E-commerce in Algeria: the complete 2026 guide

In Algeria, e-commerce looks like neither the European nor the American model. Orders start on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, are paid in cash on delivery, and travel with private delivery companies to all 69 wilayas. This guide covers everything you need to know in 2026 to sell online in Algeria: the legal framework, payment, delivery, choosing a platform, and finding customers.

Where does e-commerce stand in Algeria?

The market is young, overwhelmingly mobile and driven by social media. Since 4G became widespread, thousands of sellers — physical shops, fashion brands, resellers, artisans — have moved part of their sales online. The sector gained a legal framework with the 2018 e-commerce law 18-05, and a network of delivery companies now covers the whole country, both to the door and through pickup points.

One thing hasn't changed: Algerian customers want to see the product before they pay. That's why cash on delivery remains the dominant way to buy, and why confirming orders by phone has become a core part of the job.

The legal framework: what Law 18-05 requires

Law No. 18-05 of 10 May 2018 on electronic commerce sets the rules for selling online in Algeria. Its main obligations for sellers:

Payment: cash on delivery first, online payment second

Cash on delivery (COD) remains the norm: the customer pays the courier in cash, and the delivery company then transfers the collected amounts to you. It reassures buyers and needs no equipment, but it has a cost: every refused parcel makes you pay for delivery with no revenue. Hence the importance of calling every customer to confirm their order before shipping.

Online payment is growing through SATIM's interbank platform, which accepts banks' CIB cards and Algérie Poste's Edahabia card. It requires a contract with your bank or Algérie Poste, and part of the customer base is still reluctant to pay by card: for a new store, it complements COD rather than replacing it.

Delivery across the 69 wilayas

Following the territorial reorganisation, Algeria now has 69 wilayas. Companies such as Yalidine, ZR Express, Maystro and Guepex deliver nationwide in two modes: home delivery, where the courier brings the parcel to the customer's door, and stop desk, a pickup point where the customer collects and pays for the parcel. Stop desk is cheaper and reduces refusals; home delivery converts better on impulse purchases.

Rates vary by wilaya and delivery mode. Show them clearly on the product page: a delivery fee discovered at checkout is one of the leading causes of refusals.

Which platform to build an e-commerce site in Algeria?

Three families of solutions coexist. Shopify is powerful but built for international markets: the subscription is paid with an international card, and COD, per-wilaya rates and Algerian carriers all go through third-party apps. WooCommerce is open and flexible, but you manage hosting, plugins and maintenance. Algerian platforms build in cash on delivery, the 69 wilayas and local carriers directly, with a subscription in dinars.

Whatever you choose, check these points before committing:

Finding your first customers

In Algeria, most e-commerce traffic comes from social media. Facebook and Instagram remain the base, and TikTok is growing fast, especially among under-30s. Short videos showing the product in real use, with the price on screen, almost always outperform static visuals. Install each network's pixel on your store from day one: without it, ad algorithms optimise blind.

Don't neglect search engines either: a well-structured store, in French and Arabic, with detailed product pages, eventually attracts customers from Google without paying for every click.

Launching your online store: the 5 steps

Key takeaways