SaleHoo vs Doba: Who Wins the Dropshipping Directory Game?

Finding legitimate sources of dropshipping suppliers is not easy.

If you’re just starting an eCommerce business with a tight budget, finding the right supplier and wholesaler can take you many frustrating months.

Thankfully, dropshipping directories exist to make our lives a bit easier as they connect eCommerce retailers with the appropriate sources.

Two of these directories that are my personal favorites are Salehoo (read my review here) and Doba.

But which one would be right for you?

Keep on reading to find out as I make a side-by-side comparison of both companies and what they have to offer to an entry-level drop shipper.

To make things easier for you, I’m going to break down the pros and cons of both dropshipping suppliers into more specific categories. These categories will cover every possible detail that you ought to know before making the final choice.

By the end of this review, I can say with certainty that you will be a lot more confident in your entrepreneurial abilities. So, let’s get started!

As of 2023, Salehoo boasts of having a list of more than 8,000 reputed suppliers and a database of 2.5 million products for you to choose from. Their website interface is streamlined, and both products and suppliers are segmented into specific categories for easier navigation.

If you go with Salehoo, expect to find supplier details from countries like New Zealand, China, Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Salehoo is a New Zealand-based company that has continued to grow since its inception.

Doba is based in Orem, Utah, and it functions quite a bit differently from Salehoo. Whereas Salehoo connects you to the appropriate suppliers, Doba works as a middleman to make things easier.

What does working as a middleman imply? Well, for starters, you get access to the company’s aggregate of 200 suppliers and 2 million products, but you CANNOT get in touch with them directly. All orders are fulfilled through Doba in exchange for a monthly membership fee.

Both Doba and Salehoo are platforms that have been designed to help entrepreneurs find dropshipping service providers with ease. However, the stark difference between the two in regards to their mode of operation begs a discussion.

Because Salehoo gives you complete access to the wholesalers and suppliers, you can never rule out the chance of getting discounts on bulk orders and developing a mutually beneficial relationship.

This company also puts a lot of effort into selecting its listed service providers so that you don’t have to deal with customer complaints, refunds, chargebacks, negative reviews, etc. Sure, you might find the proverbial “bad egg” once in a while, but the overall risk is extremely low.

Doba, as I mentioned, does not give you contact details of the dropshipping suppliers that ship products directly to the customer. While this aspect of the business might be more convenient, it robs you of the chance of developing a relationship with the supplier.

To answer your question, “Which one will give me more profit?” I’d go with Salehoo if you’re determined to pursue dropshipping for the long haul. If you want to make some quick bucks or test the water before jumping in, go for Doba.

Salehoo’s extensive collection of learning material gives both beginner and intermediate eCommerce site owners a chance to get familiar with the business. You also get access to a tool called Lab, which helps you find the in-demand products with ease.

Their customer support is also very responsive and quick to act on your problems. Doba doesn’t have any “learning resources” as such because they take pride in how easy their platform is to use. Doba also lets you export product details in a variety of formats.

The apparent benefit of the export system is that you can flood your website or marketplace with a vast number of products in just a few clicks. The company also offers tools to measure product performance, export images, and even create notifications when inventory is about to run out of stock.

Doba also has live customer support through call or chat that you can use anytime. To sum up, I’ll say Doba inclines more toward Done-for-You services whereas Salehoo is somewhat focused on DIY or Do-it-Yourself services and giving you the ability to for ongoing supplier relationships.

Salehoo has an incredibly reasonable pricing model where you pay no more than $ 67 for complete access to their services. Doba, on the other hand, offers you several payment plans but none are cheaper than Salehoo. Check out all of the latest SaleHoo pricing plans and products.

In fact, Doba is perhaps one of the more expensive directory service providers there is, charging you somewhere between $29 and $249 per month. Their most popular plan –Advanced – will set you back by $ 69 every month but, naturally comes with the usual benefits of Doba.

Doba’s pricing model is not at all beginner-friendly but comes with one silver lining – a 30-day free trial period to test out the platform. And the best part is that you don’t even need to enter credit card details, eliminating any chance of getting falsely charged.

Doba’s pricing model clearly indicates that the company only wants to serve people who are serious about their dropshipping ambitions and, have more money to spare. However, despite the obvious benefits, it’s difficult to justify paying (12×69) $ 828 per year. 

Salehoo is not only start-up friendly but gives you complete control over your dropshipping methods, including building relationships and negotiating profit margins. So SaleHoo would definitely be my first choice for choosing a dropshipping directory service.