Software Shortlist
Here’s the list of the best tools that I’ll cover in this article.
If you are an ecommerce seller, you have a lot of hats to wear and many things to worry about. One of the biggest headaches is managing shipping. In today’s world, customers have high service expectations. They want their products to arrive promptly and efficiently.
Given the complexities of fulfillment, that’s a big ask. Thankfully, there are now many applications to help you. In this article, I’ll discuss the best ecommerce shipping software for ecommerce sellers. I’ll reveal my top 10 picks, plus other options for you to consider.
Comparison Criteria
What do I look for when I select the best shipping software? Here’s a summary of my evaluation criteria:
- User Interface (UI): I look for software that’s easy to interact with, even in a gloomy warehouse.
- Usability: I’m seeing software that employees at all levels will find easy to use and understand.
- Integrations: I expect tools to integrate with the top ecommerce marketplaces and other ecommerce solutions.
- Value for $: I look for shipping software that makes economic sense for both mom-and-pop online stores and fast-growing enterprises.
Ecommerce Shipping System Key Features
When evaluating shipping solutions, I consider whether the software has the core features sellers are entitled to expect, including:
- Order management: The flexibility to batch, filter, sort, combine and manage orders in the most efficient way possible.
- Rate comparisons: Allowing you to view rates and service choices across all major carriers to choose the cheapest, fastest shipping method
- Rate discount options: Identifying carrier discounts that can be applied in return for high aggregate volume.
- Tracking and communication: rReal-time shipping confirmations for customers, plus the ability to track orders throughout the fulfillment process.
- Automation and rules: Setting rules to automate repetitive tasks, freeing staff to work on other matters.
- Pick management: The ability to print pick lists, shipping labels, and branded slips for error-free fulfillment.
- Reporting: Capturing all the data you need to analyze results and make informed business decisions.
- Returns management: Generating return labels and managing returned products.
- International shipping support: Features such as pre-populated customs forms that make it easy to manage overseas orders.
- Integrations: The software needs to integrate with multiple marketplaces, shopping carts, and other ecommerce software solutions.
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Overviews Of The 10 Best Ecommerce Shipping Software Solutions
Here’s a brief description of each ecommerce shipping tool to showcase each tool’s best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give a snapshot of the user interface.
ShipStation
Best for branding your shipping
ShipStation is a multi-channel, multi-carrier shipping suite for managing all aspects of ecommerce fulfillment. Features include discounted shipping rates, batching, customer branding, and inventory management. You can import orders from over 60 sales channels and automatically apply configurable presets and shipping options.
The software updates you with shipping status and tracking information for each channel. ShipStation also offers customizable packing slips, email, and tracking page templates. This makes it possible to brand your shipments and enhance the customer experience.
Additional features include prefilled international customs forms, detailed reporting, and advanced user permissions. This tool integrates with platforms such as Amazon, eBay, WooCommerce, DHL Express, and Shopify.
ShipStation costs from $9.99/user/month. A 30-day free trial is available.
Pirate Ship
Best for purchasing and printing shipping labels
Pirate Ship is a shipping management solution that assists in managing and streamlining processes related to purchasing and printing shipping labels. This cloud-based ecommerce platform allows you to search shipments at shipping companies, create USPS scan forms, and export transaction data.
The software offers a range of features, including ground shipping, shipment tracking, import/export, quotes, and estimates. You can also manage air and parcel shipping.
Admins can import orders from platforms such as WooCommerce, Cratejoy, Etsy, Shopify, and eBay. Using the shipping spreadsheet module, you can also upload addresses in various formats such as CSV, ODS, XLS, and XLSX.
This tool integrates with eCommerce platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Chargify, Recurly, and Big Cartel.
Pirate Ship is available free of charge for any number of users.
ShipRush
Best multi-carrier solution for scalability
ShipRush is a multi-carrier shipping platform that helps you manage order deliveries and notify customers of shipping status. This tool is available as either a cloud-based or on-premise solution. Features offered include inventory management, shipment history tracking, and reporting.
You can also print shipping labels. Managers can compare carrier rates and delivery options from the shipping rate shopping dashboard. They can also view transit times, shipping costS, and contracted rates. It’s also possible to create automation rules and print a shipping label for any order.
This tool integrates with third-party apps such as Authorize.net, BigCommerce, Magento, and QuickBooks.
ShipRush costs from $29.95/user/month. A 60-day free trial is available.
Ascend TMS
Best for transport management
Ascend is a popular cloud-based supply chain management system. Core features include load management, branch administration, accounting, financial controls, and payment management. Using the load management capabilities, you can track supply orders, carriers, delivery dates, and distances.
You can also track the financials of load assignments to find the most profitable ones. GPS functionality helps you track the geographical location of carriers. Payroll management allows you to pay both contract and full-time drivers by mile, hour, pallet, or ton.
This tool integrates with applications such as SmartCapacity, Loadsmart, Truckstop, and CargoChief.
Ascend costs from $79/user/month. A free plan with limited features is also available.
Shippo
Best for securing the lowest rates from multiple carriers
Shippo connects ecommerce sellers with the best rates at 85+ carriers and the United States Postal Service. After connecting your store, you can sync your sales channels to manage all orders in one place. The software tracks shipments and sends notifications to customers.
A return label can be generated automatically free of charge. Shippo offers analytics, insights, and reports. These include intelligent defaults plus configurable automations to keep you on top of shipping at all times. This is a no-code solution with no minimum volume requirements.
This tool integrates with platforms such as Square, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Wix. Shippo costs from $10/user/month.
A free 30-day trial is available.
Bolt Fulfillment
Best turnkey technology to elevate your logistics
Bolt Fulfillment is an order fulfillment platform that helps any business owner manage and fulfill orders. The solution includes advanced software for dealing with all aspects of logistics. The company receives and stores your inventory with the aim of reducing costs and optimizing delivery speed.
Orders are received in real-time, then picked, packed, and shipped promptly. Bolt aims to reduce shipping costs by 40% and get orders to customers three times faster. Features include optimized route planning and real-time truck tracking.
As a result, you can track all packages right to the door. This tool integrates with platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, and ShipStation.
Bolt Fulfillment offers customized pricing on request.
Sure Shipped
Best for automated third-party logistics
SureShipped automates your online fulfillment, helping you save money on pick, pack, storage, and shipping services. The service covers direct-to-consumer, B2B, retail, FBA prep, and value-added services. Once your store is added to the system, the SureShipped team will store your products, add them to inventory and prepare them for shipping to customers the same day.
The system works with all major carriers both nationally and internationally. The SureShipped software includes multi-channel integrations, an admin dashboard, and reporting features. It also alerts you when stocks run low and keeps you informed of fulfillment status.
This platform integrates with Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, Magento, Walmart, and Etsy.
SureShipped offers customized pricing on request.
ShipHero
Best for in-house and outsourced fulfillment
ShipHero offers two different options for fulfillment. You can fulfill orders from your own warehouse, using ShipHero to manage the process. Alternatively, you can outsource the entire shipping process to them. The software manages the complete fulfillment process, from order to delivery.
Orders flow to pickers and packers for immediate processing. A personalized dashboard provides you with real-time monitoring to facilitate improved decision-making.
This tool integrates with platforms such as Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Amazon, eBay, and Walmart. ShipHero software costs from .
A 30-day free trial is available.
Packlink Pro
Best free service for shipping rate comparison
Packlink is an online service that makes it easy to compare discounted rates at any shipping carrier and find a low cost shipping option. You can choose from standard, economy, or premium services. Using this service, you can save up to 50% on domestic shipments and 70% internationally.
Packlink Pro is a platform created specifically for ecommerce business owners. Having connected to your marketplaces, you can import your shipments and manage them from a single dashboard. The control panel also helps you track the status of shipments, from collection to delivery.
This tool integrates with ecommerce platforms such as WooCommerce, Magento, and Prestashop.
Packlink is offered as a totally free service.
ShipBob
Best for a global omni-fulfillment solution
ShipBob offers a complete fulfillment service, including a full-stack software suite. Using this service, you can manage, track and control your ecommerce business. The software allows you to manage, edit and customize orders. You can also track real-time stock levels from any location and receive notifications when you reorder inventory.
ShipBob includes built-in reports and analytics modules. Ecommerce experts are also on hand to help you forecast, integrate, and orchestrate inventory and orders. This tool integrates with Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Magento.
ShipBob offers customized pricing on request.
The 10 Best Ecommerce Shipping Software Solutions Summary
| Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ShipStation Best for branding your shipping | Not available | From $9/month | Visit Website |
| 2 |  Pirate Ship Best for purchasing and printing shipping labels | Not available | Visit Website | |
| 3 |  ShipRush Best multi-carrier solution for scalability | 60 days free trial | From $29.95/user/month | Visit Website |
| 4 |  Ascend TMS Best for transport management | Not available | From $79/user/month | Visit Website |
| 5 |  Shippo Best for securing the lowest rates from multiple carriers | Free 30 days trial | From $10/month | Visit Website |
| 6 |  Bolt Fulfillment Best turnkey technology to elevate your logistics | Not available | Visit Website | |
| 7 |  Sure Shipped Best for automated third-party logistics | Not available | Visit Website | |
| 8 |  ShipHero Best for in-house and outsourced fulfillment | 30-day free trial | From $499/month | Visit Website |
| 9 |  Packlink Pro Best free service for shipping rate comparison | Totally free service | Visit Website | |
| 10 |  ShipBob Best for a global omni-fulfillment solution | Free demo | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
Need expert help selecting the right eCommerce Solutions Software?
We’ve joined up with the software comparison platform Crozdesk.com to assist you in finding the right software. Crozdesk’s eCommerce Solutions Software advisors can create a personalized shortlist of software solutions with unbiased recommendations to help you identify the solutions that best suit your business's needs. Through our partnership you get free access to their bespoke software selection advice, removing both time and hassle from the research process.
It only takes a minute to submit your requirements and they will give you a quick call at no cost or commitment. Based on your needs you’ll receive customized software shortlists listing the best-fitting solutions from their team of software advisors (via phone or email). They can even connect you with your selected vendor choices along with community negotiated discounts. To get started, please complete the form below:
Other Options
Here are a few more that didn’t make the top list.
- ClickPost - Logistics intelligence platform for ecommerce sellers
- GlobalShip - Integrated, multi-carrier shipping software for Microsoft-base sellers
- Pacejet - Fully-connected shipping for enterprise-level sellers
- 2Ship - Online, multi-carrier shipping provider
- Magaya Supply Chain - Modern, data-driven freight and logistics software platform
- DesktoShipper - Ecommerce shipping solution for both small businesses and larger enterprises
- Freight Club - All-in-one shipping platform used by ecommerce leaders
- Calcurates - Cost-effective shipping for e-commerce with zero-coding
- Detrack - Delivery management software offering real-time proof of delivery
- SKUlabs - Multi-carrier shipping platform for managing and syncing multichannel inventory
- BuyCo - Collaborative platform that simplifies container management for large-volume shippers
What Do You Think About This List?
So now you have a great selection of the best shipping company software to choose from. If I missed a good one or you disagree with my conclusions, feel free to share in the comment section.
We have lots more great content for ecommerce sellers. Consider checking out our review of the best order tracking software or our summary of the best order management system software.
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With the right software, you can delight your customers and grow your small business to new heights. It’s still Day One in the ecommerce world, so there’s a very bright future ahead!
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