How to Connect AliExpress with Your Shopify Store for Dropshipping

Learn how to connect your AliExpress supplier account to your Shopify store using Build the Drop and start automating your dropshipping business.

1. 1

   Create a Build the Drop account

   Go to buildthedrop.com and sign up for a free account. Once registered, create your first workspace (Space) by clicking 'Create Space' in the dashboard.

2. 2

   Connect your Shopify store

   Inside your Space, go to the Integrations section and click 'Connect Shopify'. You'll be redirected to Shopify's OAuth authorization page. Accept the permissions and you'll be redirected back automatically.

3. 3

   Connect your AliExpress account

   Back in Build the Drop, go to Integrations and click 'Connect AliExpress'. You'll be redirected to AliExpress to authorize the connection. Once approved, your AliExpress account will appear as linked.

4. 4

   Renew your AliExpress connection every 60 days

   AliExpress access tokens expire after 60 days — this is a hard limit of their affiliate API, not a Build the Drop restriction. When the token expires, every action that talks to AliExpress (placing orders, checking stock, importing products, syncing tracking) stops working until you re-authorize. To renew, go back to Integrations and click 'Connect AliExpress' again. The OAuth flow takes about 30 seconds and keeps the connection valid for another 60 days. We'll email you a few days before the token expires so you don't get caught off guard.

5. 5

   Search and import products

   Use the Product Search feature in Build the Drop to find products on AliExpress. You can filter by category, price, and rating. Click 'Import' on any product to add it to your import queue.

6. 6

   Set up price rules

   Go to Price Rules in your Space and create a rule that automatically calculates the selling price based on your cost. For example, apply a 30% margin multiplier so your prices always include a profit.

7. 7

   Publish products to Shopify

   From the Import Queue, review each product, set the correct category and price rule, then click 'Publish to Shopify'. The product will appear in your Shopify store ready to sell.

8. 8

   Automate order fulfillment

   When a customer places an order in your Shopify store, Build the Drop detects it and sends it to AliExpress automatically. You can monitor order status and tracking updates from the Orders section.