AliExpress Dropshipping With Shopify (2027)

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Dropshipping with AliExpress lets you sell products from AliExpress suppliers, who ship orders directly to your customers. You don’t buy stock upfront or pack orders, so you can focus on building and marketing your store.

This guide outlines how to dropship on Shopify using AliExpress, with tips from dropshippers and other store owners.

AliExpress dropshipping in 2026: quick-start summary

Starting an AliExpress dropshipping business in 2026 follows four core steps:

1. Pick a product niche.
2. Vet AliExpress suppliers using seller ratings and a test order.
3. Build a store on a platform such as Shopify.
4. Connect an automation app like DSers to sync orders and inventory.

AliExpress doesn’t charge a subscription fee for dropshipping access. Your main cost is the products you buy for each order.

Best platforms for AliExpress dropshipping

On Shopify, the DSers app imports AliExpress products into your store and places supplier orders in bulk. Paid plans also flag supplier price changes.

Shopify Collective is Shopify’s free sourcing app. It connects store owners with verified Shopify brands instead of AliExpress suppliers, with profit margins that typically run 20% to 50%.

Apps such as DropCommerce, Syncee, and AI Dropshipping connect store owners who want shorter delivery times with suppliers in North America and Europe.

What is AliExpress?

AliExpress is a marketplace with more than 150 million active shoppers across 200 countries and regions. It is owned by China-based Alibaba.

AliExpress sellers act as dropshipping suppliers: they ship each order to your customer. List prices for trending products can look low, but your final cost depends on shipping, duties, taxes, and returns.

Products include clothing, jewelry, electronics, and home décor.

Does AliExpress allow dropshipping?

AliExpress allows dropshipping.

You can connect AliExpress to your store and start dropshipping with an app like DSers, which offers a free plan to import products from the marketplace into your store. Other features, such as TikTok “hot product” lists and bulk price changes, are included in paid plans starting at $19.90 per month.

Other dropshipping apps for AliExpress work similarly:

1. Browse AliExpress for items to sell.
2. Select a product using a dropshipping app.
3. Use the app to import the product to your store.
4. Edit the listing, including the sale price.
5. When you receive an order, the dropshipping app notifies the AliExpress seller.
6. Track the shipment as the seller sends it to your customer.

What is the AliExpress Dropshipping Center?

The AliExpress Dropshipping Center is the marketplace’s hub for dropshipping resources. It has a product research tool that lets dropshippers find product ideas and then search for suppliers who offer them.

Setting up your AliExpress dropshipping store with Shopify

Take these steps to create your AliExpress dropshipping store with Shopify:

1. Choose AliExpress dropshipping products to sell
2. Select a reliable supplier
3. Build your Shopify dropshipping store
4. Add AliExpress products to your Shopify store

1. Choose AliExpress dropshipping products to sell

The first step in setting up your store is selecting a dropshipping niche.

Review AliExpress product categories and choose a category you understand or can research well.

Once you’ve chosen a niche, start choosing products to dropship. You don’t need a huge selection; among surveyed store owners, 41% launched their Shopify store with a single product.

Here are five criteria to consider:

• No brands, fakes, or knockoffs. Skip products with existing branding unless you are authorized to resell them. In an episode of Shopify Masters, Kamil Sattar, a dropshipping creator known as The Ecom King, says, “Do not sell products that are copyrighted. If it’s got Marvel on it, if it’s got any big brand like Coca-Cola in it, stay away from it.”
• Compare tracked shipping options. ePacket delivery takes 7 to 15 business days for lightweight goods, while DHL Express takes two to seven. Compare the tracked options on each listing before you choose.
• More than 300 orders. Use the filter options to sort products by the highest number of orders.
• More than a 4.5-star rating. A product rating above 4.5 stars can indicate positive buyer feedback. Read the reviews before relying on the score.
• Low wholesale price with a high margin potential. Use product cost as one input in your profit margin model. Your retail price must cover product cost, shipping, duties, taxes, payment fees, returns, support, and marketing.

“When I started using data, I started taking my opinion out of it, and I started looking for true demand in the market,” says AC Hampton, founder of Supreme Ecom. “That’s when everything changed for me. Every single product that I’ve ever sold since that point, there’s not one single product that I would be like, ‘Wow, I would buy this for myself.’ Not one.”

2. Select a reliable supplier

Create a plan for selecting reputable suppliers. Here are some signals that suggest a reliable AliExpress supplier:

Good supplier stats

Next to a seller’s name, AliExpress shows a score representing their feedback rating. Click the seller’s name to get a detailed breakdown of feedback.

You’ll also see how long a supplier has been active on AliExpress, including how they’re scored for sending items as described, communication, and shipping speeds.

Original product photos

Do your due diligence to ensure the product photos are from the manufacturer, not another retailer. Do a Google image search through Google Lens to see where else they appear online.

Helpful communication

Ask a supplier questions before placing an order. A reliable seller should answer questions about shipping, packaging, returns, and product details. If a supplier doesn’t respond before you order, avoid relying on them for customer orders.

“We’ve got processes in place. If we realize it’s three strikes and you’re out, or we’re getting product that’s being dumped on us, and we’re not getting much yield out of it, that impacts how we do business with said suppliers,” says Divyansh (Divy) Ojha, founder and CEO of Odd Bunch, in a Shopify Masters interview.

Successful test orders

Do a test order before committing to a supplier. This will help you assess the customer experience, including shipping times and product quality.

“I don’t see a lot of people that are very successful with dropshipping without product samples,” says Jacqui McLellan, a Shopify Community moderator. “Ideally, you want to know what you’re selling to other people.”

3. Build your Shopify dropshipping store

You can use Shopify’s AI store builder to create your store. Start with the core store setup. You can refine branding, design, and apps after the product catalog is in place.

4. Add AliExpress products to your Shopify store

Once you’ve set up your Shopify store and have selected a product category and supplier, it’s time to add products. To do this:

1. Install the DSers app and create an AliExpress account.
2. Browse the marketplace and choose a product to dropship.
3. Add the product to your import list.
4. Edit product details using the Edit icon.
5. Click Push to send the product to your store.

Write product descriptions

Rewrite product copy to explain it clearly in your store’s brand voice and tone. More than half of Gen Z shoppers surveyed by Salsify said high-quality product content increases their trust in a brand, while 37% of all shoppers surveyed said enhanced product content like comparison charts is one of the most important product page elements for completing a purchase.

To make the process easier, use Shopify’s built-in AI tool, Sidekick, to generate product descriptions that speak to your target audience. A 2026 Shopify study found that 67% of US entrepreneurs say AI tools are making entrepreneurship more accessible.

Communicate delivery times

Since many AliExpress orders ship cross-border, delivery windows depend on the shipping method: ePacket takes 7 to 15 days, and China Post Registered Small Parcel takes 7 to 30 days.Include delivery estimates on product pages or in your shipping policy. Narvar’s 2026 study found 70% of surveyed shoppers call an accurate delivery date “very important,” ranking it ahead of delivery speed. Base your estimates on the supplier, destination, and shipping method shown on the listing.

If you don’t advertise shipping estimates, the FTC’s mail order rule expects you to ship within 30 days. If you can’t ship on time, you must ask the customer to agree to the delay or cancel the order and promptly refund them.

Use an order tracking app

In Kenco’s 2026 survey of North American shoppers, 40% said they expect real-time order tracking to stay updated on the status of their purchase. The DSers app automatically pulls the tracking number from your supplier into Shopify once they upload it to AliExpress. Customers can then use Shopify’s native order tracking feature to keep tabs on their order.

Offer free shipping

If you find AliExpress sellers that offer free or low-cost shipping, decide whether to include shipping in the product price or show it separately at checkout. In the same Kenco survey, 73% of shoppers consider free shipping as standard when shopping online, but it still needs to fit your margin.

Price products appropriately

Consider the product’s cost and any other expenses when pricing your products. You should have enough margin to cover marketing, shipping, returns, payment processing, and other admin expenses.

Track product prices with the Cost per item field in your Shopify admin. This data feeds the profit reports in Shopify Analytics so you can measure profitability when dropshipping through your Shopify store.

How to dropship with AliExpress

Dropshipping with AliExpress works much like other dropshipping processes. When you receive an order, place and pay for it on AliExpress through the app and provide the supplier with your customer’s name and shipping address. The seller then ships the product to the customer.

Order items manually or automate the process with a tool.

Manual ordering

If you want to purchase items manually, keep a spreadsheet with a list of products on your site, the amount you’re selling them for, the amount they cost on AliExpress, and a link to the AliExpress listing.

“You could get away with not using an app; it’s just going to be a lot more work," says Shopify’s Jacqui.

Automated ordering

Dropshipping automation apps like DSers can reduce manual order entry as your order volume grows.

DSers can import products and place orders, but the store owner still reviews and pays for them on AliExpress. On paid plans, the app also alerts you to supplier price changes and suggests other suppliers.

“The more your business grows, the more you might need other things,” says Jacqui, “like a higher paid plan for your dropshipping app to handle more orders, or for your email marketing app to send out more emails.”

Ordering tips

Once you’ve found the products you want to sell, here’s how to manage the dropshipping fulfillment process with AliExpress.

Let the seller know that you’re dropshipping

Leave a message for the AliExpress seller when placing your order. Ask them not to include invoices, promotions, or supplier-branded inserts in the package.

Use a simple note, such as “This item is for dropshipping. Please do not include invoices, promotions, or branded inserts.”

Handle delivery issues

After customers receive their orders, give them time to contact you if there are any product or delivery issues. Shopify Inbox lets you answer these questions in chat. Set up instant answers to FAQs so customers get a real-time response without waiting for you to intervene.

If an issue arises, contact the supplier via AliExpress so they can address it. If the same issue repeats, consider removing the product or switching suppliers.

Refunds and returns

You’re responsible for setting a returns policy. Check whether your supplier accepts returns for items they’ve fulfilled. Match yours with the supplier’s terms if they do, then configure self-serve returns inside Shopify to take the administrative work off your plate.

If a product is damaged, ask your customer to take photos and send them to the AliExpress seller. Use AliExpress Buyer Protection if a resolution isn’t possible.

How much does it cost to dropship on AliExpress?

AliExpress doesn’t charge a monthly supplier-access fee to place orders, but the product cost, your store platform, apps, payment processing, shipping, duties, and marketing can add costs.

Shopify currently starts with a free three-day trial. After the trial, most plans start at $1 per month for the first three months before standard pricing applies.

Some dropshipping apps have free plans. Others charge monthly fees or usage-based fees.

What to consider when dropshipping with AliExpress

Consider these benefits and drawbacks when using AliExpress to dropship products:

Dropshipper-oriented marketplace

AliExpress runs a Dropshipping Center with product research and sourcing tools, but you still need to vet each supplier.

Some listings include product photos, descriptions, and product details. Confirm you can use supplier images, or use your own product photography.

Dropship from AliExpress to other marketplaces

You can dropship on Amazon and other marketplaces using AliExpress by connecting both platforms to a Shopify store. Shopify will automatically update marketplace listings to match your inventory.

Here’s how:

1. Use Shopify to create an online store.
2. Add a dropshipping app to your store that sources inventory from AliExpress.
3. Import AliExpress products to your store.
4. Add the Shopify Marketplace Connect app to your store.
5. Use the app to create and manage listings on Amazon and other marketplaces.

Check each marketplace’s dropshipping policy before listing AliExpress-sourced products.

Amazon requires you to be the seller of record. It also prohibits packing slips, invoices, packaging, or other information that identifies another seller or third-party supplier.

eBay allows dropshipping when orders are fulfilled from a wholesale supplier. It does not allow sellers to list an item on eBay and then buy it from another retailer or marketplace that ships to the customer.

Diversify sales channels to establish more control. “I can’t rely on other people’s marketing completely,” says Louise Verity, owner of Bookishly, in a Shopify Masters interview. “I’ll continue to sell on marketplaces for as long as it’s useful, but I can’t be completely reliant on somebody else’s website.”

Competition from other retailers

When you dropship products from AliExpress, you may compete with other retailers selling the same products. Customers may also be able to buy some items directly from AliExpress.

“The only way to be successful in dropshipping nowadays is to have a real identity as a brand, and have a real legitimate business, even if it’s not legit to start with,” says Cole Turner, who built a million-dollar dropshipping business in college. “If you’re still shipping from AliExpress, you still have to be believable. People have to trust you.”

To stand out, consider Shopify Collective, which lets you sell products from established Shopify brands instead of AliExpress listings.

Tariffs

If you dropship products from AliExpress to US customers, duties and import taxes should be part of your pricing and checkout planning.

The US suspended the de minimis exemption in August 2025, which means imports valued at $800 or less are now subject to applicable duties. Tariff rules depend on the product, country of origin, destination, and HS code. Seller location is not the same as country of origin, so check product details and consult legal advice before estimating duties.

Shopify has tools to help you manage tariffs, with options to:

• Add HS codes to your products
• Collect duties and import taxes at checkout, including for specific markets
• Offer delivery duty paid (DDP) shipping

What are some of the best AliExpress dropshipping products?

The best dropshipping product depends on your experience, interests, profit margin potential, and brand identity.

Here are some example dropshipping products to consider:

Research any laws or regulations that apply to your business. In the US, for example, products designed for children 12 and younger need third-party testing and a Children’s Product Certificate before you can sell them. Seek independent legal counsel before importing products.

Check product claims too. Health or performance claims, like those for LED face masks or sunscreen, need evidence behind them before you repeat them in listings.

Alternative dropshipping suppliers to consider

While AliExpress has a wide product selection, exploring alternative suppliers can help address common challenges like long shipping times and intense competition.

Shopify Collective: Shopify’s curated supplier network

Shopify Collective is Shopify’s own built-in supplier network, letting you source products from other Shopify brands and sell them without holding inventory.

Shopify Collective connects you directly with Shopify-powered brands—no intermediaries—with domestic shipping and real-time inventory sync. It’s free for stores on an active plan with Shopify Payments payouts, based in a supported country such as the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, or most of the EU. You can connect only with suppliers in your country who use your currency.

Sweet Water Decor uses Collective to fill gaps in their own product catalog and has connected with 35 suppliers.

“Collective’s discovery feature makes it incredibly easy to find specific item types we want to test or products we don’t want to stock but still want to offer our customers,” says Mackenzie Allshouse, UX and merchandising associate.

Domestic supplier networks

Consider these dropshipping apps that connect you with suppliers closer to your customers:

• DropCommerce. Access US and Canadian suppliers with two- to seven-day shipping within North America.
• Syncee. Connect with global brands using automated imports, inventory updates, and order forwarding.
• AI Dropship.: Source from dropshipping suppliers with two- to seven-day delivery.

Growing your AliExpress dropshipping business

Once you’ve made your first few sales, it’s time to think about growing your online business.

Build supplier relationships

Once you find reliable suppliers, keep ordering from them and ask about volume pricing as your orders grow.

AliExpress suppliers may ask you to use WeChat or WhatsApp to communicate, but keeping conversations within AliExpress gives AliExpress support agents a record to review if you run into issues.

Market your business

Marketing any online business is challenging. Shopify’s 2025 survey of store owners found that marketing is the top first-year challenge at 37%, followed by finding customers at 36%.*

Marketing helps customers find, evaluate, and buy your products. It’s also the umbrella of activities you do to build your brand, such as creating content that’s helpful and entertaining.

Fortunately, there are many marketing strategies to test and apply to your dropshipping store:

• Email marketing with Shopify Messaging
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Influencer marketing
• Social media marketing
• Referral programs
• Google Ads

“The No. 1 way for dropshippers to see success is through content,” AC says. “You can have the best product in the world, you can have the best store in the world, but if nobody knows you, or nobody’s seen you, or you are not making people feel like they need it through how you market your product, nobody’s going to come to your website and buy it in the first place.”

Start your AliExpress dropshipping business

AliExpress dropshipping allows store owners to quickly test and validate product ideas. If you’re unsure if you’re capable of selling a certain product, add it to your store and test it. And if it doesn’t work out, remove the item and start testing something else.

You don’t buy inventory upfront, so a product that doesn’t sell costs you a test order and your marketing spend, not a shelf of unsold stock. AliExpress fits stores that want low product costs and many products to test, and whose customers will wait up to 30 days for delivery. Domestic suppliers fit stores where speed matters: DropCommerce and AI Dropshipping list delivery in two to seven days, and Shopify Collective connects you with brands in your own country.

Whether you choose AliExpress or explore domestic supplier networks like Shopify Collective, you can use a Shopify free trial to build your dropshipping store today.

*Based on a November 2025 survey of 500 Shopify merchants conducted in English across Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States. Respondents were established merchants with two or more years on the platform. Results reflect the experiences of this specific sample and may not be representative of all merchants.