Oberlo vs AliDropship?
If you’re interested in starting a dropshipping store, you have likely encountered both names quite a bit.
But which one of these best fits your needs?
In this article, I’ll explain how both platforms work and what the pros and cons of Oberlo and AliDropship are so you can make the right decision for your online business.
What is Oberlo?
Oberlo is a product import and fulfillment app that is owned by Shopify.
The app, which is completely free to use, lets you import products directly from AliExpress to Shopify at the click of a button.
You can also easily fulfill your orders on AliExpress through the Oberlo platform.
If you’re looking for a quick, technical-free way of starting an AliExpress dropshipping store — the Shopify + Oberlo combo is your absolute safest bet.
Not only is it the easiest way to get started, it’s free and Oberlo comes with a massive library of information on dropshipping.
They have a blog, youtube channel and email-list that is constantly updating you on the latest and newest in the dropshipping world.
Did I mention it’s free to use? Yes they do have paid plans but that’s for when you reach over 50 orders a month, at which point, the paid ‘Boss’ plan of $29.90 a month becomes a very affordable investment.
There is also a paid ‘Grad’ plan at $7.90 per month for those want access to unlimited dropshipping courses offered by Oberlo. You know, in case the massive library of youtube videos and blog posts aren’t enough.
With the boss plan, you also gain access to a variety of features such as:
- Bulk order fulfillment (necessary once you hit 10+ orders a day)
- Real-time order tracking
- Multiple staff accounts (necessary once you start hiring Virtual Assistants)
- Product limit of 30,000 (you know, in case you’re trying to become the next Amazon or something)
Pros and Cons of Oberlo
Pros
- Free to use at the beginner level
- So easy a toddler could use it
- 24/7 support
- Huge library full of information on (AliExpress) dropshipping
- Access to courses, ebooks and guides
- Affordable premium plan with premium features such as bulk order fulfillment
- Real-time product tracking
Cons
- Only available with Shopify
What is AliDropship?
AliDropship is a premium WordPress plugin that is made for AliExpress dropshipping.
It functions almost identical to Oberlo, in that it comes with one-click AliExpress product imports and allows you to fulfill orders in AliExpress at the click of a button.
Where it differs however, is the cost, and the platform.
First of all, AliDropship is not a Shopify app.
If you were looking for a Shopify app, Oberlo is what you’re looking for.
AliDropship is a plugin that integrates with WordPress and WooCommerce.
WordPress is a website-builder that has more features but is also a lot more technical than Shopify.
I don’t recommend WordPress or AliDropship for those with zero technical experience who want an easy and snappy store to sell products on.
AliDropship is a one-time-payment plugin. You’ll pay $89 and that’s it.
No monthly fees or anything like that.
Interestingly enough, they also offer done-for-you stores starting at just $299.
However, that’s the last thing I recommend as you will have a hard time operating a WordPress storefront if you don’t know how to make a store yourself using WordPress and WooCommerce.
AliDropship comes with quite a few features on top of just product import and fulfillment.
They also have built-in marketing. You can built an email list, provide abandoned cart marketing, and even product reviews are included.
However, all of these function are already included within Shopify.
While they have a large number of features inside their dashboard, surprisingly, AliDropship does not offer bulk order fulfillment.
Pros and Cons of AliDropship
Pros
- Large amount of features, feels like a complete app
- Built-in marketing such as email marketing and product review features
- Easy one-click AliExpress import and fulfillment
Cons
- No bulk order fulfillment
- Large upfront payment of $89
- You are tied to WordPress, which is not very user-friendly
Oberlo vs AliDropship
Let’s compare Oberlo and AliDropship in a table.
| Features | Oberlo | AliDropship |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free $29.90 per month once you reach 50 orders or if you want premium features | One time fee of $89 |
| Store Platform | Shopify | WordPress |
| AliExpress Product Import | One-click | One-click |
| Tracking Features | Yes, on paid plan | Yes |
| Bulk Order Fulfillment | Yes, on paid plan | No |
| Inventory | Capped at 500 (free) and 30000 (paid) | Unlimited |
| Marketing | Email marketing included in Shopify | Email marketing included in AliDropship |
| Courses | 2 free courses and unlimited courses included in paid plan Dedicated blog and youtube channel | Informative dropshipping articles can be found on their blog |
| Support | Instant, 24/7 support with both Shopify and Oberlo | Support takes up to 24h to reply |
When To Pick Shopify + Oberlo For AliExpress Dropshipping
Shopify + Oberlo is the classic AliExpress dropshipping combination.
It’s what the majority of dropshippers use due to it’s user-friendly and snappy design.
You can start with Shopify completely for free through it’s 14 day free trial and installing Oberlo is completely free.
This creates a very easy, risk-free and investment-free way to get started with dropshipping.
I would 100% urge you to use Shopify + Oberlo if you are not tech-savvy and looking for an easy start.
Shopify is far more accessible than WordPress, opting for Shopify will save you many headaches and when you do run into issues 24/7 support is available to you.
There is also way more information to find online about Shopify dropshipping than there is about WooCommerce dropshipping.
When To Pick WooCommerce + AliDropship For AliExpress Dropshipping
Now when should you consider using WooCommerce + AliDropship over Shopify?
While this Oberlo vs AliDropship article may have looked a bit biased for Shopify + Oberlo, I do like WordPress a lot (this site is hosted on WordPress) and WooCommerce + AliDropship are a great for hosting your dropshipping store.
But only if you are tech-savvy, ready to get your hands dirty or know how to work with WordPress.
Seriously, it took me a while to understand all of the features that come with WordPress and I still run into issues now and then.
And I’m a web developer.
I prefer Shopify over WordPress because I can have a Shopify store up and running in minutes, something that would take me hours on WordPress.
However, you will save quite a bit of money in the long run by opting for AliDropship over Oberlo.
You’ll get the same features but at hosting prices of just $4-10 as compared to $29 on Shopify or $58 per month if you’re using Oberlo’s paid plan.
You’ll also have far more customization options to make your store look as good as possible, you’ll have access to a larger plugin library and WordPress SEO beats Shopify any day of the week.
My Thoughts on Oberlo vs AliDropship
I think I’ve made it pretty clear I prefer Shopify + Oberlo simply because it’s so accessible.
But that doesn’t mean I think AliDropshop is bad at all.
I just find it less accessible.
Both platforms are absolutely great at what they allow you to do: Easy AliExpress dropshipping.
And when comparing pure functionality, they are almost identical.
Oberlo only takes a slight edge with bulk ordering on its paid plan.
Final Sum Up
Both Oberlo and AliDropship are great apps.
While I find Oberlo more accessible due to it being based on the Shopify platform, you can do far more with a store that runs on WordPress + AliDropship due to the many customization options that come with WordPress.
If you’re looking for a stress-free way to get started — go for Oberlo.
If you’re looking for something more technical, customizable, and affordable in the long run — go for AliDropship.