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Avalara vs CJ Dropshipping

Avalara logo

Avalara

Software

Tax compliance done right

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CJ Dropshipping logo

CJ Dropshipping

Software

Sourcing and order fulfillment platform for dropshipping and e-commerce sellers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CJ Dropshipping has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Avalara plans start at $699 per state per year, so multi-state sellers multiply that figure rather than paying one subscription; 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: Avalara covers Tax calculation, CJ Dropshipping covers Product Sourcing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Avalara and CJ Dropshipping actually diverge.

Attributes where Avalara and CJ Dropshipping differ
AttributeAvalaraCJ Dropshipping
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
Founded20042014

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Avalara

  • Tax calculation
  • Returns filing
  • Exemption management
  • Document management
  • Real-time rates
  • QuickBooks
  • NetSuite
  • Shopify

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.

Avalara

  • Real-time sales tax calculation at checkoutnot CJ Dropshipping
  • Multi-state and multi-jurisdiction tax determinationnot CJ Dropshipping
  • VAT, lodging, communications and excise tax calculationnot CJ Dropshipping
  • Feeding tax results into an ERP or ecommerce platform through the APInot CJ Dropshipping

CJ Dropshipping

  • Finding and importing trending products without holding inventorynot Avalara
  • Fulfilling dropshipping orders placed on Shopify or WooCommerce storesnot Avalara
  • Sourcing custom-branded or private-label products for a storenot Avalara
  • Storing bulk inventory in overseas warehouses to reduce shipping timesnot Avalara
  • Print-on-demand product creation and fulfillmentnot Avalara

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Avalara

  • Plans start at $699 per state per year, so multi-state sellers multiply that figure rather than paying one subscription
  • Billed by transaction, where one API call is one transaction, so cost tracks invoice volume
  • The free option is limited to the Streamlined Sales Tax programme, in up to 25 states and only for qualifying businesses

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

Avalara

$29/month
  • AvaTax$50/month
    • Tax calculation
    • Exemption certificates
    • Returns filing

CJ Dropshipping

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the CJ Dropshipping review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Avalara if

  • You need tax calculation.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want returns filing.
Avalara review

Choose CJ Dropshipping if

  • You need product sourcing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want store integration.
CJ Dropshipping review

Questions people ask

Is Avalara or CJ Dropshipping better?
Neither clearly leads. Avalara starts at $29/month and CJ Dropshipping at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Avalara or CJ Dropshipping?
CJ Dropshipping has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Avalara and Free for CJ Dropshipping.
Does Avalara or CJ Dropshipping run on more platforms?
Avalara runs on Web, Api. 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. Avalara starts at $29/month.
What is Avalara best used for?
Avalara is most often used for real-time sales tax calculation at checkout, multi-state and multi-jurisdiction tax determination, vat, lodging, communications and excise tax calculation, feeding tax results into an erp or ecommerce platform through the api. Of those, real-time sales tax calculation at checkout and multi-state and multi-jurisdiction tax determination are not what CJ Dropshipping is typically brought in for.
What can Avalara do that CJ Dropshipping cannot?
Avalara covers Tax calculation, Returns filing, Exemption management, Document management. CJ Dropshipping covers Product Sourcing, Store Integration, Order Fulfillment, Global Warehousing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CJ 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.

Source
CJ 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.

Source
CJ 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.

Source
CJ 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.

Source
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