Temu is built around discounts. Open the app and you’ll see coupon bundles, countdown timers, spin-the-wheel games and invitations to earn credit by referring friends. Some of these offers are genuinely useful. Others look bigger than they are once you read the conditions.
This guide explains how Temu’s discounts work in practice for both new and existing shoppers, what to look for in the fine print, and how to shop safely. Temu changes its offers often and they vary by country, so treat the details below as a guide and always check the current terms in the app before you order.
New-User Offers: The Biggest Discounts Come First
Temu’s most generous offers are aimed at people placing their first order, especially in the app. New users are commonly offered a choice of welcome packages, such as a percentage off the first order or a large “coupon bundle.”
The important thing to understand is that a headline like “$100 coupon bundle” is usually not one $100 discount. It is the combined value of several smaller coupons, each with its own minimum spend. For example, a bundle might include a few coupons worth a modest amount off orders above one threshold and larger ones that only apply to much bigger baskets. To use the full value, you would need to place several separate orders that each meet a different minimum.
- Check each coupon’s minimum spend and expiry in the coupon section of your account.
- New-user coupons can expire very quickly after you claim them, sometimes within a day, so don’t claim one until you are ready to shop.
- Usually only one coupon can be applied per order, and bundle coupons often can’t be combined with other offers or used on items already at a Lightning Deal price.
- Plan your basket around the coupon you can realistically use. Spending more than you intended just to unlock a bigger coupon isn’t a saving.
Coupons for Existing Shoppers
Once you’ve placed your first order, the big welcome bundles disappear, but discounts don’t stop. Existing shoppers typically see:
- Coupons in your account. Temu regularly adds coupons to the coupon section of your profile, often with a minimum spend. At checkout you can select a saved coupon or type in a code.
- Store or seller coupons on individual product pages, usually small amounts tied to a minimum purchase from that seller.
- Seasonal sales around big shopping dates. In 2026 these include Singles’ Day on Wednesday 11 November, Black Friday on 27 November and Cyber Monday on 30 November.
If a code doesn’t work at checkout, the usual reasons are that it has expired, the basket is below the minimum, the item belongs to an excluded category or seller, or the code is limited to new accounts.
Lightning Deals and Limited-Time Offers
Lightning Deals are time-limited discounts on specific products, usually shown with a countdown timer and a “limited stock” label. They can be good value, but a ticking clock is designed to make you decide quickly. Before buying:
- Compare the price with similar items on Temu and elsewhere rather than relying on the crossed-out “original” price.
- Remember that bundle coupons often can’t be stacked on top of a Lightning Deal price.
- Read the reviews, especially those with customer photos, to see what actually arrives.
Referral and “Invite Friends” Programmes
Temu runs referral programmes that reward you for inviting people to the app. You’ll usually find them in your profile under a section such as “Refer a friend” or “Invite friends,” or presented as in-app games. You share a personal link or code, and you may receive credit, coupons or another reward when the person you invited signs up and meets the programme’s conditions, often placing a first order within a set period.
Rewards vary a lot between campaigns. Some pay a flat amount per successful referral; others use tiers or require several friends to join before anything is paid out. Before you start sharing links, read the programme’s terms and look for:
- What counts as a successful referral (sign-up only, or a first purchase).
- Whether invited friends must be brand-new Temu users.
- The deadline for completing the task and any cap on rewards.
- Whether the reward is Temu credit, a coupon with a minimum spend, or cash, and how long it takes to arrive.
On our Temu store page you’ll also find an “Earn $100 in Temu Instantly” offer that you can open via a QR code or link. Please note that it is a referral link: if you use it, the account that shared it may receive a reward too. What you receive depends on Temu’s current referral terms, which change from time to time, so check the conditions shown in the app before relying on any amount.
Shipping, Returns and Price Adjustments
Temu’s policies are part of the value, so it helps to know them before you order. They differ between countries and change over time; the current versions are in the help centre in the app or on the website.
Shipping
Standard shipping is free on most Temu orders, but not always: items shipped by third-party sellers or from local warehouses can have their own thresholds, and some “free” or very cheap items still carry a shipping charge. Temu has also offered a credit when a standard or express order arrives after the promised delivery window. The estimated delivery date is shown at checkout and under each package in your orders.
US shoppers should also look out for import charges. Since 2025, some items shipped from overseas have shown an extra import charge at checkout, while items labelled as stocked in local warehouses generally avoid it. Always check the final total, not just the item price.
Returns
Most items can be returned within a set window, commonly around 90 days, and Temu has generally offered the first return on each order free of charge, with a fee for further returns from the same order. Some items, such as personalised goods, final-sale items and certain hygiene products, can’t be returned. Refunds may be offered as Temu credit, which is often faster, or to your original payment method.
Price adjustment
Temu has a price adjustment policy: if the listed price of the exact same item (same size, colour and seller) drops on Temu within a set period after you pay, typically 30 days, you can request the difference from your order page. It only covers Temu’s own prices, not other retailers, and shipping fees and some promotional or clearance items are usually excluded. It is worth checking your recent orders during big sales.
App or Website?
Temu works in a browser, but many of its offers, especially new-user bundles, games and some referral rewards, are only available in the app. If you prefer not to install it, you can still shop on the website and use the coupons shown there; you may simply see fewer promotions. If you do install the app, review its notification and tracking permissions in your phone’s settings so you only allow what you are comfortable with.
Safe-Shopping Tips for Temu
- Ignore “free money” messages. Temu itself warns that it does not ask for extra fees by text or email. Unexpected messages about unpaid customs fees, prizes or account problems are a common scam.
- Use the official app or website. Type the address yourself rather than following links in messages or social media posts.
- Pay with a credit card or a trusted wallet so you have extra protection if something goes wrong.
- Be careful with electrical items, children’s products and cosmetics. Check the listing for safety information, read photo reviews and buy from well-reviewed sellers.
- Check sizes against the measurements, not just the size label, to avoid returns.
- Be wary of any “code” that requires a survey, download or payment to unlock. See our guide on how to spot fake coupons online.
The Bottom Line
Temu’s discounts are real, but they work best when you read the conditions. New users should look past the headline bundle value to each coupon’s minimum spend and expiry. Existing shoppers can rely on account coupons, seasonal sales and the price adjustment policy. Whatever you use, check the final total, including any shipping or import charges, before you pay.
For current offers, visit our Temu store page, compare with similar retailers such as Shein and AliExpress, and keep an eye on our Singles’ Day and Black Friday pages as the season gets closer. FutureCoupon may earn a commission or referral reward from some links.