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10 Dropshipping Apps That Are Better Than Shopify
By lisa
Created: 13 July 2022 Updated: 1 October 2024
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Are there apps better than Shopify when it comes to dropshipping? The answer is yes.
Shopify is undoubtedly one of the best dropshipping apps on the market. It makes setting up a dropshipping store online a breeze – no coding is required. Plus, you don’t need to worry about the technical side of hosting a website, as everything is taken care of for you.
Another reason why many dropshippers choose to use Shopify is that it is packed with lots of features and tools that make selling online a seamless experience. Multiple sales channels, unlimited product import, top-notch security, website builder, discount and coupon, detailed reporting…they are just too many to name.
However, Shopify might not always be ideal for your dropshipping business. For one thing, Shopify can be expensive. You can spend a ton of cash on apps just to keep your store going.
In addition, Shopify’s website builder tool has severe limitations.
As such, you might have to look for alternatives to Shopify. And there are lots of them on the market.
In this post, we will be reviewing some of the dropshipping apps that are better than Shopify. But first, why use dropshipping platforms?
Why Use Dropshipping Platforms?
If you are looking to set up a dropshipping store, there are two major routes you can take. One is building a dropshipping website from scratch by coding it up or using a CMS. The second option is to use a dropshipping platform.
Building a website from scratch is time-consuming and cumbersome. Plus, setting up a functional dropshipping site can be technically challenging if you are not much of a techie.
On the other hand, using a dropshipping platform makes your life a lot easier. You don’t have to build a website from scratch, as most dropshipping platforms make it easy to create an elegant website with a few clicks of a button.
What’s more, using a dropshipping platform makes it possible to import products from popular retail sites such as Aliexpress and Alibaba without breaking a sweat.
Other reasons to use a dropshipping platform include better sales channels, support, SEO, content management, etc.
Top 10 Shopify Alternatives
As we earlier highlighted, Shopify isn’t the only dropshipping platform available – there are several alternatives. Here are the best 10:
1. Sell the Trend
And so we kick things off with Sell the Trend. We know what you are likely thinking; aren’t we being biased by starting with Sell the Trend? Actually, we are not.
Sell the Trend is packed with many features and tools that enable you to run a dropshipping business online successfully, even if you are just getting into the business.
To begin with, Sell the Trend is an Aliexpress partner. This means you can import products from Aliexpress into your store with a single click of the button by using our chrome extension.
Also, you can easily design an attractive website for your dropshipping business with ease, thanks to our website builder tool we call Shops.
With this tool, you don’t need to write any code to design and launch a dropshipping website that converts visitors into customers.
Another interesting feature you will like about Sell the Trend is that it allows you to automatically set up product pages, send out shipping tracking codes, and many more. Plus, it makes it possible to automate product research with great ease.
Key Features
A.I powered product research
Robust analytics
Store intelligence that allows you to sneak up on your competitors
Influencer engagement calculator
Video ads creator
Facebook audience builder
Automated order fulfillment
Pros
You can easily automate product research and order fulfilment with Sell the Trend, hence having more time to focus on what matters the most: growing your dropshipping business.
Cons
Sell the Trend has no free plan. But you can try it for free for 7 days.
Zyro is another Shopify alternative you should seriously consider if you want to get into dropshipping but on a shoestring budget.
Zyro is basically a website builder SaaS solution that enables dropshippers like you to build eye-catching eCommerce sites without writing a single line of code. It comes with a truckload of editable website templates you can use to design your website without starting from scratch.
In addition, Zyro has an A.I powered design editor that allows you to create a stunning, memorable logo even if you have never created one before.
Plus, it has many eCommerce features, including a CRM to manage your customers’ database, product shipping, inventory management tool, detailed reporting and analytics, and many more.
Key Features
Drag-and-drop website builder
A.I writer
Business slogan generator
Loads of design templates
Image resizer
Business email
Pros
Zyro makes creating an attractive eCommerce website easy peasy lemon squeezy. And it’s way cheaper, making it better than Shopify – you can start with as low as $2.99/month.
Cons
Compared to Shopify, Zyro is limited in functionalities and eCommerce features. On top of that, it doesn’t have a large app collection like Shopify.
Overall rating: 8.5/10
3. Wix
Another great dropshipping app that is readily better than Shopify is Wix.
Launched in 2006, Wix has become one of the most popular website builders, enabling you to set up nice-looking sites.
Wix has an in-built drag-and-drop design editor that makes it easy to design your web pages from scratch without breaking a sweat, thanks to its numerous editable and customizable templates.
Like Shopify, Wix has an app market where you can find apps and add-ons to add eCommerce functionality to your website.
One of such apps is Wix Stores. The Wix Stores app allows you to add advanced eCommerce features to your website, including optimized checkout, tax calculation, and many more.
Key Features
Multiple sales channels
POS
Analytics and reporting
Email marketing
Facebook ads
Pros
You can start for free on Wix, although your options are limited on the free plan. Plus, Wix has one of the easiest drag-and-drop design editors.
Cons
Although you can start for free, you would be forced to use Wix’s branding on your website. Also, you can’t transfer your website outside Wix should you decide to.
Overall rating: 8.5/10
4. Prestashop
Prestashop is another Shopify alternative dropshipping app you can’t just go wrong with.
Prestashop is a CMS that enables you to design, build and set up an eCommerce website without writing any code.
To use, you’d first have to download Prestashop to your machine. After downloaing the app, the next steps are to choose your store name, find a hosting provider, choose a domain name, create your product catalog and customize your website however you want.
Interestingly, Prestashop comes with a load of customizable, mobile-responsive themes you can use to quickly design your storefront without assitance.
Key Features:
Several payment processing options
Seamless order management
Large app marketplace
Customer support
Pros
Prestashop has a large app marketplace, and many of the apps there are free. Also, Prestashop has an easy-to-use interface that is also easy to navigate.
Cons
Unlike Shopify, Prestashop isn’t very scalable, making it an unfriendly choice for large-scale eCommerce enterprises.
Rating: 8.5/10
5. WooCommerce
One of the major drawbacks of running your dropshipping business on Shopify is that it can be an expensive venture. You might spend over $50 monthly to keep your business going.
As such, if you are just starting and are on a limited budget, you are better off sticking with WooCommerce.
WooCommerce is an eCommerce solution for WordPress that makes it easy to set up a fully functional store online – and for free. This means you must have a WordPress website to use this eCommerce solution.
WooCommerce has many plugins that enable you to extend your website functionality and make it a full-fledge dropshipping store.
The cool part is that WooCommerce is translation-ready, allowing you to set your website in multiple languages. Also, WooCommerce is second to none when it comes to SEO
Key Features
SEO ready
Loads of free and premium themes
Lots of plugins
Easy-to-use checkout
Unlimited integrations
Pros
WooCommerce offers unlimited flexibility, making it easy to design your website however you want. Also, WooCommerce is free to use.
Cons
WooCommerce can be difficult to use, especially if you are a newbie to web development. Many users have complained that WooCommerce has a steep learning curve.
Rating: 8.5/10
6. Squarespace
Squarespace is another great app you can use in place of Shopify to set up a dropshipping store.
Like Shopify, Squarespace has many pre-designed websites you can use to create your dropshipping store quickly.
What we like about Squarespace is how it makes it easy to add advanced eCommerce features to your website. These include shipping options, simplified payment, tax management tools, and lots more.
Key Features
Video ads
Large collection of editable, customizable templates
Social media tools
Website analytics
Pros
Squarespace’s templates are awe-inspiring. Also, it has a ridiculously easy-to-use design editor and offers 24/7 customer support.
Cons
Squarespace’s eCommerce features can’t hold a candle to Shopify’s. Worse, Squarespace barely supports integration with third-party plugins, limiting your customization options.
Rating: 8/10
7. Volusion
Next on our list of alternatives to Shopify is Volusion.
Volusion enables dropshipping merchants to create a stunning storefront without writing any hiring a developer, thanks to its intuitive website builder.
One remarkable feature of Volusion you will like is its multichannel feature that allows you to sell on popular marketplaces like Etsy, eBay, and Amazon.
Interestingly, using Volusion to set up your dropshipping store saves you the trouble of worrying about SEO because that is taken care of for you right out of the box.
What’s more, Volusion comes with cutting-edge checkout technology that makes it all too easy to give your customers a seamless checkout experience.
Key Features
Mobile-friendly themes
Customizable layouts
Product display
Search feature
Homepage slideshow
Pros
Volusion lets you create mobile-friendly dropshipping sites easily.
Cons
Volusion’s website analytic feature is limited when compared to Shopify.
Rating: 9/10
8. BigCommerce
If you’ve played with the idea of selling online – or have started already – you likely must have heard of BigCommerce.
BigCommerce is a SaaS solution that empowers retail entrepreneurs to set up a store – including a dropshipping store – online and optimize it for conversion.
The cool thing about BigCommerce is that it has virtually all the features and tools you need to succeed as a dropshipper.
For example, it comes with a Wholesale tool that makes selling wholesale a breeze.
There is also a multi-store feature that does exactly what the name implies: allow you to set up multiple storefronts.
Key Features
Wholesale sales channel
Multi-store front
Offline sales
Headless commerce
Pros
BigCommerce offers unbeatable scalability. This makes it an ideal solution for both starters and enterprise eCommerce businesses.
Cons
Compared to Shopify, BigCommerce has a limited number of free themes, and the bad thing about this is that these themes look very similar to each other.
Rating: 8/10
9. Weebly
Don’t get it twisted; that we placed Weebly on spot #9 doesn’t mean it’s a dud. On the contrary, Weebly is one of the most powerful alternatives to Shopify that many dropshippers have come to fall in love with.
Why so?
Weebly has dozens of tools and features that make creating a breathtaking, functional storefront online a walk in the park.
To begin with, it comes with an integrated shopping cart and secured checkout to give your customers an amazing shopping experience.
Then there is the inventory management feature that makes it all too easy to track and manage your inventory.
Best of all, Weebly has apps that enable you to import thousands of dropship products into your store.
Key Features
Inventory tracking
SEO and site analytics
Shipping tool
Inventory
Pros
Weebly has an easy-to-use design editor and comes with lots of editable templates.
Cons
Weebly can be downright expensive. Plus, it may not be the best option when it comes to SEO.
Rating: 8.5/10
10. Shift4shop
Last on our list of apps better than Shopify is Shift4shop.
Shift4shop is an eCommerce platform you can use to build a dropshipping website to sell your product to customers across the globe.
Why should you use Shift4shop?
Firstly, it has a lot of marketing features that allow you to sell to customers online without hassles. They include an expansive social media marketing tool, top-notch SEO, real-time analytics, and many more.
Secondly, Shift4shop supports dropshipping, and makes it easy to import products from Aliexpress, InventorySource, WorldWideBrand, and many more.
Key Features
Intuitive website builder
Expansive dropshipping feature
Responsive themes
Unlimited third-party integration
Pros
Shift4shop is SEO-friendly, making it easy for you to rank your store on Google. Also, it comes with lots of responsive themes
Cons
Shift4shop can be expensive to use, especially if you are outside the US.
Rating: 8/10
Best Shopify Alternatives – Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I switch from Shopify?
Even though Shopify is one of the best eCommerce solutions for dropshipping, it’s not always ideal, and you might want to switch from it.
The reason is that Shopify can be expensive. Plus, you might not like the design editor as it offers limited functionality.
Also, transferring your website out of Shopify can be a nightmarish experience.
Are there options better than Shopify?
Most definitely! The 10 alternatives we’ve shared in this post are surely better than Shopify.
What is the best free Shopify alternative?
We will give it to WooCommerce. It’s free also.
What is the best cheaper alternative to Shopify?
There are lots of cheaper alternatives to Shopify. But we will still give it to WooCommerce.
Conclusion
Shopify is undoubtedly a great dropshipping app. But it might not always be ideal for your business, leaving you with no choice but to look for an alternative app.
If you are on a zero budget but still want to set up a dropshipping store, WooCommerce is a great option.
However, if creating a mobile-friendly dropshipping site is what matters to you, we suggest going for Squarespace. Squarespace offers pocket-friendly pricing, as you can start for as low as $16/month.
But if speed, flexibility, product research, and unlimited marketing feature is top of priority for you, Sell the Trend is your best bet.
