There are a lot of tools you absolutely need to run a dropshipping site. And there are even more tools you’ll want to make things easier and more streamlined. Here are our favorite tools that every dropshipper needs.
Creating a Website
There are infinite website builder tools out there, but if dropshipping is your game, then Shopify is the absolute go-to. Some people use WordPress and WooCommerce, but in general, Shopify is easier to set up, offers more integrations, and is cost-effective for what it offers.
Shopify Apps for Dropshippers
Since Shopify is our recommended platform, we’re going to run down the best Shopify apps for dropshipping stores.
Oberlo
If you’re dropshipping through AliExpress, you absolutely need the Oberlo app. It’s completely free and will make your life 100X easier.
Price: Free
Ali Reviews
Again, if you’re dropshipping from AliExpress, this tool is a must-have. You can import reviews directly from AliExpress, which give your products legitimacy and improve rankings.
Price: There’s a free plan, but you’ll likely want to upgrade to the $9 or $15 per month plan so you’re not throttled to 10 products.
Privy
Create simple, customized, and good-looking popups on your dropshipping store to collect email addresses and promote discounts.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is an absolute MUST for dropshipping sites. Email is great for recovering abandoned carts, sharing promotions with loyal buyers, and highlighting new products.
MailChimp
The most popular starter email marketing platform is MailChimp. It’s beginner-friendly, can integrate with e-commerce stores, and—the best part—is free up to 2,000 subscribers.
However, the functionality is pretty limited when it comes to automations and workflows. Most stores outgrown the platform quickly and migrate to a more advanced tool.
ConvertKit
My favorite email marketing tool is ConvertKit. You can easily build automation workflows, track emails, and grow your audience. They have fabulous educational resources and a responsive support team.
Their Shopify app makes it super easy to sync data between your store and your ConvertKit account so you’re always sending the most relevant messages to subscribers.
Product Research
It can be tough to decide what products to offer on your dropshipping site. Here are a few great tools for researching and sourcing products…without having to sift through thousands of Ali Express products.
Ecomhunt
Ecomhunt is exactly what the name sounds like…they hunt down up-and-coming e-commerce products that you can dropship. There’s a free plan that gives you high-level product info on a three-day delay.
The pro plan, which is totally worth it, gets you immediate access to new products and a bunch of advanced information about each:
- Pricing recommendation
- Supplier
- Audience targeting
- Product ads
- Product images and videos
You can try the limited Ecomhunt account free.
Thieve
Thieve takes your Ali Express product research and makes it a breeze. View hot products, create wish lists, see how many others like the product, and get direct links to top suppliers.
They even have a “swipe left, swipe right” app like Tinder to find and save products you like (and ignore those you don’t).
WatchCount
WatchCount might look like it was designed in the ’90s, but it’s hella helpful for figuring out what products are popular. It collects data from Ebay and shows which products are most popular among Ebay users for given categories and keywords.
Want your tool added to this list?
Send us your URL, information about your tool, and how it helps dropshippers specifically.