Shippo vs ShipStation: Which is Best for Your Business?

Written By SDI GROUP LLC

Introduction

Choosing the right shipping software is crucial for e-commerce businesses looking to streamline their shipping process and reduce costs. Two of the most popular options in the industry are Shippo vs ShipStation.

Both platforms provide discounted shipping rates, automation features, and integration with major e-commerce platforms, but they cater to different types of businesses. Whether you're a small business owner shipping a few packages a week or a high-volume seller managing bulk orders, this detailed Shippo vs ShipStation comparison will help you determine the best choice for your needs.

Ease of Use & User Interface

Shippo: Simple & Beginner-Friendly

Shippo is designed for businesses that need a straightforward, no-frills shipping solution.

✅ Clean and intuitive dashboard that is easy to navigate.
✅ Quick setup—simply connect your store and start shipping.
✅ Minimal learning curve, making it great for beginners.

💡 Best for: Small businesses and solo entrepreneurs looking for a simple and efficient shipping tool.

ShipStation: More Features, But a Steeper Learning Curve

ShipStation offers a feature-rich platform but requires more setup.

✅ Highly customizable dashboard with extensive filtering options.
✅ Advanced shipping automation for high-volume businesses.
✅ More complex interface, which can be overwhelming for new users.

💡 Best for: Businesses shipping a high volume of orders that need more customization and automation options.

Winner: Shippo for ease of use, ShipStation for advanced users.

Pricing & Plans

Cost is a major factor when choosing a shipping software, so let’s compare Shippo vs ShipStation pricing.

Shippo Pricing

  • Free Plan: Pay-as-you-go model, no monthly fee, only pay for labels.

  • Professional Plan ($10–$200/month): Includes batch processing, automation, and branding.

  • Enterprise Plan (Custom pricing): For high-volume shippers.

ShipStation Pricing

  • Starter Plan ($9.99/month): Up to 50 shipments per month.

  • Bronze Plan ($29.99/month): Up to 500 shipments per month.

  • Silver & Gold Plans ($59.99–$99.99/month): Includes advanced automation and branding.

  • Enterprise Plan ($159.99+/month): Unlimited shipping volume and premium features.

Winner: Shippo for affordability and no monthly fees, ShipStation for businesses needing scalability and bulk shipping tools.

Shipping Carrier Integrations

Both platforms integrate with major carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL, but let’s see how they compare.

Shippo Carrier Integrations

  • Supports over 85 carriers worldwide.

  • Offers discounted USPS, UPS, and DHL rates.

  • No contract required—pay-as-you-go.

ShipStation Carrier Integrations

  • Supports the same carriers as Shippo but also includes regional carriers.

  • Offers negotiated carrier rates for enterprise users.

  • Ability to add your own carrier accounts and use custom rates.

💡 Best for: Businesses that want maximum carrier flexibility should choose ShipStation.

Winner: ShipStation for more carrier options, Shippo for better discount flexibility.

Automation & Workflow Features

For businesses shipping high volumes, automation is a must.

Shippo Automation

  • Batch label printing for multiple orders at once.

  • Address validation to prevent shipping errors.

  • Basic automation rules to apply default shipping preferences.

ShipStation Automation

  • Advanced automation rules for carrier selection, weight-based pricing, and shipment priorities.

  • Batch processing with custom rules for different order types.

  • Customizable packing slips and return labels.

💡 Best for: Businesses needing advanced automation and bulk order processing should choose ShipStation.

Winner: ShipStation for automation, Shippo for basic automation needs.

Order Management & E-commerce Integrations

Both platforms integrate with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, but they offer different features.

Shippo Order Management & Integrations

✅ Connects with all major e-commerce platforms.
✅ Provides a simple, one-click order import system.
✅ Best for small businesses that don’t need deep customization.

ShipStation Order Management & Integrations

✅ Integrates with more e-commerce platforms (e.g., BigCommerce, Magento).
✅ Provides custom API access for large businesses.
✅ Best for multi-channel sellers with complex order flows.

💡 Best for: Large e-commerce sellers needing custom integrations and multi-channel support should choose ShipStation.

Winner: ShipStation for multi-channel sellers, Shippo for small business owners.

Tracking & Customer Experience

Shippo Tracking Features

✅ Real-time tracking for all shipments.
✅ Branded tracking pages for better customer experience.
✅ Automated email/SMS notifications to update customers.

ShipStation Tracking Features

✅ Real-time tracking & branded tracking pages.
✅ Custom return portals to make returns easier for customers.
✅ Advanced reporting to track delivery performance.

💡 Best for: Businesses needing branded tracking and return management should choose ShipStation.

Winner: ShipStation for enhanced tracking & returns, Shippo for simple tracking solutions.

Reporting & Analytics

Shippo Reporting

✅ Basic reports on shipping costs, delivery times, and order history.
✅ Limited analytics for optimization.

ShipStation Reporting

✅ Advanced reports on carrier performance, shipping costs, and delivery speed.
✅ Insights on fulfillment efficiency and savings opportunities.

💡 Best for: Businesses that rely on data-driven insights should choose ShipStation.

Winner: ShipStation for advanced analytics, Shippo for basic reporting.

Customer Support & Reliability

Shippo Support

✅ Email and chat support available.
✅ Basic documentation & help center for troubleshooting.

ShipStation Support

✅ Phone, email, and live chat support.
✅ Dedicated account managers for enterprise users.
✅ More extensive knowledge base & training resources.

💡 Best for: Businesses that need dedicated support and phone assistance should choose ShipStation.

Winner: ShipStation for support quality, Shippo for basic assistance.

Final Verdict: Which Shipping Solution Should You Choose?

Both Shippo and ShipStation are powerful shipping solutions, but the best choice depends on your business needs.

Choose Shippo If:

✅ You’re a small business looking for a simple, affordable shipping tool.
✅ You prefer no monthly fees and only want to pay per label.
✅ You need basic automation and tracking features.

Choose ShipStation If:

✅ You’re a high-volume e-commerce seller needing advanced automation.
✅ You require more carrier integrations and bulk shipping features.
✅ You need detailed analytics, reporting, and multi-channel fulfillment.

💡 Final Recommendation: Shippo is best for small businesses, while ShipStation is ideal for growing and enterprise-level businesses that need more advanced shipping features.

Would you like to see if you qualify for discounted shipping rates? Try Shippo or ShipStation today!

SDI GROUP LLC
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