The shipping process is one of the most important aspects of running an ecommerce business. After all, you want to ensure your orders reach your customers safely and quickly.
You must have a reliable shipping software solution to help manage your orders, shipments, and inventory tracking.
While there are many options out there, I’ve compiled the eleven best ecommerce shipping software so you can find what works best for your online store.
Top Shipping Software Compared
Knowing the details of shipping software is crucial. It isn’t physically shipping orders; it’s also about linking up with carriers handling international and domestic shipments, setting shipment restrictions, and providing fulfillment services. The comparison chart highlights these distinctions, showing how each software performs.
How to Choose the Right Shipping Software for your Ecommerce Business
When making a decision it’s important to consider pricing, features, integrations, customer service and other aspects. By assessing these elements you can select software that matches your business goals and operational requirements leading to a shipping process and increased customer satisfaction. Lets explore how you are able to make a decision.
Value
Assessing the worth of shipping software, consider factors such as the availability of a trial charge and the choice of a usage-based pricing structure. Researching the software’s reputation to steer clear of any activities is important. Notable advantages comprise discounts on shipping and automated label printing, which can greatly enhance efficiency. Striking a balance between these features guarantees you maximize your investment benefits. Getting a discount on shipping is one of the most important reasons we recommend users sign up for it.
- Free Trial: The shipping software app provides trials, typically giving users at least two weeks to test the system and ensure it meets their needs.
- Monthly Fee: Shipping services require a monthly fee, usually determined by the volume of monthly shipments and your shipping costs.
- Pay-as-You-Go: With this model, you’ll pay based on the quantity of shipping labels you print. You only pay for what you use, making it a cost-effective option for high shipping volumes.
- Shipping Discounts: Every ecommerce shipping solution on our list offers discounts you can’t capture when working directly with the carrier. These discounts vary by carrier and service, with options like USPS Priority Mail often offering higher discounts than USPS First Class Mail.
- Automation Label Printing: Automation in label printing boosts efficiency by streamlining operations and minimizing errors. Support for multiple carriers and automated batch label printing enhances flexibility and process accuracy.
Features
When evaluating shipping software to optimize your ecommerce operations, consider these key features:
- Tracking Page: Keep your customers updated about their orders in real-time through a customized tracking page.
- Shipping Rate Calculations: Automated shipping cost calculations ensure you always offer your best rates, helping to enhance consumer satisfaction and reduce shipping costs.
- SMS Notifications: Instant SMS updates inform your customers about shipping and delivery statuses, increasing transparency and trust.
- Recurring Order Automation: Streamline repeat purchases by setting up automated processes for recurring orders, saving time and effort.
- SCAM Forms: Built-in SCAM forms simplify customs processes for international shipping, ensuring compliance and speeding up delivery.
- Fulfillment Services: It accesses integrated fulfillment services to handle picking, packing, and shipping, allowing you to focus on growing your business.
- Crowdfunding Support: Special features assisting crowdfunding projects include bulk shipping and reward fulfillment.
- USB Scale Support: Easily calculate package weights with USB scale integration, ensuring accuracy and preventing overcharging.
- Seller Fulfilled Prime: Meet Amazon’s stringent requirements and maintain your Prime status with optimized shipping solutions.
- Dropshipping: Support for dropshipping allows you to manage third-party shipments without holding inventory.
- Returns Management: A streamlined returns process benefits both you and your customers. A branded return portal allows quick product tracking and returns, making management easier.
- Branded Tracking Pages: Enhance customer experience by personalizing shipping notifications and integrating brand identity into the post-purchase journey.
Choosing to ship software with these features can streamline your ecommerce processes and improve overall efficiency.
Integrations
An important element to consider when picking shipping software. Its ability to integrate seamlessly with various ecommerce platforms and marketplaces. Which marketplaces and platforms are you using? Here’s what you need to know about shipping software options and their integrations:
- Shopify: Automatic order syncing, shipping real-time rate comparison, and tracking updates to optimize fulfillment.
- BigCommerce: Easy order management, automated label creation, and streamlined returns to save time.
- WooCommerce: Integration with WordPress plugins for synchronized orders, compared carrier rates, and label printing.
- Wix: Features like bulk label printing, order syncing, and tracking link generation for efficient updates.
- Squarespace: Real-time rates, automated tracking, and seamless label printing for a smooth process.
- Etsy: Handles order imports, discounts, & tracking updates tailored to Etsy sellers.
- Amazon: Simplifies FBA management, optimizes FBM shipping, and synchronizes inventory.
- eBay: Features order import and automatic tracking updates and streamlines your dispatch process with efficient mass label printing.
- Walmart: Quick order syncing, competitive rates, and automated tracking to maintain high standards.
Consider these integrations to ensure a smooth transition and effective shipping processes.
Customer Support
When running an online ecommerce business, having reliable customer support for your shipping software can make a significant difference. Good customer support ensures that we quickly resolve any issues you have. It minimizes disruptions to your operations and keeps you satisfied. Here’s what to look for:
- Dedicated Account Manager (AM): A dedicated AM provides personalized support, understands your business needs, and offers tailored solutions.
- Phone Support: Instant access to support via phone can be crucial during busy sales times, as it ensures immediate resolution of any urgent issues.
- 24/7 Support: Round-the-clock support availability ensures that no matter when an issue arises, help is just a call or message away.
- Help Center: A comprehensive help center with guides, FAQs, and tutorials can provide valuable self-service resources, empowering you to resolve common problems independently.
- Live Chat: Live chat support offers real-time assistance, enabling swift troubleshooting and enhancing the overall customer service experience.
Top Shipping Companies Software
1. Shippo
Shippo is like your one-stop shop for all things shipping. It’s cool software that enables you to check rates from 40+ carriers’ networks, print labels, monitor where your packages are, and even handle returns. Plus, it plays nicely with online business selling sites like Shopify and WooCommerce. The goal is to make things easier while saving money and time.
Multiple carrier accounts enhance rate comparisons, and multiple user accounts facilitate team collaboration, shipment tracking, and return handling to ensure smooth, timely deliveries and platform integrations that streamline operations across various marketplaces.
Shippo works with most major carriers (see the list of carriers), making it accessible to your preferred service. Their partner network simplifies international shipping services and provides detailed reporting.
You can choose from three plans, including a free option. You pay a small label fee plus postage with connected carrier accounts, but using Shippo’s default carriers skips that fee. Paid plans start at $19/month, with custom pricing available for enterprise levels.
2. Shipstation
Shipstation effortlessly integrates with Amazon, taking the stress out of handling shipping logistics. It provides real-time updates on tracking and fetches rates from multiple carriers—talk about cutting costs and saving you time!
Shipstation helps you manage and ship your orders from all your selling channels in one handy spot. Plus, it is integrated with many carriers that always find the best rates. And the cherry on top? It automates printing labels and tracking shipments to make shipping workflows more efficient. So, if you’re selling stuff online, ShipStation is a real game-changer.
We love the integration with Shopify and Amazon. The platform boasts an intuitive interface, ensuring ease of use for all users. Automation rules allow you to set up orders exactly how you want them processed. You can determine the best carrier and rate for each type of shipment and automate the entire process for greater time savings.
The starting plan costs just $9 per month, but there are six packages to choose from, topping out at $229.99/month for up to 7,500 monthly shipments. The higher-level plans provide customizable labels and packing slips.
3. ShippingEasy
ShippingEasy is a well-known shipping automation platform designed to streamline shipping experiences, integrate with various platforms, and manage inventory for ecommerce businesses, whether big or small. Both small startups and established sellers love it for its affordable plans and robust solutions. It lives up to its name and makes easy.
The platform offers discounted USPS and UPS flat rates, providing cost-effective solutions for merchants. Featuring seamless integration with ecommerce platforms, online shopping carts, and marketplaces, ShippingEasy simplifies returns and tracking while its advanced reporting tools provide valuable insights to optimize shipping operations.
It also includes inventory management features, suitable for small to midsize ecommerce businesses that require comprehensive order fulfillment solutions. Depending on your shipment volume, pricing plans start from free and go up to $159.99/month.
4. QuickBooks
QuickBooks is a standout pick for sellers dealing with high volumes. It combines powerful shipping capabilities with an easy interface.
Its strength lies in its comprehensive feature set, which includes real-time integration for importing orders, advanced inventory management software, and seamless syncing with various sales channels and accounting software.
It makes it incredibly convenient for those who need to streamline their operations across multiple platforms. QuickBooks proves to be a reliable and efficient tool. From easy label creation to precise order tracking, its easily operated interface allows ecommerce entrepreneurs to boost customer fulfillment and expand their businesses.
The plan starts from $17.50-$117.50 monthly. You need the enterprise plan to access advanced features such as custom WMS/ERP/marketplace integration, a cross-border network (3PL & 4PL), tech expertise, strategic consulting, committed use discounts, and premium support.
5. OrderCup
OrderCup is a top-tier shipping program that makes shipping easier for your businesses. Known for its user interface. OrderCup integrates with various marketplaces and ecommerce platforms to assist you in automating duties such as tracking packages and printing labels.
A standout feature of OrderCup is its discounted shipping rates from multi-carrier integrations like USPS, FedEx, and UPS, significantly cutting shipping costs. It also supports international shipping, enhancing your global reach. Prices start from $29.99 and go up to $189.99.
Key features include batch shipping, which allows for the simultaneous processing of multiple orders, and automated address validation, which reduces errors. Comprehensive reporting and analytics tools offer deep insights, helping you make informed decisions.
6. Ordoro
Ordoro is a robust shipping app solution catering to large-volume sellers and dropshippers. Its user-friendly interface and a wide range of additional features.
Whether you’re managing inventory, automating shipping processes, or integrating with multi-sales channels, Ordoro streamlines all operations to save your time and reduce errors.
Its tiered pricing plans, ranging from the Essentials plan (Free) to the Premium plan ($149/month), ensure that businesses of all sizes can find a suitable package. Custom pricing is also available for those with specific needs.
7. SendCloud
SendCloud provides a solution designed to assist retailers in automating and optimizing their shipping operations.
Pre-negotiated carrier prices let you decide the most cost-effective shipping options for your items. Integration connection ensures seamless compatibility with many ecommerce platforms, making it simple to begin without much setup time.
SendCloud excels in customer experience, with features like an intuitive returns portal and enhancements that elevate the shopping experience. Whether handling many packages or looking to improve operational efficiency, SendCloud provides the resources to fulfill your needs seamlessly.
8. Stamps.com
Stamps.com turns your office into a full-blown post office without ever having to step away from your desk (or change out of your PJs)! Printing postage from your computer is easy, saving you cash and time and awkward small talk with your mail carrier. It’s more than an option–it’s like having your own personal mail room, minus the grumpy mail guy.
It is simple to sign up. There aren’t any package limits. Plus, you can get discounts you wouldn’t get even if you went to the post office or UPS. And with free daily pickup, there’s no reason to leave your house again.
Stamps cost $19.99/month after a free trial. You can ship with either USPS or UPS. It seamlessly connects with online stores and marketplaces!
9. EasyShip
EasyShip is like the coupon queen of shipping; it is always on the hunt for the best discounts, up to 91% off the shipping rate, and passes the savings right onto you. It’s not just about getting your packages from A to B but doing it in style and on a budget.
With EasyShip, you can decide the carrier and rates that best suit your needs. It works with over 100 carriers to simplify the process of shipping products to customers. It also offers international shipping options and return management.
It offers affordable plans for small business owners. The free plan is available as long as you ship under 100 packages per month. The EasyShip dashboard is easy to use and integrates with multiple carriers.
Plans range from free to $199 a month. If you ship more than 10,000 packages monthly, you’ll need to get custom pricing.
10. ShipEngine
ShipEngine software handles the heavy lifting of high-volume ecommerce shipping. It’s like running a well-oiled machine, streamlining your shipping process, comparing various carrier charges, and automating labels & tracking.
It provides an API to unify all shipping processes in one platform. You can print labels, share tracking information, and manage returns. You may need one to utilize it fully if you’re not a developer.
ShipEngine gives you control over pricing based on your services’ compatibility with various domestic and international carriers. It offers four plans based on shipment volume flexibility. The competitive price plan starts at $600/month.
11. ShipWorks
ShipWorks is top-notch software that makes life easier for folks who ship packages every month from their ecommerce businesses or warehouses. It ties your whole ecommerce operation together in one spot, making managing online orders and getting items shipped out super simple. And the best part? It covers multiple carriers and lets you process thousands of labels per hour.
It provides unlimited support through live chat, phone, and email, allows unlimited users and workstations, offers discounts and a free USPS postage account, and supports desktop or cloud-based automation across multiple sales channels.
ShipWorks works well for small and large businesses alike. If you ever move into a warehouse space, you can upgrade to the warehouse plans and stay on the same system.
It offers five monthly plans, priced from $149 to $799. The highest plan is for warehouses, though.
FAQ
What is Shipping Software?
It is making it easier to process all your ecommerce orders to customers. Integrates with your store for easy label printing and carrier selection, helping you track expenses. You can use pre-negotiating advanced carrier discounts, simplifying order tracking, and managing returns effortlessly.
What are the benefits of using shipping software?
Utilizing ecommerce shipping software platforms streamlines automation and real-time shipping rates. It also ensures accurate delivery time or next-day delivery, supports inventory management, integrates with systems, reduces costs, and leverages data for efficient operations.
Which Shipping Platform Will You Use?
All right, there are plenty of software to work with. Since most will integrate with your ecommerce platform, it’s up to you to test and see what you think will work best for you. If you’re dealing with a high volume of orders, ShipEngine is your best bet. If you’re looking for the deepest discounts, then EasyShip is your answer.