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Oberlo Shopify Alternatives: 5 Best Apps To Start Dropshipping

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8 minutes read
Oberlo Shopify Alternatives: 5 Best Apps To Start Dropshipping

Dropshipping enthusiasts surely remember Oberlo. It was one of the most popular dropshipping apps on the Shopify App Store. Oberlo enables merchants to import products from suppliers and ship them directly to customers without having to manage inventory themselves. 

Oberlo’s user-friendly interface and powerful toolkit made dropshipping easy. Unfortunately, the app was removed and delisted from the Shopify App Store on May 12th, 2022. But that doesn’t mean you cannot do dropshipping on Shopify anymore.

In this blog post, GemPages will debunk the top 5 Oberlo Shopify app alternatives in 2024. Read on to find the best apps to help you streamline your dropshipping operations. 

What Happened to Oberlo?

Let’s take a quick look at Oberlo and why it was delisted from the Shopify App Store. 

Oberlo Overview

Oberlo was the ultimate ally for dropshipping entrepreneurs via Shopify. This app transformed any Shopify store into a full-stack dropshipping business. With Oberlo, merchants can source, import, and sell products directly from big marketplaces like AliExpress. It allowed businesses to focus on one single goal: sell as many products as possible, and leave the complex logistics and inventory management to the suppliers. 

woman-holding-paper-shopping-bag

Oberlo was super popular among Shopify dropshippers.

Key features that Oberlo offered were: 

  • Free Trial: Oberlo allowed merchants to import up to 500 products for free. 
  • Product Importing: Source items from a variety of suppliers with a one-click import option.
  • Automated Order Fulfillment: Orders placed in your store were immediately sent to your suppliers, who handle the shipping directly to your customers. 
  • Inventory and Price Auto-Updates: Automatic inventory updates. Merchants can get the latest inventory levels and prices from suppliers. Custom pricing rules can be set so that prices adjust automatically based on supplier costs.
  • Bulk Orders: Oberlo allowed merchants to place bulk orders. Manage multiple orders with ease, ensuring your customers receive their products without delay.
  • Product Customization: Add supplier product variants and customize them to better fit your brand identity.

Why Oberlo Shut Down?

As of June 15, 2022, Oberlo was officially sunsetted by Shopify. This came as a surprise for merchants who relied on Oberlo for dropshipping. Shopify claimed removing Oberlo from its App Store was a strategic move to streamline its ecosystem and provide even more robust tools to all businesses.

cardboard-box-orange-background

The sudden sunset of Oberlo opens new opportunities for dropshipping apps on Shopify.

Here’s what we can gather about the reasons why the app suddenly shut down:

  • Strategic Decision: Shopify retired Oberlo to pave the way for more efficient solutions tailored to the evolving needs of eCommerce entrepreneurs. Perhaps Shopify then noticed the potential of dropshipping and wanted to improve its platform to serve the growing community.
  • Focus on Alternative Solutions: Shopify insisted that there are better alternatives for dropshipping. The eCommerce giant highly recommended DSers. 
Not ready to commit but still want to kick the tires?
No problem! Get started with GemPages' free plan. Explore wonderful features that can do wonders for your store.

Top 5 Oberlo Shopify Alternatives in 2024

Want to tackle dropshipping in 2024? Here are our picks for the top 5 best apps to replace Oberlo.  

#1 DSers‑AliExpress Dropshipping

Sitting on top of the list is none other than DSers Dropshipping. It’s the number one recommended dropshipping app by Shopify, boasting almost 28 thousand reviews on the platform. If you aim to source products primarily from AliExpress, go with DSers.

dser-aliexpress

Alt text: dser-aliexpress

DSers provides the tools for businesses to effortlessly manage their dropshipping endeavors. The app unlocks access to a vast network of reliable suppliers. Connect and sell via an intuitive interface. Everything from order fulfillment, to inventory management, and logistics is automated. Focus your efforts on marketing, and leave the rest to DSers!

Key Features

  • Bulk Order Processing: DSers allow merchants to place hundreds of orders simultaneously. The app can handle large bulk order fulfillment, reducing the complexities of eCommerce.
  • Cost-Efficient Plans: DSers provides exceptional plans for Shopify stores. Its free plan already comes with 3 stores and 3000 products. 
  • Supplier Optimization: Find and connect with top suppliers from AliExpress. The app helps users compare and choose the best suppliers based on price, reliability, and customer reviews.
  • Multi-store Management: Manage multiple Shopify stores easily. Centralized control is always good.
  • Real-Time Inventory Management: Keep your store’s inventory up-to-date in real-time. 
  • Automatic Tracking: DSers automatically tracks and updates order information, keeping your customers informed about their order status.

Pricing

DSers currently offers 3 plans for Shopify merchants: 

  • Free: Free to install. Extra fees will be calculated based on the amount of products exceeding the limit based on the usage level. 
  • Advanced: $19,90/month. Upgrade to 10 stores and 20k products. 
  • Pro: $49.90/month. Upgrade to 25 stores and 75k products. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

  • Has free plan
  • Offers powerful features for dropshipping
  • Supports multi-location and real-time tracking
  • Boasts great reviews and recommendations
  • Sources products from AliExpress only
  • Requires upgrade to Pro plan to unlock additional support for multi-platform cross-sell. 

 

#2 CJ Dropshipping

Next on the list, is CJ Dropshipping. This app has garnered nearly 9000 reviews with an average rating of 4.9 stars. Besides Shopify, CJ Dropshipping works seamlessly with other platforms such as Shopee, TikTok Shop, eBay, and Etsy. 

cjdropshipping-dashboard

CJ Dropshipping rocks a user-friendly interface and a robust selection of apparel and home products. Merchants praise the app for its exceptional customer service, efficiency, and reliable delivery. 

CJ Dropshipping is built for everyone. New drop shippers have full access to helpful resources and guidance from experienced agents, making the learning curve less aggressive. 

Key Features

  • Extensive Catalog: CJ Dropshipping grants access to a wide variety of products including electronics, fashion, home goods, and more. 
  • Custom Request Support: Request custom product sourcing to find unique products at competitive prices.
  • Print-on-Demand Services: Support print-on-demand stores selling items like custom t-shirts, mugs, and phone cases. 
  • Real-Time Inventory Management: Keep your inventory levels accurate with real-time updates. CJ Dropshipping syncs stock levels with your Shopify store, preventing overselling and overstock issues.
  • Cost-Effective Shipping Solutions: CJ Dropshipping partners with major shipping carriers to offer fast delivery at competitive rates.
  • Custom API Integration: For advanced users and larger operations, CJ Dropshipping offers custom API integration to seamlessly integrate their services with your existing systems.

Pricing

CJ Dropshipping currently offers 4 plans for Shopify merchants: 

    • Free: Free to install. Basic features and 5-day sourcing requests. 
    • Plus: $15.99/month. Unlock exclusive discounts and daily sourcing requests.
  • Prime: $19.99/month. Unlock product recommendations and better discounts. 
  • Advanced: $59.99/month. Same features as the Prime plan, but higher value. 
  • Pros and Cons

    Pros

    Cons

    • Has free plan
    • Offers extensive catalogs that fits many business niches
    • Allows easy cross-selling between different platforms.
    • Boasts great reviews and recommendations
    • Does not support multi-store
    • Limits support for free plan users

     

    #3 AutoDS: US Dropshipping & POD

    AutoDS: US Dropshipping & Print-on-Demand is an all-inclusive solution designed to optimize your Shopify store. The app streamlines the management of multiple suppliers and order fulfillment.

    autods-dropshipping-shopify

    AutoDS offers the flexibility you need to scale your business. Expand your product range with trending items or personalize your store with custom, print-on-demand products. AutoDS also comes with advanced analytics and performance insights that enable data-driven decisions, ensuring that every aspect of your business is optimized for growth. 

    Key Features

    • Automated Order Fulfillment: Minimize manual tasks with automated order processing. AutoDS will take and process your orders directly.
    • US-Based Suppliers: Access a vast network of reliable, US-based suppliers. Enjoy faster shipping times, higher product quality, and improved customer satisfaction.
    • Dynamic Pricing Automation: Set customizable pricing rules based on various factors like competitor pricing, demand trends, and targeted profit margins.
    • Bulk Product Import: Import multiple products from suppliers to your store in just a few clicks. 
    • Comprehensive Product Research: AutoDS's advanced product research tools help identify trending products, analyze market demand, and make data-driven decisions.
    • Supplier Performance Monitoring: Evaluate supplier reliability with detailed performance metrics. Keep track of suppliers’ quality to ensure optimal operations. 

    Pricing

    AutoDS currently offers 3 plans for Shopify merchants: 

    • Import: $26.9/month. Import products from 1000+ suppliers with POD support. 
    • Starter: $39.9/month. Unlock price and stock monitor. 
    • Advanced: $66.9/month. Unlock 1000 imported products and VIP support. 

    Pros and Cons

    Pros

    Cons

    • Offers comprehensive automation
    • Provides access to a wide supplier network
    • Works with POD
    • Scales with business size

    • Doesn’t have a free plan
    • Has a steep learning curve
    • Relies on supplier’s stability

    #4 Zendrop ‑ Dropshipping & POD

    Coming in at number 4, Zendrop ‑ Dropshipping & POD. Zendrop is packed to the brim with automation.  It provides the perfect blend of powerful features and user-friendly tools to help Shopify merchants succeed. 

    zendrop-shopify-app

    With Zendrop, you can effortlessly manage your dropshipping operations. The extensive network of reliable suppliers ensures you have access to high-quality products, robust inventory management, and rapid shipping times to keep your customers happy.  

    Round-the-clock customer support, advanced analytics, and performance insights equip you with the knowledge and assistance needed to make data-driven decisions and scale your business effectively.

    Key Features

    • High-Quality Product Sourcing: Access millions of products from reliable suppliers vetted for quality and consistency. Offers a wide range of products suitable for dropshipping and POD businesses.
    • Fast Shipping Options: Emphasise faster shipping times, particularly to US customers, to improve customer satisfaction. Warehousing options in the US and globally to expedite delivery times.
    • Automated Order Fulfillment: Automatically processes orders and sends them to suppliers for fulfillment. Syncs tracking information with your store to keep customers informed.
    • Custom Branding: White-label packaging options to reinforce your brand identity. Custom packaging inserts and branding options are available for enhanced customer experience.
    • Print on Demand (POD) Services: Custom product creation with seamless integration to design unique items. Works with various POD suppliers, enabling a wide array of personalized products.

    Pricing

    Zendrop currently offers 3 plans for Shopify merchants: 

    • Free Plan: Basic access to the platform with limited features. Ideal for beginners looking to get started with dropshipping and POD.
    • Pro Plan: ($49/month) Enhanced features including bulk ordering, automated order fulfillment, and custom branding options. Advanced analytics and tracking capabilities.
    • Plus Plan: ($79/month) All Pro features plus premium support, faster fulfillment, and additional customization options. Priority support and dedicated account management.

    Pros and Cons

    Pros

    Cons

    • Has vetted suppliers that ensure high-quality products and reliable service
    • Offers warehouses in the US and other key locations reduce shipping times
    • Provides options for white-label and branded packaging
    • Requires additional costs for custom branding and faster shipping options
    • Offers limited features in free plans, which may not suffice for growing businesses

     

    #5 Dropshipman: Easy Dropshipping

    Dropshipman: Easy Dropshipping will be your partner in building and scaling a successful eCommerce business on Shopify. Designed to simplify and optimize any drop shipping operations, Dropshipman offers a user-friendly platform that caters to both newbies and seasoned entrepreneurs.

    dropshipman-shopify

    Dropshipman connects you with a vast network of trusted suppliers. Get access to high-quality products and competitive pricing. Its robust automation tools and real-time inventory management help you maintain smooth operations, while advanced features like dynamic pricing and bulk order processing give you the competitive edge needed to thrive in the fast-paced world of e-commerce.

    Key Features

    • Automated Order Fulfillment: Reduce manual workload with seamless, automated order processing. 
    • Extensive Supplier Network: Gain access to a broad network of reliable suppliers offering a wide variety of products. Dropshipman ensures each supplier provides high-quality merchandise, giving you confidence in the products you sell.
    • Real-Time Inventory Management: Keep your inventory levels accurate and up-to-date. Dropshipman syncs with your suppliers in real time, reducing the risk of overselling and maintaining customer trust.
    • Bulk Order Processing: Manage high volumes of orders with ease through bulk processing features. This capability allows you to handle multiple orders efficiently, saving time and reducing errors.
    • Customizable Pricing Rules: Implement dynamic pricing strategies tailored to your business model. Dropshipman’s flexible pricing rules enable you to optimize profit margins based on market conditions and competitor pricing.

    Pricing

    Dropshipman currently offers 4 plans for Shopify merchants: 

    • Free Plan: Basic access to the platform with limited features. 
    • Basic Plan: $9.9/month. Unlocks access to 200 product orders and 6 requests daily. 
    • Pro Plan: $29.9/month. Unlimited imports with custom branding.
    • Plus Plan: $49.9/month. All Pro features plus exclusive coupons. Order tracking and automated product pricing.

    Pros and Cons

    Pros

    Cons

    • Appeals to merchants of all backgrounds
    • Features robust automation functionalities
    • Supports large order fulfillment and customized branding
    • Focuses primarily on certain regions which may limit global product variety
    • Varies depending on supplier performance, which can impact delivery times and product quality
    Not ready to commit but still want to kick the tires?
    No problem! Get started with GemPages' free plan. Explore wonderful features that can do wonders for your store.

    Wrapping Up!

    That concludes our picks for the best 5 Oberlo Shopify alternatives. Each platform offers unique strengths and features designed to simplify and enhance your dropshipping business. 

    By leveraging the strengths of these Oberlo alternatives, you can streamline your operations, improve customer satisfaction, and ultimately drive higher profits. Explore each platform, take advantage of free trials, and choose the one that best aligns with your business goals.

    Here's to your continued success in the dynamic world of eCommerce!

     

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