As online shopping grows, dropshipping has become one of the hottest eCommerce business models.
But while many jump into this venture, only a few succeed. The secret? Strategic dropshipping product research.
Veteran dropshippers will tell you that choosing the right products is the backbone of any successful store.
And with the right tools and techniques, you can set yourself apart.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything from the top dropshipping product research tools to tips on finding winning products.
Let’s dive in and get you started on the path to success!
What Is Dropshipping Product Research?
In the simplest sense, it’s the process of looking for products to sell on your dropshipping store and validating if they will generate profit margins or not.
With millions of product ideas for dropshipping, you must find ones that will give you a return on investment.
While product research can take time and effort, it’s one of the smartest investments for your business’s success.
Effective research helps you avoid products that might sit on shelves and focus on those more likely to sell—and drive growth.
What Is the Best Product Research Method for Dropshipping?
When it comes to product research, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. However, the dropshipping business has been around for many years, and plenty of entrepreneurs have found their perfect method.
And there’s no denying that there are best practices worth noting.
After all, a well-designed ecommerce store and marketing strategies will all be rendered useless if you don’t do thorough dropshipping product research.
Just keep in mind that while these may be effective for others, you may have to find what works best for you—that means a bit of trial and error.
Here are a few tips on product research that you can start with:
See What’s Trending
The fastest way to conduct product research is to see what’s trending on different ecommerce websites.
Trendy items already have a significant demand you can cater to. The only challenge left is how you can differentiate yourself from your competitors.
To get started, browse sites like Wish, Etsy, and Amazon to identify what’s hot in various categories.
Pay attention to customer reviews and ratings to see which products are not only popular but also well-received.
Estimate the Market Size
While it’s almost impossible to obtain the actual market size you might have for specific niches or products, you can still get an insight based on the number of times keywords are searched.
Using this information, you’ll see the interest in the keyword and can analyze whether the product has a significant market size or not.
Google Trends provides information on keywords searched on Google over a specific time. This tool tells you how much traction your identified keywords are getting.
A sample keywords search on “women’s leggings” is done in the images below to show what kind of data you’ll get.
Google Trends also lets you filter by location, time frame, category, and search type, so you can focus on regions or niches relevant to your business.
Plus, related topics and queries give you further insight into customer interests, helping you fine-tune your product selection.
Know Your Competitors
It’s essential to know who you’re up against when selling certain products. If you opted to sell trending products, this portion becomes all the more necessary.
Start by researching established competitors to see which products they offer, especially those with high sales and plenty of reviews.
Many sites display the number of units sold or customer ratings, which can give you an idea of what’s working well.
Use these insights to benchmark products for your own store or identify gaps where you can stand out.
By knowing what’s already available, you can make informed decisions about products that have a solid market and think about unique angles to make them your own.
Join Online Communities
Online communities like Facebook groups and Reddit subreddits are excellent sources of information for which products are needed by certain groups of people or niches.
Here, you get firsthand information about different problems people encounter and insight into what products could help them overcome them.
Pay attention to recurring questions and product recommendations—they often highlight opportunities for products that fulfill genuine needs.
Engaging in discussions and observing trends in your target market will give you an edge in finding products that resonate with potential customers.
Find a Reliable Supplier
You’ll never have a successful dropshipping business if you choose unreliable suppliers.
There’s no getting away with low-quality products, much less delayed shipments. People talk, and before you know it, your website’s filled with bad reviews.
So, as part of effective product research, you need to find reliable suppliers for your chosen products. This tip also means considering delivery times and shipping costs for customers in different regions.
Platforms like AliExpress Dropshipping Center provide insights on which supplier is reliable.
NicheDropshipping also offers a Product Sourcing service that will lead you to the best suppliers for the product of your choice at a reasonable price.
Use a Dropshipping Product Research Tool
One of the most effective ways to do product research is by using tools.
You might be wondering why it’s helpful to use dropshipping product research tools. You can find the answer in the next section.
Why Should You Use Dropshipping Product Research Tools?
Product research can be done independently without using tools at all. But if you value time and convenience in product hunting, these tools can do most, if not all, tips stated above.
Dropshipping product research tools are primarily used to find winning products for any store or niche.
These tools vary in the features they have. However, in general, they analyze different products and provide data on the following information:
- Keywords used to search products
- Number of products sold
- Current prices across different platforms
- Latest and trending products in the market
- Stores that carry the product you want to sell
Apart from the apparent benefits, using tools can save you money by cutting down the lengthy process short. In addition, when you use these tools, you lessen the time to look for products that allow you to earn sooner.
If there’s one thing about dropshipping, it’s that you have to know what’s trending. With tools, you can easily see the trends for products across different niches, allowing you to join the wave.
With all that said, let’s look at the top dropshipping product research tools you can use today.
What Are the Top Dropshipping Product Research Tools?
Given that dropshipping is a popular business model, there are plenty of product research tools to help veterans and newbies find products to dropship.
In this section, you’ll read about each tool’s features and, if any, pricing plans to give you thorough information on which tools suit your business the best.
Here are the top five dropshipping product research tools you might be interested in.
1. Sell The Trend
Sell The Trend is a newer but popular tool designed to make dropshipping product research easier and more insightful.
It includes a feature called The Nexus, which leverages AI to identify trending products across platforms—making it a valuable asset for dropshippers.
Key Features:
- The Nexus AI: An AI-driven product research tool that identifies trending items across multiple platforms.
- Comprehensive Product Data: Access in-depth information, including product costs, pricing, profit margins, and current order numbers.
- Shopify and AliExpress Insights: Find out which stores carry a product, with direct links and store counts on Shopify and AliExpress.
- Marketing Tools: Create Facebook video ads and find influencers to support and promote your products.
Pricing:
Sell The Trend offers a 7-day free trial. Subscription pricing starts at $39.97 per month, with an annual option at $32.97 per month.
2. Niche Scraper
Niche Scraper is a popular SaaS tool for dropshippers, offering a suite of features to streamline product research and competitor analysis.
It’s known for its curated product selection and in-depth market insights.
Key Features:
- Hand-Picked Products: Each day, up to two high-potential products are selected by the Niche Scraper team, helping you save time by focusing on quality items.
- Competitor Analysis: Analyze competitors on Shopify by keywords, store popularity, or product relevance, gaining insights into traffic, sales estimates, and trending products.
- Product Scraping: Discover popular items on platforms like Shopify, Amazon, and eBay. Filter results by date and sales trends to pinpoint the best-selling products.
- Video Ad Maker: Quickly create video ads using product images, music, and text. Just provide the product URL, and the tool will generate an ad video to boost your promotions.
Pricing:
Niche Scraper offers three subscription options:
- Free membership: Limited access to features, with a 3-day delay for accessing winning products
- Pro membership: $39 per month for full feature access
- Annual pro membership: 60% discount on the yearly payment for full access to all features
3. Dropship Spy
Dropship Spy is an all-in-one dropshipping tool that provides a wealth of data and analytics to help dropshippers make informed decisions.
Known for its comprehensive features, it’s an excellent choice for those looking for in-depth insights into products, suppliers, and market trends.
Key Features:
- Advertising Information: Get free ad copy and video content that you can use directly in your campaigns, saving time and effort on creative development.
- Engagement Rating: Each product in Dropship Spy comes with an engagement rating, showing its performance across various media channels. This is especially useful for identifying viral products with strong social media traction.
- Supplier Information: Easily find reliable suppliers by analyzing feedback scores, product ratings, shipping fees, and sales volume. This feature helps you choose the best suppliers for your store.
Pricing:
Dropship Spy starts at $20 per month, offering access to all the essential features for product research and supplier insights.
4. AliExpress Dropshipping Center
If you want to do dropshipping product research for free of cost then AliExpress Dropshipping Center is just what you need.
It provides access to product search and analysis features to help you identify potential winners for your store.
Key Features:
Product Search: Find products through three methods. Each product listing includes prices, order numbers, ratings, and more.
- Hot Selling Products: Discover trending products that are performing well.
- Image Search: Upload images to find similar products.
- Sponsored Products: Explore products being promoted on the platform.
Product Analysis: Each product has an “Analyze” button that provides in-depth information on the product, including:
- Supplier details and logistics reliability
- Sales volume trends through a line graph
- You can also paste the product URL directly to generate a comprehensive analysis page.
Pricing:
The AliExpress Dropshipping Center is free to use. You can access it by signing up manually, receiving an invitation, or using third-party support apps like DSers, Topdser, or Antdiy.
5. Thieve
Thieve is a popular tool for AliExpress dropshippers, offering a curated list of winning products that are selected by professionals for reliability.
It allows users to filter products by category, niche, and sales volume, making it easier to find top-quality items for your store.
Key Features:
- Curated Winning Products: Access a handpicked selection of AliExpress products, sorted by category and niche. These products are chosen by experts, making them more reliable for dropshipping success.
- Product Sorting & Filtering: Easily filter products based on sales data to find high-performing items.
- Thieve Supply: A special version designed specifically for dropshippers, offering additional value for sourcing.
Pricing:
Thieve offers two subscription options:
- Dropshipping version: $29 per month, providing daily curated product updates.
- Pro membership: $99 per month, including all standard features, plus access to premium product content and pre-release products.
How to Choose the Right Dropshipping Product Research Tool?
It’s certainly not practical to use all the tools mentioned above for your product research. But, on the other hand, some may benefit you more than others, and it’s crucial to find which one works best for you.
To help you choose the right tool for your business, here are some questions that you should answer.
What Features Are Most Useful for You?
Each tool comes with its own set of features, pros, and cons. Just because one person recommends one tool doesn’t mean it’s the best one for you.
You’re the main person managing your business, and you know what features would make the workload lighter.
Some additional questions you can ask yourself include:
- What pieces of information do I need for my business?
- Do I currently have access to this information?
- Do I need help with other aspects of product research?
By asking and answering these questions yourself, you’ll narrow down which tools would suit your business objective the best.
Are You Willing to Invest In the Tool?
Some of the best tools mentioned above come for free, while others come at a cost. At this point, you have to decide whether or not you have the budget to pay for your chosen tool.
Some features come with the price you pay, but it doesn’t necessarily matter if you don’t need those features.
Assess what you truly need from a tool and check your budget. Then, once you’ve laid down your needs and money, choose a device accordingly.
Should You Spend Money on Product Research Tools?
Investing in product research tools can be a game-changer, especially if you’re serious about growing your dropshipping business.
While free resources offer valuable insights, paid tools often provide more in-depth data, exclusive product curation, and advanced features like competitor analysis and ad creation—all of which can help you make informed decisions faster.
However, it’s essential to consider your budget and goals. If you’re just starting out, you may want to explore free options or trial versions to get a feel for what these tools offer.
But if you’re scaling or aiming for a competitive edge, a well-chosen product research tool can save you time, minimize risk, and potentially boost your profits by pointing you to high-performing products.
Ultimately, the decision depends on your business needs, but a targeted investment in the right tool could pay off in the long run.
Is There a Difference Between Product Research and Market Research?
Yes, there is a distinct difference between product research and market research, although they are both crucial for the success of your dropshipping business.
- Product Research focuses specifically on identifying the right products to sell in your store. It involves analyzing factors like product demand, pricing, competition, and potential profit margins. Product research tools help you discover trending items, assess supplier reliability, and gauge product performance across platforms like AliExpress or Shopify.
- Market Research, on the other hand, looks at the broader landscape. It involves understanding the target audience, identifying consumer needs, analyzing market trends, and evaluating competitors. Market research helps you understand the demand within a specific niche, customer pain points, purchasing behavior, and overall industry trends.
In short, product research helps you pick the right products to sell, while market research helps you understand the broader context in which those products will be sold.
Both are essential to building a successful dropshipping business.
Conclusion
Mastering product research is essential to your success in dropshipping, and using the right tools can make all the difference.
By following expert tips and selecting the right product research tools, you can streamline your process and identify winning products faster.
Over time, you might even develop your own unique method for research that works best for you.
If you’re looking for more support, consider working with a dropshipping agent who can assist you in every step of the process—from sourcing products to managing orders.
Ready to take your dropshipping business to the next level? Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you succeed.
