You’ve probably heard of these two apps if you own a Shopify shop. They help retailers improve their product sourcing process. Both apps can automate your dropship shop. Spocket, Importify and MXED are all highly recommended Shopify apps. However, today we will be focusing our attention on Modalyst app and Oberlo app.
These Shopify apps do a great job of simplifying dropshipping, and making products easily available to ecommerce businesses.
There are some things that everyone wants to do to make running an ecommerce business easier.
- Automation tools
- One-click product sourcing
- Automated order fulfillment
- Drop shipping vendors in large numbers
Let’s compare these dropshipping apps.
Modalyst and Oberlo
What’s Modalyst?
We’ll start with Modalyst. This dropshipping marketplace connects store owners with premium suppliers.
This platform is populated mainly by experienced dropshippers or bona fide brands. They are committed to their products and will only sell high-quality products.
Shopify store owners often have problems with quality and delivery times from wholesalers overseas. Modalyst is a mobile app that aggregates products from top European and American suppliers. Their supplier network is unique and comprehensive.
Modalyst can also establish standard shipping policies and procedures because the products are supplied only by brands that have been independently vetted. This allows online shoppers to enjoy faster and more reliable shipping.
Modalyst offers a wide range of non-fashion and fashion suppliers, along with product catalogues, that you can easily add to your shop. These vendors provide detailed product pages which allow Shopify stores import images, descriptions and inventory levels to their dropship store. Retailers can import new products to their online stores easily when they become available.
It is easy to navigate through a variety of options and add products quickly and easily. This makes product sourcing quick and easy.
Modalyst Platform
You can add millions of products to your Shopify store through the platform’s product catalog. Modalyst’s unique feature is the fact that many of their sellers only sell their products through this platform. This is why Modalyst is one of the most popular Shopify apps. Spocket works with Etsy to bring new products to the Spocket App. This is a different approach to Spocket. This exclusivity allows dropshipping businesses to offer unique products that customers may not have seen elsewhere.
Modalyst is a platform that allows you to create a new store. You must also integrate Modalyst with your online business. Shopify offers a free Shopify App that lets you connect the two platforms to start selling up 25 products. They also offer apps that can sync with Modalyst if you use Wix and BigCommerce.
This strategy allows you to upload all products to your store. The app will import all images, prices and descriptions. This part of the process requires no manual effort, except for making price adjustments or removing variants.
You will be notified every time a customer makes a purchase in your store. The notification will include a confirmation and a link to pay the seller on Modalyst. The supplier will then prepare the item for shipping and ship it to you with no invoice or receipt. Packaging is unbranded.
Modalyst allows you to manage everything from product sourcing to payment processing. It’s easy to use and well-organized. All your information can be stored in one place so that you don’t lose track orders and shipping information.
Dropshipping apps don’t require you to buy anything or pay up front to list their products in your store. You can list up to 25 items for free, without the need to hold any inventory.
What’s Oberlo?
Let’s now look at Oberlo, the drop shipping plugin. Oberlo is one the most popular Shopify apps on the Shopify app store. Oberlo works in the same way as Modalyst plugin, allowing you to upload and manage products through your ecommerce store using the Oberlo app.
Oberlo can only be used on Shopify as a Shopify app. It doesn’t integrate with Woocommerce, Bigcommerce, Wix, or Modalyst. After you’ve created your account, you can quickly browse the Oberlo marketplace to find the best products and add them to your store in a few clicks. Oberlo will automatically send you all product information and inventory data from the listing, including images, descriptions, wholesale prices, and variants. You don’t need to make any changes unless you wish.
Oberlo uses Aliexpress to manage its supplier network. This is done via a Chrome Extension that ecommerce merchants can use. The Chrome Extension for Oberlo is similar to Importify. This extension lets you import products from Ali express’s product catalog. Aliexpress.com lists thousands of wholesalers and manufacturers. Oberlo does not vet dropshipping suppliers before allowing them to be listed on the Oberlo Marketplace. They can be sorted or filtered to help you find the best products in each category.
Oberlo offers wholesalers only from China, which can lead to low reliability and very long shipping times. Modalyst, on the other hand, specializes in quick shipping times for independent brands.
Oberlo
Oberlo is easy to use and user-friendly. You can search Aliexpress products directly from the Oberlo dashboard. The dashboard lists all your items, along with details such as sales and earnings.
You’ll get an email notification when an order is placed through your online shop. Once you click that button, you can locate the product and then click the order button. After you click that button, Aliexpress or wherever you are will process your order and handle all aspects of shipping and packaging. You should also include a note asking your Aliexpress vendor not to include any promotional items in your package.
Oberlo’s automatic updates are one of their best features. Prices fluctuate based on supply/demand. If you have 1000 products in your Shopify store, it’s impossible to keep up with price changes. This can impact your margins so it’s important to be aware of these fluctuations. Oberlo will alert you whenever a supplier changes the price, removes a variation or runs out of stock. Your supplier will notify you immediately if they run out of product so that you can either take it down or list the product as out of stock.
Modalyst vs Oberlo: Pricing Tiers
It is important to know how much you will have to pay to receive the benefits of these services. Both apps offer a free trial. They offer a merchant plan that is free and unlimited in length. They are therefore considered to be the best Shopify apps. This category also includes Productpro and Printful.
I believe that each one of these plugins is very affordable for Shopify sites. These plugins are great for boosting sales because they have access to many amazing products and all the advanced features. Let’s have a look at the details.
Modalyst Monthly Plan
- Hobby – No-cost, non-premium suppliers, 5% transaction fees, 25 products limit, unlimited orders
- Start-Up $35 per month, non-premium supplier, 5% transaction fees, 250 product limit and unlimited orders
- Pro $90 per month, all suppliers, $5 transaction fee, unlimited products and unlimited orders
Oberlo Monthly Plans
- Starter Plan – 50 Orders per Month, 500 Products
- Basic Plan – $29.90 per month, 10,000 products and 500 orders per month
- Pro Plan – $79.90 per month, 30,000 products and unlimited orders
Let’s take a closer look at this. The Modalyst app has 25 products while the Modalyst plan doesn’t have an order limit. This is an advantage for niche entrepreneurs. You may never have to upgrade if you sell 25 products well.
Modalyst offers pricing automation, real-time inventory updates and a Modalyst support team on weekends. However, they are the only app to charge a transaction fee. Oberlo payments will incur a transaction charge. Transaction fees can be a problem for any business model with low margins.
How Two Dropshipping Apps Compare
You’re ultimately comparing two apps that do the exact same thing but each has its own unique quirks and downfalls.
Modalyst can be a great tool for Shopify users looking to find unique products on a global marketplace. Modalyst Private Label allows you to sell products with your branding and labeling. Modalyst charges a 5% transaction charge. If you consider ecommerce at scale, that would be $25,000 in revenue.
Modalyst’s primary benefit is its ability to offer a variety of products from premium suppliers and independent brands. If you’re willing to pay the Pro plan, you have access to the entire market.
These suppliers have unique products that are hard to find elsewhere, and these packages come with faster shipping times. Modalyst can also sync with many ecommerce platforms including Shopify and Wix. The Oberlo app is limited to the Shopify platform.
Modalyst Pros
- High-quality products
- Unique suppliers are available on a marketplace
- Private label dropshipping program
- Profit margins higher
- Fast Shipping
- Shipments from the United States
- Most US/EU suppliers, some with free shipping
- Tracking information automatically at the lowest pricing plan
- Integrate with Shopify and Wix & BigCommerce
- Notifications about inventory level
- Communicate directly with suppliers
Modalyst Cons
- All pricing tiers subject to a 5% transaction fee
- There is no access to premium brands for the bottom two pricing plans
- There is a limited selection of low-cost products
- There is no free trial
Oberlo Pros
- Interface is simple to use
- Aliexpress product reviews
- Strong reputation as one the best Shopify plugins
- Shopify Dropshippers can be integrated
- Automated order fulfillment
- Strong customer support network
- Long-term savings are more economical with no transaction fees
- Oberlo suppliers offer quicker shipping times and more reliable products
Oberlo Cons
- Shopify is the only place to find this product
- Only able to source products through Oberlo or Aliexpress dropshipping platform
- Aliexpress products take a long time to ship
- Dropshipping sellers on Aliexpress are generally not as trustworthy.
- There is no free trial
The Final Verdict
Modalyst is a better choice for those who want to have a more professional supplier. Oberlo was created by dropshippers, for dropshippers. They understand your struggles and difficulties.
Oberlo’s Aliexpress partnership simplifies ordering. However, their low-tier pricing structure makes it almost impossible to order. They don’t offer order tracking with their free plan. They don’t charge a transaction fee of 5% which is a huge advantage when sales pick up and you realize how much money you are wasting.
Each app has its own distinct twist, with both advantages and disadvantages. Both apps come with a free plan so you can try them both and find the one that suits your needs.
