How to Dropship on Shopify for Free Using DSers (2026 Tutorial)

If you want to learn how to start dropshipping without spending money upfront, DSers + Shopify's free trial is the most proven path. DSers is the most popular AliExpress dropshipping app on Shopify, and combined with Shopify's free trial, it lets you build a Shopify store and start a dropshipping business with zero upfront cost.

This tutorial walks you through the entire process — from installing DSers to fulfilling your first order.

Here's what you'll set up:

• A free Shopify store with products imported from AliExpress via DSers.

• Automated order fulfillment — when customers buy, DSers places the order with your supplier in one click.

• Professional store design using Dropmagic's AI store builder to make your dropshipping store look like a premium brand.

"The most successful dropshippers I've seen are the ones who launch fast, test fast, and iterate fast. Tools like DSers remove the friction from fulfillment so you can focus on marketing and product selection." — Scott Hilse, founder of Simplified Dropshipping

If you're wondering how to dropship on Shopify for free using DSers, this is the exact playbook. And if you want to learn how to start dropshipping for free with even more strategies, check out our dedicated guide: How to Start Dropshipping for Free in 2026.

What Is DSers and How Does It Work?

DSers is a Shopify app that connects your store to AliExpress suppliers. It replaced Oberlo (which shut down in 2022) and is now the official AliExpress dropshipping solution for Shopify. According to the Shopify App Store, DSers has over 24,000 reviews and maintains a 5-star rating — making it the most trusted ecommerce platform for dropshipping fulfillment.

The workflow is simple: you browse products on AliExpress, import them to your Shopify store through DSers, and when a customer places an order, DSers sends it to the AliExpress supplier automatically. The supplier ships directly to your customer. You pocket the difference between your selling price and the supplier's price.

DSers' free plan (called "Basic") includes:

• Up to 3 Shopify stores connected.

• 3,000 products in your import list.

• Bulk ordering to fulfill multiple orders at once.

• Automated order tracking and syncing.

• Supplier optimizer to find better prices for the same product.

This is more than enough to launch and validate your dropshipping store before spending a dollar.

Step 1: Create Your Free Shopify Store

Head to Shopify.com and sign up for the free trial. According to Shopify, their free trial gives you full access to every feature while you build a Shopify store from scratch.

During signup, select your country (United States, or wherever you're based), and choose "I'm just getting started" if prompted about your experience level.

Once your account is created, you'll land on the Shopify admin dashboard. Before installing DSers, take five minutes to set up the basics:

• Store name — choose something brandable and relevant to your niche.

• Currency — confirm USD is set as your default.

• Payment providers — enable Shopify Payments and PayPal under Settings > Payments.

For the complete store setup walkthrough, see our guide on how to build a Shopify store in under 30 minutes.

Step 2: Install DSers on Shopify

From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Shopify App Store and search for "DSers." Click Add app, then Install app to connect it to your store.

DSers will prompt you to create an account (or log in if you already have one). Use the same email as your Shopify account for simplicity. Once installed, DSers appears in your Shopify admin sidebar under Apps.

The first time you open DSers, it will walk you through linking your AliExpress account. Click Link to AliExpress, log into your AliExpress account (create one for free if you don't have one), and authorize the connection.

Step 3: Find and Import Products

This is where your dropshipping store comes to life. DSers gives you two ways to find products:

Method 1: Search Within DSers

DSers has a built-in product search called "Find Suppliers." You can browse by category or search by keyword. Each product listing shows the price, shipping options, seller rating, and order count.

Filter results by:

• ePacket shipping available — this ensures faster delivery to the US (7–15 days).

• Seller rating above 4.5 stars — higher ratings mean fewer fulfillment problems.

• Order count above 500 — proven demand and reliability.

When you find a product you want to sell, click Add to Import List.

Method 2: Browse AliExpress Directly

Install the DSers Chrome extension for a faster workflow. With the extension active, you can browse AliExpress normally and click "Add to DSers" on any product page.

For tips on selecting products that actually sell, read our guide on how AI finds winning products for dropshipping.

Customize Before Publishing

Before pushing products to your Shopify store, customize them in your DSers import list:

• Edit the product title — remove supplier jargon.

• Select which variants to import — focus on the most popular options.

• Set your selling price — aim for 2–3x markup.

• Choose your product type and collection — this keeps your store organized.

Once customized, click Push to Shopify to publish. For more on writing compelling product copy, see how to write product descriptions that convert.

Step 4: Make Your Store Look Professional with AI

Here's where most free dropshipping tutorials stop — and where most dropshipping stores fail. Importing products through DSers gives you functional product pages, but they look generic.

According to Stanford Web Credibility Research, 75% of users judge a company's credibility based on their website design. Use Dropmagic's AI store builder to transform your store's design:

• AI-generated homepage with hero sections, trust badges, and featured collections.

• Professional product descriptions rewritten by AI to highlight benefits and boost conversions.

• Brand identity including a logo, color scheme, and typography generated in seconds.

• 50+ conversion-optimized sections you can drag and drop into your store.

For detailed comparisons, visit our AI Store Builder comparison hub or see Shopify Magic vs Dropmagic, PagePilot vs Dropmagic, and Atlas vs Dropmagic.

Step 5: Set Your Pricing Strategy

DSers lets you set pricing rules globally. Go to Settings > Pricing Rule in DSers.

Common pricing strategies:

Fixed markup: Add a flat dollar amount to each product.

Percentage markup: Multiply the product cost by a fixed percentage. According to Shopify, the average dropshipping profit margin is 15–20%.

Psychological pricing: End prices in .99 or .97. Research from the Journal of Consumer Psychology shows that $19.99 converts better than $20.00.

DSers also includes a Compare at Price feature which can boost conversions by 10–30%, per Baymard Institute.

Step 6: Fulfill Your First Order

When a customer places an order on your Shopify store:

1. The order appears in your DSers dashboard under Open Orders.

2. Click Order All to place them with your AliExpress supplier.

3. DSers auto-fills the customer's shipping address and selects the shipping method.

4. Pay for the product on AliExpress using your own payment method.

5. The supplier ships the product directly to your customer.

6. DSers automatically syncs the tracking number to Shopify.

The entire fulfillment process takes about 30 seconds per order, or a few minutes in bulk.

Step 7: Scale with Advanced DSers Features

Supplier Optimizer — finds alternative suppliers with better prices or faster shipping.

Bundle Products — create product bundles to increase average order value.

Mapping Variants — connect multiple suppliers to one product listing for backup.

Tracking Integration — customers receive automatic tracking updates.

For tips on avoiding pitfalls, read about common store setup mistakes and how to fix them. For the full roadmap, our complete dropshipping guide covers everything.

DSers Free Plan vs Paid Plans

Stay on the free plan until you're consistently processing more than 50 orders per month.

DSers + AI Store Builder: The Complete Free Dropshipping Stack

For more on using AI templates, read AI templates for dropshipping success in 2026.

FAQs

Is DSers really free to use for dropshipping?

Yes, DSers offers a completely free Basic plan that includes up to 3,000 products, bulk ordering, supplier optimizer, and tracking sync. There are no hidden fees. You only pay for products when customers order them.

How long does shipping take with DSers and AliExpress?

ePacket shipping to the US typically takes 7–15 business days. AliExpress Standard Shipping is similar at 10–20 days. For faster delivery (3–5 days), consider suppliers with US or EU warehouses.

Which ecommerce platform for dropshipping works best with DSers?

DSers works with Shopify, WooCommerce, and Wix. However, Shopify is the most mature integration. According to BuiltWith, Shopify powers over 4.7 million live stores. See our comparison of the best ecommerce platforms for dropshipping.

What happens if a supplier runs out of stock?

DSers alerts you when stock is low. You can use the Supplier Optimizer to find alternatives. On paid plans, you can pre-map backup suppliers.

Should I use DSers or an AI store builder like Dropmagic?

They serve different purposes and work best together. DSers handles product sourcing and order fulfillment. Dropmagic handles store design, branding, and product description writing with AI.

How do I start dropshipping for free in 2026?

(1) Sign up for Shopify's free trial, (2) Install DSers' free Basic plan, (3) Use Dropmagic's free trial for AI-powered store design, (4) Import products from AliExpress and set pricing. Total upfront cost: $0. See how to start dropshipping for free.

Related Articles

• How to Start Dropshipping for Free in 2026

• The Complete Dropshipping Guide (2026)

• Best Ecommerce Platforms for Dropshipping in 2026

• How AI Finds Winning Products for Dropshipping

• AI Store Builder for Shopify: Every Feature Explained

• AI Templates for Dropshipping Success in 2026

• How to Build a Shopify Store in Under 30 Minutes

• Common Store Setup Mistakes and How to Fix Them