Dropshipping is one of the fastest-growing ecommerce business models today. In fact, the global dropshipping market is expected to reach $557.9 billion by 2025, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.8% from 2020 to 2025.^1
The appeal of dropshipping is clear – it allows entrepreneurs to start an online store and sell products without purchasing inventory upfront or managing fulfillment themselves. When a customer places an order, the store owner simply contacts the supplier, who then ships the product directly to the customer. This low-risk, low-cost model makes it easier than ever to get into ecommerce.
However, while you can technically set up a dropshipping store on just about any ecommerce platform, choosing a platform with built-in features for dropshipping can save you a ton of time and help you run your business much more efficiently. The right platform will make it easy to find and import products from suppliers, sync inventory, manage orders, and more.
In this guide, we‘ll break down the key features to look for in an ecommerce platform for dropshipping. We‘ll also provide in-depth profiles of our top 6 platforms and offer some expert tips for choosing the best one for your needs.
Key Features to Look for in a Dropshipping Platform
Whether you‘re launching a dropshipping business from scratch or looking to upgrade your existing store to a more robust platform, here are the most important features to consider:
1. Seamless integration with dropshipping suppliers
One of the biggest advantages of using a platform designed for dropshipping is the ability to easily connect with suppliers. Rather than manually adding products to your store one by one, you can browse products from popular suppliers and import them with just a few clicks.
Look for a platform that integrates with the suppliers you want to use, whether that‘s a large marketplace like AliExpress or more niche suppliers. Also consider what importing options are available – can you import products individually or in bulk? Can you easily edit product descriptions and images? The more seamless the integration, the faster you‘ll be able to add products and start selling.
2. Automatic inventory syncing
Another huge time-saver is the ability to automatically sync inventory levels from your suppliers to your store. This way, you never have to worry about selling a product that‘s out of stock.
The best dropshipping platforms sync inventory levels in real-time. As soon as a supplier updates their stock, it will be reflected on your store. Some platforms also offer the ability to set inventory buffers so you can avoid selling out of a product too quickly.
3. Streamlined order processing
Processing orders is one of the most time-consuming parts of running a dropshipping business. You need to quickly send orders to your suppliers as they come in and keep customers updated on shipping status.
Look for a platform that automates as much of this process as possible with features like:
- Automatic order routing to the correct supplier
- Ability to split orders across multiple suppliers
- Real-time order tracking
- Automatic shipping notifications to customers
- Customizable order confirmation and shipping emails
4. Flexible store design options
Even if you‘re selling products from suppliers, you still want your store to look professional and unique. Your store‘s design should reflect your brand and create a seamless experience for shoppers.
Most ecommerce platforms offer a range of free and paid themes you can use to customize your store‘s look and feel. Consider how much flexibility you need in terms of layout options, color schemes, font choices, etc. Also think about what features you may want to add to your store down the line, like customer reviews or product videos. Choose a platform that makes it easy to customize your design without requiring a ton of technical skill.
5. Powerful marketing tools
Attracting customers to your store is key to succeeding with dropshipping. While you‘ll likely use a variety of marketing channels, it‘s helpful to have some built-in marketing features on your ecommerce platform.
Some of the most valuable marketing tools for dropshippers include:
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SEO features: The ability to optimize your product pages and store content for search engines is essential for getting free organic traffic. Look for a platform with built-in tools for adding keywords, optimizing URLs, creating sitemaps, etc.
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Abandoned cart recovery: On average, nearly 70% of online shopping carts are abandoned before purchase.^2 The ability to automatically send follow-up emails to shoppers who leave your store without completing their purchase can help you recover a significant portion of lost sales.
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Discounts and promotions: Offering discounts is a great way to drive sales and encourage repeat business. Look for a platform that makes it easy to create discount codes, run sales, and offer promotions like free shipping.
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Email marketing: Building an email list of customers and prospects is one of the most effective ways to generate consistent sales. Choose a platform that either has built-in email marketing tools or integrates with popular email marketing services like Mailchimp or Constant Contact.
6. Scalability
When choosing a dropshipping platform, it‘s important to think about the future. You may be starting small, but if you plan to grow your business over time, you need a platform that can scale with you.
Consider factors like:
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Product limits: Some platforms limit the number of products you can list. If you plan to add a large number of products over time, make sure the platform can accommodate your needs.
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Sales volume: As your business grows, you‘ll be processing more orders. Make sure the platform can handle increasing sales volume without slowing down or crashing.
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Features and integrations: Think about what features and tools you may need as your business expands, like the ability to sell on additional channels or integrate with third-party logistics providers. Choose a platform that offers the flexibility to add these capabilities when you need them.
Top Dropshipping Platforms for 2023
Now that we‘ve covered the key features to look for, let‘s dive into our top picks for the best dropshipping platforms this year. We‘ve selected these platforms based on their features, ease of use, performance, and overall value for dropshippers.
1. Shopify
Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms in the world, and for good reason. It offers a perfect balance of ease of use and advanced features, making it a top choice for dropshippers of all skill levels.
Key benefits for dropshipping:
- Extensive app marketplace with 100+ dropshipping apps, including Oberlo, DSers, Spocket, and more. You can easily find suppliers and import products from around the world.
- Seamless inventory syncing and order fulfillment, with the ability to route orders to different suppliers and automatically send tracking info to customers.
- Intuitive interface that‘s easy to navigate, even if you have no web design or coding experience. You can set up a professional-looking store in minutes.
- Highly customizable with 70+ professional themes and the ability to edit HTML/CSS for more advanced customization.
- Powerful built-in marketing tools like abandoned cart recovery, discount codes, SEO optimization, and email marketing.
- Ability to sell on multiple channels like Amazon, Facebook, and more, and manage everything from a single dashboard.
Potential drawbacks:
- Higher pricing than some platforms, with plans starting at $29/month. However, the extensive features and quality of support can justify the cost.
- Transaction fees for some payment gateways (unless you use Shopify Payments). This can add up if you‘re processing a high volume of sales.
Pricing:
- Basic Shopify: $29/month
- Shopify: $79/month
- Advanced Shopify: $299/month
Who it‘s best for:
Shopify is an excellent choice for most dropshippers, from beginners to advanced sellers. Its ease of use and robust features make it a reliable platform for businesses of just about any size or niche. However, it‘s especially well-suited for dropshippers who want to scale quickly and sell on multiple channels while managing everything from one dashboard.
2. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a popular open-source ecommerce platform built on WordPress. It powers nearly 30% of all online stores^3 and offers unparalleled flexibility for customizing your dropshipping store.
Key benefits for dropshipping:
- Highly customizable and flexible, with the ability to add unlimited products, customize your store design, and add features via 50,000+ WordPress plugins.
- No added cost, since the core WooCommerce plugin is free and you only need to pay for web hosting, a domain name, and any premium extensions.
- Extensive dropshipping integrations available via plugins for AliExpress, eBay, Amazon, and hundreds of other suppliers worldwide.
- Built-in blogging features make content marketing easy. You can create blog posts optimized for SEO to drive more organic traffic to your store.
- Unrestricted ownership of your store and data, since it‘s a self-hosted, open-source platform. You have complete control and flexibility.
Potential drawbacks:
- Steeper learning curve, especially for beginners. You need to be comfortable installing WordPress, managing plugins, and handling some degree of technical setup.
- Not as robust customer support as fully-hosted platforms. You‘ll need to rely more on self-serve documentation, forums, and third-party developers for help.
- Costs can add up over time if you need to purchase many premium plugins and extensions. You also need to factor in ongoing costs for web hosting.
Pricing:
- WooCommerce core plugin: Free
- Domain name: $10-15/year
- Web hosting: $10-30/month
- SSL certificate: Free with hosting or $50-200/year
- Premium extensions: $25-100+ each
Who it‘s best for:
WooCommerce is best for dropshippers who want complete control and customization options for their store. It‘s also a great choice if you‘re already using WordPress and want to add ecommerce functionality to your site. WooCommerce can work for beginners but is better suited for those with at least some technical skills (or a bigger budget to hire a developer).
3. Magento (Adobe Commerce)
Magento is a robust open-source platform used by some of the largest ecommerce brands in the world. While it‘s a bit more complex than other platforms on this list, its extensive features and customization options make it a solid choice for enterprise-level dropshipping.
Key benefits for dropshipping:
- Extremely scalable and can handle large product catalogs and high sales volumes.
- Highly customizable with the ability to personalize just about every aspect of your store‘s design and functionality.
- Extensive third-party integrations available, including hundreds of dropshipping extensions for connecting with suppliers worldwide.
- Advanced SEO features and built-in marketing tools like related product recommendations, wish lists, and customer segmentation.
- Powerful security and performance features to protect your store and deliver fast load times.
Potential drawbacks:
- Steep learning curve that requires significant technical expertise to set up, customize, and maintain. The platform is not designed for beginners.
- Expensive to build and run, with higher hosting costs and the need to purchase extensions. Development costs can also add up if you don‘t have in-house technical skills.
- Smaller selection of themes and extensions compared to more widely-used platforms like WooCommerce and Shopify.
Pricing:
- Magento Open Source: Free to download but requires hosting ($20-100+/month) and extensions ($50-500+ each)
- Adobe Commerce: Custom pricing based on business size and needs (typically $15,000-250,000/year)
Who it‘s best for:
Magento is best for larger, enterprise-level dropshipping businesses with higher budgets and in-house technical teams. If you want a platform that can scale massively and handle a high volume of products and sales, Magento is worth considering. However, it‘s likely overkill for most dropshippers, especially those just starting out.
Comparison Summary
Here‘s a quick side-by-side look at how these three popular dropshipping platforms stack up in terms of key features and pricing:
| Platform | Shopify | WooCommerce | Magento |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Cloud-based | Self-hosted | Self-hosted |
| Setup Difficulty | Easy | Moderate | Advanced |
| Supplier Integration | Extensive | Extensive | Moderate |
| Inventory Syncing | Robust | Varies by extension | Varies by extension |
| Order Management | Robust | Good | Robust |
| Customization | Very good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Marketing Features | Robust | Good | Very Good |
| Scalability | Very Good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Monthly Pricing | $29-299 | $10-30+ | $20-100+ |
Of course, these are just a few of the many dropshipping platforms available. Some other great options to consider include BigCommerce, Wix, and Volusion, each with their own unique strengths and features for dropshippers.
Tips for Choosing the Right Dropshipping Platform
With so many ecommerce platforms to choose from, how do you decide which one is right for your dropshipping business? Here are a few expert tips to guide your decision:
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Assess your technical skills and resources. Be honest about your comfort level with setting up and managing an online store. If you‘re a beginner, lean toward platforms with a user-friendly interface and good customer support. If you have access to development help, a more advanced platform may work well.
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Make a list of must-have features. Every platform has its own unique set of features. List out the ones that matter most for your business, like specific supplier integrations, abandoned cart recovery, or multi-channel selling. Use this list to evaluate each platform and narrow down your options.
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Consider your budget. Be sure to look beyond just the monthly fee and factor in additional costs like hosting, extensions, transaction fees, and developer costs. Also consider the value you‘re getting for the price. Sometimes it‘s worth paying a bit more for better features and support.
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Think long-term. While your immediate needs are important, consider where you want your business to be in 1-2 years. Choose a platform that can accommodate your growth in terms of sales volume, product catalog size, and feature needs.
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Read reviews from other dropshippers. There‘s no better way to evaluate a platform than to learn from other entrepreneurs‘ experiences. Read reviews and case studies from dropshippers in your niche to see what‘s worked well for them. You can also ask for recommendations in dropshipping forums and Facebook groups.
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Take advantage of free trials. Most platforms offer a free trial period, so you can test drive the features and interface before committing. Sign up for trials of your top 2-3 choices and spend time actually using each platform to see how well it fits your needs.
Start Dropshipping Today
Whether you‘re a total beginner or already have some ecommerce experience under your belt, there‘s never been a better time to get into dropshipping. By choosing the right platform for your needs and taking advantage of powerful built-in features for managing suppliers and processing orders, you can build a profitable online store faster than you might think.
Use the tips and platform recommendations in this guide as a starting point for your research. But don‘t wait too long to make a decision – the most important thing is to take action and start building your dropshipping business today. With some hard work and strategic planning, you can turn your store into a thriving, sustainable venture.
