eCommerce 101

7 Best dropshipping product research tools

January 23, 2025 10 minutes

Spending hours trying to find winning products while competitors seem to have it all figured out? The secret to staying ahead of the game is using the right dropshipping product research tools.

If you want to level up your dropshipping business, save time, and stay competitive, we’ll introduce you to seven tools that will streamline your product research process.

Key takeaways

  • Use dropshipping research tools to find profitable products and save time.
  • Select tools that provide market trends and competitor analysis to stay on top of demand.
  • Look for advanced features like sales tracking and product analytics to drive profits.
  • Test different tools using free trials to find the best fit for your business.
  • Integrate Printify for high-quality trending products and reliable order fulfillment.

Why use a dropshipping research tool?

Using specialized research tools can be a game-changer, saving you time and effort while providing valuable insights into emerging trends.

Use these tools to discover winning products, understand niche markets, and improve profitability during your dropshipping journey.

Save time and energy

Save hours on product research with an integrated tool. Online research databases streamline the process of finding dropshipping products, delivering all the information you need to start and grow your business efficiently.

Access to winning products and niche analysis

Most tools offer lists of top-performing products and in-depth niche market analysis. They provide insights into sales history and growth potential, helping you make informed decisions and stay ahead of trends.

Premium features for greater profitability

Premium plans often offer custom content tailored to your needs. This exclusive data helps you find the most profitable products, giving you an edge over other online stores.

Best product research tools for dropshipping

PlatformStarting costDistinguishing features
Sell The Trend$39.98/monthNEXUS Product Explorer, 1-click order fulfillment, dropshipping website builder
AliExpress Dropshipping CenterFreeProduct performance data, shipping information, product photos and videos
Niche ScraperFree plan, $49.95/month ProUnlimited Product Scrapes, keyword research tools, store revenue insights
Dropship Spy$39/month10,000+ top-selling products, ad insights, connection to reliable suppliers
Thieve.co$15/monthProduct popularity scores, high-quality supplier images, market niche reports
EcomhuntFree plan, $23/month BasicCurated product database, performance tracking, competitor analysis
SalesSource$49/monthBrowser extensions, 24/7 support, in-depth Shopify reports

Dropshipping product research tools help you understand market trends, perform competitor analysis, and identify profitable products. They also give insights into sales volume, product availability, and product quality.

While some tools offer a vast database with all-in-one solutions, others focus on specific features like a sales tracker.

We’ll cover everything from free product research tools for dropshipping to premium solutions with free trials that’ll help grow your eCommerce business and optimize your product offerings.

1. Sell The Trend

Sell The Trend is an all-in-one solution for successful dropshipping. It simplifies finding your target customers and picking a profitable product with predictive AI technology, accessible through the NEXUS Product Explorer.

Leverage the search bar to explore a vast database of items sourced from AliExpress, Shopify, and Amazon to meet your store’s needs. After finding successful products, it only takes a click to add them to your store and start selling.

This platform also features a dropshipping website creator called SellShop, letting users build their own stores with all the necessary key features in minutes.

Both monthly and yearly plans offer the same features, including:

  • 1-Click Push to Store and 1-Click Order Fulfillment for easy product management
  • Ability to connect up to three stores
  • Product sourcing Chrome extension 
  • 24/7 customer support
  • Access to a product video library for marketing content
  • Built-in ad creator to enhance your advertising efforts

Price: 7-day free trial, $39.98/month, or $26.38/month for the yearly plan.

2. AliExpress Dropshipping Center

The AliExpress Dropshipping Center is a powerful dropshipping product finder designed specifically for AliExpress users.

This free dropshipping product research tool helps you identify best-selling items and gain a competitive edge using valuable sales data on the competitive landscape. 

Gain insights into product performance through the Product Analysis tab. It lists detailed product sales history, seller ratings, and information on various shipping costs and locations.

Accessing the Dropshipping Center is straightforward – go to My Orders in the dropdown menu of the AliExpress Marketplace and find DS Center toward the bottom of the list.

The AliExpress Dropshipping Center offers a range of valuable features, including:

  • Information on shipping costs, locations, and product variants
  • Analysis of hot-selling products, sponsored products, and promotional materials
  • Product photos and videos for better marketing insights

Price: Free with registration.

3. Niche Scraper

Niche Scraper is a specialized research bot focused on dropshipping – analyzing thousands of products daily to reveal those with the highest potential.

This tool’s free version offers limited access to the Product Scraper, which lists trending items on AliExpress and Shopify. It also gives popularity scores and dropshipping analytics to help you understand market trends and identify profitable niches.

Niche Scraper’s monthly and yearly Pro membership plans offer a comprehensive set of market research tools, including:

  • Unlimited “scrapes” to find products with a high-profit margin potential
  • Access to keyword research and market analysis tools for TikTok and Facebook
  • The ability to “scrape” stores to discover their products’ sales data
  • Insights into the estimated revenue of competitor stores

Price: Free plan or $49.95/month for the Pro membership.

4. Dropship Spy

Dropship Spy is a good product research tool featuring over 10,000 top-selling goods sourced from Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

The platform conducts rigorous product testing and only showcases items that have earned its seal of approval. Explore the Free Products tab for a sample of their data analysis capabilities and a featured winning product of the month from AliExpress.

The free version is somewhat limited, while Dropship Spy Pro grants access to various tools for sales trends, ad insights, and other features, including:

  • Access to a vast product database
  • Yearly updates with more than 1,500 new items
  • Sales trends, video ads, and product review files
  • Analysis of major platforms like Amazon, CJ Dropshipping, AliExpress, and eBay
  • Ad insights from Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
  • Connection to reliable suppliers, Facebook audiences, and influencers

Price: $39/month or $119/year for the Pro membership.

5. Thieve.co

Thieve leverages data from millions of consumer interactions to offer valuable insights into product popularity and conversion rates. This dropshipping product research tool also provides high-quality supplier images to use as product mockups for your store listings.

The Dropship plan gives you access to a curated selection of products with detailed descriptions, galleries, key features, and conversion and popularity scores. You’ll also receive access to market niche reports to effectively target potential customers.

Upgrading to the Pro plan unlocks early access to trending products, studio-quality images and videos, and curated eCommerce keywords. Pro also features a dropshipping store search tool to explore Shopify’s winning products.

Use Thieve to make informed decisions and optimize your dropshipping store with:

  • Curated product listings with detailed descriptions and galleries
  • Market niche reports to track trends
  • Early access to new and trending products
  • Studio-quality images and videos for marketing
  • Dropshipping store search to view successful Shopify stores

Price: Free 14-day trial, $15/month, or $8.08/month for the annual Dropship plan. $49/month or $21.50/month with the annual Pro plan.

6. Ecomhunt

Ecomhunt offers a curated selection of winning products hand-picked by a team of dropshipping experts. It helps you track performance, monitor sales, and find profitable product ideas through competitor analysis.

The free version provides limited access to Ecomhunt’s product database – upgrading to the Basic plan unlocks full access.

Ecomhunt’s Pro plan offers personalized one-on-one consultations with eCommerce and dropshipping professionals. Meanwhile, the Suite plan adds unlimited access to AliExpress information, enhanced product analytics, the Ecomhunt content library, and a 3ET course.

Standout features include:

  • Access to a hand-picked product database curated by Ecomhunt experts
  • Performance tracking and sales monitoring tools
  • Competitor analysis for Shopify stores and Facebook ads
  • Ten live trending products and three product tracker sessions with the free plan

Price: Free, $23/month for Basic, $49/month for Pro, or $89/month for the Suite plan.

7. SalesSource

SalesSource is a versatile tool enabling users to conduct dropshipping product research directly from their browsers. It’s known for its in-depth analysis capabilities.

You can explore detailed reports on Shopify apps, track ad revenue, and analyze the performance of dropshipping products and Shopify stores.

The Advanced and Elite plans come with additional benefits, such as comprehensive market and product analysis tools that provide deep insights into the latest industry trends. 

SalesSource’s notable features are:

  • Chrome and Firefox browser extensions for convenient product research
  • 24/7 customer support for plans above the Starter level
  • In-depth reports on Shopify apps and ad revenue tracking
  • Advanced features for market and product performance analysis
  • Tools to help identify best-selling products with optimal product quality

Price: Free trial for Starter and Professional plans, $49/month for Starter, $179/month for Professional, $399/month for Advanced, and $999/month for the Elite plan.*

*Each of these plans has an annual alternative for a reduced price.

Make it happen today!

How to choose the best dropshipping product research tool for your business

Explore each platform’s features and evaluate how they stack up against other product research tools.

Consider pricing, filtering options, and analytics capabilities, such as Google Trends integration or a dropshipping item finder.

For example, the AliExpress Dropshipping Center is a great place to start as the only completely free product research tool on this list. If you’re on a budget but want to branch out, try other tools’ free accounts or trial versions before committing.

Dropship products with Printify

Printify is the perfect dropshipping partner with over 1,000 customizable products

After understanding market trends and picking a product niche, sign up for free to launch and grow your print-on-demand (POD) dropshipping business – without the hassle of inventory management.

Access our Catalog and easily navigate vast categories like apparel, accessories, and home decor, using filters to sort by color, size, and material. Not sure where to start? Check out our best-selling products to tap into the latest trends that customers love.

Benefits of using Printify for POD dropshipping:

  • Cost-effective: You pay only once a customer orders, eliminating upfront costs.
  • High-quality products: Our network of suppliers ensures top-notch product quality and consistency.
  • Streamlined fulfillment: From printing to packaging and shipping, our network will handle the entire process, delivering directly to your customer’s doorstep.
  • Scalable solution: Easily add new products and expand your offerings without worrying about logistics.
Read more

Explore our curated list of the best-selling dropshipping products to find, design, and sell custom products that will drive customer satisfaction.

FAQ

Begin the product search process by looking at trending and bestselling items on Etsy, Shopify stores, and other marketplaces, and come up with a list of winning products.

Online store owners should also leverage the best dropshipping spy tools and product databases listed in this article.

The best dropshipping product research tool depends on the features you’re looking for, but popular ones include Sell The Trend and AliExpress Dropshipping Center.

Start with free or free trial versions of product research tools to see if they meet your needs before purchasing premium analytics.

A dropshipping niche is a segment of products that targets specific customer interests. It can be items like clothing, fitness gear, pet supplies, or home decor.

Free tools like Google Trends can help you find trending topics and uncover niche products that match popular interests.

Add enough products to make your store look polished and trustworthy. But there’s no strict rule – you can launch with just a handful of great products when starting out. It’s all about what works best for you and your vision.

Final thoughts

The right product research tool is crucial when starting your own dropshipping business, whether you’re launching a Shopify store or using another marketplace.

Use the tools in this article to find profitable product ideas. Look for options that track product trends, monitor social media platforms, have a robust product database, and analyze the competition. Always consider overall subscription costs to stick to your budget.

No matter which product research tools you decide to use, use Printify as your dropshipping solution. We’ll help you build a profitable business with no upfront costs, access to over 1,000 high-quality products, a dedicated merchant support team, and automated order fulfillment.

Make it happen today!

Be your own boss 
with Printify

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