Shopify Dropshipping Apps Compared: AutoDS, DSers, CJ & More

Which dropshipping app for Shopify suits you? In October 2026, we checked the prices and features of AutoDS, DSers, CJdropshipping, Zendrop, Syncee, Spocket and BigBuy directly in the Shopify App Store and with the providers, and assessed them for the German market. You’ll find the full overview of the business model in our guide to Shopify dropshipping in Germany.

What Shopify dropshipping apps do

A dropshipping app connects your Shopify store with a supplier. It takes on four tasks:

• Product import: Title, images, variants and purchase price land in your store as a product with one click.
• Pricing rules: The app calculates your selling price from the purchase price, e.g. purchase price times 2.5.
• Order forwarding: When a customer buys, you see the order in the app and forward it to the supplier with a few clicks. You still have to pay the supplier yourself.
• Tracking sync: The supplier’s tracking number is transferred to the Shopify order, and the customer gets a shipping confirmation.

So the app is neither a supplier nor a shipping company. It is the link between them. For AliExpress there used to be Oberlo; the app was discontinued in 2022. Many old tutorials still show it; they no longer work that way. How the order runs step by step after the purchase is shown in our article on the dropshipping process after your first order.

Comparison table: prices and features

All prices come from the listings in the Shopify App Store or the providers’ pages (retrieved 11.10.2026). The apps bill in US dollars; the euro amount on your credit card depends on the exchange rate.

The numbers in plan names like “Import 200” or “Starter 500” at AutoDS refer to the number of products you can import and manage, not the number of orders per month. Syncee and Zendrop count products in a similar way.

The apps in detail

DSers: the standard for AliExpress

DSers describes itself as AliExpress’s official dropshipping partner and is one of the most common solutions for selling AliExpress products in Shopify. The free plan covers product import with pricing rules, bulk orders on AliExpress and tracking transfer. You pay for the goods on AliExpress with your own payment method. The Advanced plan ($19.90) adds automatic price adjustments when costs change and your own tracking page. Pro ($49.90) brings multi-supplier management and AI-based supplier matching.

Weakness: you depend on AliExpress, with all the consequences for delivery time, customs and returns. For the German market, you should specifically filter for sellers with a warehouse in Europe.

CJdropshipping: supplier and app in one

CJ is itself a supplier and fulfillment service provider. The app is free; you pay for product and shipping per order. The optional memberships (Plus, Prime, Advanced between $15.99 and $59.99 per month according to the CJ website) bring more sourcing requests, among other things. Interesting for the German market: CJ lists Frankfurt as a warehouse location. Whether your product is stocked there, you have to check per variant. There are also branding options such as custom packaging, inserts and private label.

If you can’t find a product at CJ, you can submit a sourcing request. According to CJ, the free plan allows five requests per day.

AutoDS: automation for many suppliers

AutoDS bundles many sources and monitors prices and stock levels. That pays off if you carry many products from different suppliers. According to the App Store, the entry plan “Import 200” ($26.90) doesn’t yet include a price and stock monitor; that only comes from “Starter 500” ($39.90). For some order routes, you have to top up a balance in AutoDS in advance, from which the supplier orders are paid. That surprises many beginners.

Zendrop: strong in the US

Zendrop offers branding, private label and custom packaging. According to the App Store listing, the sources are in China and the US; EU warehousing isn’t mentioned there. The free plan doesn’t allow linked products, so you effectively pay from $29 a month. For a store with customers in Germany, Zendrop is therefore rarely the first choice.

Syncee and Spocket: EU suppliers

Both platforms connect you with suppliers that have warehouses in the EU and the US. Syncee lists suppliers from Germany, Austria and many other EU countries, with direct supplier contact from the Basic plan. Spocket has a large EU and US range, but the weakest App Store rating in this comparison (3.5 stars, 14% one-star reviews criticizing unexpected charges and support). Purchase prices on both platforms are higher than on AliExpress, but in return there’s no customs and no long delivery times.

BigBuy: wholesaler with a dropshipping pack

BigBuy is a Spanish wholesaler with a large catalog that includes branded goods. The Shopify integration runs via paid packs. A secondary source states approx. €89 per month plus a setup fee for the Ecommerce Pack; check the current price directly with BigBuy.

If you want to sell T-shirts, mugs or posters with your own design, these apps are the wrong choice. There are dedicated providers for that, which we compare in Print on demand with Shopify: Printful vs. Printify vs. Gelato.

Which app for whom?

Do you need AutoDS if CJ is already connected directly? No. A second app for the same supplier only brings double costs and the risk of orders being triggered twice. Several apps in parallel only make sense if each serves a different product group.

What the app really costs you

The app fee is usually the smallest item. Calculate like this:

• Shopify plan: ongoing, on top of the app. What Shopify costs in total is covered in What does Shopify really cost?
• App subscription: $0 to approx. $100 per month.
• Goods and shipping: you pay these per order to the supplier, before Shopify pays out your money.
• Test orders for every new product.
• Exchange rate and card fees with USD billing.

The app’s pricing rule (e.g. “purchase price × 2.5”) doesn’t replace a proper calculation. You have to factor in taxes, payment fees, advertising costs and returns; how to do that is shown in Calculating prices in your online store.

Common problems and solutions

Order doesn’t appear in the app

Check whether the product in the app is linked to the Shopify product (especially after manual editing or duplicating). Unlinked products aren’t recognized as dropshipping orders. Also check whether the payment has already been captured in Shopify.

Products published but not linked

This happens often: products are live in the store but were never connected to the supplier item, for example because you created them by hand, duplicated them or published them before linking. The customer can still buy, but the order doesn’t reach the supplier. Solution: open the linking or mapping feature in the app and assign each Shopify product, including variants, to the matching supplier item. Orders that have already come in, you then release again in the app or order directly from the supplier. That’s why you should always check new products with a test order before running ads.

Store sells to countries the supplier doesn’t deliver to

The app doesn’t automatically know your shipping zones. Restrict the delivery countries in Shopify to those your supplier actually serves. How to do that is covered in the article Setting up shipping in Shopify.

Pricing rule can’t go below 100%

At DSers, the multiplier rule refers to the purchase price. A value below 100% would mean selling below cost. Use a fixed markup instead, or adjust individual prices manually.

Welcome deals and “max. 1 per customer”

On AliExpress, some prices only apply to new customers or to one item per account. They are useless for dropshipping: from the second order on, you pay the normal price, and with multiple orders the seller may cancel. Always calculate with the regular price you’ll get permanently.

Product without CE marking or manufacturer details

Dropshipping apps don’t check for you whether a product may be sold in the EU. If goods that require CE marking lack the marking and declaration of conformity, or the manufacturer details under the GPSR are missing, it’s better not to sell them. Which product groups are particularly tricky is covered in Prohibited and regulated products in your Shopify store.

Supplier doesn’t confirm the order or cancels

Especially on AliExpress, sellers sometimes cancel orders, for example when an item is sold out. Set up a backup supplier in the app and inform the customer immediately instead of stalling.

FAQ

Do I have to pay for the app and Shopify at the same time?

Yes. Shopify charges your store plan, the dropshipping app its own subscription. Some apps bill via the Shopify invoice, others partly directly. On top of that come the costs for goods and shipping per order. If you start with a free app plan, for example at DSers or CJdropshipping, only the Shopify plan is a fixed cost.

Will my account be charged before the customer has paid?

No, you only place the supplier order after the customer’s purchase. However, you pay the supplier immediately, while Shopify only pays out the customer’s money to you with a delay of a few business days. For the first orders, you therefore need your own money or a credit card with a sufficient limit. With AutoDS, a balance may also be required.

Can I use Zendrop in the EU?

Yes, the app also works in European stores and is available in German. According to the App Store listing, however, the sources are in China and the US. For customers in Germany, that means long delivery times and import charges. For the German market, providers with an EU warehouse are usually the better choice.

Can I use Zendrop and CJ at the same time?

Technically yes, as long as each product is linked to only one app. The payment methods in your store aren’t affected, because the apps only control the supplier side. If a customer orders items from both suppliers, they get two parcels. This only makes sense with clearly separated product ranges.

What is the difference between CJdropshipping and AliExpress?

AliExpress is a marketplace with many individual sellers; CJ is a supplier with its own warehouse, its own purchasing and its own shipping. At CJ, you have a contact person, sourcing requests and branding options. On AliExpress, you have to evaluate each seller individually. Prices are often similar; processes at CJ are usually more predictable.

Is there a free alternative to AutoDS?

Yes, if you don’t need to monitor many suppliers at once. DSers can be used on the free plan for AliExpress, including import, bulk ordering and tracking. The CJdropshipping app is also free; you only pay for goods and shipping. Syncee has a free plan for up to 25 products. What the free plans usually lack is automatic price and stock monitoring. You then have to keep an eye on that yourself.

Does Oberlo still exist?

No, Oberlo was discontinued in 2022. Anyone who wants to connect AliExpress products with Shopify today usually uses DSers. Many older videos still show Oberlo; the steps shown there no longer work that way. So when following guides, check the date and whether the app shown is still listed in the Shopify App Store.

Last updated: October 2026. Prices and ratings according to the Shopify App Store or provider pages on 11.10.2026; all information without guarantee.