Oberlo Alternative After Shutdown: Where Veterans Moved in 2026

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Oberlo shut down in June 2022, and most users migrated to DSers (the official recommended successor). But here's what nobody mentions: DSers inherited Oberlo's core limitation—it's still just AliExpress order automation. Veterans who were already outgrowing Oberlo's capabilities found themselves back at square one within months. The real Oberlo alternative for scaling sellers isn't another automation tool—it's a fulfillment partner who handles supply chain continuity. Since Oberlo's shutdown, we've onboarded dozens of former Oberlo users who hit walls at $30-50k/month. The pattern is consistent: they need quality control, backup suppliers, and someone who responds when things break. Average transition time from first contact to first shipment: 48 hours.

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Oberlo officially shut down on June 15, 2022. Shopify acquired Oberlo in 2017, and after years of declining relevance against newer tools, they recommended users migrate to DSers.

The migration math:

• 2+ million Oberlo users at shutdown
• DSers absorbed the majority via official migration path
• But many high-volume users discovered DSers had the same scaling limitations

The real story isn't about which button clicks faster. It's about what happens when your winning product scales beyond what AliExpress automation can handle.

DSers is fine for exactly what Oberlo was fine for: beginners processing 5-50 orders per day through AliExpress.

Where it breaks down:

Quality Control Gap

Neither Oberlo nor DSers inspect products before shipping. When your AliExpress supplier's quality drifts (and it will), you don't find out until customer complaints arrive.

Supply Chain Blindness

When your supplier stocks out—often during your best campaigns—DSers can't help. You get a notification that your order failed. That's it.

No Proactive Communication

Both tools are reactive. They process orders you submit. They don't alert you to supplier issues, quality problems, or market changes.

The Flyer Problem

AliExpress sellers routinely insert promotional materials into packages. Your customer opens their premium purchase to find a competitor's coupon.

Based on conversations with former Oberlo users, here's the realistic migration pattern:

Path 1: DSers (Majority)

• Who: Beginners and lower-volume sellers
• Why: Free tier, official recommendation, familiar interface
• Outcome: Fine until they hit $30-50k/month

Path 2: CJDropshipping (Mid-Level)

• Who: Sellers wanting warehouse services
• Why: Broader product catalog, US warehouse options
• Outcome: Mixed. Great when it works, frustrating when orders sit without notification

Path 3: Private Fulfillment Partners (Veterans)

• Who: $50k+/month sellers who can't afford supply chain failures
• Why: Dedicated QC, supply continuity, proactive communication
• Outcome: Higher margins after fewer refunds and stockouts

If you outgrew Oberlo, you probably need:

1. Quality Control at Source

Someone who inspects products before they ship—not checkbox compliance, but understanding which defects matter for your product category.

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"We catch issues at first dispatch. When a batch shows weight variance, we investigate before it becomes 200 customer complaints."

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2. Supply Chain Continuity

When your AliExpress supplier can't keep up, you need backup options already vetted and ready. Not scrambling while your ads burn budget.

3. Someone Who Alerts You First

Proactive communication means you hear about problems before you notice them. Bad news delivered early is manageable. Bad news discovered in refund requests is expensive.

4. Package Control

No competitor flyers. No supplier inserts. Your brand, your packaging, your customer experience.

Here's what former Oberlo users typically don't calculate:

A private fulfillment partner costs more per order than AliExpress direct. But one prevented stockout during a winning campaign pays for months of partnership.

If you're ready to move beyond automation:

Step 1: Identify Your Winners

Focus on products doing consistent volume. Don't transition your entire catalog—start with what matters.

Step 2: Request Quotes

Any legitimate fulfillment partner will quote your specific products. If they only offer catalog pricing, they're just another platform.

Step 3: Test with Real Orders

Run parallel fulfillment for 2-4 weeks. Compare delivery times, quality issues, and communication responsiveness.

Step 4: Evaluate the Partnership

The right partner catches problems you didn't know existed. The wrong one just ships faster.

Let's be honest—not everyone needs a fulfillment partner:

• Testing phase: Under $5k/month, DSers is fine for validation
• Low-complexity products: Simple items with reliable suppliers
• No scaling intent: If you're happy at current volume, why change?

The transition point is typically when you:

• Lose a winning product to supply chain failure
• Spend more time managing suppliers than selling
• Notice quality issues after they become refund requests

What happened to my Oberlo data after shutdown?

Shopify preserved order history in your store. Product data could be exported or migrated to DSers. If you didn't migrate by the deadline, that data is gone.

Is DSers the official Oberlo replacement?

Yes, DSers was Shopify's recommended migration path. But "official" doesn't mean "optimal for your specific situation."

How much does it cost to switch to a private fulfillment partner?

Pricing is typically per-order rather than subscription. Total cost depends on your product specifics. For most sellers, the cost is offset by reduced refunds and prevented stockouts.

Can I use both DSers and a fulfillment partner?

Yes. Many veterans use DSers for low-volume testing and a private partner for proven winners. No reason it has to be all-or-nothing.

What's the minimum volume for a private fulfillment partner?

Most reputable partners don't have strict minimums. We process single orders for testing. But the economics make more sense at 5+ orders per day.

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Oberlo shutting down wasn't the disaster—it was the wake-up call. The sellers who used that moment to evaluate their actual fulfillment needs came out ahead. The ones who just clicked "migrate to DSers" found themselves hitting the same walls six months later.

If you're reading this because you've outgrown DSers too, you're asking the right question. The answer isn't another tool—it's a partner who treats your supply chain like their business depends on it. Because it does.