How to Tell if a Shopify Store is Dropshipping [Research Study]

TL;DR: You can't tell for sure if a Shopify store dropships. Apps like DSers and CJDropshipping run behind the scenes - they leave no trace on the website. But you can spot clues: tracking apps (Parcel Panel, 17TRACK), imported reviews (Ali Reviews), and "urgency" popups. We tested 14 detection methods on real stores. The surprising finding? Successful dropshippers look exactly like regular brands. Check any store's apps and theme with our Shopify store database or the free Store Inspector extension.

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So you want to know if a Shopify store is dropshipping. Maybe you're checking out a potential supplier. Maybe you're researching competitors. Or maybe you're an agency trying to find stores that need help.

We tested detection methods on dozens of stores. The result? You can't reliably detect the main dropshipping apps. But there are clues that hint at dropshipping - and looking for them shows how dropshippers evolve into brands over time.

This guide covers what works, what doesn't, and why the distinction often matters less than you'd think.

Here's What Most Guides Won't Tell You

The main dropshipping apps - DSers, CJDropshipping, Spocket, AutoDS, Zendrop - can't be detected from the storefront. At all.

Why not? These apps only work in the background. They handle orders, connect to suppliers, and sync inventory. But they don't add anything visible to the store's website - no scripts, no tracking codes, nothing you can see.

We tested this by scanning dozens of known dropshipping stores. These apps don't show up anywhere - not in the code, not in the scripts, nowhere.

What does this mean? If someone claims their tool can detect "DSers" or "CJDropshipping," they're either wrong or detecting something else (like tracking apps that dropshippers also use).

Why it works this way: Shopify apps can run entirely in the store's admin panel without touching the public website. Fulfillment apps are built this way on purpose - they don't need to load anything on the customer-facing site.

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What You CAN Detect: The Clues Dropshippers Leave Behind

The good news? While the main dropshipping apps are invisible, stores that dropship often use other apps that you can detect. Think of these as clues rather than proof.

Tracking Apps (Strongest Clue)

Dropshippers have a problem: their packages ship from China with weird carrier names like "Yanwen" or "4PX." Customers get confused. Tracking apps solve this by:

1. Providing a branded tracking page
2. Hiding origin details (some offer "dropshipping mode")
3. Sending proactive shipping updates

One catch: Not every store with these apps is dropshipping. Real brands that manufacture overseas use tracking apps too. These are clues, not proof. The more clues you find together, the more likely dropshipping is involved.

Imported Review Apps (Medium Clue)

Dropshippers face another problem: they've never touched the products they sell, so they have no real customer reviews. The workaround? Import reviews from AliExpress or Amazon.

Finding these apps is a decent clue. They exist specifically for stores without real reviews - which usually means dropshipping.

All-in-One Dropship Suites (Strong Clue)

Some apps are marketed directly to the dropshipping community:

These apps openly target dropshippers. If you find them, it's a strong clue.

Urgency/Social Proof Apps (Weak Clue)

You've seen these: "John from Texas just bought this!" or "Only 3 left in stock!"

Lots of stores use these - not just dropshippers. On their own, they don't mean much. But combined with other clues, they add up.

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What We Found Testing Real Stores

We ran our detection methods on stores that dropshipping communities often mention as examples. The results surprised us.

Test 1: "Famous Dropshipping" Stores

We scanned stores that come up all the time in dropshipping forums and YouTube videos:

The pattern: These "dropshipping" stores look exactly like real brands. They use Klaviyo (premium email - costs $20k+/year at scale), paid themes ($180-400), and Shopify Plus ($2,000+/month). Nothing screams "dropshipper."

Test 2: Can We Detect Tracking Apps?

Takeaway: Tracking apps are detectable, but they often only show up on the tracking page (like /pages/tracking). Scanning just the homepage won't catch them all.

Test 3: Can We Detect Imported Reviews?

The catch: We can detect imported review apps. But successful stores often switch to legit review apps like Judge.me or Yotpo as they grow.

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The Dropship-to-Brand Spectrum

Our biggest finding? Dropshipping isn't black and white. It's a sliding scale.

Pure Dropship ←————————————————————————→ Real Brand

AliExpress reseller    →    Private label    →    Own manufacturing
Generic products       →    Curated catalog  →    Original products
Imported reviews       →    Real reviews     →    Strong social proof
Free theme            →    Paid theme       →    Custom theme
Basic email           →    Klaviyo          →    Full marketing stack

Stores that start as dropshippers either fail or evolve. The successful ones:

1. Build real relationships with customers
2. Invest in marketing tools
3. Create private label products
4. Build a genuine brand

By the time a dropshipping store gets "successful enough" to be interesting, it usually looks just like a regular brand.

What This Means for Detection

The stores that are easiest to identify as dropshippers are also the least successful ones. The winners? They're almost impossible to tell apart from real brands.

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How to Tell a Store is NOT Dropshipping

Just as useful as spotting dropshippers is knowing what clues suggest a store isn't dropshipping.

Tech Stack Clues (High Confidence)

Physical Presence Clues

Product Clues

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How to Check Any Store (Step-by-Step)

A simple workflow to check if a store might be dropshipping:

Step 1: Check the Tech Stack

Look up the store in our Shopify store database or use the free Store Inspector extension. Look for:

• Theme type: Free theme = might be an early dropshipper. Custom theme = probably a real brand.
• Apps installed: Any tracking apps, imported reviews, or all-in-one suites?
• Pixels: Lots of Meta/TikTok pixels often means dropship-style advertising

Step 2: Check the Tracking Page

Try visiting these URLs on the store:

• [store-url]/pages/tracking
• [store-url]/pages/track-your-order
• [store-url]/apps/parcelpanel
• [store-url]/apps/trackingmore

If one of these pages exists and shows Parcel Panel, 17TRACK, or similar - that's a clue (but not proof).

Step 3: Check Where Products Come From

• Do a reverse image search on their product photos
• Search the product name on AliExpress
• See if the same products appear on other "different" stores
• Check if product photos have a consistent style (or look random)

Step 4: Check the Reviews

• Are reviews from Ali Reviews or Ryviu? (imported)
• Do review photos look like AliExpress screenshots?
• Are all the reviews dated around the same time? (suspicious)

Step 5: Check if the Business is Real

• Does the address on their site actually exist on Google Maps?
• Can you find real team members on LinkedIn?
• Are there press mentions or partnerships?
• Do they have original content on their blog or social media?

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When Does This Actually Matter?

When Dropshipping Detection Matters

When It Doesn't Matter

If you're an agency looking for leads, focus on tech stack gaps - not whether someone is dropshipping. A store missing email marketing is an opportunity no matter how they fulfill orders. Check out our guide on how to qualify Shopify leads for more on this.

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The Bottom Line

We tested 14 detection methods on dozens of stores. Five things stood out:

1. You can't detect the main dropshipping apps. DSers, CJDropshipping, Spocket - they're all invisible from the outside.

2. You CAN detect related apps. Tracking apps, imported reviews, and all-in-one suites show up on the site.

3. Successful dropshippers look like real brands. They evolve fast - and the good ones are hard to spot.

4. It's a spectrum, not yes or no. Most stores fall somewhere in between.

5. Tech stack matters more than labels. Focus on what apps they use, not what to call their business.

For most purposes, knowing exactly how a store fulfills orders matters less than understanding their tech setup, marketing investment, and customer experience.

Ready to investigate? Search any store in our Shopify store database to see their apps, theme, and traffic tier. Or install the free Store Inspector extension to analyze stores as you browse.

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FAQ

Can you tell if a Shopify store is dropshipping?

Not for sure. The main dropshipping apps (DSers, CJDropshipping, Spocket) run in the background and leave no trace on the website. You can spot related clues like tracking apps (Parcel Panel, 17TRACK) and imported reviews (Ali Reviews) - but those aren't proof.

What apps do dropshippers use?

For fulfillment: DSers, CJDropshipping, Spocket, AutoDS, Zendrop (none of these are detectable). For tracking: Parcel Panel, 17TRACK, AfterShip. For reviews: Ali Reviews, Ryviu. For marketing: Vitals, Debutify. Successful dropshippers often use the same apps as real brands - Klaviyo, Judge.me, paid themes.

Is dropshipping bad?

Not necessarily. It's just a way to fulfill orders, not a measure of quality. Many real businesses started as dropshippers before making their own products. What matters is the customer experience - product quality, shipping speed, and customer service.

How do I know if a product is from AliExpress?

Do a reverse image search on the product photos. Search the product name on AliExpress. Check if the same product shows up on other "different" stores. Look for inconsistent photo styles or backgrounds - that usually means they're using supplier photos.

What percentage of Shopify stores are dropshipping?

Estimates range from 10-30%, but nobody really knows. Since dropshipping apps can't be detected, accurate data doesn't exist. The percentage is probably higher for new stores and lower for established ones - most dropshippers either fail or grow into real brands.

Can agencies tell if leads are dropshippers?

You can make educated guesses using the clues in this guide. But honestly, it often doesn't matter. A store missing email marketing is an opportunity whether they dropship or not. Focus on tech stack gaps, not business model labels.