What's the best dropshipping platform for beginners or small businesses? Do you want to skip the read and get right to my top pick? We find that most people consider Shopify to be the best dropshipping platforms today.
Introduction to Best Dropshipping Platforms.
Have you noticed so many dropshipping stores popping up? Wondered what Best Dropshipping Platforms are being used for these stores?
In the past couple of years, the brick-and-mortar business model for retail has slackened in terms of growth. This is due to the lack of foot traffic caused by the imposition of stay-at-home orders throughout the world. But one sector’s loss is another’s gain. Indeed, in this case, the field of online retail was – and still is – considered one of the big winners of the pandemic. Based on records compiled by the US Census Bureau, retail-centric e-commerce has grown at an explosive pace.
But one of the key issues in retail-centric ecommerce stores is inventory management. It is challenging to monitor stocks whilst running an online storefront and dealing with customers all at once. Hence, modalities like dropshipping were developed in order to make things easier, more manageable, and certainly more profitable for online entrepreneurs.
In today’s feature, we’ll be reviewing the best dropshipping platforms and what sort of benefits they bring to those who use them.
What's the Best Dropshipping Platforms?
First things first: before we get to what the best dropshipping platforms are, we need to know exactly what dropshipping is. Some platforms like Shopify are very well-known, but there are also other platforms available. The term is used to describe a business model wherein an online store does not keep any of the products it offers in stock. They also don't do order fulfillment. Instead, the seller arranges for any item purchased by their customers to be shipped directly from their dropshipping suppliers.
In doing so, sellers save money as they don't need to pay for warehouse rental or even wages for inventory management staff. Conversely, suppliers benefit from the arrangement as it gives them another channel through which to sell their products.
Keeping all this in mind, the best platforms for dropshipping are a go-between mechanism, a conduit between customer and manufacturer or supplier, that enables online retailers to conduct their business and earn from it with less in the way of management issues and expenses.
For this reason, many online storefront building platforms have features that enable dropshippers to establish a presence in the digital marketplace at a fraction of the time and cost they would have spent locating and renting out warehouse space or even hiring staff specifically to purchase and handle stocks.
Our List of the Best Dropshipping Platforms:
We've reviewed and tested 20 of the best dropshipping platforms, and here are our top 9 picks:
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Shopify – best for the online retail sector
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BigCommerce – best choice for larger enterprises
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Squarespace – best choice for beauty
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WooCommerce (with Nexcess Hosting) – best choice for smaller stores
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Shift4Shop – best choice for beginners
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Volusion – best choice for SMEs
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Magento (with Nexcess Hosting) – best choice for medium eCommerce enterprises
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Weebly – simple and user-friendly
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Wix– versatility and flexibility
How We Chose the Best Platforms for Dropshipping:
What's the best dropshipping platform for beginners and small business like?
To select the best platforms for dropshipping, we considered the following criteria:
Optimised ease of use
What's the best dropshipping platform for beginners? What is, after all, the point of signing up to use a site builder/storefront builder if it takes you forever to set up and even longer to learn how to use it? The best dropshipping platforms are the ones that shop owners/entrepreneurs can use almost as soon as they've created an account and, more importantly, those that let you make a store that's up and running in just minutes;
Can be used for free or comes at a very low cost
Is it expensive to start a dropshipping business? One of the primary reasons online retailers get into dropshipping is because they can't afford to rent a warehouse or hire additional personnel for inventory management. This pretty much shows that their operational budgets are modest at best, so if they can find a platform they can use for free (with all the necessary bells and whistles), so much the better;
Supports popular dropshipping plugins and applications
The best dropshipping platforms in question need to be compatible with the more popular tools used in managing dropshipping websites;
Allows for effortless back-office management
Your dropshipping platform should be structured in such a way that you can automate key management processes, thus enabling you to be more engaged in other, more vital aspects of your business
Encourages business growth
What's the best dropshipping platform for beginners capable of? Again, the best dropshipping platform lets you work on bringing in and retaining customers instead of spending much of your time figuring out how to maximise/optimise your website.
Optimal, 24/7 support
As with anything, the best platforms for dropshipping calls for technical and customer service that is both reliable and available at all times.
The Best Dropshipping Platforms Up Close:
What's the best dropshipping platform for beginners regarding features, pros and cons, and pricing?
Let's meet the best platforms for dropshipping in detail.
Shopify
Overview:
First on the list of the best platforms for dropshipping – Shopify!
Shopify is one of the leading e-commerce platforms in the world and is also considered a leader in dropshipping. As a hosting platform, Shopify currently hosts 500,000 online stores and dropshipping Shopify stores, thanks primarily to its acquisition of the dropshipping plugin Oberlo in 2016.
It is considered among the top 10 dropshipping platforms in various reviews. Moreover, it's a great choice for those who have little in the way of coding knowledge or who are beginners when it comes to e-commerce.
Features:
- Intuitive storefront builder with this best dropshipping platform UK;
- Comes with Oberlo pre-installed for dropshipping;
- Toolkit for international transactions, specifically a currency conversion calculator;
- Logistic solutions for shipping, freight, as well as delivery.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Offers some of the most insightful analytics tools in the industry;
- Third-party integration with a variety of applications, including payment gateways;
- Compatible with marketing solutions for social media and email
Cons:
- Custom templates and a number of functional plugins can be quite expensive;
- It can be difficult to customise as it works with a different programming language;
- Lacks features for effective blog management
Pricing:
Subscriptions may set you back at these prices, making Shopify one of the most expensive best dropshipping platforms to use.
What's the best dropshipping platform for beginners? You won't know unless you give Shopify a try. But before you commit, make sure to read their service terms.
BigCommerce
Overview:
BigCommerce is another key player in e-commerce as it currently hosts over 150,000 online stores and dropshipping hubs. It has made a name for itself as a hosted e-commerce platform that is both affordable and highly effective.
Considered one of the most user-friendly best ecommerce platforms for dropshipping, this platform also enables businesses to earn more as it doesn't charge any transaction fees.
Features:
What are the features of these best dropshipping platforms?
- Unlimited product offerings for customers;
- Unlimited file storage and bandwidth;
- Bulk pricing;
- Built-in review and rating system;
- Business-to-business edition available
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- One of the most powerful storefront builders in terms of what it offers for its basic accounts;
- One of the few builders/platforms that offers real-time third-party shipping calculation to make logistics much easier;
- This best platforms for dropshipping does not charge transaction fees even if one uses a third-party payment gateway.
Cons:
- BigCommerce imposes limits on annual sales, so those who wish to maximise profit margins need to upgrade to a more expensive subscription plan;
- Does not have the ability to offer shipping discounts;
- Most third-party apps are premium and need to be paid for
Pricing:
Standard monthly rates for this best dropshipping platforms option run as follows:
Enterprise rates for this best dropshipping platforms option are negotiable depending on the size of one’s business. Before you commit to a subscription, make sure to read the fine print on their service terms.
Squarespace
Overview:
Now we go to the most recommended of the best dropshipping platforms: Squarespace!
Considered the gold standard for 21st century e-commerce, Squarespace offers two options to those who want to take the dropshipping approach to online retail.
The first is Printful, a sort of entry-level dropshipping plugin that's very easy to use. It's also a plugin that comes highly recommended for creative professionals as it enables them to turn designs into profitable merchandise.
The second is called Sprocket; it's for those with more advanced knowledge of how dropshipping works and also has the virtue of being more scalable, making it perfect for an enterprise poised for growth.
Features:
- One of the best dropshipping platform for beginners;
- Drag and drop site builder with built-in ecommerce capabilities;
- Over 100 industry-specific design templates;
- Built-in site customisation modules;
- Cloud-based hosting;
- Mobile application for editing or site management on the fly; and
- SEO toolkit
Pros and Cons:
Here are the pros and cons of this best platforms for dropshipping service:
Pros:
- Highly-specialised toolkits and features specifically created for the ecommerce sector;
- Scheduling feature makes appointment setting and tracking more manageable for a variety of service-oriented businesses;
- Excellent round-the-clock technical support
Cons:
- Still doesn’t offer a free plan and the trial period only runs for over a week;
- Despite several iterations, its user interface can still be challenging for new users;
- Design templates tend to lack flexibility
Pricing:
What's the best dropshipping platform for beginners cost?
Subscription cost runs at the following rates:
Read the service terms of this best dropshipping platforms option first before committing to any of the paid plans.
WooCommerce
Overview:
One of the easiest online shop building platforms to use, mostly because of its alignment with the WordPress site creation platform, WooCommerce presently has the honour of holding 29% of the total e-commerce platform market. This best dropshipping platforms candidate is easily installed with a single click. As a result, it takes much of the guesswork out of online store management and is compatible with other online dropshipping plugins and third-party tools.
When paired with Nexcess Hosting, it helps ease the experience even for novice users and makes for a best eCommerce Website Builder. Nexcess hosting is our overall best in class recommendation for small and medium eCommerce enterprises built in WooCommerce or Magento.
Features:
- Drag and drop site builder with built-in ecommerce capabilities;
- Over 100 industry-specific design templates;
- Built-in site customisation modules;
- Cloud-based hosting;
- Mobile application for editing or site management on the fly; and
- SEO toolkit
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Free to use for WordPress clients, particularly those with Business or eCommerce subscriptions;
- Easy to set up and use;
- Offers an app you can use on your mobile device
Cons:
- This best dropshipping platforms does not offer the same level of functionality as a standalone shopping cart solution;
- While you can use it for free, any upgrades or third-party support apps can prove to be expensive;
- Limited choice of site design
Pricing:
This best dropshipping platforms for beginners is free, but additional third-party apps and hosting should be considered. In which case, check the prices of potential solutions before adding to your site.
Pricing plans for our choice Nexcess hosting are as follows;
Interested in this best platforms for dropshipping? Make sure to read their service terms beforehand.
Shift4Shop
Overview:
Now, on to the next best platforms for dropshipping: Shift4Shop!
It may have a tongue-twister of a name, but you may have already encountered Shift4Shop in its original guise as 3DCart. Since its rebranding in 2020, this platform has built up its reputation as a feature-rich shop building and management solution. Likewise, it has won quite a following among larger online retailers and those active in the dropshipping scene.
Features:
- Payment gateways available with this best dropshipping platform for beginners;
- Inventory management tools;
- Third-party integration with top dropshipping tools like Doba and AliExpress;
- Offers optimal security using tools like 3dSecure 2.0 and FraudWatch;
- SEO and online marketing tool suites
Pros and Cons:
What's the best dropshipping platform for beginners' pros and cons?
Pros:
- Optimal ease of use even for beginners;
- Powerful selection of marketing tools and payment gateways;
- Offers API support for those crafting their own bespoke tools for storefront efficiency
Cons:
- Has a lot of compatible third-party apps, but offers little in terms of variety when it comes to functionality;
- One of the more expensive e-commerce solutions available;
- This best platforms for dropshipping has limited options in terms of themes, templates, and aesthetic options.
Pricing:
This best platforms for dropshipping offers a free plan, but – understandably – functionality is limited. Paid plans of this range at the following prices:
If you're raring to try this best platform for beginners, read their service terms before committing.
Volusion
Overview:
What's the best dropshipping platforms for beginners and small businesses?
Considered at par with the likes of Shopify, Volusion has built up a reputation as one of the most reliable store-building platforms, particularly those scaling up from medium and large-scale operations to enterprise-grade storefronts. In terms of dropshipping, it offers one of the most extensive ranges of options we’ve seen in any shop building platform, as well as a comprehensive how-to guide on using dropshipping to build one’s business.
Features:
- Built-in dropshipping feature;
- Third-party integration with dropshipping apps Printful, Doba, and Kole Imports;
- Intuitive storefront builder;
- Unlimited bandwidth
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- This best dropshipping platforms option has one of the most user-friendly and intuitive building interfaces available;
- Native dropshipping app makes store management easier through automation;
- Well-trained and reliable customer support
Cons:
- Offers little in the way of third-party integrations;
- Storefront builder does not offer a full drag-and-drop option;
- One of the few site building platforms without blogging capabilities
Pricing:
Custom plans are dependent on the store’s average sales;
Paid plans range within the following rates:
Magento
Overview:
Next on our list of the best platforms for dropshipping – Magento.
The thing about Magento is that it was specifically developed for e-commerce enthusiasts who have some level of knowledge when it comes to programming or coding, or at least have someone on their staff who's a qualified programmer.
Specifically created for very large enterprises (VLEs), it pretty much takes the concept of dropshipping to a far larger scale than most and may best be used by those who are growing their businesses by leaps and bounds as opposed to small steps.
Features:
- A highly-diverse and practically arranged user interface;
- SEO and online marketing toolkit;
- Third-party integration with over 300 applications and programmes;
- Proprietary website building platform; and
- Storefront management system
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Optimal flexibility for more advanced users;
- Highly scalable, making it a great choice for a growing enterprise;
- Mobile-friendly
Cons:
- One of the more expensive shopping cart / ecommerce solutions currently available;
- Requires specialised hosting as opposed to a conventional web hosting service;
- Not the best in terms of technical support
Pricing:
What's the best platforms for dropshipping for beginners pricing like?
Technically, Magento is freeware so just about anyone can use it. However, to get optimal performance from this best dropshipping platform for beginners, you need to sign up for a custom hosting plan whose price will be dependent on the following:
- Nature of your business;
- Standard sales volume;
- Monthly or annual profits
For a managed application like Magento for large scale eCommerce hosting service, we would recommend Nexcess hosting. Pricing plans for our choice Nexcess hosting are as follows;
Pricing plans for our choice Nexcess hosting are as follows;
Weebly
Overview:
What's the best dropshipping platform for beginners favoured by users? Weebly!
This popular basic website building platform is something of a Johnny-come-lately to the dropshipping scene. In fact, in 2018, its CEO said there were no plans for the platform to hop aboard the dropshipping bandwagon. Today, however, Weebly boasts of integrations with many popular plugins, including Dropship byWholesale2B and InventorySource.
Features:
- Intuitive drag-and-drop website builder;
- Integrated shopping cart and secure checkout;
- Inventory tracking feature;
- Filtered product search; and
- Free ecommerce hosting
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Drag and drop interface allows for easy – and quick – site creation;
- Offers excellent online security features, allowing online shoppers to browse and buy safely;
- Great aesthetic options for creating a striking storefront
Cons:
- Mobile app isn't very effective when it comes to remote store management;
- Limited SEO functionality;
- Doesn’t offer as many functionality-building plugins as its competitors
Pricing:
Ecommerce plans range:
Wix
Overview:
Wix, the gold standard for site building freeware, may well be one of the stars of the dropshipping scene. Along with a great e-commerce toolkit, this platform also offers its own comprehensive guide on how you can use it to create and manage a highly profitable dropshipping business.
Features:
- WIX Artificial Design Intelligence (WIX ADI) site builder;
- Conventional drag-and-drop builder so you can build a site quickly;
- Unlimited bandwidth for all ecommerce plans;
- Free domain;
- Event creation toolkit;
- Multichannel sales and point of sale tools
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Highly affordable and also happens to be one of the most user-friendly ecommerce website builders currently available’
- Enables users to create engaging online stores with multilingual capabilities;
- Email and social media marketing tools are already built into the system
Cons:
- Sites built with the platform aren’t very mobile-responsive;
- Doesn’t offer the ability to export a number of elements, including blog posts and digital products;
- Puts a cap on data storage – something you don’t see in many of its competitors
Pricing:
While essentially free, monthly rates for e-commerce-specific accounts range at the following prices:
Conclusion and Recommendations for the best dropshipping platforms?
Based on our review of the best dropshipping platforms, we can easily conclude that Shopify is best in class for those who want to consider the online retail sector. The former works for specialty outlets, as well as for small and medium enterprises.
FAQ:
What's the best dropshipping platforms?
For us and for many others that have reviewed the best dropshipping platforms, Shopify reigns supreme as the best dropshipping platform.
Why is dropshipping a good idea?
Dropshipping is the easiest route to becoming a business owner because it does away with inventory management, fulfilment, and shipping. There are several best dropshipping platform for beginners that can help you set up your store with confidence.
That's all for now:
If you've read all the way through this best dropshipping platforms guide, we are thankful. We hope you can now answer the question of what is the best dropshipping platforms for you! We have a large collection of articles, guides, and comparison reviews of eCommerce solutions, web hosting providers, website builders, and more! Feel free to check them out;
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