams for work-from-home setups |
|
Health & Fitness |
Wellness tools, supplements, home workout gear |
Yoga mats, dumbbells, treadmills, activewear |
|
Kids & Toys |
Trendy plushies, puzzles, stress-relief toys |
Children’s toys, books, clothing, building blocks |
|
Groceries & Pet Supplies |
Not a big focus |
Popular: snacks, noodles, pet food, pet clothes |
|
Hygiene |
Stylish or cute masks during trend spikes |
Steady sales of masks and hand sanitizers |
|
Trendy Gifts |
Quirky, fun, and giftable viral items |
Less focus, but overlaps with home and kids’ categories |
Logistics & Fulfillment: Shipping, Returns, and Disputes
TikTok Shop and Lazada provide flexible fulfillment models tailored for different seller needs, from manual shipping to fully-managed solutions.
Fulfillment Options
- TikTok Shop:
You can either handle shipping yourself or opt for Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT), where TikTok stores, packs, and ships your orders through partners like J&T Express, Ninja Van, and DHL.
If you’re shipping manually, dispatch regular orders within 3 business days and upload tracking before the cutoff. Made-to-order or pre-order listings can have custom handling times. But if an order isn’t delivered within 30 days, TikTok may cancel it automatically.
- Lazada
Sellers can choose between Delivered by Seller (DBS), Lazada-Coordinated Delivery (LCD), or Fulfilled by Lazada (FBL). FBL offers full warehousing, packing, delivery, and return handling.
LCD requires sellers to drop off orders at Lazada hubs, while DBS means you handle everything, including uploading tracking.
Returns & Disputes
- TikTok Shop
Returns are mostly governed by your custom return policy, but TikTok can issue returnless refunds, especially for low-cost or damaged items. Return rates can be high due to impulse buying.
In case of disputes like wrong item, damage, or non-delivery, TikTok encourages buyer-seller resolution first. If unresolved, they intervene. Sellers must respond within 48 hours.
- Lazada
Buyers can file returns within 7–30 days, depending on region and product type. Sellers have 2 business days to accept, reject (with valid reason), or allow returnless resolution.
Returned items usually pass through Lazada’s centralized return hubs, especially for FBL. If an issue arises (e.g., lost or damaged parcel), sellers can file a claim within 25–60 days of delivery and must submit evidence via Seller Center. Appeals are allowed within 7 days of a final decision.
Performance Metrics
- TikTok Shop:
- On-Time Delivery Rate: ≥ 80%
- Valid Tracking Rate: ≥ 95%
- Maintain low cancellation and late shipment rates
Poor performance may result in penalties or loss of fast-shipping options.
Need help staying on top of shipping, tracking, and customer service? Explore our TikTok Shop Virtual Assistant Services to boost performance and scale with ease.
- Lazada:
- Ship-On-Time Rate (SOT), return rate, inquiry response speed
- Metrics affect search visibility, campaign access, and seller privileges. Falling short may lead to account warnings or reduced exposure.
Here is the quick comparison between TikTok Shop vs Lazada Logistics
|
Feature |
TikTok Shop |
Lazada |
|---|---|---|
|
Fulfillment Options |
Manual or Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT) |
DBS, LCD, or Fulfilled by Lazada (FBL) |
|
Courier Partners |
J&T Express, Ninja Van, DHL |
Lazada logistics partners via LCD/FBL |
|
Handling Time |
3 business days (customizable for pre-orders) |
Varies by method; SOT monitored |
|
Auto Cancelation |
If not delivered in 30 days |
N/A (managed through seller actions) |
|
Return Policy |
Seller-defined; TikTok can issue returnless refunds |
Buyer can file return within 7–30 days |
|
Dispute Resolution |
Buyer-seller first; TikTok steps in if needed |
Buyer-seller first; Lazada mediation + claim center |
|
Claim Filing |
Within 48 hours of dispute |
Within 25–60 days; appeal within 7 days |
|
Performance Metrics |
≥80% OTD, ≥95% tracking, low cancellations |
SOT, return rate, inquiry response time |
|
Penalties |
Account restrictions or loss of shipping perks |
Reduced visibility, campaign access limits |
|
Returns Hub |
Depends on seller policy |
Centralized return hubs for FBL orders |
Seller Support & Resources: Help When You Need It
TikTok Shop provides in‑app support, including live chat and ticketing, and offers educational content via TikTok Academy, though response times can sometimes take up to five business days. Support efficiency is measured by 24‑hour chat response rates.
On the other hand, Lazada supports sellers through the Seller Center, live chat, and frequent webinars, supplemented with a robust Lazada University that includes tutorials, videos, and training modules.
Lazada offers a more consistent and structured support system, while TikTok is growing its resources but still varies in responsiveness.
Seller Reviews & Reputation: The Voice of Experience
What are real sellers saying about TikTok Shop and Lazada? Here’s a breakdown of their experiences, what they love, what frustrates them, and how each platform fits different seller profiles.
|
Aspect |
TikTok Shop |
Lazada |
|---|---|---|
|
Positives |
Viral growth and organic reach |
Structured and reliable system |
|
Negatives |
Logistics and support still developing |
Intense price wars |
|
Overall |
Great for creative sellers seeking growth and visibility but expect some platform growing pains |
Ideal for established brands and serious sellers but requires strategy, budget, and resilience |
TikTok Shop is exciting but unstable. Lazada is stable but highly competitive. Choose based on your brand’s strengths.
Scalability & Future Growth Potential
TikTok is growing fast, adding cross-border selling and more seller tools. Features for scaling and automation are improving. It’s good for brands who ride viral waves and adapt quickly.
However, Lazada is built to scale. It supports big sellers with large inventories and cross-border reach. It works with external tools and APIs for easier business management. It’s made for big e-commerce operations.
TikTok Shop vs Lazada: Which Platform Is Best for You?
What to choose between TikTok Shop vs Lazada? Honestly, it all comes down to what kind of seller you are. If you’re just starting out or running a dropshipping model, TikTok Shop is a great place to begin. It’s low-cost, easy to set up, and has massive viral potential, especially if you know how to create engaging videos.
For established brands, though, Lazada (especially through LazMall) offers more trust and better logistics. It’s structured, stable, and perfect for long-term growth.
A hybrid strategy is recommended if you can manage both. Use TikTok to grab attention and generate buzz then send repeat buyers to Lazada for a smoother shopping experience.
Ready to Scale on the TikTok Shop?
Let our e-commerce experts handle everything, from setting up your store and running ad campaigns to finding the right influencers and optimizing product listings. Book your free 1:1 TikTok Shop consultation today and take the first step toward building a high-performing online store in Southeast Asia.
FAQs
Is TikTok Shop good for sellers?
Yes, TikTok Shop is good for many sellers, especially small businesses and people who like making videos. It helps you reach a big audience and sell products through short videos and live streams. If you’re good at creating content, it can help your shop grow fast.
Does TikTok Shop increase sales?
Yes, it can help you sell more, if you use it the right way. Products that look good on video or solve small problems often go viral. If you post videos often or go live to show your products, you’ll likely see more sales.
What is the best seller on TikTok Shop?
Popular items include beauty products (like lip oils and face masks), fashion, small gadgets, and home items. The best sellers change quickly because of trends. If a product goes viral in a video, it can sell out fast.
Can you trust all sellers on TikTok Shop?
Not always. Some sellers are great, but others might not be. Before buying, check the seller’s reviews and ratings. It’s safer to buy from trusted or verified shops.
