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CJ Dropshipping vs Shopify

CJ Dropshipping logo

CJ Dropshipping

Software

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shopify logo

Shopify

Software

The most trusted ecommerce platform to start, grow, and scale your business

From
$29/month
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: CJ Dropshipping shipping times can still be lengthy for products sourced from suppliers without CJ warehouse stock in the destination region.; Shopify using any payment provider other than Shopify Payments adds a transaction fee on top of the card rate, at 2% on Basic falling to 0.2% on Plus
  • They diverge on capability: CJ Dropshipping covers Product Sourcing, Shopify covers Hosted ecommerce platform.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where CJ Dropshipping and Shopify differ
AttributeCJ DropshippingShopify
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Platformsweb, apiWeb
Founded20142006

Identical on both: 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 CJ Dropshipping

  • Product Sourcing
  • Store Integration
  • Order Fulfillment
  • Global Warehousing
  • Custom Packaging & Branding
  • Shipment Tracking
  • Chrome Extension

Only in Shopify

  • Hosted ecommerce platform
  • Payment processing
  • Inventory management
  • Order tracking
  • Marketing automation
  • Apps and integrations
  • Multi-channel selling
  • SSL certificate

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

CJ Dropshipping

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

Shopify

  • Running a hosted ecommerce store with payments and fulfilmentnot CJ Dropshipping
  • Selling across online, in person and social channels from one cataloguenot CJ Dropshipping

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Shopify

  • Using any payment provider other than Shopify Payments adds a transaction fee on top of the card rate, at 2% on Basic falling to 0.2% on Plus
  • That fee makes the cheapest plan the most expensive place to use an outside processor, which is the opposite of how plans usually work
  • Card rates also improve with the plan, from 2.9% on Basic to 2.7% on Advanced
  • Amex is charged at a higher rate than other cards on every plan below Plus
  • Plus starts at $2,300 a month
  • The advertised lower monthly prices require paying a year up front

Pricing, plan by plan

CJ Dropshipping

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the CJ Dropshipping review.

Shopify

$29/month
  • Starter$5/month
    • Buy Button & Sales Channel
    • Abandoned checkout recovery
    • Basic reporting
  • Basic$29/month
    • Online store
    • Up to 2 staff accounts
    • Basic reports
  • Standard$79/month
    • Professional reports
    • Gift cards
    • Up to 15 staff accounts

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.
CJ Dropshipping review

Choose Shopify if

  • You need hosted ecommerce platform.
  • You also want payment processing.
Shopify review

Questions people ask

Is CJ Dropshipping or Shopify better?
Neither clearly leads. CJ Dropshipping starts at Free and Shopify at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CJ Dropshipping or Shopify?
CJ Dropshipping has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CJ Dropshipping and $29/month for Shopify.
Does CJ Dropshipping or Shopify run on more platforms?
CJ Dropshipping runs on web, api. Shopify runs on Web.
Can I use CJ Dropshipping for free?
Yes. CJ Dropshipping has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Shopify starts at $29/month.
What is CJ Dropshipping best used for?
CJ Dropshipping is most often used for finding and importing trending products without holding inventory, fulfilling dropshipping orders placed on shopify or woocommerce stores, sourcing custom-branded or private-label products for a store, storing bulk inventory in overseas warehouses to reduce shipping times. Of those, finding and importing trending products without holding inventory and fulfilling dropshipping orders placed on shopify or woocommerce stores are not what Shopify is typically brought in for.
What can CJ Dropshipping do that Shopify cannot?
CJ Dropshipping covers Product Sourcing, Store Integration, Order Fulfillment, Global Warehousing. Shopify covers Hosted ecommerce platform, Payment processing, Inventory management, Order tracking.

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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