ASOS, checked: cheap to try on at home, as long as you keep some of it.
Premier, student codes and big sales all help. The catch is returns: guests and heavy returners now pay $4.95 a parcel. Here’s how the pieces fit.
ASOS is a good middle ground: cheaper own labels like ASOS DESIGN next to real brands like adidas and Gap, with free returns for most account holders. Pay $19.99 for Premier if you order more than twice a year, use the 10% student code if you can, and save big hauls for the major sales. Always check out with an account, never as a guest.
Ways to pay less at ASOS, checked
01 / Deals- Price7Own labels are cheap, name brands are full price
- Selection9Own labels plus 850+ partner brands
- Quality consistency7Steadier than ultra-cheap sites, varies by label
- Returns7Free for most, $4.95 for guests and heavy returners
- Shipping speed7Standard 5–8 business days in the U.S.
- Founded
- 2000, London
- Premier
- $19.99 a year
- Return window
- 28 days
- Student discount
- 10% (UNiDAYS)
ASOS savings
Free standard shipping on orders from $20 and free express from $50 (after discounts) for a year. It works on the order you buy it with, so add it to a big first cart.
Verified students get 10% off through UNiDAYS or Student Beans. It sometimes rises during events. It can’t be combined with other promo codes and doesn’t cover Premier or Marketplace items.
Black Friday has run up to 70% off in past years, with summer and Boxing Day sales close behind. Sitewide 20% codes also show up around holiday weekends like Labor Day.
Year-round clearance across 500+ brands. Sizes are patchy, so filter by your size first and sort by newest.
Returns are free for most signed-in customers. Guest orders and customers flagged under the Fair Use Policy pay $4.95 per returned parcel, taken from the refund.
What’s good, what isn’t
02 / ReviewWorth it for
- Own labels like ASOS DESIGN and COLLUSION sit next to brands like adidas and Gap
- Premier is cheap and pays off after two or three orders
- Returns are free for most customers with an account
- Size range is wide, with petite, tall, plus and maternity lines
Watch out for
- Standard shipping is $10 below the free line if you don’t have Premier
- Guest checkout means a $4.95 fee on every return
- Heavy returners can be charged per parcel and blocked from Premier
- Brand Partner items ship and return under that brand’s own rules
Good fit if you want
- Ordering two sizes and sending one back
- Mixing cheap basics with a couple of name-brand pieces in one cart
- Students who can stack the 10% code with sale prices
- Petite, tall and plus sizes that stores don’t carry
Skip it if
- You usually return most of what you order
- You need something delivered by a fixed date this week without paying for express
- You only want the cheapest possible price on trend pieces
Premier: the $19.99 question
Without Premier, U.S. standard shipping is $10 unless your order clears the free-shipping line, and express is $14.99. The line has moved over the past year, so check the delivery page or checkout for today’s number. With Premier, standard ships free from $20 and express from $50, after discounts, for a full year.
Two express orders already cover the fee. Buy it with your first real order, because it applies to that order too. One catch: if 70% or more of what you buy comes back across three or more orders, ASOS won’t let you buy or renew Premier.
Returns: free for most, not for everyone
You get 28 days from delivery to return unworn items with tags and original packaging. Refunds go to your original payment method, usually within 14 days of the parcel reaching the warehouse, and U.S. returns can take up to 10 business days to get there.
Two groups pay. Guest checkouts pay $4.95 on every return. Customers ASOS flags under its Fair Use Policy, based on the value they returned over the past 12 months, pay $4.95 per parcel too. Sign in, keep what fits, and send everything back in one parcel.
Own labels vs. partner brands
ASOS makes its own lines in London: ASOS DESIGN, COLLUSION, Reclaimed Vintage and ARRANGE. It also sells Topshop and Topman as an ASOS exclusive, though it now owns only a 25% stake in them. These labels are where the low prices are, and where sales and student codes stretch furthest.
Partner brands like adidas, Gap and Michael Kors are rarely cheaper here than on the brand’s own site. Some are sold and shipped by the brand itself as a Brand Partner, with that brand’s own shipping and return rules. Check the product page before you count on a free ASOS return.
ASOS vs the alternatives
03 / Compare| ASOS | SHEIN | Cider | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Own labels + 850 brands | Own label + marketplace | Own label only |
| Price level | Low to mid | Very low | Low |
| Name brands sold | Yes | Few | No |
| Shipping membership | Premier, $19.99/yr | SHEIN Club | None |
SHEIN wins on raw price. Cider sits in between with a narrower, trend-led range. ASOS is the pick when you want name brands, wider sizes and easy returns in the same order.
Before you check out
04 / Tips- Always check out signed in. Guest orders pay $4.95 on every return.
- Buy Premier on a big first order, since it covers that order too.
- Apply your student code on sale items. It stacks with sale prices, not with other codes.
- Hold big hauls for Black Friday or the summer sale, when discounts go deepest.
- Check whether an item is sold by ASOS or a Brand Partner before planning a return.
ASOS questions people actually ask
How much is ASOS Premier in the U.S.?
$19.99 for one year. It gives free standard shipping on orders from $20 and free express shipping from $50, after discounts. It’s tied to the U.S. site and applies to the order you buy it with.
Are ASOS returns free?
For most customers with an account, yes, within 28 days of delivery. Guest orders and customers flagged under the Fair Use Policy have $4.95 per returned parcel taken off the refund.
Does ASOS have a student discount?
Yes. Verified students get 10% off through UNiDAYS or Student Beans. It can’t be combined with other promo codes and doesn’t apply to Premier or Marketplace items.
When is the best time to shop ASOS?
Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which have run up to 70% off in past years. The summer sale in July and Boxing Day sales are the next best. The Outlet is up to 70% off year-round.
Is ASOS legit?
Yes. It’s a London-listed company founded in 2000 with about 17 million active customers. The main risks are fit and return fees for heavy returners, not whether your order arrives.
More fashion brands we’ve checked
All Fashion →
SHEIN
Rock-bottom prices. Know the shipping, points and return rules.
Cider
Trendier than the ultra-cheap sites. Short return window, so decide fast.