Best 5 dropshipping platforms 2024
Introduction
Dropshipping has become an increasingly popular business model for aspiring entrepreneurs and online sellers over the past few years. It provides a way to start an ecommerce business without needing to stock or ship products yourself.
With dropshipping, the store owner takes care of marketing and selling the products, while the supplier or manufacturer handles inventory, shipping, and fulfillment. When an order is placed, the store owner purchases the item from their supplier and has it shipped directly to the customer.
This hands-off fulfillment method allows online sellers to offer a wider selection of products without tying up capital in inventory. It also removes the hassles of shipping and returns management.
For this article, we evaluate some of the top dropshipping platforms available in 2024. The criteria used include:
- Ease of setup and use
- Product selection and suppliers
- Marketing and selling features
- Shipping and order management
- Costs and fees
- Support and community
The goal is to provide an overview of the key benefits and potential drawbacks of the leading dropshipping services. This will help readers identify the best options to start or grow their ecommerce business this year.
Shopify
Shopify is arguably the most popular platform for starting an ecommerce dropshipping business. It makes it easy for anyone to set up an online store and start selling, without needing to deal with the technical backend of running a website.
Overview of features
- Beautiful premade themes/templates to quickly customize the look and feel of your store
- Built-in support for dropshipping, with integration apps like Oberlo available
- Secure and fast hosting optimized for ecommerce
- Marketing tools like email automation, abandoned cart recovery
- 24/7 customer support
Pros
- Very intuitive and easy to use, even for beginners
- Large app marketplace with hundreds of integrations
- Scales well as your business grows
- 14-day free trial to test it out
Cons
- Transaction fees on top of monthly subscription fees
- Design customization requires learning Shopify’s custom Liquid code
- Can’t use your own domain name on basic plans
Pricing
Shopify offers a range of pricing plans:
- Basic Shopify – $29/month
- Shopify – $79/month
- Advanced Shopify – $299/month
The Advanced plan is recommended for larger stores with high sales volume.
Ease of use
Shopify is designed to be user-friendly for even those without technical expertise. Their dashboard and backend interface is clean and simple to navigate. Adding products, customizing themes, installing apps and setting up sales channels can all be done with a few clicks. While it may take some learning to master advanced features, Shopify is one of the easiest platforms overall.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a popular WordPress plugin that enables you to easily set up an online store on your WordPress site. It is a free, open-source ecommerce platform.
Overview of features
WooCommerce comes packed with features to help you customize and run your online store:
- Detailed product options – Add options like size, color, material to products
- Payment options – Accept payments via popular gateways like PayPal, Stripe
- Shipping options – Configure flat-rate, weight-based, local pickup
- Tax and discount options – Set up taxes, coupons
- Reports – View reports on sales, customers, inventory
- Design customization – Change design using themes/plugins
Pros
- Free, open-source
- Huge selection of themes/plugins to extend functionality
- Optimized for SEO
- Large user community for support
- Easily scalable as your business grows
Cons
- Can be time-consuming to set up without development experience
- Limited built-in marketing features
- Additional costs for extensions and customization
Pricing
The WooCommerce plugin is free. You will need to pay for web hosting, domain name, and any paid extensions.
Ease of use
WooCommerce is built for WordPress so the dashboard will be familiar to WordPress users. But you need some technical know-how to set up and customize your store. Using existing themes/plugins makes it easier for non-developers.
Oberlo
Oberlo is a popular dropshipping platform that integrates directly with Shopify. It allows you to easily import products from suppliers like AliExpress and sell them on your Shopify store.
Overview of Features
- Built-in integration with Shopify – Oberlo connects seamlessly with Shopify stores. Products can be imported directly into Shopify with one click.
- Supplier marketplace – Oberlo provides access to a marketplace of suppliers and products that can be imported. Key suppliers include AliExpress, Walmart, eBay and others.
- Automated order processing – When an order comes in, Oberlo automatically sends it to the supplier for fulfillment. This makes the entire process hands-off.
- Inventory and pricing management – Oberlo allows you to set prices and track product inventory. It will notify you when stock runs low.
- Analytics – Usage metrics help you identify best-selling products. This allows you to optimize the inventory in your Shopify store.
Pros
- Easy to set up and get started – The integration with Shopify makes Oberlo simple to begin using quickly. Just connect your account and import products.
- Saves time on order fulfillment – With automated order sending, Oberlo handles fulfillment so you can focus on other parts of your business.
- Access to proven suppliers – By leveraging Oberlo’s marketplace, you get instant access to popular suppliers that work well for dropshipping ecommerce stores.
- Analytics provide insights – The analytics features let you see key metrics to identify ways to maximize sales and growth.
Cons
- Limited customization – Compared to other platforms, Oberlo offers less ability to customize the look and feel.
- Can only be used with Shopify – Since it’s built solely for Shopify, Oberlo does not work with other ecommerce platforms.
- Minimal advanced features – Besides the core functionality, Oberlo lacks some of the more advanced capabilities offered by other dropshipping platforms.
Pricing
Oberlo is free to use with Shopify basic accounts. Shopify stores with a higher tier plan can upgrade to Oberlo Pro for $29.90 per month which unlocks more features.
Ease of Use
Oberlo is known for its simplicity and ease of use. The Shopify integration makes it easy to get up and running quickly. Even those new to ecommerce can start importing products and fulfilling orders with minimal hassle. The platform uses a simple dashboard interface with guidelines to help you through each step.
Printful
Printful is a popular print-on-demand dropshipping platform. Here’s an overview of its key features and pricing:
Overview
- Integrates with various ecommerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce. Products get automatically synced.
- Provides print-on-demand fulfillment for products like t-shirts, hoodies, hats, mugs, posters, phone cases etc.
- Has two monthly subscription plans – Basic ($29/mo) and Premium ($49/mo).
Key Features
- Automatic syncing of orders from connected online stores.
- Integration with shipping carriers like USPS, UPS, DHL etc.
- Printful handles printing, packing and shipping the products.
- Provides mockup generator to create product images.
- Has library of product templates to start with.
- 24/7 customer support via live chat and email.
Pros
- No upfront inventory costs. You only pay when products are ordered.
- Wide variety of products like clothes, accessories, home decor etc.
- High print quality and quick turnaround time.
- Integration with major ecommerce platforms.
Cons
- Subscription fees may seem expensive for small merchants.
- Limited ability to customize products compared to having your own production.
- Need to rely on Printful for good service and print quality.
Ease of Use
Printful makes it easy for dropshippers to get started – integrate your store, upload designs, set prices and Printful handles the printing, packing and shipping. The platform is user-friendly with good documentation and responsive customer support.
Overall, Printful is a solid print-on-demand dropshipping solution suitable for new and established merchants alike. The automatic syncing with major ecommerce platforms, wide product selection, and fast fulfillment make it a popular choice.
Etsy
Etsy is a popular online marketplace for creative entrepreneurs to sell handmade, vintage, and crafted goods. It has emerged as one of the top dropshipping platforms, especially for those looking to sell unique, customized products.
Overview of Features
- Built-in audience of buyers looking for special, handmade items
- Simple setup with various Etsy templates and themes
- Options for setting up your own independent online store within Etsy
- Integrated payment processing through Etsy Payments
- Marketing and analytics tools to track shop performance
- Support for manufacturing partners through Etsy Manufacturing
Pros
- Established brand recognition and built-in traffic
- No monthly fees, only pay per sale fees
- Listing fees are only $0.20 per listing
- Lower 5% transaction fee compared to other marketplaces
- Good option for makers and crafters selling their own designs
Cons
- Limited customization compared to standalone ecommerce sites
- Need to fit within Etsy’s handmade, vintage focus
- Additional offsite ads fee charged on sales
- Policies favor buyers in disputes
- Can be crowded niche for some types of products
Pricing
Etsy charges $0.20 per listing, which stays up for 4 months. When an item sells, there is a 5% transaction fee and a payment processing fee of 3% + $0.25 per order. Offsite ads also have an additional 12-15% fee on orders generated through them. There are no monthly fees or subscriptions.
Ease of Use
Etsy has a user-friendly interface and template setups that make opening a shop simple. The backend tools for managing inventory, orders, and shipping also make the day-to-day operations easy for sellers. For those wanting more customization, HTML and CSS editing is an option. Overall, Etsy is one of the easiest platforms for starting to sell handmade goods online.
eBay
eBay is a popular ecommerce marketplace that also enables dropshipping. Sellers can list products on eBay without having inventory, and when an order is placed, they purchase the item from a supplier and have it shipped directly to the customer.
Overview of Features
- Large marketplace with millions of active buyers
- Sellers can easily list products using eBay’s bulk listing tools
- Integrates with many supplier databases like AliExpress to find product info and images
- eBay handles payments, customer service inquiries, and order management
- Provides seller protection from fraud and non-payment
Pros
- Huge exposure to millions of buyers looking for all kinds of products
- Low fees compared to other marketplaces
- Mature platform with many long-time users who trust buying on eBay
- Good option for selling unique, antique, or specialty items
Cons
- Lots of competition from the millions of other eBay sellers
- Customers may expect very low prices or discounted shipping
- Harder to build a distinctive brand since you don’t control the platform
Pricing
- Insertion fees range from $0.35 – $4 per listing
- Final value fees are 10% of the total amount of the sale
- Optional fees for promoted listings and other upgrades
Ease of Use
- eBay’s bulk listing tool makes it easy to list many products quickly
- Finding suppliers and managing inventory can be challenging
- Requires diligent customer service to build up seller feedback rating
- May take time to master eBay’s policies and listing optimization tactics
So in summary, eBay offers an easy entry point into dropshipping thanks to their built-in tools and massive buyer audience. Sellers need to carefully manage their inventory, orders, and customer service to succeed long-term. The competition is fierce, so sellers need to price competitively and provide a great buyer experience.
AliExpress
AliExpress is an ecommerce platform that allows consumers to buy products directly from manufacturers and distributors, primarily in China. It’s owned by Chinese retail giant Alibaba Group.
Overview
AliExpress enables small businesses and entrepreneurs to find suppliers, manufacture products, and ship items directly to consumers worldwide. It connects suppliers in China with buyers around the world.
The platform is designed for small quantity orders, providing access to products at wholesale prices. This makes it suitable for dropshipping models where you don’t keep inventory on hand.
Key features include:
- Search for products in dozens of categories like electronics, fashion, automotive, etc.
- Filter by price, location, shipping time, reviews, and more.
- Place small quantity orders with individual suppliers.
- Free or low-cost shipping rates direct from China.
- Tracking numbers and delivery estimates provided.
Pros
- Huge selection of products at wholesale prices. Millions of items across all categories.
- Low minimum order quantities in the 1-100 range.
- Fast and cheap worldwide shipping directly from manufacturers.
- Easy to find suppliers and products. Good search and filtering.
- Support for dropshipping with direct shipments to customers.
Cons
- Shipping times can be slow, averaging 2-4 weeks.
- Language barrier with some suppliers. Product listings may have poor English descriptions.
- Quality control can be hit or miss. No guarantee products will match pictures and descriptions.
- Limited customer support and help. Must resolve issues directly with each supplier.
- Counterfeit products are commonplace. Must be vigilant about fake merchandise.
Pricing
AliExpress is free to join and browse. Sellers pay commission fees to AliExpress when products are sold.
As a buyer, you pay the supplier directly for your order. There are no monthly fees or additional charges beyond the cost of products ordered.
Ease of Use
AliExpress is easy to use for finding and purchasing products, but setting up dropshipping requires a few extra steps.
The platform is only for ordering, not selling. To enable dropshipping, you need to:
- Find reliable suppliers who support direct shipping to customers.
- Negotiate bulk pricing and determine minimum orders.
- Set up PayPal or other payments for customers to pay you.
- Manually place customer orders with your suppliers.
So AliExpress alone doesn’t support automated order fulfillment the way some platforms do. But it provides access to a huge range of products suitable for dropshipping.
SaleHoo
SaleHoo is a popular platform for dropshipping and wholesale suppliers. Here’s an overview of its key features and pros/cons:
Overview of Features
- Directory of over 8,000 suppliers: SaleHoo thoroughly vets suppliers for legitimacy before listing them. You can easily search for suppliers in different product categories.
- Supplier performance ratings: SaleHoo tracks things like shipping times, order accuracy, and customer service for each supplier. This helps identify the most reliable suppliers.
- Product research tools: You can use SaleHoo to look up profitable niche products, view supplier prices, find bestselling items, and more. Very useful for product research.
- Contracts and accounting documents: SaleHoo provides templates for supplier agreements, order forms, invoices, and more. Saves time on paperwork.
- Educational guides and training: Extensive selection of ebooks, videos, and courses on dropshipping topics like marketing, SEO, and ecommerce store creation. Great for beginners.
Pros
- Huge supplier directory for many product types
- Vetted and legitimate suppliers
- Useful product research tools
- Educational resources for beginners
- Supplier performance ratings assist with vetting
- Contract templates save time on paperwork
Cons
- Annual membership fee of $67
- Not all suppliers offer integrated Oberlo-type apps
- Some listed suppliers have minimum order quantities
- Product research tool lacks automated trend finding
- Fewer suppliers than platforms like AliExpress
Pricing
SaleHoo has an annual membership fee of $67. They offer a free trial to test the platform.
Ease of Use
SaleHoo has a clean, user-friendly interface. The website is well-organized and easy to navigate. Searching for suppliers and products is intuitive. They provide good onboarding resources like video tutorials. The supplier ratings make it easy to identify reliable suppliers. Overall, SaleHoo is easy for beginners to start using.
Conclusion
As ecommerce and dropshipping continue to grow in popularity, more and more online sellers are looking to take advantage of this business model. In this article, we reviewed some of the top dropshipping platforms available in 2024 that make it easy for anyone to get started.
Out of all the options, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Oberlo stand out as three of the best and most popular choices right now. Shopify offers an all-in-one solution for starting an online store, while WooCommerce is great for anyone already using WordPress. Oberlo then makes it simple to import products and fulfill orders.
All three platforms have their own strengths and differences, so be sure to evaluate which one aligns closest with your business goals and technical abilities. The right platform will provide the features and support you need as your dropshipping business scales.
Beyond these main recommendations, Printful, Etsy, eBay, AliExpress, and SaleHoo are other excellent services to consider for sourcing products, managing inventory, selling, and finding suppliers. With the continued advancement of ecommerce technology, there’s never been an easier time to get started with dropshipping.
No matter which platform you choose, focus on providing an excellent customer experience, marketing your store effectively, and continuously optimizing your operations. Dropshipping takes effort to do well, but can ultimately be a very rewarding business model with the right preparation and dedication.
READ MORE : Make Good Dropshipping Profits 2024
