It is undisputed that dropshipping has become a major business.
Dropshipping is a global market that was worth $102.2 billion in 2018. It is projected to grow at a 28.8% CAGR from 2019 to 2025 (Grand View Research). This is a good sign – dropshippers have many options and opportunities.
It does have its problems. Sometimes, too many choices can be detrimental. It can be time-consuming and exhausting to search through so many suppliers.
You should therefore consider an app.
Spocket, Oberlo and e-commerce platform Shopify allow you to import dropshipping products into your Shopify store. Both can link you to different suppliers, which saves you time and effort.
How do they work?
Which app is the best?
Continue reading to learn more about our article!
What is Spocket?
Spocket transforms Shopify stores into dropshipping shops. You can search for and connect with suppliers located in the US or EU.
What is Spocket?
Spocket offers a large marketplace that allows you to search for products and then add them to Shopify with a single click. You can also enjoy a 2–5 day shipping time to get your products to your customers. You can also get up to 60% off the product from the supplier.
Spocket automates everything in your business, from order fulfillment to price markup. Spocket will take care of the rest. You can focus on marketing.
What is Oberlo?
Oberlo, another Shopify drop app allows you to import AliExpress products in just one click. You can also fulfill AliExpress orders and have them shipped quickly.
What is Oberlo?
Oberlo is a Shopify-only app. This means that it won’t work on WooCommerce and WordPress. Oberlo’s main goal is to make dropshipping easy via Shopify.
Comparison of Spocket and Oberlo Features
Spocket’s most important features
Shipping time between 2 and 5 days
This is one of the best features of Spocket. You can select the products that you wish to sell by determining your customer’s geographic location when searching for products to import.
Your products usually reach customers in between 2-5 days or less.
Shipping times may vary depending on the product’s dimensions, the supplier and your Spocket subscription. This can be checked before you import the product.
Import in one click
This feature allows for you to import products directly from Spocket to your store with just one click. Just click the “Import” button and the product will appear on your import list.
This button is an important step in automating your dropshipping business. This button saves you time by automatically downloading and uploading images for the product to your shop.
Automated order fulfillment
This feature allows you to have semi-automated relationships with suppliers. You can instantly send order details to your supplier when a customer buys a product from you store.
After your orders have been sent, you will receive notification from the supplier that the product shipping has begun. You can also track your orders from your dashboard, including details about the location and stats, after products have been shipped.
Price markup
This feature allows you to automate all aspects of the pricing process for your store. This feature allows you to automate the pricing process for all products imported to Shopify.
You also have the option to choose a price multiplier, percentage or fixed price for your entire shop.
Customization of products
Edit product titles or add tags to improve SEO. You can also edit the product image by inserting “alt” text. This will allow the product to be indexed faster by the search engine.
You can also rewrite product descriptions to improve SEO and make them more appealing.
Oberlo’s most important features
Automated order fulfillment
You don’t have any responsibility for every detail of a customer’s order when they buy something from your store. Oberlo will take care of everything else.
You can track your order with the integrated order tracking system.
ePacket filter
AliExpress products usually arrive within 1-30 days.
Using the ePacket filter option you can find products that ship faster. This is a great way to reduce shipping costs and get your products to your customer in as little as 1-20 days.
Price markup
Oberlo, like Spocket has a great way automate your entire pricing system.
Pricing might not matter if you only sell one or two products. It will take time to set each product’s prices manually if you have many products.
This feature will automatically set the pricing of your products once they are imported from AliExpress.
Customization of products
AliExpress product descriptions are often messy and unprofessional. Oberlo makes it easy to edit product descriptions to make them more attractive and to improve their SEO.
You can also edit the product images and add additional images, if desired.
Spocket vs. Oberlo – Product Sourcing
Spocket is primarily focused on local distributors and Etsy artisans. Instead of using AliExpress to source all its products, it relies on a network that includes providers in Europe and North America.
Spocket uses a rigorous vetting process to allow suppliers to join its marketplace. This is great news for merchants such as you because it takes the hassle out of sourcing from reliable suppliers.
Here’s a quick overview of Spocket standards:
- Application. Spocket Marketplace Suppliers must apply. Spocket will allow these suppliers to join if they can meet the requirements of merchants. For example, if their products have a high demand and they are willing to ship in neutral packaging.
- Interview. Spocket then interviews each supplier to determine if they want to be invited into the marketplace. Spocket can then learn more about each supplier’s business and sales history.
- Product testing. Spocket orders products directly from suppliers to ensure that they are tested first-hand. They can then evaluate the product’s quality, packaging, and the shipping time it takes to get each product.
Spocket will verify that a supplier has passed all three tests and ensures that all guidelines are followed. Spocket then monitors the supplier’s performance over the first two months to ensure that everything is in order.
Spocket will notify merchants who have been listing supplier products in their stores that a supplier fails to meet its standards.
Oberlo offers three types of suppliers when it comes to product sourcing:
- Oberlo suppliers. These suppliers can be found on Oberlo. Oberlo inspects their warehouses and business documents to ensure that they are legitimate vendors.
- Verified suppliers. To be verified, a vendor must process at least 1,000 orders with an on-time delivery of 95% and a dispute rate lower than 2%. These suppliers can be identified by the Verified badge on their listing.
- AliExpress. AliExpress suppliers, unlike those in Oberlo’s marketplace, are not verified or checked by Oberlo. You need to do your research to make sure that the vendor is legitimate and reliable.
Spocket vs. Oberlo – Branding
Spocket guarantees your customers that they will not be sent flyers or promotional materials from suppliers. Suppliers may offer to send your personalized invoice along with your logo and store name to each other. Even a thank you note can be included from you to your customer. Although it might seem small, it can make a big difference.
Oberlo guarantees that your customers won’t receive any additional promotional materials from your suppliers. This means that they will be provided with neutral packaging. They don’t offer customized invoices or branded packaging like Spocket.
Spocket vs. Oberlo – Product Deliveries
Spocket has a faster delivery time, due to their suppliers being based in Europe and the US. The product usually arrives at the customer in between 2-7 days.
Oberlo, on the other hand, takes longer before products reach customers. Because most of Oberlo’s suppliers have warehouses in Asia and China, it takes longer for products to reach customers. Oberlo’s electronic package delivery takes around 20 days, but you can speed up delivery.
Spocket vs. Oberlo Support
Spocket offers a blog that provides tips and tricks, case studies, and a wealth of other articles. Spocket also has a help center that provides basic information about Spocket. If you have any questions, the chat system can help. For higher pricing plans, you can also access the chat support 24/7 and phone support.
Oberlo offers a lot of free content to sellers. This includes a Oberlo 101 course and podcasts. Videos and eBooks are also available. You can also access a helpful help center to assist you with any issues. Oberlo also offers a ticket system for additional support.
Spocket or Oberlo? Pricing Plans
Spocket and Oberlo offer a variety of pricing options and membership plans. Let’s take a look at both their plans.
Spocket comes in four pricing options, including:
| Plan | Pricing/ month (billed monthly) | The key features |
| No cost | $0 | This plan is designed for anyone who wants to browse Spocket’s product catalog |
| Starter | $24 | – 25 unique products – Email support |
| Pro | $49 | – 250 unique products 25 Premium Products – Branded Invoicing Chat Support |
| Empire | $99 | – 10,000 unique products Premium Products – Up to 10,000 – Branded Invoicing Chat Support |
Oberlo offers three pricing options:
| Plan | Pricing/ month | The key features |
| Explorer | $0 | 2 courses for free Guides and Ebooks Emails from Oberlo containing tips, stories and tactics 500 Products Unlimited Monthly Orders – Oberlo Chrome extension |
| Grad | $7.90 | All the Explorer Plan plus: – Weekly members-only real conversations with Oberlo advisors Oberlo Data provides trending product reports |
| Boss | $29.90 | Everything you need to know about the Grad Plan plus: Bulk Orders Tracking shipment Multiple staff accounts Affiliate Program Variant mapping CAPTCHA solver |
| Empire | $99 | – 10,000 unique products Premium Products – Up to 10,000 – Branded Invoicing Chat Support |
Spocket or Oberlo? The pros and cons
Spocket: The pros and cons
Pros:
- Bright and user-friendly interface
- It is easy to modify product descriptions and images
- Included is a recommended pricing tool
- Shipping faster
- High quality products are more common
Cons:
- Certain products can be locked behind a higher plan
- Oberlo has a smaller selection of products
Oberlo: The pros and cons
Pros:
- Interface is easy to navigate
- It is easy to modify product descriptions and images
- The recommended pricing tool is included
- There are many sellers to choose
Cons:
- The product quality can vary
- It is possible that shipping can take a while
- No customized/branded packaging, no invoices
The bottom line
Both apps have strengths and weaknesses, as you can see.
Oberlo has more products to choose from but it takes longer to ship products. Dropshipping is becoming more competitive, which can make this a problem for businesses.
Spocket, on the other hand, is more expensive than Oberlo but has a shorter delivery time and verified sellers making it an excellent platform.
Both apps are free and you should try them out before you commit to paying for a plan.
We hope you found our comparison of Spocket and Oberlo helpful. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this topic! Good luck with your dropshipping venture!
