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If you've ever wanted to step into the shoes of your favorite superhero or anime character, cosplay costume stores can make those dreams a reality. These shops are for everyone - from convention-goers and trick-or-treaters to social media stars who've turned cosplay into a full-time gig. Yep, you heard that right - some TikTokers are actually making a living by donning spot-on costumes and entertaining millions of followers. (Pro tip: your lighting is just as important as the accuracy of your costume.)
These stores solve a bunch of problems for cosplay fans. Instead of spending weeks trying to craft that intricate armor set from scratch, you can order a ready-made version that looks like it jumped right out of the screen. It's a real time-saver, and let's face it, not all of us have the skills to DIY everything.
Sunday, February 16th
CosRea is a cosplay workshop located in Suzhou, China, that focuses on making custom, handcrafted costumes, armor, and props. They started in 2003 as a small group of cosplayers and have grown to a team of 15 with separate spaces for design and production. Check out their "About” page to see photos of their workshop. CosRea creates both new costumes and unique designs, working with cosplayers and performers worldwide. Their goal is to offer affordable, high-quality costumes by using materials from local suppliers and passing the savings onto you.
Good variety for anime and movies
When browsing the categories on CosRea's website, you'll find options like Disney Inspired costumes and Cosplay Costumes, the latter of which covers a range of themes, including anime (sorted alphabetically from A-E, F-J, K-O, and so on), video games, and characters from the Marvel and DC universes, as well as TV and movies. There's also a category for High Detail Armor & Costumes, and another for Armors & Others.
Gorgeous, elaborate Disney princess dresses
We wonder if the women who work as freelance princesses at children's birthday parties (which you may have seen on TikTok) get their princess dresses here. For just $145, you can purchase an incredibly detailed Princess Belle Classic Brocade Ruffle Beauty and the Beast Cosplay Costume. It includes the dress, hair pins, gloves, and a wired petticoat/skirt hoop. The only thing missing is a description of the materials used, but it looks impressive in the official product image and in the customer reviews. This isn't the only Belle dress available - there are several versions inspired by what you might see in the parks and other appearances of the character. (The same is true for most other Disney princesses.)
No filtering or sorting
It would be helpful if you could sort and filter the results in any given category since there are often many to choose from for each concept. Right now, you have to manually go through all the pages to find the price you want because they're all jumbled together without any clear order.
Descriptions are written in native English
All the info about policies and sizing on the website is super clear and fair. It's refreshing to find a Chinese cosplay website where everything is easy to read without any grammar mistakes. It does a lot for our trust in CosRea's careful attention to detail in general.
Custom sizing available
You can choose from two free sizing options: standard sizes ranging from 2XS to 2XL or custom sizing based on your measurements(yes, you read that right - custom sizing is free). They cater to all sizes, including requests for genderbent costumes and junior and kids' sizes. Chinese sizes run smaller than European or American sizes, so it's important to measure your bust, waist, and hips and compare them to their size chart.
CosRea will pay for you to get alterations if your custom costume doesn't fit
CosRea wants to make sure you're happy with your custom costume. If it doesn't fit quite right, and you can prove the measurements are off with photos, they'll even pay for you to get alterations done locally. But hopefully, that won't be needed. When you order a custom costume, they'll make it to your exact measurements, so double-check those numbers. Sometimes, a costume might need a few tweaks to fit perfectly, so any extra info you can give about your body shape is helpful. CosRea promises to make your costume to your size, try to handle any special requests, and offer free fixes or money back for custom orders. They'll also check with you before making any big changes.
Free shipping on orders over $100
When you order from CosRea, keep in mind that it takes some time to make your costume, even if it's not a custom order. Usually, it's about 2-4 weeks to create your item, plus 3-10 days for shipping. You can pay using major credit cards, Visa Debit, or PayPal. Something that really surprised us to learn is that CosRea offers free 5- to 10-day shipping when you spend over $100. 4- to 6-day Priority Express shipping is only $29.99 extra. Most shipping methods let you track your package, so you'll know where it is and when it'll arrive.
14-day return policy
Here's a simple breakdown of CosRea's return policy for you. If you buy a standard-sized costume, shoes, or wig without customization, you can return it within 14 days for a full refund (minus shipping) or exchange it for something else. Just make sure it's in perfect condition when you send it back. You'll need to cover the return shipping costs, but CosRea will handle any mistakes on their end for free.
Tons of positive reviews
CosRea has a dedicated reviews section on their website. While it's hard to tell if they keep all negative reviews, it seems they do. You'll find that 82% of the 1,325 reviews are positive, which is pretty darn good. People on other websites have praised CosRea's customer service, calling it "remarkable" and "unrivaled." Customers say the costumes usually arrive on time and match the photos well. The quality is described as good, though not always top-tier - these costumes are affordable, and after all, you get what you pay for. Most negative reviews mention sizing issues, which is common for cosplay companies. Overall, customers seem pretty happy with their purchases.
Our top pick
CosRea likely has the most customer reviews of any cosplay company we've seen. Their offer of free shipping on orders over $100 is both unique and generous. Unlike some companies that disappear after an order arrives, CosRea seems to follow through on their promise of post-purchase customer care. The website is professional, and their costume designs are genuinely beautiful. Overall, CosRea leaves us with the best impression, and we'd recommend them as our top pick for cosplay costumes. They earn 5 out of 5 stars.
Role Cosplay gives you a glimpse into their operations by sharing photos of their workshop, their worldview, and even their address - which is rare since some cosplay costume companies conceal their country of operation. Their message encourages you to cosplay because it brings joy and creativity, and helps you overcome shyness, connecting you with a global community. The company, started by young fans of anime and comics, grew from 6 to over 100 employees, committed to providing quality costumes inspired by your favorite characters. They aim for fast shipping and high quality, making costumes from movie replicas to unique anime designs.
Keep up with the latest cosplays
Role Cosplay has a great selection of current costumes, especially for anime fans. They're constantly adding cosplays from new fandoms, like Hazbin Hotel and Wuthering Waves, so they keep up with what's trending. It's hard to say exactly how many costumes they have, but in the new arrivals section alone, there are about 1,200 options. Categories you can shop by include Featured, Halloween Costume, Ready To Ship, New Arrival, 50% Flash Sale, Animes, Games, Movie, Customized Costume, and Wigs. Each category is subdivided by franchise or fandom.
Custom sizes and gender swapping available
You can spend some serious cash on these costumes, with the most expensive being a $775 Assassin's Creed Callum Lynch cosplay that comes with all the accessories and layers. On the lower end, you can find some basic outfits for $30. Most costumes can be made for either males or females, and many offer custom sizes. Generally, sizes range from XS to 3XL, but not all sizes are always available, like the Honkai Star Rail Blade cosplay, which was only in men's size S when we checked.
Halloween costumes for the whole family
Besides cosplays from popular fandoms, the store has Halloween costumes for everyone - children, families, women, and men. The women's category is full of the typical "sexy Halloween costumes" for women, most of them priced under $30. If you prefer something less revealing (...or sexist...), they offer a few options like Mavis from Hotel Transylvania or full-length maid dresses with an old-fashioned look, but you have to dig for them.
Great browsing experience
Role Cosplay's website makes shopping for your next cosplay easy and fun. You can quickly preview costumes with the quickview feature without opening new tabs, which means you can see basic info and pictures right away. The costumes have super clear images and sometimes even 1080p videos in the descriptions. For example, the League of Legends Faerie Court Seraphine Costume, priced at $56.25, includes a video and has great reviews.
Multiple payment options
When you're shopping at Role Cosplay, paying for your costume is super easy and flexible. You can use PayPal Express Checkout, your regular credit or debit card, or even a bank transfer. A lot of Chinese cosplay companies only allow you to use PayPal, so this is another plus for Role Cosplay.
Best shipping prices
Role Cosplay really stands out because they offer a "free shipping area" for costumes, which is a big deal since many other companies from China charge $40 or more just for shipping. When you check out, you might also notice they provide free shipping for orders over $299 (but this doesn't include props or items from flash sales). Plus, their shipping prices are some of the best around, with economical shipping costing just $27 and express at $39.54, which is pretty affordable compared to others.
Get 15% off
While browsing, we noticed that you can get 15% off your first order if you provide your email address. This is a nice way to save some money when trying out Role Cosplay for the first time.
7-day return policy
If you're not happy with your purchase from Role Cosplay, you can return or exchange it within 7 days of getting it. Just make sure the item is unused and unworn. You can return items if they're defective, the wrong size or color, or just not what you expected. However, you can't return custom-made or clearance items, or anything that's been worn or changed. You'll need to pay for the return shipping if there's no quality issue. Reach out to their customer service with your order details, and they'll help you with the return process. Once they get the item back, you'll receive an exchange or refund within a week.
Role Cosplay helps out with shipping tax
When ordering from Role Cosplay, you'll see "Processing Time" listed in reference to your delivery timeframe, which is how long it takes to make your costume before it can be shipped. Normally, this takes 7-12 days, but it could be quicker for some items or longer for new products. Once production is done, shipping time depends on what you choose: economic shipping takes 12-18 days, express can be 6-10 or 3-5 days. Large or fragile items might only have express shipping available. Also, your order might have taxes when it reaches your country, but Role Cosplay tries to declare a low value to help with that.
Fantastic reviews
Role Cosplay has only 58 ratings on Trustpilot, but they're mostly positive with a 4.2-star average. People love the customer service, saying it's the nicest they've ever experienced. If you make a mistake, like putting in the wrong shipping address, they'll help fix it without extra charges. Customers say the cosplays are really nice and exactly as advertised, with full, non-shiny wigs. Some shoppers have ordered multiple times and always gotten their costumes in about two weeks. If you need a refund, it's processed smoothly. Overall, customers are super happy with Role Cosplay and plan to keep buying from them.
Great choice
Role Cosplay is a standout company because it offers a wide variety of costumes, keeps its promises on refunds, and has good prices. Plus, they even offer free shipping in some cases, which is pretty rare. That's why we think Role Cosplay is a great choice for cosplayers: you can expect great service and cool costumes without breaking the bank.
Bad Wolf Costumes is an Etsy store with lots of great options if you're heading to a Renaissance faire. It's run by a married couple, Katherine and Alex Beard, who bonded over their love for cosplay. Since 2012, Bad Wolf Costumes has made 5,230 sales and is based in Colorado. They only offered 23 products at the time we shopped, but what they lack in numbers they make up for in quality.
Etsy's design makes it easy to navigate the shop
Etsy is a multi-billion dollar company, and its user-friendly interface shows it. At the top of Bad Wolf Costumes' seller page, you'll see an attractive photo banner showcasing their products. Below that, you'll find their shipping track record and their impressive average review score of 4.8. You can sort their 23 items by price, newest listing, or view by category. The products are divided into the following categories: Costume Sets (4), Versatile Fantasy Capes (4), Fleece Capes/Cloaks (6), Linen Capes/Cloaks (2), Hats & Hoods (3), Fabric and Supplies (1), and Ready-Made Costumes (3). On each individual product listing, you can read reviews about the store's entire offerings or just that specific item. Often, the reviews include photos.
Detailed product descriptions
The product descriptions at Bad Wolf Costumes are lovingly detailed. For items with color customizations, like the $155 suede-like Versatile Fantasy Cape of the Wizard, you can see color swatches of all your options. The descriptions include styling options, the feel and weight of the material, details about buttons and embroidery, and how the fabric drapes.
No exchanges or returns possible
None of Bad Wolf Costumes' products are eligible for return or exchange because they're made to order and tailored to your measurements. This is understandable, so make sure you read reviews carefully, look out for comments about fit, and take your own measurements accurately before ordering, especially since these items are not cheap. On the bright side, all their products come with free shipping. Also, since every piece is made to measurements you specify, they'll work for children and adults alike.
Mostly RenFaire fare
Most of this store's products are fantasy or Renaissance-themed, with one exception: a women's Star Trek Skant uniform. Interestingly, they also sell the collar piping for men's Star Trek uniforms, but not the uniforms themselves. More on that later. Pricing ranges from $700 for the Skant Replica to $15 for the collar piping. You can purchase a hooded cloak in a color of your choosing for $110 or Elven Mage Robes with intricate embroidery and trim for $450. We were especially charmed by the $325 linen-blend Medieval Monk Costume. (Go for it in black if you're cosplaying the Grim Reaper.) Another standout is the $55 Renaissance Hat adorned with genuine ostrich feathers and a fancy button.
Patterns and sewing courses offered elsewhere
If you're doing the mental math of 5,300+ costume pieces sold since 2012 and thinking cosplay costuming sounds like a lucrative business to get into, you might want to know that Bad Wolf Costumes sells their patterns on a separate website (linked in their shop description). Remember the Star Trek costume conundrum? If you have some sewing skill and you really like the way the jumpsuit looks in customer review photos from when it was available for purchase in their store, its pattern is on that website, so you can make your own. No sewing skills? They offer courses and are actively expanding their catalog.
Highly rated for general fantasy cosplay
The average item review for Bad Wolf Costumes, based on 1,162 reviews, is an impressive 4.8 stars. Customers often mention that the materials look even better in person. They also praise the seller for being kind in their communications and for the great attention to details paid in the costume designs, like a silver clasp that secures a cloak well. The pieces are packaged nicely and said to feel authentic. Items arrive right on time with what the seller estimates. Overall, we'd recommend Bad Wolf Costumes for anyone looking to step up their RenFaire game. If you're in the market for character-specific cosplay or from genres other than fantasy, though, you'll need to continue your search elsewhere.
EZ Cosplay was founded in 2009 by a sibling duo who started with two tailors and a sewing machine each. Now, they have a factory, a full staff, and over 3,000 listed designs. They have active TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram accounts where they showcase their designs on models and share submissions from fans.
Website might be overwhelming
The website design is pretty noisy with pop-ups, constantly changing banners, and enough sale stickers to make your head spin. It would also be much easier if you could view all the cosplays from every given franchise in one category, like everything they offer for Arcane listed together instead of having to look up characters like Jinx, Ekko, and Vi separately. If the fandom you're cosplaying from doesn't have its own category nested within New Anime, Games, or Movies, you have to use the search bar to find the options one at a time.
Prices range from $99 to $499
It also might have been nice to be able to view all cosplays in one page and filter by price. It's hard to get a feel for how many costumes they offer and at what price range otherwise. Just looking at the New Arrivals category, though, we found 2,973 costumes under $99.99, 2,606 between $100 and $199, 306 between $200 and $299, 49 between $300 and $399, and 40 between $400 and $499.
Plenty of anime options
The categories on EZ Cosplay include Ready to Ship, Featured, New Anime, Animes, Games, Movies, Props, Wigs, and Shoes, with a strong focus on anime. You can also check out the customer gallery for photos from reviews. When we visited the site, we saw cool cosplays like Robin from Star Rail, Scott Kennedy from Resident Evil, Shadowheart's swimwear from Baldur's Gate, and Aerith from Final Fantasy.
Customize your measurements
When shopping on EZ Cosplay, remember to add any accessories you need for your character at the bottom of the listing. For example, a Vi cosplay costs $82.99, but if you add the boots for $40.99 and the wig for $10.99, the total is $134.97. Use the size and measurement guide when checking out, where you can also add special instructions. Sizes range from extra small to XXXL, and you can customize sizes for an extra $29.99. Most costumes can be ordered for either male or female.
Could take over a month to process and ship
The total delivery time for your order includes the time it takes to make your costume (7-35 days or more) and the shipping time (3-16 days). Costumes are made to order, whether in standard sizes or custom measurements, unless they are ready-to-ship or clearance items. Shipping options include economic delivery (10-16 days), standard delivery (6-10 days), and express delivery (3-5 days). Be aware that international shipments may have import duties or taxes, which are your responsibility. Some items can only be shipped via express shipping due to size or fragility.
Multiple payment methods
To pay for your EZ Cosplay order, you can use PayPal or major credit cards at checkout. If you don't have PayPal or a credit card, you can actually pay offline - check their website for more information.
Shipping fees calculated on product page
EZ Cosplay can ship to most countries except Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. To see if they can ship to your country, check the product page and use the dropdown menu under "Shipping To” to choose your country. This will show you the shipping fees and estimated delivery times for different shipping methods. We tested this on a $140.99 Working Uniform cosplay from the anime Amnesia and found that Economic Delivery was $23.60, which is a bit cheaper than some other Chinese competitors in our review.
Returns within 2 weeks - or maybe 30 days
If you need to return or exchange an item, first check if your situation is covered by the return policy within 30 days of receiving it. Eligible returns include wrong items, damaged goods, wrong sizes made by the company, missing parts, or lost packages. Items not eligible for return include special sale items, gift cards, and products made in the wrong size because of incorrect info from you, as well as used or altered items. To start a return, contact customer service with evidence of the problem, and send the item back within two weeks at your own cost (note that this contradicts their earlier mention of a 30-day return policy - they don't offer any explanation). Refunds are processed in three business days after the item is received in good condition.
Cancellations and full refund possible within 24 hours
You can cancel an order within 24 hours for a full refund, but if it's after 24 hours, you'll only get half back. Custom products can't be canceled once production starts. If your item was already shipped, you can't cancel it.
Inconsistent customer experiences
Customer feedback on EZ Cosplay is mixed. While there are plenty of positive reviews with photos on their product listings and a 4.5 rating average on Trustpilot from nearly 1,000 reviews, some customers have had issues. For example, one person received their cosplay quickly but found it poorly made, with loose threads and weak seams. They also mentioned that the tail it came with was unusable. When they tried to return it within the 2-week window, customer support offered only a 20% refund, despite their return policy. This experience led them to advise others against buying from EZ Cosplay.
You could do worse
While it's definitely disappointing to read experiences like that customer's, the 4.5 average rating on Trustpilot and the many featured cosplays on social media suggest that most cosplayers will probably have a decently satisfactory experience when shopping at EZ Cosplay. The variety of costumes available at EZ Cosplay generally makes it a good place to start, especially if you're looking for an affordable anime cosplay.
Champion Cosplay, based in China, has been making custom-made costumes for over 10 years. They specialize in creating hand-made cosplay costumes for movies, anime, and games that they claim can be worn daily. (Perfect for parents of kids who insist they're the real Batman and thus refuse to change into civilian clothes after Halloween is over.) They add new styles weekly and keep their prices competitive. You can even place custom orders if you need something specific.
Plenty of Marvel costumes
The Kids' Costumes section has 102 options, and while there are over 1,000 adult costumes, an exact count across all categories isn't available. They don't have much from older or less popular franchises, like Harry Potter or Inuyasha (respectively). However, you'll find plenty if you're a fan of Marvel, League of Legends, Star Wars, or Baldur's Gate. For example, they had a cosplay for Vi's Enforcer uniform from Arcane's season 2 available even before the season was released. So if you're looking for something specific, you might find it, but niche fandoms might be out of luck.
Website organization is lacking
Champion Cosplay's categories include Movie Costumes, Game Costumes, TV Drama Costumes, and Kids' Costumes. Some costumes are in the wrong categories, though, like "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Captain Marvel" being listed under "Anime Costumes” - and there are no actual anime costumes in that section to begin with. The "Doctor Who” category solely contains Doctor Strange cosplays. Oops.
Good deals in select sizes
The Clearance Sale category is worth a look, though. Wanda Maximoff might not be at the top of anyone's mind a few years after WandaVision came out, but you could get a full Wanda cosplay including mask, top, gloves, and girdle for $120 (down from $159). A Spider-Man costume never gets old, though - why not snag one for $40 instead of $82.99? Just be aware they won't have all sizes in the Clearance section.
Responsive live chat
If you have any questions while shopping, you can use their live chat feature to get fast answers. We wanted to know whether the "leather” listed as a material in many costumes was real or faux, and we got an answer back pretty fast: it's all faux leather. (Vegans, rejoice! The environmental impact of shipping a costume from China, though? That's a different story.)
Custom sizing available for $29
You can get a custom-made costume by providing your measurements for height, chest, waist, hips, and shoulder width, though it costs an extra $29 and the costume can't be returned or refunded. Not all costumes offer customization. Standard sizes range from XS to XXXL depending on the costume. If you're purchasing a costume of a female character but you want it to fit a male frame, you'll be charged an extra $18. (The same goes for male costumes tailored to female frames.)The product descriptions tell you what materials are used, what pieces are included, and any extra options you can add, like a wig.
30 days for refunds and exchanges
Be aware that custom items at Champion Cosplay can't be returned or exchanged. If you need to cancel your order, it has to be done within 2 business days. Standard size costumes and accessories can be refunded or exchanged within 30 days of your order. If you cancel your order after 5 business days, you'll be charged 30% of the cost to cover labor costs.
Orders are sometimes delayed
You can expect your Champion Cosplay order to arrive in 12-30 days using carriers like EMS and DHL, though there might be delays due to flight issues or customs. They ship worldwide, including to the U.S., U.K., Australia, and many other countries. According to the site, standard shipping takes 7-15 business days, while rush shipping takes 3-7 business days. However, we found some reports from customers about delayed orders, so your mileage may vary. If you need something fast (like a last-minute Halloween costume), you might have better luck by choosing a standard-size costume from the Ready To Ship category.
You'll need a PayPal account
You can only pay with PayPal on Champion Cosplay, but through PayPal, you can use Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards.
Shipping costs around $45
Sadly, shipping costs aren't included in the price, but you'll see the exact amount at checkout. For example, we tested how much it would cost to ship a costume to Wisconsin, and it was $45.18. Expect to pay somewhere around that much depending on where you live.
Opinions on quality vary
The costumes on Champion Cosplay's website often come with reviews, though not all of them have feedback. Opinions on the fabric quality are mixed. Some customers had bad experiences, saying the fabric is cheap and fits poorly. Others found their costumes to be high-quality and well-made, though they sometimes faced issues like wrong sizes or parts falling apart after minimal use. Some had complaints, but they were resolved by customer support. Still others had no complaints at all.
Competitive with other cosplay sites
The prices for custom-fitted cosplay costumes at Champion Cosplay are pretty competitive, usually under $200 with all accessories included. While the quality might not match what you'll see from people who make their own high-quality costumes for fan conventions, it's certainly decent for the price. Some customers have had issues with the fabric and fit, but the company seems genuinely responsive and willing to help. If you don't mind ordering from China, you might find a good deal here.
Sim Cosplay was started by a group of cosplay enthusiasts in 2014 to sell cosplays online in the US, Australia, the UK, and Japan. Ten years later, they have a strong design team focused on high-quality costumes inspired by anime, movies, and games. Their experienced designers and manufacturers help fans become characters like Captain America or Spider-Man. Be sure to check out their social media, where they share customer photos and even discounts.
Use the search bar if you don't see what you need
Sim Cosplay offers a variety of categories like New Arrival, Movie/Dramas, Game, Ladies, Genshin Impact, Kids, Ready To Ship, Promotions, and Cosplay Show. Even if you don't see a fandom listed in one of these categories, like Arcane, it doesn't mean they don't have it. Use the search bar to find what you're looking for, and try a couple of different terms before giving up. (When we searched "Vi Arcane” we got no results, but searching just "Arcane” brought up a few Vi cosplays.)
Lots of Genshin Impact cosplays
In the Movie section alone, there are over 1,000 costumes to choose from, and if you're a fan of Genshin Impact, you'll find plenty in its category with 213 options available. Shopping on the website is straightforward because you can sort the costumes by most viewed, name, or low-to-high price, making it easier to find what you want.
No custom sizing
When we checked out Sim Cosplay, it looked like they had stopped offering custom sizing. Some reviewers on Trustpilot speculated that this change might be due to the bulk of complaints being about custom sizes not fitting perfectly, despite having paid extra. This means you'll need to rely on their size chart and measure yourself carefully to pick the right size. Usually, you can find sizes ranging from XS to XXL. Just a heads-up, most costumes don't allow for gender swapping, so you'll have to stick to what's available.
Follow Sim Cosplay on TikTok
The images on Sim Cosplay's website are generally high quality and give you multiple views of the costumes and how they look on a model. To gauge the usual quality of their costumes, you can visit their TikTok account, where they post videos exploring the different components of their cosplay outfits. While they don't have many videos up, it might still give you a sense of what to expect. Their Instagram account is pretty active, and you can see posts featuring cosplayers like you in Sim Cosplay's costumes. Additionally, some product listings include customer photos in the reviews, which can also help you make a decision.
Most cosplays under $300
Be sure to double-check what comes with your cosplay before you click "buy”. For example, a Jinx cosplay listed as a "full set with boots and wig" for $89.99 didn't actually include her boots and braided blue wig. With all accessories, it cost $164.98. Generally, most cosplays, when fully accessorized, range from about $50 to $260.
PayPal only
Like many Chinese cosplay companies, Sim Cosplay only accepts PayPal as a payment option. This can be a good thing because PayPal allows you to dispute charges if something goes wrong. When you choose PayPal, you'll be directed to their website to complete your payment.
Shipping said to take between 24 hours and 20 days
Shipping at Sim Cosplay is handled through partnerships with international logistics companies like UPS, DHL, and FedEx. When estimating your delivery date, you'll need to take into account both tailoring/processing and shipping. For basic shipping (excluding tailoring/processing), expect 10-15 days; standard shipping takes 5-10 days, and rush shipping is 3-5 days. Since the costumes are handmade, the processing time varies: standard cosplay costumes need 7-10 days, custom sizes take 10-20 days (though, like we said, those don't seem to be offered now), while props and wigs require 5-10 days. Ready-to-ship items are quick, taking only 10-24 hours. If you buy multiple items, the longest processing time applies. Once shipped, you can track your order online.
$40 shipping
The more items you add to your cart, the higher your shipping costs will be. For one cosplay with all the accessories, standard shipping was $36.99 and rush shipping was $56.98. That's not too bad, all things considered. Although at checkout it might say standard shipping only takes 5-10 days, we'd still urge you to order well in advance if you need your cosplay for an event like a convention, because the costumes are shipped from China and delays can happen.
Refunds
The return and refund policy has a lot of caveats. If you need to return or exchange items like accessories, props, wigs, and standard-size costumes, they must be unused and in good condition, but you'll pay for return shipping. You have 30 days after delivery to make returns or exchanges. They claim to offer full refunds or replacements for damaged or incorrect items, but not for customer-caused damage. If you cancel your order within 7 days, you'll get a full refund. After that, there's a 30% fee, and you can't cancel once it's shipped.
Reviews are polarized
Sim Cosplay has a 4-star rating average on Trustpilot. However, a closer look reveals that this score comes from a polarized mix of reviews: 50% of them are 5 stars and 39% are 1 star. The five-star reviews are from customers who loved their cosplay outfits right out of the box and didn't have any problems with fit or material, and didn't need to contact customer service for anything. However, if the costume doesn't meet your expectations for fit or quality and you want a refund, you could be out of luck: any time there was a review from a customer who had to get customer service involved, it was a bad experience. So, while their policy says they offer replacements or refunds in some scenarios, they don't often seem to follow through on their promises.
A decent place to shop for cosplays
Overall, Sim Cosplay offers decent cosplay options with reasonable prices and competitive shipping, and their website is easy to navigate. However, their selection is smaller compared to some other stores (we didn't find much for anime), and their customer service might not always follow through with their policies. So, while you can find a good cosplay costume here, it's wise to be cautious.
Pro Cosplay's "About” section doesn't provide much information about the people behind the company or its history, but we figured out that they're based in Guangzhou, China. In addition to the typical fandom fare, they claim to offer items like Gothic and Lolita dresses, but we didn't find those on their site in the end. There are also promises of fast shipping and discount prices, but more on that later. Pro Cosplay has 80K followers on Instagram and an average rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
Commissions sometimes accepted
Pro Cosplay offers hundreds of costumes with prices ranging from $40 to $400 and sizes for children and adults. They do take commission requests, but sometimes they put requests on hold to focus on finishing current orders. If you have any specific requests, you can still reach out, and they might consider them for future projects.
Lots of superhero cosplays
Pro Cosplay's website has categories like All Products, Shop by Series, one for the current year's TV/Cinematic Icons, New In, and Ready To Ship. When you hover over Shop By Series, you'll see categories like:
If you click instead of hover, you'll go to a page listing all shows and movies alphabetically - even more than in the list above - where you can find costumes for each fandom grouped together.
Website could use some work
The Pro Cosplay website isn't the most user-friendly. When browsing some categories, there are almost no options to sort or filter by things like price or popularity, so you need to use the search bar - and know what you're looking for. Product thumbnails are low resolution and don't zoom in enough when clicked, so it's hard to get a feel for the quality of the cosplay costumes' construction.
Costume descriptions are garbled
Some character descriptions are a bit confusing and would benefit from a native English-speaking copywriter. For example, the description of Hela from Thor: Ragnarok is awkward and unclear. One part says, "No love, just full with the hate, no one can control him, those elements makes him rather fascinated. In one word, she is one of the most popular female characters." (In case you were wondering, in Norse myth, gender bending is more Loki's thing than Hela's.)
Accessories not necessarily included
Be sure to read the "includes" section for each cosplay, as wigs and shoes might not come with it even when pictured. There is a "customers who bought this also bought" section, but it doesn't always show the correct accessories for the costume you're looking at, so you may need to search for them yourself, which can be annoying.
Custom sizing for an added charge
Costume sizes at Pro Cosplay range from XXS to XXXL depending on the costume. Custom sizing costs between $10 and $30. There aren't many options to change the gender of a costume; if the character is male, you can only select "male" and the same goes for female characters. If you want a costume tailored to a different gender, like a male version of Harley Quinn, you'll need to provide custom measurements and hope for the best. (Some overseas cosplay stores say they offer custom sizing, but what they're really doing is mixing and matching pre-made pieces of different sizes to get as close to your provided measurements as they can.)
Customers are generally happy with their cosplays
Be sure to check the "reviews" tab on costume listings. Sometimes customers leave reviews, often with photos, giving you an idea of what to expect. Some people are very happy with the quality and look of their cosplays from Pro Cosplay, while others are less satisfied. Your experience might depend on where you've set your expectations... and maybe a bit of luck.
Plan 3 months ahead
Getting your costume from Pro Cosplay could take some time, so plan ahead. It usually takes 15-25 days to make and another 3-20 days to ship from China. If you need it in time for Halloween, there will be a banner on each product page telling you when you'll need to order it for it to arrive in time. Worst-case scenario, especially if your cosplay is complicated, it could take 1-3 months. Pro Cosplay uses FedEx, DHL, and Airmail, and will give you a tracking number. Shipping from one of their US warehouses only takes 3-5 days, standard shipping takes 25-30 days, fast shipping 20-25 days, and Airmail 35-45 days. They say their "Ready to Ship" items take 5-10 days, so we're guessing these are also coming from their US warehouses. Check your costume's product page for exact delivery dates.
Payment via PayPal
Pro Cosplay says you need to use PayPal to pay on their site. When you choose PayPal, you'll go to their website to send your payment. However, they also mention that if you don't have a PayPal account, you can use a debit or credit card. It seems like you start the process on PayPal, and then you might be able to choose to pay with a card. The instructions Pro Cosplay gives include screenshots that look a bit outdated, so the process could have changed.
At least $30 for shipping
When you check out, you'll see that shipping costs are high, with standard shipping to a US zip code estimated at $47.25, fast shipping at $109.50, and air mail at $32.50. Also, we're not sure which shipping timeline estimate is accurate, as the checkout page gives different numbers than the product pages - fast shipping is listed as either 3-4 business days here instead of the earlier-stated 20-25 days. Reviews often mention long delivery times, so use the more conservative estimates to be on the safe side.
Full refunds only for defects
What can you do if you order a costume and don't like it? Pro Cosplay's official policy says you can get a refund for accessories, wigs, and standard-size costumes, but not for "cross-dressing costumes” (their term, not ours). You need to start return, refund, or exchange requests within 7 days of receiving your order. They offer a full refund only for defective items or mistakes they made. If you return something because you changed your mind, you'll have to pay for shipping both ways. Custom-made items can't be refunded. Costumes that have been washed or altered can't be returned either. They don't consider small issues like minor color differences or loose threads as defects. If you've had issues like a credit card chargeback, a PayPal case, or too many returns, your new orders might get canceled. Also, if you gave them a bad review before, your future returns might not be accepted.
7 days to initiate a refund
If you think you might return your cosplay costume, you really should figure it out before the 7 days is up, because Pro Cosplay won't budge for any reason. One customer bought an expensive Homelander cosplay that looked nice at first but allegedly started falling apart after just one wear. The seams tore and a shoulder piece came off within eight hours of light use. When they asked for a partial refund due to the poor quality, the company refused, claiming the costume was in good condition when sent (which missed the point of the customer's complaint, which was about durability, not original condition). Pro Cosplay reminded the customer that the refund policy didn't apply because it had been more than seven days since delivery, and no refund was issued in the end. Understandably, the customer was unhappy with the company's response, and suggested others avoid the site for better value.
Customer service is not forgiving
In another case, a customer struggled for over a month to return an Adam Warlock suit that didn't fit properly, even though their measurements were within the stated range for a Large size. At 5'10", the suit was too short, and the chest piece was too big. Despite their policy saying customers only pay for return shipping if they made a mistake, the customer had to cover $120 in return shipping costs. After the customer sent in their measurements multiple times, Pro Cosplay still insisted they should pay because the size chart is just a general reference. Although the customer thought the suit's build quality was good, they wound up facing nearly $200 in shipping costs to get a $250 refund.
Has some weak points, but generally okay
What we'd conclude from these two customer stories is that Pro Cosplay won't go out of their way to resolve issues once the costume has been delivered. If good customer service is important to you, you may want a US-based cosplay supplier. We're also a little nervous about the turnaround times reported. However, if you find a cosplay you really like here, and you have at least 3 months before you'd need it, you can still give Pro Cosplay a try.
Liking Cosplay has been selling all kinds of custom cosplay pieces since 2008. They ship worldwide, ranging from locations in Europe and the US to Australia and Asia. Their goal is to give you super-friendly and helpful customer service, no matter what questions or problems you have. They actually started out as an Etsy shop.
Plenty of Marvel, not so much for other fandoms
The homepage mainly highlights Marvel items, and you can still find things related to the Cruella movie, which was already a bit old at the time of this review. The store offers over a thousand costumes, but they don't give an exact count. You can explore categories like movies and TV, games, anime, cosplay props, and cosplay shoes.
Some empty categories
When you explore the categories on theLiking Cosplay site, there's a subcategory called "the other," which might sound ominous, but it's just for cosplay items that haven't been sorted yet. Many of the fandom categories are either empty or contain only a few items, like a pair of boots or a mask, and they're not listed alphabetically.
Browsing experience could be better
When you're browsing through a category on the site, you can only sort items alphabetically. You can't sort by best sellers or price, which makes it tough to find listings with customer reviews, if there are any. We didn't come across any reviews during our search. Also, this site likely has the lowest-quality images among the ones we've reviewed. You can zoom in on the pictures in the image carousel, but it's hard to tell what the fabric type or quality is like.
(Probably) good value for your money
Liking Cosplay might not have the biggest selection, but their prices are pretty reasonable. You can get a complete Wonder Woman outfit, including all the accessories, for just $215. Most of their costumes are priced under $300, so it could be a good choice for cosplayers on a budget.
Customized sizing at no extra cost
It doesn't seem like you need to pay extra at Liking Cosplay for a custom fit, which can cost $10 to $30 more at other stores. If you're unsure about your measurements, you can choose from standard sizes that range from 2XS to 3XL.
Generous return policy
If you're wondering about returns and exchanges, you can return items within 7 days of delivery. They must be unused and free of smells or stains, but otherwise, that's pretty straightforward. If you get the wrong size, for standard sized costumes you might have to pay return fees if you chose incorrectly, but if it's Liking Cosplay's mistake, they'll cover it. For custom sizes, if your measurements were wrong, they won't accept returns, but they can remake it at your cost. (That's unique.) If the wrong item arrives, just send them a photo, and they'll cover the return and remake costs. For damaged items (which can happen with international shipping) they offer free remakes for shipping damage. Nice!
PayPal only
Liking Cosplay is another one of those websites that only accepts PayPal for payments. Keep in mind that taxes might apply due to customs rules, and you'll be responsible for paying them.
Shipping is quick and fairly priced
You can order internationally from several countries including the U.S., U.K., and Japan, and if your country isn't listed on the site, reach out to them. They remind customers that items need time to be made before shipping, but they don't clarify how long to expect to wait. They do clarify shipping timelines, though. You can choose Expedited Shipping (3-6 days) or Standard Shipping (7-20 days), with costs depending on location and weight. (A $176 Joker cosplay was $36.42 to ship to the USA in 3-5 days. Wow!) You can track your order once shipped, and if needed, you can upgrade your shipping method by paying extra.
Comparable quality to competitors
Once again, we couldn't find any customer reviews for specific cosplay items on the site, but people on Reddit mentioned they were happy with what they got for the price, even if they had to make a few adjustments. Overall, the quality seems similar to other Chinese sites mentioned in our review: a few complaints about quality here and there, but plenty of positivity too.
Looks decent, hard to know for sure
Without a social media presence and lacking customer reviews on their site, it's tough to gauge the quality of Liking Cosplay's costumes. While the selection isn't huge, their prices for both products and shipping are decent. They seem to prioritize customer service more than some competitors, as shown by their return policy.
Like the name suggests, Herostime specializes in superhero costumes, particularly Spider-Man costumes. (There are 400 of these alone.) Their bodysuit costumes have lots of custom options, like detachable feet and hands, zipper placement, detachable masks, and wings. We didn't see any anime or video game categories at all. However, they do offer custom furry bodysuits - no headpieces included. This company is based in China.
Poor organization
The Herostime website is immediately overwhelming. A "featured” section dominates the homepage, displaying images with no clear order or organization and excessively large white borders. The banner at the top of the page changes every few seconds, which we found obnoxious. The categories in the sidebar are not organized alphabetically or logically.
Website is inaccessible
Herostime's links to their social media channels go nowhere, some information seems to be outdated, and the site isn't accessible - information about Herostime's return policy is presented as a picture rather than text, so someone using a screenreader wouldn't be able to read it.
Costumes for $50 to $300
Ever wonder how people in spandex suits with masks breathe without feeling suffocated or the spandex conforming to their features? They're probably using face shells. Herostime sells these for $49 in a variety of materials, shapes, colors, and styles. In general, their prices for costumes range from $50 to just under $300.
Good sizing and customization; poor image quality
Herostime's costumes are generally available in sizes XS to XXXL, for males, females, or kids. There's also a box to input your custom measurements, but it's just one text box, so make sure you delineate the measurements yourself. You can choose a tight, standard, or loose fit, fabric durability, lens style, and shoe size. Many costumes have customer reviews with photos, but you can't enlarge them, and the official product images are a little pixelated.
7 days for returns
Herostime has a pretty typical return policy. Customers have 7 days to return items, but there are some limits. They won't take back used costumes, custom designs, or items ordered in the wrong size or design by mistake. However, they will accept returns for clear quality issues, wrong sizes (if it's their mistake), or if they sent the wrong design. We found no mention of who pays the return shipping (or how much it costs), but it's probably you.
Shipping under $30
Shipping and taxes are calculated at checkout using a built-in tool. To test this, we added a $95 Spider-Gwen costume to our cart (which increased to $162 after customizations). The estimated shipping cost for 4- to 7-day delivery was $27. That's on par with, or slightly better than, some of their competitors' rates. Keep in mind, though, that your costume will take time to make. You can inform them of any deadlines you might have, but they usually need at least 7 business days to make a costume from scratch.
Just okay
Herostime lags behind other cosplay websites in terms of selection, usability, and customer feedback. When we looked into what customers have to say about them via third-party platforms, the most we found was a handful of Reddit posts of people asking if anyone had tried them. They have a Trustpilot page, but it's empty. That means we don't know whether they keep their word about returns, what it's like dealing with their customer service, or if there are often delays on shipping. For all of these reasons, we can't rate them any higher.
Halloween Costumes specializes in... you guessed it, Halloween Costumes. They claim to have "the biggest selection of costumes in the world”, but that doesn't mean they carry the most cosplays. They pride themselves on inclusivity - you'll find costumes for all body shapes and sizes, including non-human ones. (We're talking about costumes for dogs and cats, to be clear.) They've been in business since 1992 and are one of the only costume stores in our review that is based in the USA.
Get 20% off your cosplay
When you first land on Halloween Costumes' website, you'll see a banner offering 20% off any one item - you just have to give them your email address to qualify.
Cosplays that look like Halloween costumes
Halloween Costumes has a "cosplay costumes” section with 635 results, but to us, they all look somewhat cheap and generic. If you wear one of these to a con, you probably won't get asked how long it took you to make it - people will be able to tell you bought it from a Halloween costume store. Maybe you're okay with that, but given that the prices look similar to what you'd get from competitors for something more detailed, using better fabric, and often custom-sized, you wouldn't be getting a great deal. For example, an Attack on Titan Mikasa Deluxe Costume was $119 here, and while it included the shirt, jacket, pants, cape, and a few accessories, they looked to be made of cheap spandex and polyester. From a top competitor site, $119 bought you all the same accessories, but the material was made of "uniform cloth" rather than spandex.
No complaints about navigation
The shopping experience is easy enough, though. Items come with customer reviews that can be sorted based on different criteria (highest rating to lowest, date). You can save your favorite costumes to a list for later. We like the stackable search filters - within the results filtered for cosplays, you can also filter for what's on sale or clearance, by price, and for costumes made by Halloween Costumes themselves (recommended by some reviewers for superior quality, especially for the Disney costumes).
Get a cosplay costume for under $100
Speaking of price, most of the cosplays and Halloween costumes you'll find here fall in the $50 to $100 range, although there are a few higher priced items like the Authentic Darth Vader Ultimate Edition Costume for $1,899. It comes with a voice module, but the light saber is sold separately.
"A-” from the BBB
What Halloween Costumes has going for them that our top rated cosplay stores don't is that they're based in the US, not China. That means Halloween Costumes is held accountable with organizations like the Better Business Bureau, where they have an "A-” and a 4.7/5-star rating average. You'll also pay less for shipping (although some Chinese companies offer free shipping over a certain dollar amount) and it's less likely you'll run into shipping delays that could prevent your cosplay from getting to you in time for a special event.
Strict return policy
Halloween Costumes gives you 30 days from your order date to return your purchase. You can either opt for a site credit (called FunBuck$) or wait 2-4 weeks for a refund to the original payment method that incurs an 18% restocking fee. (Ouch!) To be eligible for a return, your costume needs to be unused and in its original packaging with all accessories. You'll need to include the packing slip and use a traceable shipping method. You're also responsible for the shipping costs. This is not the best return policy we've seen, but it's better than nothing.
Shipping starts at $6.99
Shipping prices depend on the combined weight of everything you have in your cart, but to give you a rough idea, when we tested an order to be shipped within the USA, we were looking at $6.99 for 4-6 business days, $8.99 for 3-5 days, and the option of paying $26.99 for delivery within one business day. Unlike other sites in this review, nothing here is made to order (as far as we could tell) so you don't need to include processing time when calculating how long it will be before your cosplay costume arrives.
Good customer service
Most people who have shopped at Halloween Costumes have great things to say about the customer service. One customer was sent the wrong item, and customer service not only replaced it, but also sent a voucher. Customers shopping for Halloween costumes say they really like the variety and size of the selection. There are few complaints about the quality of the costumes - they usually arrive as-pictured. We didn't find many reviews from cosplayers, however.
Not a cosplayer's first choice
Overall, Halloween Costumes does what it says on the tin: they supply both generic and character Halloween costumes, some of which might work for cosplayers. Pricing is fair, customer service does their job, and there's a chance you'll find a good deal in the clearance section. However, if you're a serious cosplayer, we'd probably recommend checking out one of the other websites on our list first.
Now, not all cosplay shops are cut from the same cloth. Some focus on specific genres - think Superhero Central with more Spider-Man suits than you can shoot a web at. Others offer a bit of everything, from anime to video games to Disney princesses and beyond. You'll find budget-friendly options for those watching their wallet, as well as high-end replicas for the serious collectors or pros.
The level of customization can vary widely too. Some stores stick to standard sizes, while others will tailor-make your costume to fit like a glove. And the attention to detail? It can range from "pretty good" to "is that the actual movie prop?"
When you're shopping online for your next cosplay masterpiece, keep these things in mind:
Top Consumer Reviews has checked out and ranked the best cosplay costume stores out there. We've looked at everything from product quality to customer service to help you find your perfect cosplay match. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned nerd, we hope our reviews help you find the ideal store to bring your favorite characters to life - and who knows, maybe even launch your own cosplay career!
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