The best shipping software should include elements such as steep carrier discounts, multiple shipping methods, and integrations to ecommerce platforms or marketplaces. Shipping software is crucial for small businesses. Shipping software can help you maintain lower costs regardless of sales volume. It will also link you with fulfillment services and allow to track trends in shipments arriving at customers within days.
We will discuss the top features of shipping software in our analysis, and then show you the top shipping software.
What is Ecommerce Shipping and the Software that Goes with It?
This guide will explain the importance of shipping to your customers and show you how it can be used in your business.
Our current research focuses on ecommerce shipping. We’re also looking at software that makes it easier for merchants and customers to ship.
Ecommerce Shipping: A Simple Definition
Ecommerce shipping is the movement of goods from one place to another.
How Ecommerce Shipping Can Be Integrated Into Your Ecommerce Company
Online store management requires many tools and responsibilities. These include marketing, design, product development, shipping, and even shipping. These are just a few of the many responsibilities that an ecommerce professional must wear. It is possible to reduce costs by focusing on some elements.
A small online shop may ship packages in-house, for example. A businessman could package a product in his own home and then take it to the UPS or post office to ship it.
This is often where ecommerce and shipping begin to interact. It’s important to not cut corners in shipping, as many ecommerce professionals have learned. This process quickly becomes costly and you run the risk of slowing down shipping or doing a poor job packaging your order as compared to FedEx or UPS.
Businesses often turn to logistics and shipping companies to handle larger shipping operations. They ensure that packages arrive promptly in secure packaging and have tracking codes so customers know when they are due.
Ecommerce Shipping Methods
The shipping methods you offer your customers are one of the most important things to think about. You’re familiar with the process if you have ever shopped online. There are a few shipping options available. Most of them have different fees, and can get your product to where you want it faster than others.
These are some common shipping methods that you should consider:
- Flat-rate
- Overnight
- 2-day
- International
- Air
- Ground
- Weight or size based
These shipping methods are unique to each carrier.
Popular Shipping Carriers
These are the most well-known shipping companies:
- UPS
- USPS
- FedEx
- DHL
This list is only applicable to certain areas. Shipping software works best when used with other carriers such as Globegistics (Australia Post), Deutsche Post, Canada Post, Globegistics, Globegistics, Globegistics, Globegistics, Globegistics, Globegistics, Globegistic, Globegistics, Globegistics, Globegistics, Globegistics, Globegistics, Globegistic and Canada Post.
Here are some things to watch out for:
- Your customers can get free shipping with the shipping software and service. Although this is not a necessity, it is important to remember that customers like the idea at least of having free shipping. This is usually in the form heavy postage or carrier discounts that can be used to lower shipping costs for your customers.
- Low-cost shipping is also available. Statistics show that most consumers will cancel orders if shipping costs are too high. You should look for shipping software that encourages low-cost shipping. You can scare off some customers by charging $10 shipping fees at the checkout, even if you do not offer free shipping.
- It is nice to have options for free shipping depending on sales threshold. If a customer places $50 or more in their shopping cart, they will receive free shipping. Customers will feel better about not having to pay shipping costs and may spend more at your store. Shipping prices can be set on your website. However, the shipping software may offer options to reduce your shipping fees.
- You shipping software should offer fast shipping. Customers have grown accustomed to receiving their goods within a few days in an Amazon world. Customers want their products fast so they should have options for overnight shipping or two-day shipping. We like the idea that the slowest shipping method should take no longer than one week. This eliminates dropshipping which can take up to four weeks to reach customers (it is absurd to think that anyone would be willing to wait that long when there are so many other places online to shop).
- Shipping options are perfect. As long as they save money, some customers are happy to wait a week for their goods. Some customers are willing to pay a little more to expedite delivery. Flat-rate shipping can be great for simplicity but it’s often more beneficial to offer three or four shipping options so that your customer has the option of choosing.
- Label printing is the best shipping software. This means that orders go to the fulfillment company and the merchant. The shipping software then links to multiple carriers to find the most efficient, cost-effective way to send that package. Instead of printing shipping labels for every order (with different carriers), you can print them all at once.
- Shipping discounts to increase your margins are great when you look at your shipping software. Are there partnerships between the fulfillment service and major carriers such as FedEx, USPS, UPS, or USPS? They should. They’re shipping far more than individual sellers so small merchants should be able take advantage of these discounts.
- Do you have the ability to link to other selling channels? Selling through an online store is not as common. Amazon, eBay and Etsy are all popular places for merchants to find customers. To quickly fulfill orders, print labels and deliver the product to customers, you will need a shipping software that links directly to these marketplaces.
- Tracking assistance is useful considering that consumers have come to expect emails with tracking codes. Your shipping software should generate a tracking number and link to the carrier’s tracking page.
- Return support should be a part of your shipping software. Online return centers are a great feature of the best shipping software. Customers can process returns online, print return labels and then send the items back to the storage unit.
- International shipping assistance, also known as cross-border shipping, is a nice feature to have in your shipping software. Shipping your products to domestic customers can be daunting. Imagine having to pay customs and taxes for products shipped to foreign countries. It is best to partner with local carriers so that customers receive their packages from someone they can trust. This often includes multi-language or currency support.
- Search for shipping software that can integrate with third-party services to offer multiple fulfillment options Dropshipping and third-party logistics are all options. It is essential that you have a partner who does the heavy lifting. Quality software can sync with your online shop and offer fulfillment options. It also gives you full control over the shipping process. Do you want to see samples of your products before shipping them to customers? Do you have a preferred shipping label or branding element that you would like to include in every package?
How we conducted the research
For each article written on ecommerce-platforms.com, we take a slightly different approach to research. We stick to a fair and outlined approach to research to highlight facts in our reviews, tutorials, comparisons, and tutorials.
We started with a list listing the many shipping software options for ecommerce shipping. We then highlighted those options that have been around at least enough time to be considered credible.
It was logical to eliminate shipping software that didn’t meet our expectations for pricing or lacks the necessary features/offerings, such as integrations with popular ecommerce platforms like WooCommerce and Shopify.
ShippingEasy
ShippingEasy offers more than just software with a free plan. We like it because it allows startups to receive discounted rates and monthly shipping without having to pay any monthly fees (for up 50 shipments per monthly), but it also offers the integrations, carrier support and tracking tools that small businesses require.
ShippingEasy combines many elements to create a powerful shipping program. The following modules are included in ShippingEasy:
- Shipping: With discounts, advanced reporting, tracking and returns, and other options to simplify shipping workflows.
- Marketing: Interactive metrics, feedback requests and campaign management.
- Inventory Management – Includes product and supplier management, purchase order management, reporting, and more.
- Amazon support — With full seller suite, Alexa to ship, FBA support and feedback management.
ShippingEasy is a solid package that offers more than just standard shipping software. ShippingEasy’s free plan is ideal for small businesses that don’t have the budget for a full package. However, it’s worth considering for larger companies who want to add marketing and Amazon selling elements.
Pricing:
ShippingEasy pricing can be broken down into the various products. Shipping software, for example, is sold separately from email marketing tools.
We’re going to be focusing our efforts on shipping software so we’ll detail the pricing and briefly review the other options.
A Starter package costs $0 and allows small businesses to operate a shipping business without paying monthly fees. Although it is realistic to assume you won’t stay on the free plan for the entire time, this is a great advantage in times when money is tight.
These are the pricing plans of the ShippingEasy shipping program:
- Starter $0 per Month for 50 Shipments and the Lowest USPS Rates
- Basic $29 per month for 500 orders, and the lowest USPS rates. All major carriers are also available for shipping.
- Plus $49 per Month for 1,500 monthly shipping, the lowest USPS rates and lowest possible cubic discounts for USPS. You can also ship with any carrier.
- Select $69 per Month for 3,000 Shipments, plus all Benefits from the Previous Plan
- Premium $99 per Month – 6,000 Shipments and all Discounts and Shipping Benefits from the Previous Plan
- Enterprise $149 per Month for unlimited shipments and support from all major carriers
For an additional fee, add the email marketing package. This part is $14 per month for 5,000 people.
You will automatically be upgraded to the next-highest plan if you exceed your shipping limit.
The interface
An ecommerce platform app is often used to install the ShippingEasy software. It can be integrated into your website, or custom coded.
Integrations with platforms such as Shopify are a great way to simplify onboarding.
The dashboard is easy to use and has all your shipments in one place. The dashboard allows you to sort, filter, search, and search for orders. You can even batch or split orders, if necessary.
The ShippingEasy dashboard allows you to compare rates and show all the fees for shipping a product. You can enter a zip code, the destination of the shipment, and the type and weight of the package. ShippingEasy then displays the rates and times of all carriers side-by-side.
The reports page is also very convenient. It displays revenue, shipping stats and order values in charts. This can be combined with automated social media marketing campaigns to determine which marketing strategies are driving the most sales.
ShippingEasy offers templates for product reviews and recommendation, which can help you increase sales and turn this solution into a mix of marketing and shipping tools. ShippingEasy could allow you to get rid of your email marketing software.
Integrations of the Ecommerce Platform
You can find all ShippingEasy Integrations here. ShippingEasy has done an excellent job of integrating with top ecommerce platforms. Most of all, it uses well-executed apps.
There are many platforms that you can integrate with. Here are some of our favorites.
- Shopify
- Magento
- Bigcommerce
- WooCommerce
- AmeriCommerce
- Volusion
- Squarespace
- PrestaShop
- More
No shipping charges
ShippingEasy makes it easy to offer free shipping on your ecommerce platform.
First, ShippingEasy offers a free plan that eliminates early expenses and allows you to pass savings on to your customers. This is something we like a lot, as it can be difficult to stand out among your competitors when you first get started.
You can also take advantage of many shipment discounts. The USPS shipping discount is the most notable.
Low-cost shipping
All ShippingEasy merchants can avail Commercial Plus Pricing, regardless of the volume they sell. All shipping rates and insurance are discounted. If you are shipping heavier or smaller packages, there is a Flat Rate Green Discount.
These parts of ShippingEasy will give you some flexibility when it comes to low-cost shipping. Once you have chosen your carriers, rates, methods and other options, the process is automated to make sure you don’t constantly search for the lowest rate for your customers.
Threshold-based shipping discounts
ShippingEasy’s unique feature is that even a small business can get discounts on shipping and labels.
These are great if you want to offer free shipping if customers spend a certain amount.
If you ship more than $50,000 per year, the Commercial Pricing Plus program offers additional discounts. ShippingEasy offers additional savings for your growth, even though it is indirect savings. These savings are often passed on to customers by many companies.
Fast Shipping
All major carriers offer fast shipping. You can also offer overnight shipping via UPS or USPS to customers through your website.
ShippingEasy speeds up shipping by printing your labels, packing slips and pick lists. ShippingEasy quickly prints these items, so your shipment can be ready in no time.
You can print directly from the software, or you can bulk print multiple slips or labels to complete a week or a day of shipping. Even better, you can print labels automatically without any human intervention or delay. InstantLabel is the tool that allows you to do this.
Your entire shipping process can be automated by selecting the right carrier based on customer preferences and location. If you wish, you can set up rules and add insurance. Once all settings have been made, everything can be automated.
Multiple shipping options
ShippingEasy supports UPS, FedEx and USPS. This allows you to access a wide range of shipping options offered by these carriers. ShippingEasy encourages you to stick to the most current shipping rates and methods whenever possible.
ShipStation
Shipping software for small businesses is generally available to those companies who don’t want to use a third party logistics partner. ShipBob is more suitable for companies that want shipping software and logistics company involvement in shipping.
Smaller businesses may have their own warehouse or ship from their homes, garages, or rental properties. Self-fulfillment is a method that allows you to ship your products at a lower cost.
ShipStation is a software-based service that provides small businesses with self-fulfillment services and software. ShipStation can be used in conjunction with third-party logistics companies or Fulfillment By Amazon.
ShipStation is an affordable shipping software that offers high-profile integrations and order management modules. It also allows for label printing.
This is our ShipStation analysis based on the most important factors for shipping software.
Pricing:
ShipStation pricing plans depend on how many shipments you send each month. The Starter plan costs $9 and allows you to send up to 50 shipments each month. Each pricing plan below includes customer support, packaging slip and label.
- Starter $9 per month, 50 shipments, 1 user, ShipStation branding labels and packing slips and support via email and forum.
- Bronze $29 per Month for 500 Shipments, One User, ShipStation branded packing Slips and Labels, Forum Support and Email Support.
- Silver $49 per Month for 1,500 Shipments, 2 Users, Customized Packing Slips and Labels, Support via Live Chat, Email, and a Forum.
- Gold $69 per Month for 3,000 shipments with three users, custom labels and packing slips. Support via email, live chat and forum.
- Platinum $99 per Month for 6,000 shipments. Three users. Customized packing slips. Support via email, live chat and a forum.
- Enterprise $159 per Month for 10,000 shipments, 10 users, custom labels and packing slips. Support via phone, email and the forum.
If your company sends more than 10,000 packages per month, you can get custom quotes.
You can also get a 30-day trial for free to try out the software and other services.
There’s no fee to sell via other sales channels/marketplaces like Amazon or Etsy.
Important All postage and insurance fees are your responsibility. If your third-party marketplace integration has been classified as “premium,” you will be notified before signing up to ShipStation.
The interface
Online reviews of ShipStation are positive. Many praise the software’s intuitive interface. ShipStation has many integrations with ecommerce platforms via apps. This makes it easy to install without programming knowledge.
The dashboard displays information such as orders, shipping processes and downloads of packaging slips. It allows you to check the status of pending orders and see where they were sold. You can mark carriers to see shipping rates for each order.
You can check your shipment status on your smaller devices using the mobile interface.
The analytics are great for looking at charts such as sales, order values and repeat customers. All of these can be consolidated into reports.
Integrations of the Ecommerce Platform
ShipStation offers integrations with other software, such as Salesforce. It also provides app integrations to some of the most popular ecommerce platforms.
These are the ShipStation ecommerce apps:
- BigCommerce
- Shopify
- WooCommerce
- Shopify Plus
- Squarespace
- Wix
- Magento
- Bigcartel
- Volusion
- Ecwid
- PrestaShop
- Opencart
There are many other integrations available. For a better understanding of how the software can be extended, take a look to the ShipStation Partners webpage.
No shipping charges
ShipStation does not offer free shipping, however you can access discounted shipping rates from major carriers and labels. This combined with volume discounts from carriers could give you the opportunity to offer free shipping on orders placed on your website.
Low-cost shipping
ShipStation pairs your orders automatically with the best-priced shipping carrier, similar to the free shipping option. You have the option to offer your customers a variety of shipping options.
It is possible to browse rates regularly or pre-negotiate rates. ShipStation can help you find the most competitive rates and fastest shipping methods regardless of your location. You can also communicate the information to your customers using ShipStation.
Threshold-based shipping discounts
Major carriers offer quantity discounts, as well as ShipStation software. This allows you to pass on savings to your customers and makes it more attractive for sales. ShipStation makes it more affordable to offer free shipping on orders over $50 and $100.
Fast Shipping
All partners with ShipStation offer multiple shipping methods, including overnight and two-day delivery options.
This is combined with the ShipStation software’s speed, and you have one of the fastest options to self-fulfillment.
Software automatically calculates the best shipping rate and then prints the shipping label. To view all information, scan the packing slip.
A scan can generate shipping labels, weight and picking orders, so your workers won’t be confused during the entire process. This scanning system eliminates errors and allows for rapid shipment of orders throughout the logistical process.
Multiple shipping options
Although you can offer multiple shipping options to your customers, it is possible to set up pre-negotiations or decide on a few main shipping methods before listing them on your website.
Label printing:
This is a huge advantage to using ShipStation shipping software. When an order arrives, the labels can be printed on the software. Printing the labels can be done individually or in large quantities. You can print shipping labels by clicking on the Print button in the dashboard. Or, have your workers scan the labels.
ShipStation also handles shipping documents. Pick lists, for example, are necessary to send a worker to locate the items that need to be shipped out. ShipStation automatically generates pick list for you.
Labels and packing slips can be customized or branded depending on the ShipStation plan. The $9 per month Starter plan includes ShipStation-branded packing slips and labels, while the $49/month Silver plan allows you to customize labels and packing slides with your logo and business information.
Shipping Discounts from Major Carriers
Companies can contact major shipping companies to sign up for low-cost or special business rates.
ShipStation offers several programs that can be pre-negotiated to get the best rates from carriers such as FedEx, USPS, and UPS.
These discounts are great because you don’t have to be a large-volume user in order to benefit from them.
ShipStation USPS discount is one example. ShipStation users receive an automatic 40% discount on Priority Mail rates, up 13% off Priority Mail Express and up to 40% savings on USPS insurance rates.
Shippo
Shippo partners up with major carriers such as FedEx, UPS, DHL and UPS to ensure consistent multi-carrier shipping. These carriers offer merchants discounts and a better option for sending cross-border.
Shippo software is a viable option for small business, especially when shipping internationally. It has flexible pricing and multiple fulfillment partners.
Pricing:
Shippo offers a simple pricing page that allows you to choose between a Pay-As-You Go or a monthly Professional plan. A Premier plan, which is a customized version of the software or service, can be purchased.
These pricing plans are flexible and allow you to quickly test which plan works best for your company.
This is how the pricing looks:
- Pay as You Go – $0.05 for labels up to 5,000 per month You can still receive the best USPS discounts and email support without having to pay monthly charges.
The Professional Plan has a monthly rate that is based on the volume of your shipping. The Professional Plan offers five accounts, great USPS discounts, personalized customer service, email and live chat support, as well as five USPS discount codes. The labels are not charged separately. The monthly fee includes the labels.
The interface
Shippo was able to install integrations during testing. The user interface is similar to Shopify or WordPress. It has menu items at the left. The menu highlights orders, shipping, and carriers. A list of all three is displayed, listing the items being shipped, as well as fulfillment options.
The dashboard allows you to create labels. Shippo doesn’t appear to offer other automation techniques, such as quick scanning or a fully automated carrier selector.
The Shippo dashboard still offers packing slip downloads and labels. It also has a notification sender. You can also activate carriers using a wide range of options like Deutsche Post, UberRUSH and Fastway Australia.
Integrations of the Ecommerce Platform
Shippo can be integrated with many business software tools including the most popular ecommerce platforms.
These platforms are available to integrate with:
- Shopify
- WooCommerce
- Wix
- Bigcommerce
- Squarespace
- Weebly
- GoDaddy
- Commerce7
- Webflow
- Magento
- Volusion
- Arcadier
These platforms can be linked to using system-specific apps. Contact the Shippo support team if your website builder isn’t on the list to find out if it is possible.
No shipping charges
There are two options: You can offer free shipping to your online shop or Shippo offers discounts for all pricing plans.
Pay As You Go pricing plans are worth mentioning. They can be used to help small businesses get free shipping options.
Low-cost shipping
Shippo offers discounts for UPS, FedEx, DHL Express and FedEx, which tie in with the discounts mentioned above. All of these are available to increase your margins and lower shipping costs.
Shippo’s main problem is the fact that it will likely charge an additional fee to fulfill the order. However, this is also true for most shipping software other than ShipBob.
Threshold-based shipping discounts
While you can offer a shipping discount up to a certain threshold, it is best to provide additional shipping discounts through the shipping software in order to support this idea.
Shippo offers its carrier discounts but there aren’t any discounts for printing higher volumes of labels with the Pay As You Go plan.
The Professional plan offers discounts per label as you grow your business. This is crucial for offering volume-based discounts.
Fast Shipping
Shippo offers a variety of carrier speed options. Shippo has a wider range of carriers than other shipping software. This allows for more speed options.
Shippo can print labels in bulk and send automated emails to customers, which speeds up the process. It can also validate US addresses and pre-fill any required insurance information.
Shippo performs a few tasks to speed up shipping, including automated label creation and prefilling package weights.
Multiple shipping options
Shippo lets you set shipping methods based upon your marketplaces. You can also offer niche delivery options, such as day-of delivery or other unique delivery options offered by industry trendsetters.
Shippo has the longest list with carriers, so it is possible to argue that Shippo offers the most shipping options.
You can choose from international, regional, or national carriers. Some even offer next-day delivery. Others have tracking-only options such as Aramex and BorderGuru.
Shipping Discounts from Major Carriers
Nearly all international and domestic carriers offer discounts to corporate customers, from FedEx to the USPS, to DHL Germany and Hermes to Hermes.
Shippo does an excellent job linking its software to these carriers. Many of them offer discounts within Shippo. In most cases, you will just need to enter your carrier account information.
No matter how large your operation is, you will also be eligible for discounts
Here are some discounts you might want to mention:
- Save up to 90% on USPS
- UPS Discounts up to 55%
- DHL: Save up to 75%
- FedEx: Up to 29% Off
- Other carriers such as Fastway Australia or Sendle offer great discounts
Support for multiple channels
Shippo makes it easy to sell on major marketplaces.
Our top picks for integrations
- Amazon
- Etsy
- Mercari
- eBay
- Vinted
- Zibbet
- OfferUp
Tracking Support
The codes are provided to customers in automated tracking emails.
These emails can even be branded to appear like they are coming from your company.
These tracking codes can be synced with your store to your personal use. It all depends on the carrier. Shippo will inform you if a tracking number isn’t available.
Return systems
Shippo’s return features aren’t particularly notable, but you can print return labels and place them in your boxes. These labels are free and you don’t need to pay for them unless they are used by customers.
This is, many argue, a better way to provide customer service than asking customers to visit your website and print their return labels.
Shopify Shipping
Shopify users are limited to Shopify shipping. This is a major drawback, but it’s something we like. The interface is beautiful and easy to use.
Pricing:
When you install the app software on your premium Shopify store, it is completely free. We’ll discuss the discounts and postage costs later.
The interface
The Shopify Shipping Dashboard is similar to the rest of Shopify. It has a beautiful design.
You can use the interface to calculate shipping costs, find the lowest rates from carriers and streamline shipping tasks such as printing labels.
Non-Shopify users will not find the interface useful, as it isn’t compatible with WooCommerce, Bigcommerce or any other platform.
Integrations of the Ecommerce Platform
This is Shopify Shipping’s main drawback. This is a great option for Shopify users but not for all.
No shipping charges
It’s possible to offer free shipping to customers with discounts up to 90% for USPS, UPS and DHL
Shopify also offers quick shipping methods tools that allow you to implement free shipping.
Low-cost shipping
You will be able offer low-cost shipping options for your customers, just like the benefits of free shipping. Shopify offers great discounts and excellent tools to add real-time shipping rates.
Multiple shipping options
Shopify Shipping does not support FedEx or most regional and international carriers.
There are many shipping options available through USPS, DHL and UPS. But there are other options.
Label printing:
Shopify allows you to print labels and buy them. No special equipment is required. You can print labels directly from your home printer.
Shopify Shipping does not support any other printouts, such as pick lists or return label.
Shipping Discounts from Major Carriers
UPS, USPS and DHL offer shipping discounts. Shopify offers discounts up to 90% on all regular rates
Unfortunately, there is a limited number of carriers available, so the best rates are only offered to Shopify users who have the highest incomes. These discounts may be better than those offered by the competition, but it is clear that they are sometimes more attractive than others in this article.
Support for multiple channels
The Shopify Shipping app does not support any other channels. Shopify must use the shipping software to make sales.
- Amazon
- Etsy
- eBay
Tracking Support
Tracking numbers and emails about shipment status are automatically sent to customers and you. Your Shopify dashboard stores the tracking information.
Shopify Shipping supports all carriers with tracking numbers.
Return systems
Shopify Shipping does not offer a return module. However, the Shopify platform offers tools to help you get it done. You can always download a third-party application if the built-in features do not meet your needs.
International shipping solutions
DHL, USPS and UPS are available for international shipping. All shipments must originate from the United States. However, you can still send to any country that is allowed by these carriers.
Many fulfillment options
Shopify Shipping does not have its own fulfillment platform, but it integrates with almost every fulfillment app. You can choose to use dropshipping or self-fulfillment.
