I see it in my DMs every single day. A new collector, buzzing with excitement, sends a photo of their first LABUBU. And then, the inevitable follow-up question arrives: "This is amazing! What else is out there? What are some toys like labubu?"
And it comes from a few different places. Sometimes, it's sticker shock after they realize what it takes to complete a set like the Exciting Macaron Labubu. Other times, it's the frustration of seeing "Sold Out" everywhere. And sometimes, you're just a curious collector ready to expand your world.
As someone who runs PopNya and has handled thousands of these figures, I've developed some strong opinions. The big magazines will give you a generic listicle of "cute collectibles." I'm not going to do that. This is the real talk, the stuff you learn after opening hundreds of blind boxes and dealing with the highs and lows of the secondary market.
Let's start with the benchmark. LABUBU is the king for a reason. Kasing Lung's creation has this perfect blend of mischievous, cute, and slightly monstrous energy. That toothy grin is iconic. The long ears are instantly recognizable. It's a design that feels both playful and a little bit wild, which is why we all fell in love with it. The hype is real, and for good reason, the character has heart. But that popularity is a double-edged sword, leading to the very search that probably brought you here.
So, let's get into the alternatives. I'm not just going to list them. I'm going to compare them directly to LABUBU, from the feel of the vinyl to the vibe they bring to your shelf.
PUCKY: The Dreamy, Pastel Cousin
First up is PUCKY. If LABUBU is the energetic kid running around the forest looking for trouble, PUCKY is the one sitting under a mushroom, lost in a daydream. Created by the artist of the same name, PUCKY figures are defined by their soft, pastel color palettes and whimsical, often sleepy, themes.
How They Compare to LABUBU: The energy is the biggest difference. Where LABUBU is loud and expressive, PUCKY is quiet and introspective. The designs often feature stars, clouds, and celestial elements. You won't find a PUCKY with a cheeky, toothy grin; you're more likely to find one with closed eyes, peacefully asleep.
Information Gain, The Real Collector's Details: The vinyl itself often feels different. Many PUCKY series have a super smooth, almost matte finish that's a pleasure to touch. It's a subtle thing you don't see in photos. Pop Mart also uses translucent and gradient plastic effects far more with PUCKY than with LABUBU. The "What's on your mind" series is a perfect example, with little scenes encapsulated in their clear heads. It's a design feature that is uniquely PUCKY. The secondary market for PUCKY is also much, much calmer. You can collect PUCKY without constantly feeling like you're competing with stock market day traders.
Real Talk: My Seller's Verdict Honestly, PUCKY is the perfect antidote to LABUBU hype fatigue. The quality is consistently excellent, the designs are beautiful, and you can actually enjoy the process of collecting without needing to take out a small loan. If you love the creature-like form of designer toys but want a gentler, more artistic vibe on your shelf, PUCKY is a fantastic choice. It's less of a labubu similar doll and more of a complementary spirit.
Dimoo: The Big-Eyed Sci-Fi Explorer
If PUCKY is the dreamy artist, Dimoo is the curious scientist. Designed by Ayan, Dimoo is one of Pop Mart's other titans, and for good reason. With his cloud-shaped hair and huge, expressive, non-pupiled eyes, Dimoo is instantly recognizable. His world is often tinged with sci-fi, retro-futurism, and a sense of wide-eyed wonder.
How They Compare to LABUBU: Dimoo feels more like a "character" and less like a "monster." He's a little boy exploring different universes. While LABUBU is tearing through the woods, Dimoo is floating through space or tinkering with gadgets. The emotional range is different, too. Dimoo is curious, sometimes a little lost, but rarely mischievous in the way LABUBU is.
Information Gain, The Real Collector's Details: Don't try to weigh or shake Dimoo boxes to find the secret. Especially with newer series. I've seen it with my own eyes when stocking the shop: Pop Mart has started using varied cardboard inserts and different-sized plastic bags inside the boxes to make them all feel and weigh almost identically. The old tricks don't work. Also, from a quality control perspective as a seller, I find Dimoo figures to be among the most consistent. The paint application on the clean lines of his design is almost always flawless, which is something that can't always be said for more complex figures.
Real Talk: My Seller's Verdict Dimoo is a powerhouse. The designs are top-tier, and the world-building is fantastic. If you want a figure with the same level of popularity and collectibility as LABUBU but a completely different aesthetic, Dimoo is your safest and most rewarding bet.It's one of the few IPs that can truly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with LABUBU in the Pop Mart universe.
Crybaby: The Emotional, Relatable Wildcard
Now for something completely different. Crybaby, by Molly's Factory, is exactly what it sounds like. It's a character that is always, always crying. Big, fat, cartoonish tears are its signature feature. And I know what you're thinking because I thought it too: "Why would I want a shelf full of crying dolls?"
How They Compare to LABUBU: They are the emotional antithesis of each other. LABUBU is all about chaotic joy and confidence. Crybaby is about vulnerability, sadness, and the catharsis that comes with it. Holding a Crybaby figure feels completely different from holding a LABUBU. It's not about fun; it's about feeling. The "Sad Club" series is a masterpiece of relatable melancholy.
Information Gain, The Real Collector's Details: The magic of Crybaby is in the storytelling. Each crying figure isn't just sad; it's sad for a specific, often darkly humorous, reason. The "Crying in the Woods" series, for example, has a figure crying because it's tangled in its own party streamer. It's brilliant.Some Crybaby figures, particularly in the chases or special editions, use a softer, almost "gummy" feeling vinyl for the tears, giving them a tangible, wet look. It's a small but powerful detail. The aftermarket for Crybaby can be surprisingly fierce, sometimes rivaling LABUBU. The secret from the "Parade" series was, for a time, one of the most sought-after figures in the entire blind box market.
Real Talk: My Seller's Verdict Is Crybaby better than labubu? It's not a useful comparison. They serve different purposes in a collection. LABUBU is your adventure buddy. Crybaby is the friend who sits with you when you're having a bad day and says, "Yeah, this sucks." It's not for everyone, and that's okay. But if you connect with its message, Crybaby can be one of the most meaningful and artistically profound dolls like labubu you can collect. It's art that makes you feel something deep.
Skullpanda: The High-Fashion, Edgy Rebel
If LABUBU is a creature from a fairytale, Skullpanda is a supermodel from a cyberpunk future. Created by artist Xiong Mao, Skullpanda is arguably the most "high fashion" of Pop Mart's main lineup. The designs are edgy, androgynous, and incredibly detailed, often looking like they walked straight off a futuristic runway.
How They Compare to LABUBU: Night and day. LABUBU's design is simple and organic. Skullpanda's is complex and constructed. The focus is on the outfit, the accessories, the attitude. Skullpanda doesn't have a single fixed form; the character shape-shifts with every series, from a dark-robed specter in "The Warmth" series to a cyborg explorer in "Image of Reality." The only constant is the signature skull-like face marking.
Information Gain, The Real Collector's Details: The very thing that makes Skullpanda amazing, its complexity, is also its potential weakness. With intricate outfits, tiny accessories, and layered paint jobs, there's simply more that can go wrong in manufacturing. I've seen more minor QC issues (a tiny paint fleck here, a slightly misaligned accessory there) on Skullpandas than on simpler figures. It's a trade-off for getting such an ambitious design in a blind box. It's also why I always tell people to be wary of fakes, which are rampant. A fake Skullpanda often has simplified details or messy paint on the very parts that make the original so special.
Real Talk: My Seller's Verdict For me, Skullpanda is the peak of what a blind box figure can be from a design perspective. It pushes the boundaries. If you're someone who appreciates fashion, intricate details, and a more mature, edgier aesthetic, Skullpanda is an absolute must-have. The hype is immense, but in this case, it's largely justified by the sheer artistry of the figures. It's less of a cute toy and more of a miniature sculpture.
So, Is Anything Actually Better Than LABUBU?This is the secret question everyone is asking. And the honest answer is... No. And yes.
Look, there is no single toy that is objectively "better." The magic of Kasing Lung's LABUBU is unique. Its combination of cute, monster, and mischief is a lightning-in-a-bottle formula that's hard to replicate. If you're looking for another toy that gives you that exact same feeling, you'll probably be disappointed. I still think everyone should have a LABUBU, and you can always browse our LABUBU figures to see what's in stock.
But.
Are some of these other toys better in specific ways? Absolutely.
- Is Dimoo's average build quality and paint consistency sometimes higher than a rushed LABUBU release? In my experience as a seller, yes.
- Is PUCKY a better value and a more relaxing collecting experience? For most people, yes.
- Is Skullpanda's design more ambitious and detailed? Objectively, yes.
- Does Crybaby tell a more profound emotional story? Arguably, yes.
The goal shouldn't be to replace your love for LABUBU. The goal should be to broaden your horizons. Don't look for a substitute; look for a new neighbor on the shelf. The joy of this hobby isn't just in hunting down one specific character. It's in discovering the incredible variety of worlds these artists have created for us to explore, one blind box at a time.
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