If you've been researching supplier directories for a dropshipping or online reselling business, these two names come up more than any others. Both are long-established — SaleHoo since 2005, Worldwide Brands since 1999 — and both promise vetted, legitimate suppliers rather than the anonymous factory listings you'd find on a general marketplace. But they're built for genuinely different sellers, and picking based on price alone can mean paying for features you'll never use.
The Core Difference
Worldwide Brands is a pure supplier directory: a large, strictly vetted list of wholesalers and dropshippers, with a research team that reportedly visits trade shows and contacts suppliers directly before adding them. SaleHoo bundles a smaller supplier directory together with market research tools, beginner education, a community forum, and (separately) a Shopify automation product. In other words, Worldwide Brands does one thing thoroughly; SaleHoo does several things at a beginner-friendly level.
| Factor | SaleHoo | Worldwide Brands |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 | 1999 |
| Pricing | $9/mo billed annually (~$108/yr) or $299 lifetime | $299 one-time (lifetime) |
| Supplier count | 8,000+ | Larger, more US-concentrated catalogue |
| Vetting process | Reviewed and verified | Trade-show visits, direct supplier contact |
| Shopify automation | Yes (separate paid add-on) | No |
| Market research tools | Yes (SaleHoo Labs) | No |
| Best suited for | Beginners, Shopify dropshippers | Experienced sellers, bulk wholesale/Amazon FBA |
Where Worldwide Brands Pulls Ahead
If you're planning to buy in bulk and resell — a true wholesale model rather than dropshipping — Worldwide Brands' stricter certification process and larger, more US-concentrated supplier base are genuine advantages. Its one-time fee also means no ongoing subscription, which can work out cheaper over several years if you don't need SaleHoo's bundled tools. The tradeoff: no built-in market research tools, no Shopify automation, and a noticeably more dated interface than SaleHoo's dashboard.
Where SaleHoo Pulls Ahead
For anyone starting out, SaleHoo's lower upfront cost, built-in research tools, and beginner-oriented education and community give it a real edge. The Shopify Dropship automation add-on (sold separately) also removes a genuine pain point — manually adding products one at a time — for sellers on that specific platform. If you've read our full SaleHoo review, you'll know it isn't perfect: the automation tool's product catalogue can feel generic, and it's Shopify-only. But for a first supplier directory, it asks for less money and less commitment than Worldwide Brands.
The Honest Verdict
Neither directory guarantees a profitable business — that still depends entirely on the product you choose, your pricing, and your marketing. If you're a complete beginner testing whether dropshipping is even the right path for you, SaleHoo's lower cost and bundled guidance make it the lower-risk starting point. If you already have some experience and want to move into genuine wholesale buying with a stricter-vetted, larger US supplier base, Worldwide Brands' one-time fee may be worth the higher upfront cost.
This is an affiliate link — see our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
Where to Go From Here
If you're still deciding whether dropshipping fits you at all, our guide on Etsy vs. your own online shop covers the broader decision, and our full SaleHoo review goes deeper on pricing, real user complaints, and who it fits. Whichever directory you choose, treat it as a research starting point — not a guarantee — and test with a small product range before committing further.