Some would argue that dropshipping is the way of the future. Nobody wants to set up a business where you have to worry about managing a warehouse and handling packing and shipping.
Fortunately, Amazon FBA takes care of the backend operations so you can run your business with little oversight. This business model works on so many levels, making dropshipping a viable option even for part-time entrepreneurs.
If you think this is the right business for you, read on.
Where do you start?
What do you need to get your dropshipping business running?
Well, you need to look for a dropshipping website that can fulfill orders. It’s very important to find a site that works with reliable and legitimate wholesalers.
You might also want to have sites with a built-in Amazon integration. This makes managing your inventory and product shipping that much easier.
You will also want to have product pricing information that’s readily available for research purposes.
Some dropshipping sites have membership fees while others don’t.
And these are just some of the variables you need to consider!
In other words, you will need to assess which features are worth the premium pricing some sites offer. You will also want to look at just how many products each site have in stock.
In this post, we’ll list down a few dropshipping websites for you to consider.
The top dropshipping websites
Every dropshipping website has its pros and cons. That said, you should do your due diligence and look into each one to see if what they offer puts you at an advantage over others. Here are some of the better-known dropshipping sites in the market today.
1. Doba
Doba has a list of suppliers in their database. Their marketplace lets you search for millions of products across different niches.
Once registered, you’ll easily find resources on how to work dropshipping works. This is an advantage, especially for those who are new to all of this. Navigating through the site is a pleasant experience with plenty of ways for you to filter through the millions of products they offer.
You can organize products and export them to the e-commerce platform of your choosing. You can export the data as an XML spreadsheet or as one of the third-party formats supported including Amazon.
Pros
- Large product database with over 2 million products and 200 suppliers
- Educational resources are readily available
- Exporting product inventory for Amazon is relatively easy
- Has a low inventory notification that prevents overselling
Cons
- Steep membership fees (Basic plan starts at $29/month)
- Advanced membership ($69/month) doesn’t add much value as it only unlocks export/report options and live chat support
- The number of SKUs you can add to your inventory is limited (depending on which plan you subscribe to)
- The pricing of the products themselves are not competitive enough for dropshipping
2. SaleHoo
Making its way out of New Zealand, SaleHoo ($67/year) connects you with wholesalers across multiple countries including the US, UK, China, and Australia.
Like Doba, SaleHoo is an online directory that lets you search for products you can add to your Amazon store. The site claims to have 2.5 million products and pre-vetted suppliers to rid its database of fraudulent third-party companies.
SaleHoo’s biggest praises come from users who are pleased by the company’s customer service. You’re given access to phone and email support right off the bat, unlike some sites.
There is no need to buy products in bulk as SaleHoo can accommodate single orders. Also, there’s a growing community of other users you can look to for advice and recommendations.
Pros
- 60-day money back guarantee
- Fantastic customer service
- Access to name-brand products
- Suppliers are screened to weed out bad product sources
Cons
- Product pricing is not as competitive as other dropshipping sites
- Limited niche products
3. Wholesale2B
What Wholesale2B lacks in support, it makes up for in its Amazon integration. The site does not require you to pay for a membership upfront. And while you won’t be able to do much with a free account, you can at least browse through the millions of products in their inventory to find items you want to sell.
The company allows you to approach wholesalers directly so you can come to an agreement on your own terms.
However, if you don’t want to deal with all that, you can let Wholesale2B deal with them directly, sparing you the hassle. But be warned: Wholesale2B charge 3% (plus $2.50 per order) for processing and transaction fees when they handle your orders.
One advantage when working with this site is the direct integration with Amazon. In fact, they have an entire plan dedicated to Amazon. Through this feature, you can search for products and push them in bulk to Amazon with one click.
Pros
- Can integrate with Amazon
- Browse products for free
- Offers different plans
Cons
- Notoriously bad customer service
- Limited product selection
- Complaints of small profit margins
4. Worldwide Brands
Worldwide Brands is a directory of suppliers you can lean to for a wide range of products and services. They validate their suppliers to ensure that you’re not getting scammed through their service.
What makes the company different is their one-time fee of $249. If you’re just testing the waters, the high price to entry may be a bit much. However, you could also look at it as a good long-term investment as you’ll be free of any recurring membership fee.
Some companies that are featured on Worldwide Brands are light bulk wholesalers. This means you can order products without putting up a lot of money. Purchasing small quantities at wholesale prices improves your profits margin.
The real question becomes this: What do I get for $249? They’ll say they have resources for beginners and forums that cover questions you may have about dropshipping. To be honest, all you’re paying for is access to their directory. Whether that’s worth the price is up to you.
Pros
- One-time fee for access to the directory
- Large product selection
- Product sourcing information that’s been certified by eBay
Cons
- One-time fee not ideal for first-time business owners
- Limited features
- Upselling exists within the site
5. Megagoods
If you’re thinking about selling electronics, Megagoods is a good place to start. The site focuses on selling bluetooth products, clocks, gaming accessories, and other goods related to tech.
The site has a 30-day free trial. After which, you’ll be charged $14/month. Compared to other sites featured in this post, Megagoods is an affordable alternative. However, they will charge you $1.50 for every order shipped.
There is also a 20% restocking fee for returned items.
Given that the site operates within a certain niche, don’t expect to find a vast amount of products to sell. There are a few outliers here and there such as tableware and cutlery. But for the most part, the site is all about electronics.
As for the site’s user interface, things could be better. Downloading product images, for example, can be a chore as they’re only available as ZIP files. There are also no integration tools for Amazon.
Pros
- Affordable at $14 a month
- Simple and easy to navigate
- 30-day free trial
Cons
- Charges additional fees on top of membership
- Focuses mostly on electronics
- Lacks features other dropshipping websites have
6. Wholesale Central
Wholesale Central is in desperate need of a site revamp. But don’t let its dated homepage fool you. The site continues to thrive in the dropshipping business. You can find plenty of suppliers for a variety of products.
The site is a platform for suppliers to advertise their goods. They pay Wholesale Central to be included in their directory. Which means you don’t pay for anything. The site is free to use. And you can’t beat the sweet price of zero dollars.
With Wholesale Central, what you see is what you get. The site is simple to use and laid out in a way that users can find what they’re looking for in a snap. And even if you don’t find suppliers for whatever it is you’re looking for, the site should at least help you with ideas on what to sell.
Pros
- It’s free to use
- List of top suppliers at the ready
- A wide range of products featured
Cons
- Site looks dated
- No site integration features
- Not all the suppliers offer dropshipping services
7. Dropship Direct
Dropship Direct may be the most modern website in this list. We’re not only referring to the site’s looks; the technology that powers the company is something else.
The site has 100,000 unique products and over 57,000 merchants in their database. They have what they call Exclusive Brands collection — products that can’t be bought anywhere else.
The site is free to use. You can browse the site and search for products without the trouble of signing up. They earn money through fees for using some of the services they offer. One such feature is their PushList, their own backend management system.
All orders can be done through Dropship Direct. Meaning you’ll never have to talk to the suppliers themselves. Just log in and place an order when needed. You can also place orders through email. If blind shipping is important to you, you’ll be pleased to know that Dropship Direct has that option.
Pros
- You can search products for free
- Has blind shipping option
- No need to contact suppliers directly
Cons
- No integration tools
- 15% restocking fee
8. Sunrise Wholesale
While the site only has around 15,000 products spanning different categories, there’s still lots to like about Sunrise Wholesale.
Like some of the dropshipping websites we’ve featured, Sunrise Wholesale lets you browse through their products at no charge to you. They are pretty transparent with their pricing. So if you need to do research, you can.
Their Amazon integration lets you fulfill orders in a couple of clicks. They also have tools that will show you product trends. Products, quantity, and prices are automatically updated on Amazon. That is also the case for tracking numbers and status updates.
Membership costs $29.95/month but you can save a lot by opting for their $99.00 annual membership. They have a 7-day free trial period if you want to check it out before committing (you have to provide your credit card info though).
Pros
- Simple and fast order processing
- Can be integrated with Amazon
- See product pricing for free
- No minimum order requirements
Cons
- 20% restocking fee for returned orders
- Limited product options
9. Inventory Source
Inventory Source introduces the one thing dropshippers are looking for: Automation. You can automate product uploads, sync your inventory, and route orders with suppliers. And all of this is done through their platform.
You can send your products to any online store including Amazon. The site works with over 180 wholesalers from different countries. They have the leading suppliers in different niches in their system.
However, we can’t avoid the one issue that holds people from using this service. The cost of membership will set you back at least $50/month. That’s steep, especially for first-time launching an Amazon product.
And if you want access to their inventory and order automation features, you need to upgrade to their $150/month Full Automation plan.
Pros
- Packs a wide range of services
- Automation features
- Great product selection
Cons
- High membership prices
- The site charges you a fee every time you source from a different supplier
Conclusion
It’s hard to recommend a dropshipping website because there are a lot of variables to consider.
If you’re just starting out and willing to contact suppliers yourself, Wholesale Central might be your best bet.
If your goal is to automate, Inventory Source might be the perfect partner to work with.
If Amazon integration is your number one priority, sites like Wholesale2B or Sunrise Wholesale are worth exploring.
Your choice ultimately depends on what you wish to achieve for your e-commerce business!
Remember the following final tips:
- Do your due diligence before committing, even more so for the sites with pricey membership fees. There are dropshipping websites with a free trial period. Maximize the time allotted for you and test out all their features to help you make an informed decision.
- Make sure the suppliers have been vetted. Refer to their average user rating, reviews, and the number of customers they’ve served thus far.
- Look for other resellers and listen to what they have to say. Keep in touch with like-minded entrepreneurs and find out what they think of the different dropshipping websites.
Great write up. I’ve personally used Doba, SaleHoo, and WorldWide Brands. Haven’t used AliExpress though due to the fact that it takes too long to ship out to USA. Don’t think that my customers would want to wait 14-28 days for their orders to arrive.