The Top 14 Dropshipping Suppliers [Updated For 2024]

Finding reliable dropship companies is one of the most important aspects of running a successful online store. This article will teach you where to find the best dropshipping suppliers to work with.

First off, there are 4 main ways to find a dropshipping supplier depending on your budget, time constraints and the types of products you want to sell.

Dropshipping Supplier Directory – A dropship directory is a database of dropshipping suppliers organized by category. The directory owner typically screens out potential dropship suppliers to ensure quality and charges a fee for access.
Dropshipping Marketplaces – A dropship marketplace is an ecommerce site that connects sellers with buyers. Sellers can find interesting wholesale products to sell and have them sent direct to the consumer.
Dropshipping And Wholesale Tradeshows – By attending local wholesale and dropshipping tradeshows, you can form a direct relationship with wholesale suppliers by meeting them face to face.
Print On Demand Companies – Print on demand companies allow you to print your own designs on select merchandise to sell online without any upfront cost.

There is no right or wrong way to find a dropship supplier but each method has its own pros and cons which will be discussed in depth.

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Table of Contents

What Is Dropshipping?

Dropshipping is an ecommerce business model where you take orders on your own website and your supplier handles shipping and fulfillment.

As a result, you do not have to worry about physical inventory and you only pay your supplier after you’ve collected money from your customer.

Out of the different ecommerce business models, dropshipping is the least expensive way to start selling online and you can instantly have access to thousands of products to sell in your shop.

What Are The Best Dropshipping Suppliers For eCommerce Stores?

Here’s a curated list of the top 13 vetted dropshipping platforms, suppliers, directories, and services to make it easier to choose the right dropshipping company for your specific needs.

Worldwide Brands
SaleHoo
Doba
Wholesale2B
Spocket
SupplyMeDirect
DSers
Auto DS
CJDropshipping
AliDropship
Modalyst
Printful
Custom Cat
Printify

How To Find Dropshipping Suppliers

There are 4 main ways to find a dropshipping supplier:

Dropshipping Supplier Directory – A dropship directory is a database of dropshipping suppliers organized by category. The directory owner typically screens out potential dropship suppliers to ensure quality and charges a fee for access.
Dropshipping Marketplaces – A dropship marketplace is an ecommerceeCommerce site that connects sellers with buyers. Sellers can find interesting wholesale products to sell and have them sent directdirectly to the consumer.
Dropshipping And Wholesale Tradeshows – By attending local wholesale and dropshipping tradeshows, you can form a direct relationship with wholesale suppliers by meeting them face to face.
Print On Demand Companies – Print on -on-demand companies allow you to print your own designs on select merchandise to sell online without any upfront cost.

Choosing the right supplier depends on your budget, time constraints, and the types of products you want to sell.

There is no right or wrong way to find a dropship supplier, but each method has its own pros and cons, which will be discussed in depth.

Method #1: Use A Dropshipping Directory

A dropshipping supplier directory is a database of pre-vetted wholesale suppliers who offer dropshipping for their products.

A directory can save you time and energy by giving you instant access to pre-vetted dropshipping suppliers who are willing to fulfill orders on your behalf.

Most supplier directories charge a small fee ranging from $30-$300.

The primary disadvantage of using a wholesale supplier directory is that many of your competitors will likely be searching the same database and using your exact same suppliers.

It’s also important to note that a dropshipping directory is just a listing of companies. You are still responsible for creating your own dropshipping business relationships and negotiating your own pricing and payment terms.

Worldwide Brands

Worldwide Brands is a pre-vetted directory of dropshipping wholesalers that collectively offer over 16 million certified wholesale products for sale including apparel, consumer electronics, pet supplies, beauty products, home goods and more. They also offer training classes that teach you how to run your own dropshipping business.

While you’ll find suppliers from all over the world, most of the dropshipping vendors in the Worldwide Brands directory are based in the US. As a result, almost every dropshipping wholesaler offers fast shipping.

You can leverage the dropshipping suppliers you find on Worldwide Brands to sell to US customers even if you live outside the US.

Worldwide Brands charges a single lifetime membership fee of $299.

Click Here To Receive $30 Off A Lifetime Membership

SaleHoo

SaleHoo is a dropshipping directory that is based in New Zealand. Unlike Worldwide Brands, SaleHoo provides a directory of international dropshipping suppliers outside of the United States.

In other words, you can find dropship and wholesale suppliers all over the world.

Currently, there are over 8000 trusted dropshipping suppliers in SaleHoo’s database that span over 2.5 million products and brands in various niches such as consumer electronics, personal care, clothing, pet supplies and more.

SaleHoo also offers an AliExpress dropshipping integration which will be discussed in the next section.

Access to SaleHoo’s database costs $67 per year.

Click Here To Try SaleHoo

Doba

Doba is a hybrid dropshipping company that acts as both a directory and a marketplace.

As a directory, Doba can connect you with thousands of dropshipping suppliers to source products for your online store.

Doba also provides a complete dropshipping solution by managing all of your ordering and fulfillment operations as well.

Here’s how Doba works.

You search Doba’s catalog for products that fit your criteria.
You add these products to your ecommerce store.
Once a customer places an order, you make a purchase through Doba.
Doba passes your order to the dropship supplier who then fulfills the order.

The main advantage of Doba is that they act as a bridge to legitimate wholesale suppliers and handle everything for you.

The downside is that Doba hides your supplier information from you so you can’t contact suppliers directly.

As a result, it’s difficult to form a relationship with quality suppliers and you must rely on the Doba platform to fulfill all of your orders.

Doba can interface with all of the popular ecommerce platforms including Shopify BigCommerce and WooCommerce.

Doba charges a monthly fee ranging from $24.99/month to $299/month depending on the plan.

Click Here To Try Doba For Free

Wholesale2B

Wholesale2B uses the exact same online business model as Doba in that they handle your dropshipping needs from end to end.

There is no need to “sign up” with any individual supplier. Wholesale2B handles all orders, returns and correspondence from the supplier for you. Order fulfillment is essentially a black box.

All you have to do is sign up, connect your ecommerce platform and import products from Wholesale2B to your shop at the click of a button.

When an order comes in, Wholesale2B charges your credit card and delivers the product to the end customer. There is full order tracking and syncing with your shop and you can instantly get access to over a million dropship products.

Access to Wholesale2B costs $29.99/month to connect an existing online store, $39.99/month to connect to a marketplace like Amazon or Ebay and $49.99/month to have your store hosted on their platform.

Click Here To Try Wholesale2B

Spocket

If you don’t want to dropship any products from China, Spocket allows you to find US and EU dropshipping suppliers.

Using the Spocket app, you can instantly add Spocket’s products to your online store at the push of a button. Spocket also offers print on demand options similar to Printful.

Spocket’s main advantage lies with their product quality, fast shipping and real time order tracking. In fact, Spocket handles your inventory by electronically linking your shop to their inventory management platform.

As a result, you’ll never accidentally sell products that are out of stock.

Spocket’s main disadvantage is that they only offer a limited variety of products compared to other supplier directories on this list. However, their quality control and product quality is better than average.

Click Here To Try Spocket

SupplyMeDirect

SupplyMeDirect is another dropshipping service that offers end to end fulfillment and their online business model is nearly identical to Doba and Wholesale2B.

The main difference is that SupplyMeDirect is a smaller shop that only offers 15,000+ products to sell. However, you’ll find products in many categories such as consumer electronics, jewelry, home & appliances, beauty products and more.

SupplyMeDirect can instantly connect to ecommerce platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce store in addition to Ebay and Amazon for $49.99/month.

Method #2: Dropship From An Ecommerce Marketplace

Ecommerce marketplaces are large ecommerce sites that connect sellers to buyers en masse. For example, Amazon is one of the largest ecommerce marketplaces in the world.

If you sell products on your own store at a higher price than Amazon, you can literally collect the money upfront, place an order on Amazon and have it shipped directly to your customer.

This is one of the many different forms of Amazon dropshipping and you can dropship on Ebay as well!

Right now, Aliexpress dropshipping and dropshipping from China is popular because the prices in China are significantly cheaper than the US.

The main advantage of dropshipping from a marketplace is that you instantly have access to millions of products WITHOUT having to build relationships or negotiate pricing.

You can use an app or a plugin to interface your store to the ecommerce marketplace and start dropshipping at the push of a button.

The following apps and services all cater to dropshipping from AliExpress, 1688 and Taobao.

AliExpress is known as the “Ebay” of the east and like Ebay, Aliexpress offers a huge variety of products that span practically every category.

Because AliExpress is based in China, the cost of labor is low which causes products on AliExpress to be significantly cheaper.

Meanwhile, 1688 is a clone of AliExpress in Chinese and Taobao is China’s version of Ebay that mainly serves Chinese customers.

The main disadvantage of dropshipping from a Chinese marketplace is that shipping can take a long time and quality control can be a major problem.

For example, dropshipping from AliExpress can take up to 50 days for delivery. Meanwhile, the prices on ecommerce marketplaces fluctuate constantly and product quality can be hit or miss.

DSers

DSers is a dropshipping app for your Shopify, WooCommerce or Wix store. Specifically, DSers is a dropshipping platform that allows you to easily find and list products from AliExpress.

DSers offers over 50,000 products across 60+ niche categories and pre-vets the products on its wholesale and dropshipping platform.

It’s free to sign up and they offer paid plans starting at $19.99.

AutoDS

AutoDS is an all in one dropshipping solution that allows you to quickly find top dropshipping products to sell in your online store.

AutoDS offers over 500 million products for sale with over 1 million users making it one of the larger dropshipping platforms available.

In addition, AutoDS is compatible with practically every ecommerce platform including Shopify, eBay, Facebook, Amazon, Etsy, Wix and WooCommerce.

The cheapest AutoDS plan costs $9.90 and allows you to import up to 200 products on 1 storefront. Higher level plans allow you to eliminate the product limit with VIP customer support.

CJDropshipping

CJDropshipping follows a similar business model to Oberlo except CJDropshipping offers US based warehouses to drastically speed up shipping times.

CJDropshipping also sources from 1688 and Taobao. And because 1688 and Taobao normally cater only to Chinese citizens, their prices tend to be lower albeit at the expense of quality.

If you don’t see anything that you like on CJDropshipping, you can make a request to add any product to the app.

The CJDropshipping app also ensures that your products are published on your own online store accurately by syncing your product descriptions with AliExpress.

CJDropshipping is free to use but they charge a dropshipping service fee on a per item basis.

AliDropship

AliDropship is very similar to Oberlo and CJDropshipping in that they allow you to quickly and easily list products from AliExpress on your online store.

However, AliDropship also allows you to create a turnkey online store that is hosted on their servers where they perform all of the setup.

AliDropship literally gives you a “done for you store” in the niche of your choice.

AliDropship also offers a WordPress plugin if you want to list AliExpress products on your WooCommerce store

Modalyst

Modalyst is one of Oberlo’s main competitors and they have similar business models.

Modalyst connects your ecommerce store to millions of products from AliExpress. But Modalyst also helps you find designer brands in the US and UK as well.

For example, if you are looking for eco friendly products or products made in the USA, Modalyst is one of your best dropshipping options.

In addition, Modalyst allows you to interact directly with your supplier so you can establish a business relationship without Modalyst as the middleman.

Overall, Modalyst is an excellent choice if you want to find suppliers from the US, UK and Europe. Every supplier has been carefully vetted and you can often find unique products especially in the apparel and clothing category.

Method #3: Use A Print On Demand Dropshipping Supplier

Print on demand is a form of dropshipping that allows you to print custom designs on a variety of products to sell online.

By using a print on demand company, you can place your own artwork and unique slogans on products such as t-shirts, mugs, bags and more.

There are little or no upfront costs to get started and you can print in single unit quantities based on individual customer orders.

Here are my favorite print on demand companies that offer dropshipping.

Editor’s Note: If you are deciding between Printful vs Printify, here’s my review.

Printful

Printful is one of the best print on demand dropshipping companies in the world and they support almost every ecommerce platform you can think of including Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce and Shift4Shop.

Printful offers a huge variety of products to print on and they provide excellent print quality as well. You can even place your own logo on the product itself as well as offer branded inserts and labels.

Printful’s only disadvantage is that they are slightly more expensive than other print on demand companies.

Click Here To Try Printful For Free

Custom Cat

CustomCat offers a wide range of products like shirts, jackets, hats, and bags and a variety of printing methods including DTG, dye sublimation, screen printing and even embroidery.

Overall, CustomCat has a smaller product range than many of their competitors. But where they lack in variety, they make up for with lower prices.

For example, a 9 dollar printed shirt on Printful costs only 7 dollars on CustomCat.

There are no minimum orders and they print all of their own merchandise with fast fulfillment.

Click Here To Try Custom Cat For Free

Printify

Printify does not do their own printing. Instead, Printify is a print on demand directory that gives you access to a vast network of print providers in over 90 locations in the UK, USA, Australia, Germany, and China.

Printify unifies all of their print providers by providing an intuitive mockup generator to quickly and easily publish your custom designs that are compatible with every provider in Printify’s database.

There are over 250 unique products to choose from and over 90 international locations across Europe, North America and China.

Click Here To Try Printify For Free

Method #4: Attend Dropshipping And Wholesale Tradeshows

Attending wholesale tradeshows is an effective way to find the best dropshipping suppliers for your niche.

Face-to-face meetings enable you to establish relationships and form dropship arrangements quickly. These events allow you to meet multiple wholesalers in a short time.

To find local tradeshows, consult the Wholesale Central calendar. Entry to tradeshows is usually free, though a seller’s permit or business license may be required.

Wholesale Central is also a valuable resource for finding reliable dropshipping suppliers in the USA, and it’s free to use.

What To Look For In A Dropshipping Supplier

Because finding a reliable supplier is crucial to running a successful dropship store, here’s a list of criteria to look for when evaluating your supplier.

Supplier Reviews – Make sure you check online review sites like the Better Business Bureau to view any outstanding complaints or negative reviews against the supplier.
Customer Reviews – Does the supplier sell high quality products? Make sure you check the consumer reviews for the products you want to sell.
Return Policy – Always ask your supplier how they handle returns, defective merchandise and shipping. How quickly are shipments made once an order is placed?
Dropshipping Fees – Dropshippers will often charge a per order dropship fee to pack and ship individual orders. Make sure you understand all of the extra fees involved and how they will impact your bottom line.
Product Quality – Before you sell any product, you should buy it yourself to see the quality and observe the fulfillment speed firsthand. Be your own customer and make sure the shopping experience is exceptional.
Inventory Automation – Managing inventory and stock outs is an important factor when running a profitable dropshipping store. Higher tier dropshipping suppliers support EDI which allows for real time inventory tracking.

With this criteria in mind, here’s how to approach the best dropshipping suppliers online.

How To Approach A Dropshipping Supplier

Before you approach a wholesale supplier, you need to be prepared. Because there’s significant overhead for the supplier to dropship individual products for your shop, you need to prove to them that you are a serious player. Here’s how.

Have A Website Up And Running

Before contacting suppliers, set up a visually appealing and trustworthy website showcasing related products.

It doesn’t have to be fully functional, but it should demonstrate your professionalism. Use online product images and disable checkout to avoid accidental orders.

Creating an attractive website is essential for building a strong partnership with your wholesale distributor. Top dropshipping suppliers prefer working with knowledgeable store owners and may be hesitant to accept new clients without proof of their capabilities.

Make Sure Your Business Is Legal

Most dropship wholesalers will not work with you unless you have a legal business. Some suppliers will only work with incorporated businesses!

Make sure you get a FEIN and legalize your business before you reach out to a supplier. In addition, you should obtain a sellers permit and a business license as well.

Pick Up The Phone

Building strong business relationships is crucial, and while face-to-face meetings are ideal, phone calls or Zoom sessions are effective alternatives.

Voice conversations help facilitate better communication and support from dropshipping companies. The best dropshipping suppliers have dedicated reps to support their clients.

Working with your supplier is always a 2 way street so be prepared with the following questions.

How quickly are orders shipped?
Is there a dropship fee?
What are the shipping and fulfillment fees?
How are returns handled?
Do you offer EDI or electronic inventory management?
Is tracking and shipping information automatically sent to customers?
Can you customize the packaging with your logo?
How are items packed and shipped?

These questions help ensure clear expectations and a successful partnership with your dropshipping supplier.

Which Dropshipping Supplier Should You Choose?

Finding the best dropshipping suppliers can be challenging, as the top ones are often not listed on directories or marketplaces.

Competing with numerous sellers offering the exact same products makes it crucial to find unique suppliers.

To stand out, search for a product’s distributor directly and establish a relationship with wholesale suppliers.

They may not initially offer dropshipping services, but by purchasing and proving sales success, you can persuade them to dropship for your store.

Investing time in finding and building strong relationships with suppliers makes it harder for competitors to replicate your business.

While dropshipping directories save time, the most reliable suppliers are those you’ve established solid connections with.

How To Spot A Fake Dropshipping Supplier

Spotting a fake dropshipping supplier can be crucial for the success of your business. Here are some red flags and tips to help you identify a potentially fake or unreliable supplier:

Lack of contact information: Legitimate suppliers usually have easily accessible contact information on their websites, such as phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses. Be wary of suppliers with incomplete or non-existent contact information.
No business registration or license: Reputable suppliers should have appropriate business registrations and licenses. Do some research to verify their registration and legal status in their country or region.
Low-quality website: An unprofessional website with poor design, broken links, or frequent downtime may indicate a lack of legitimacy.
Unreasonable pricing: If the supplier offers prices that seem too good to be true, this could be a red flag. Genuine suppliers have to maintain profit margins and cannot provide products at unrealistically low prices.
Unbranded or generic products: Fake suppliers may offer products without any branding or with generic branding, which can indicate low-quality or counterfeit items.
No references or reviews: Legitimate suppliers often have a history of working with other businesses and may have reviews or testimonials. Be cautious if you can’t find any references or if they refuse to provide them.
Requesting payment through unsecured methods: If a supplier insists on payment methods that lack protection, like direct bank transfers or Western Union, this could be a warning sign.
Inconsistent product quality or availability: Suppliers with fluctuating stock levels or frequently changing product quality may not be reliable.
Poor communication: If a supplier takes a long time to respond to inquiries, provides vague or evasive answers, or does not communicate professionally, consider this a red flag.
No return or refund policy: Genuine suppliers typically have clear return and refund policies to protect both themselves and their clients. Be cautious if a supplier does not offer such policies or if their policies are ambiguous.

To avoid fake suppliers, consider using verified supplier directories, such as SaleHoo, Worldwide Brands, Spocket or Alibaba’s Gold Supplier program, which vet and verify the legitimacy of suppliers before listing them.

Additionally, always do thorough research and due diligence before partnering with a supplier.

Do Free Dropshipping Services Exist?

Yes, free dropshipping services exist, but they may have limitations or drawbacks, such as a limited product selection, lower profit margins, or less reliable suppliers.

It’s important to research and compare different services before committing to one.

Do Dropshipping Companies Accept Credit Card Payments?

Most dropshipping companies accept credit card payments, as well as other payment methods like PayPal or bank transfers.

Each supplier may have their own preferred payment methods, so it’s essential to verify this before working with them.

How Do Dropship Suppliers Handle Returns?

The approach of dropship suppliers in handling returns depends on their specific policies. Generally, suppliers handle returns by providing the retailer with instructions on how to process the return, which may involve either a refund or replacement.

It’s essential to understand a supplier’s return policy and communicate it clearly to your customers.

How Does the Dropshipping Supply Chain Work?

The dropshipping supply chain functions by allowing a retailer to sell products without physically holding inventory.

When a customer places an order, the retailer forwards the order details to the supplier, who then ships the product directly to the customer. This eliminates the need for the retailer to manage warehousing and shipping logistics.

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