Is Oberlo Still on Shopify? (2025 Update for Dropshippers)

Here’s the quick answer: No. Oberlo was permanently removed from the Shopify App Store on June 15, 2022. Shopify now recommends using DSers as the official alternative, but other top options include Zendrop, CJ Dropshipping, AutoDS, and Spocket — all of which offer similar or better features for product sourcing, automation, and fulfillment.

But if you’re serious about dropshipping — or you’re just getting started — it’s worth understanding why that happened, what it means for your business, and what tools are worth using now.

In this article, I’ll break down:

• What happened to Oberlo
• Why Shopify shut it down
• What apps are replacing it
• How this impacts new and experienced dropshippers
• The best alternatives (with pros and cons)
• What Shopify recommends now

Let’s break it all down properly — with facts, numbers, and real-world experience from inside the industry.

What Was Oberlo?

Oberlo was the app that made AliExpress dropshipping easy for beginners.

If you’re not familiar, it worked like this:

1. You’d browse products on AliExpress.
2. With one click, Oberlo would import them to your Shopify store.
3. Once a customer ordered, Oberlo handled the rest — forwarding the order to the supplier and syncing the tracking info.

For years, it was the first tool everyone mentioned when teaching dropshipping.
It was beginner-friendly, had a simple UI, and integrated tightly with Shopify.

Here’s a breakdown of what Oberlo used to offer:

Oberlo was also owned by Shopify, which made it more trustworthy in the eyes of most merchants.
It had millions of users and dominated the dropshipping space for several years.

So… Why Did Shopify Shut Down Oberlo?

That’s the question that confused a lot of people — especially because Shopify actually acquired Oberlo back in 2017.

The app was doing well. It had brand awareness. People were still using it.
So why pull the plug?

Here’s what I’ve seen behind the scenes, based on research and industry signals.

1. Shopify’s focus shifted

Shopify made some major infrastructure changes between 2020–2022.
They wanted to streamline their ecosystem, reduce bugs, and push merchants toward tools that scaled better.

Oberlo, built with older architecture, didn’t keep up as well. Shopify wasn’t updating it quickly enough, and the app started to fall behind other options.

2. DSers was gaining ground — fast

DSers is an AliExpress dropshipping app that grew quickly, offering:

• Bulk order processing (you could fulfill 100+ orders at once)
• Better product mapping
• Faster syncing with AliExpress
• Built-in supplier recommendations

Shopify started recommending DSers and made it their official AliExpress partner.

It didn’t take long for people to connect the dots:
Shopify was planning to retire Oberlo and shift merchants to DSers.

3. They wanted to reduce internal development overhead

Shopify is a platform business.
Maintaining its own in-house dropshipping app like Oberlo probably wasn’t scalable long term.

Rather than competing with third-party tools, Shopify decided to step back, let partners handle dropshipping tech, and instead focus on its core infrastructure.

The Official Shutdown Timeline

Here’s how the shutdown of Oberlo went down.

If you visit Oberlo’s page now, you’ll either see a 404 error or a redirect to DSers.

If You Still Have Old Oberlo Data…

If you had Oberlo installed before June 2022, your store would have stopped syncing orders the moment the shutdown happened.

Any data that wasn’t manually exported — product lists, orders, customer info — is gone.

This is why I always tell new store owners: back up your store regularly.

What Are The Best Oberlo Alternatives Now?

Since Oberlo shut down, dropshippers have had to adapt quickly.
Luckily, several other apps are now more powerful, more scalable, and better supported than Oberlo ever was.

Here are my top recommended tools, based on real experience:

1. DSers (Official AliExpress Partner)

Pros:

• It’s the official Shopify-recommended alternative
• Scales with you as you grow
• Faster order processing than Oberlo ever had

Cons:

• UI can feel clunky at first
• Built mostly for AliExpress-only dropshipping

My take: If you’re starting out with AliExpress, use DSers. It’s stable and has the Shopify stamp of approval.

2. Zendrop

Pros:

• Fast US shipping
• Great support
• Private labeling options

Cons:

• Smaller product catalog than AliExpress
• Not free for all features

My take: Zendrop is ideal if you’re looking to offer faster shipping and better customer experience. AliExpress can take weeks — Zendrop can get it to your customer in under 10 days.

3. CJ Dropshipping

Pros:

• Better product range than most AliExpress-only tools
• Warehouses outside China
• Print-on-demand integration

Cons:

• Dashboard can feel overwhelming
• Not all products ship fast

My take: Great if you want a mix of AliExpress-style products and branded options. Works well for intermediate stores.

4. AutoDS

Pros:

• AI-assisted automation
• Product research built-in
• Supports multiple platforms

Cons:

• Paid-only
• Bit of a learning curve

My take: If you’re running a large store and want automation across the board, AutoDS is a powerful solution. More advanced than most Oberlo users ever needed — but perfect for growth.

5. Spocket

Pros:

• Very fast shipping for local orders
• Higher perceived value products
• Branded packaging options

Cons:

• Doesn’t work with AliExpress
• Premium pricing

My take: If you’re building a brand focused on trust and quick delivery, Spocket is a strong option. Just know you’re paying more per product.

How Should Dropshippers Adapt in 2025?

The landscape is still changing, but here’s what I’ve seen work well:

Stop chasing shortcuts. Oberlo was great for beginners, but growth requires more.

Start building better systems:

• Use DSers or CJ Dropshipping for core inventory
• Use Zendrop or Spocket for faster-shipping options
• Split-test products between suppliers
• Use product bundling to increase AOV

Focus on customer experience:

• AliExpress-only shipping is often too slow in 2025
• Use US or EU-based suppliers if your audience expects quick delivery
• Always test shipping times before scaling

What Shopify Says Now

Shopify’s own help docs confirm this:

“Oberlo is no longer available. We recommend switching to DSers for AliExpress dropshipping.”

They’ve removed support content related to Oberlo and replaced it with guides on DSers and general dropshipping tools.

That’s a clear signal: Oberlo is gone for good.

Final Thoughts

If you’re still searching for “Is Oberlo still on Shopify?”, the truth is — it’s not.
And it’s not coming back.

But this isn’t bad news.
Dropshipping has matured since the early Oberlo days. The tools are better, more reliable, and built for real businesses — not just side hustles.

So take this as your signal to build better.
Pick the right tool, focus on the customer, and treat your store like a serious business.

That’s what works in 2025.