Starting an online store these days is a breeze, especially with the dropshipping model. Basically, you can run an online store without having to worry about managing inventory, shipping, or customer service. It’s all handled by a third party.
Think of it like this: instead of keeping a bunch of products in a warehouse, you just list them on your website and when someone buys something, the supplier ships it directly to the customer. It’s a pretty sweet setup, but you gotta be careful when choosing suppliers. Without a solid supplier, your dropshipping business ain’t gonna go far.
In this article, we’ve listed some of the best dropshipping supplier directories online.
What is dropshipping?
Dropshipping is a pretty cool way for e-commerce businesses to operate without having to hold onto a ton of inventory. Basically, when a customer orders something from the online store, the retailer just forwards the order to the supplier who takes care of the rest.
This way, the retailer can focus on building relationships with customers, while the supplier takes care of the nitty-gritty details like inventory and shipping.
It’s a win-win situation for both parties. And it’s a method used by all types of companies, from wholesalers to manufacturers.
What are the best dropshipping suppliers?
- AliExpress
- Alibaba
- SaleHoo
- Worldwide Brands
- Sunrise Wholesale
- Doba
- Wholesale2b
- Wholesale Central
- Megagoods
- Modalyst
- CJDropshipping
- Spocket
If you’ve got a product or niche in mind for starting a dropshipping business, don’t stress too much. A bit of research should help you find the big players in your market that offer dropshipping.
And once you’re up and running, you won’t have to go back to the directory unless you’re looking for more suppliers for new products.
1. AliExpress
Aliexpress, also known as Aliex, is a super cool eCommerce website where you can find all kinds of products and connect with suppliers. It was created by Jack Ma, a Chinese internet entrepreneur who also founded the Alibaba Group.
Think of Aliexpress as an online marketplace where you can buy pretty much anything you want, in any quantity. This makes it a great option for running a dropshipping business.
When a customer places an order on your website, you just head over to Aliexpress, find the product, pay for it, and have the seller ship it directly to your customer. No need to keep any inventory or worry about tracking shipments – it’s all taken care of.
Starting a dropshipping business with Aliexpress is easy. All you have to do is choose a product, pay for it, and give the seller the shipping address. And if you’re using Shopify, things get even simpler with Oberlo. This tool allows you to easily find and import products from Aliexpress and list them on your Shopify store.
You can check out our guide “How to Use Oberlo with Shopify for Dropshipping” for more information.
Bonus: You don’t have to worry about product images because the seller will take care of that. But, of course, if you want, you can always take better pictures.
Locations and shipping information: If you’re looking to shop on AliExpress, you’ll be happy to know they ship to a ton of countries – 254 to be exact, including the US. If you choose standard shipping, your package can take anywhere from 15 to 45 days to arrive. But if you’re in a rush, you can opt for expedited shipping and your package will likely arrive within 7 to 15 days.
Product types: As for what they offer, AliExpress has a huge variety of products – over 100 million to be exact. You can find everything from fashion and toys to electronics and skin care products. They even have categories for things like jewelry, furniture, and even cars and motorcycles.
Recommended for: AliExpress is a great choice for both new and experienced dropshippers. You can use it to find popular products, conduct market research, connect with sellers, and order wholesale.
2. Alibaba
Alibaba is a marketplace where businesses can buy products in bulk from manufacturers, distributors, and traders. It’s a great option for companies looking for large quantities of products, but it’s not as easy to use for dropshipping as AliExpress.
That’s because most Alibaba suppliers are geared towards selling big batches of goods to wholesalers and retailers, and may not be willing or able to sell and ship individual items to consumers in other countries. So, if you’re thinking about dropshipping from Alibaba, be prepared for a bit more work than using other dropshipping tools.
But, it’s worth it if you’re looking for unique products and suppliers that you can’t find on AliExpress. Plus, it can be a great way to stand out from the competition.
Locations and shipping information: Just keep in mind that shipping times can vary depending on where you live, and it can take up to six weeks for deliveries. And, if you want to save money, you can opt for freight or air shipping, but make sure to do your research and plan accordingly.
Product types: Alibaba has over 2.8 million suppliers and over 5,900 product categories.
Recommended for: Alibaba is a great option for advanced dropshippers who want to do private label production and buy in bulk to market as consumer items.
3. SaleHoo
SaleHoo is a pretty cool database of over 8,000 wholesalers that offer dropshipping options. It’s mainly used by people who sell on eBay and Amazon.
Now, we haven’t personally used SaleHoo, but we’ve heard that the $67 yearly fee is a pretty sweet deal and you even get a 60-day money-back guarantee. Basically, it’s a one-stop shop for people looking to source products to sell to their customers.
Locations and shipping information: Even though SaleHoo is based in New Zealand, they’ve expanded their services to include China, the UK, Canada, and the US.
Product types: SaleHoo works with AliExpress as its inventory provider, so you can find pre-vetted dropshipping providers in a bunch of different popular and profitable categories and import them directly into your Shopify store.
Recommended for: This is a good option if you don’t mind paying an annual fee and just need a short-term directory and research tool.
4. Worldwide Brands
Worldwide Brands is a big name in the supplier directory game. They’ve been around since 1999 and have built a reputation for only working with high-quality, reputable wholesalers. They’re always adding new suppliers to their list, so you can browse and find products without worrying about sketchy sources.
The directory costs $299 for lifetime access, which is on the pricey side compared to other options. But, they do offer a discounted rate of $199 for a limited time.
Location and shipping options: Worldwide Brands is a global directory, so they ship all over the world and the shipping costs and destinations will depend on the supplier you choose.
Product types: They’ve got a ton of different product categories, like pet supplies, jewelry, electronics, home decor, and fashion, with over 16 million approved wholesale products to choose from.
Recommended for: If you’re willing to spend a bit more for lifetime access to a solid list of wholesale suppliers, Worldwide Brands is a good choice.
5. Sunrise Wholesale
Sunrise Wholesale is a dropshipping service that offers a wide variety of products. They’ve got over 22,000 different products in categories like Automobile, Home Decor, and Electronics. Plus, they offer some pretty sweet tools like sales reporting, product data, and automatic pricing adjustments to make sure you’re always making a profit.
The cost to use their service is $29.95 a month, but you can save some dough by signing up for a yearly membership for $99.00. And don’t worry if you’re not sure if it’s the right fit, you can try it out for 7 days before you have to pay.
Plus, when you join, you’ll automatically get gold member pricing. And the best part? There’s no minimum order quantity, so you can order whatever you need at a discount.
Location and shipping options: Sunrise Wholesale ships to consumers in the US and Canada, and you can expect your products to arrive within 1-2 days.
Product types: They have a wide variety of products including bath products, candles, electronics, garden supplies, home décor, kitchen utensils, toys & games, jewelry, and other accessories.
Recommended for: If you’re a US or Canadian merchant in need of fast shipment dates, Sunrise Wholesale is definitely worth checking out.
6. Doba
Doba is a pretty cool platform for those of you looking to get into dropshipping. It’s a sourcing directory and online store integration platform that interfaces with suppliers (so you’re not just browsing through a list of providers), making it easy for you to place orders through its unified interface. Plus, it even comes with a Push-to-Marketplace application that automates the process of listing products on eBay.
Now, the thing about Doba is that it’s a bit more expensive than other directories. It’ll run you $60 a month. But, the upside is that it’s a lot more convenient to use. So, it might be worth the money if you’re someone who values convenience and can find the products you want among their suppliers.
Location and shipping options: Doba ships worldwide and the costs are determined by each dropshipping wholesaler and the pricing you specify.
Product types: They’ve got over two million items with reasonable profit margins.
Recommended for: If you’re the type of person who can find reputable dropshipping suppliers on your own and doesn’t mind working with them directly, you might be able to save a bit of money by not using Doba. But, if you’re someone who has only a few important suppliers in your specialty, Doba might be a good option for streamlining the number of people you have to work with.
7. Wholesale2b
Wholesale2b is a one-stop shop for all your wholesale needs. You can find reliable suppliers for a variety of low-cost products that you can resell for a quick profit.
Plus, they offer a software suite that includes business management tools, order, and inventory automation, and site hosting services – all specifically designed for dropshipping.
And the best part? You can even browse their massive catalog of over 1.5 million dropshippable products in a variety of categories (like automobile accessories, paintings, musical instruments, and more) all with a free account.
Shipping options and location: They ship throughout Canada and the US, with shipping times varying by product and supplier. But, they even have a shipping time report to show the average number of days it takes each supplier to ship.
Product types: Automobile accessories, paintings, musical instruments, supermarket products, fragrances, home, and living products, collectibles, computers, mobile phones, pet supplies, baby products, electronics, apparel, and so on are available.
Recommended for: If you’re planning on selling in North America and need speedy shipment, Wholesale2b might just be the perfect fit for you.
8. Wholesale Central
Wholesale Central is a B2B wholesale directory that connects wholesale suppliers and retailers. Unlike other directories, there’s no cost to search for suppliers. How do they make money you ask? Well, the company charges suppliers a fee to be listed and display ads on their website.
But don’t worry, all vendors are checked out by Wholesale Central’s quality control team, so you can trust that the suppliers you find are legit. Plus, their advanced product search features make it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for.
And the best part? Wholesale Central is completely free to use. Just give them your email address and you’ll get access to extra features.
Shipping options and location: All the dropshipping providers on their list are based in the US, so shipping costs will vary depending on the seller.
Product types: They’ve got about 1,400 wholesale dropshippers on their list with over 700,000 goods, so there’s definitely a lot to choose from.
Recommended for: Sure, free is hard to beat, but just be a bit picky when going through the listings. Some of the dropshipping wholesalers might just be retailers selling at “wholesale” prices, which isn’t really what you’re looking for as a dropshipper. So, do your due diligence and you’ll be sure to find some solid wholesale prospects.
9. Megagoods
Based in Santa Clarita, California, Megagoods is the perfect partner for companies who specialize in electronic equipment and wish to ship worldwide.
Not only does Megagoods offer a wide range of consumer gadgets such as Bluetooth devices, audio equipment, televisions, kitchen appliances, office supplies, and more, but they also provide dropshipping services with no minimum purchase requirements.
That’s right, you can send products directly to your consumers without worrying about overstocking.
Browsing their product directory is pretty straightforward – just pick a category that catches your eye and start clicking through the pages. Unfortunately, there aren’t any fancy sorting options or filters to help narrow down your search, but they do have a section for new arrivals and their top 25 best-selling items.
So, if you’re looking for the latest and greatest or just some tried-and-true favorites, that’s the place to check out.
Shipping options and location: Megagoods ships internationally, so you can expand your business and reach customers all over the world.
Product types: Megagoods primarily sells wholesale electronic goods. They’ve got a pretty decent selection of goodies, with a few random bits of cookware and dinnerware thrown in there too. Just keep in mind that their range is pretty limited, so you might have a bit of trouble finding exactly what you’re looking for.
Recommended for: Distributors of a broad range of products, with an emphasis on consumer electronics.
10. Modalyst
Modalyst is a drop shipping tool that makes it super easy to add popular brands like Calvin Klein and Dolce & Gabbana to your store. And it’s not just big names – they also have a hand-picked selection of super cool niche brands that will make your store unique.
The best part? It’s super simple to find the perfect supplier for your business with Modalyst’s curated marketplace of U.S.-based manufacturers and brands.
Shipping options and location: They offer free express delivery on purchases over $99 within the U.S. And if you’re based in the U.K. or Australia, no problem – they’ve got you covered there too. The only thing is that they can’t deliver to South America or Africa.
Product types: Modalyst is connected to AliExpress Dropshipping, which means you’ll have access to millions of additional products that can be added to your store with just one click.
Recommended for: If you’re a Shopify user looking to sell rare or expensive items, you’ll love the Modalyst Private Label Program – it lets you sell products under your own label. And if you subscribe to their Pro plan, you’ll have access to even more premium brands and suppliers.
11. CJDropshipping
CJDropshipping is a platform that provides combined dropshipping services to e-commerce sellers. They offer a one-stop shop for all your dropshipping needs – from finding suppliers to processing orders to shipping to customers. And the best part? It’s all at no extra cost to you.
With CJDropshipping, you can import products directly from 1688 and Taobao into your Shopify store at lower prices than AliExpress.
Location and shipping options: CJ Dropshipping has warehouses located in the US for same-day fulfillment, and they work with all the major shipping services like FedEx, USPS, DHL, and UPS. Plus, they even have their own shipping service, CJPacket, that can deliver packages from China to the US in just 7-12 days.
Product types: With over 400,000 products stocked in 8 international distribution centers, they have a wide selection of products at competitive prices. From cosmetics to home decor to electronics, they’ve got it all. And if there’s something you’re looking for that they don’t currently have, you can submit a request and they’ll work on finding the best supplier for you.
Recommended for: CJ Dropshipping is perfect for online retailers looking for a one-stop shop for product sourcing, order fulfillment, and fast delivery to the US.
12. Spocket
Want to make your dropshipping game on Shopify even stronger? Check out Spocket! This app makes it super easy to import products from a bunch of different providers, including AliExpress, straight into your store.
Plus, the app helps with order fulfillment by automatically importing orders from your Shopify site and keeping track of your stock levels so you never run out of what your customers want to buy.
Locations and shipping information: Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Spocket works with merchants all over the world, including the US, Europe, Australia, and Brazil.
Product types: They’ve got a huge range of products available, like clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, electronic accessories, and even stuff for your furry friend.
Recommended for: If you’re new to dropshipping and looking to offer some trendy fashion and cosmetic items, Spocket is a great choice because of its user-friendly interface and seamless buying process.
Final Words
It’s important to know your options for dropshipping suppliers, whether you’re just starting out or you’re a pro. Not only will it help you find high-quality products at a great price, but it’ll also increase your profits.
One way to find potential suppliers is to reach out to manufacturers and ask for a list of wholesale dropshippers. Just give them a call and ask. Once you have a list, you can contact each one to see if they offer dropshipping and if they’ll open an account for you.
This method is a quick way to find a variety of products in your niche. Most wholesalers that offer dropshipping work with multiple manufacturers, so a few phone calls to the big players in your industry will lead you to the best dropshipping companies.
For more guidance, sign up for my online business coaching.