E-commerce · head to head
3dcart vs CJ Dropshipping

3dcart
E-commerce
All-in-one ecommerce platform for online retailers
- From
- $19/month
- Rated
- -

CJ Dropshipping
E-commerce
Sourcing and order fulfillment platform for dropshipping and e-commerce sellers
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only CJ Dropshipping has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 3dcart limited scalability compared to enterprise e-commerce platforms; CJ Dropshipping shipping times can still be lengthy for products sourced from suppliers without CJ warehouse stock in the destination region.
- They diverge on capability: 3dcart covers Store builder, CJ Dropshipping covers Product Sourcing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which 3dcart and CJ Dropshipping actually diverge.
| Attribute | 3dcart | CJ Dropshipping |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $19/month | Free |
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | web, api |
| Category | Unknown | E-commerce |
| Founded | 1997 | 2014 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in 3dcart
- Store builder
- Unlimited products
- Shopping cart
- Payment processing
- Inventory management
- Email marketing
- SEO optimization
- Mobile responsive
Only in CJ Dropshipping
- Product Sourcing
- Store Integration
- Order Fulfillment
- Global Warehousing
- Custom Packaging & Branding
- Shipment Tracking
- Chrome Extension
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
3dcart
No use cases recorded yet. See the 3dcart review.
CJ Dropshipping
- Finding and importing trending products without holding inventorynot 3dcart
- Fulfilling dropshipping orders placed on Shopify or WooCommerce storesnot 3dcart
- Sourcing custom-branded or private-label products for a storenot 3dcart
- Storing bulk inventory in overseas warehouses to reduce shipping timesnot 3dcart
- Print-on-demand product creation and fulfillmentnot 3dcart
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
3dcart
- Limited scalability compared to enterprise e-commerce platforms
- Payment processing tied to Shift4 Payments after acquisition
- Fewer advanced marketing and analytics features than competitors
CJ Dropshipping
- Shipping times can still be lengthy for products sourced from suppliers without CJ warehouse stock in the destination region.
- Quality control depends on individual third-party factories and suppliers, which varies across product categories.
- Platform navigation and account verification steps have been reported as confusing or slow by some sellers.
- Pricing and fees for sourcing agents and custom services are not transparently listed and often require direct negotiation.
Pricing, plan by plan
3dcart
$19/month- Starter$19/month
- Unlimited products
- Basic templates
- Email support
CJ Dropshipping
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the CJ Dropshipping review.
Which should you pick?
Choose CJ Dropshipping if
- You need product sourcing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on web, api.
- You also want store integration.
Questions people ask
- Is 3dcart or CJ Dropshipping better?
- Neither clearly leads. 3dcart starts at $19/month and CJ Dropshipping at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, 3dcart or CJ Dropshipping?
- CJ Dropshipping has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $19/month for 3dcart and Free for CJ Dropshipping.
- Does 3dcart or CJ Dropshipping run on more platforms?
- 3dcart runs on Web. CJ Dropshipping runs on web, api.
- Can I use CJ Dropshipping for free?
- Yes. CJ Dropshipping has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 3dcart starts at $19/month.
- What can 3dcart do that CJ Dropshipping cannot?
- 3dcart covers Store builder, Unlimited products, Shopping cart, Payment processing. CJ Dropshipping covers Product Sourcing, Store Integration, Order Fulfillment, Global Warehousing.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
3dcart: What is the starting price for 3dcart?
3dcart (now Shift4Shop) starts at $19/month with no setup fees, transaction fees, or hidden fees.
SourceCJ Dropshipping: Is CJ Dropshipping free to use?
Yes, creating an account and using core sourcing and listing features on CJ Dropshipping is free, with no mandatory monthly subscription; costs instead come from product prices, shipping, and per-service fees, as reported by third-party reviews.
Source3dcart: Does 3dcart include hosting?
Yes. 3dcart includes web hosting, domain support, and built-in website building tools with no separate hosting costs.
SourceCJ Dropshipping: How does CJ Dropshipping make money if it's free to join?
CJ Dropshipping earns primarily through commissions and service fees on sourcing, warehousing, order fulfillment, shipping, and print-on-demand, rather than a flat subscription, as reported by third-party reviews.
Source3dcart: What happened to 3dcart?
Shift4 Payments acquired 3dcart in November 2020. The platform is now operated under the name Shift4Shop but maintains the same core functionality and pricing.
SourceCJ Dropshipping: What fees does CJ Dropshipping charge for fulfillment?
CJ charges weight- and location-based inbound/outbound handling fees, per-SKU inspection fees, labeling fees, and storage fees after a free period (30-90 days), on top of shipping costs that vary by route and speed.
Source3dcart: Does 3dcart offer free templates?
Yes. 3dcart provides dozens of professionally designed, industry-specific templates that are mobile-friendly, SEO optimized, and highly customizable.
SourceCJ Dropshipping: Does CJ Dropshipping have paid membership tiers?
In addition to its free tier, CJ Dropshipping offers optional paid membership tiers reported around $15.99-$59.99/month that add extra sourcing requests, VIP product access, and priority support, per third-party reviews.
Source3dcart: What payment methods does 3dcart support?
3dcart integrates with multiple payment gateways including Shift4 Payments, Stripe, PayPal, and other major payment processors.
SourceRelated pages
More on CJ Dropshipping
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- CJ Dropshipping vs Loox
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