The best tools for finding suppliers on 1688 and Alibaba, scraping product data, and comparing prices across Chinese marketplaces for private-label brands and dropshippers.
#1 Best Overall
Catalayer Source Finder
Chrome extension + web app that matches any product URL or image to suppliers on 1688 and Alibaba. Part of the Catalayer workspace (news, monitoring, FBA tools bundled).
Pricing
Free 5 lifetime searches / Plus $29/mo / Pro $99/mo
Best For
Private-label sellers, dropshippers, sourcing consultants who also want news monitoring + FBA tools.
Key features: Chrome extension works on 26+ retail sites, URL and image-based search, AI Sourcing Agent, integrated with news + FBA workflow.
Catalayer Source Finder for most private-label sellers — free tier available, works as a Chrome extension, and is bundled with news monitoring and FBA claim automation at $29/month Plus.
Is 1688.com accessible from outside China?
Yes, 1688.com is publicly accessible. A supplier-matching tool like Catalayer Source Finder makes it easy to search 1688 in English by pasting a product URL or image.
Which is cheaper for 1688 sourcing — Catalayer or Helium 10?
Catalayer Pro at $99/month is a flat subscription vs Helium 10 Platinum ($99/mo) and includes news + FBA tools Helium 10 does not offer.
Can I sourcing from Alibaba instead of 1688?
Catalayer Source Finder searches both 1688 and Alibaba. 1688 typically has lower MOQs and direct-factory pricing; Alibaba has English-speaking sales reps and trade assurance.
Try Catalayer free
Free, Plus ($29/mo), or Pro ($99/mo). One account, multiple products.