Fulfillment splits into two camps: in-house packing with discounted label software, or outsourcing pick-pack-ship to a 3PL. ShipStation and ShippingEasy automate label printing and rate-shop across USPS, UPS, FedEx; Shopify Shipping embeds discounted labels directly into Shopify's order flow; ShipBob and similar 3PLs take inventory, pack orders, and hand off to carriers. The choice hinges on volume, warehouse space, and whether you want to touch boxes.
How we approached this
We reviewed vendor pricing pages, feature lists, and public case studies. ShipStation, ShippingEasy, and Easyship do not publish per-plan costs on all tiers; Shopify publishes monthly plan fees and card rates; ShipBob quotes are custom-only. We cite what each vendor lists and flag unknowns.
ShipStation
ShipStation is multi-carrier label software with automation rules, batch printing, and API access. Per the vendor's pricing page, plan costs are not published—contact sales for quote. The platform claims 80–90% carrier discounts, 200+ carrier integrations, and inventory/warehouse management. Enterprise plans include 24×7 support, guided onboarding, and API customization. Case studies cite $1.5 million freight savings (Our Place) and $2/order cost reductions (Semaine Health) via distributed fulfillment across ShipStation's network.
ShipStation
- +200+ carrier integrations; rate-shop and batch-print labels
- +Automation rules for routing, batching, label printing
- +API for custom workflows; enterprise onboarding and 24×7 support
- +Returns management and branded tracking in one platform
- −No public pricing; opaque cost structure until sales call
- −Case-study savings depend on multi-location fulfillment setup
- −Inventory Placement Program and deep discounts require volume commitment
Shopify Shipping
Shopify Shipping is bundled into every Shopify plan: Basic ($29/mo), Grow ($79/mo), Advanced ($299/mo), Plus (from $2,300/mo). Per Shopify's pricing page, online card rates range from 2.9% + 30¢ (Basic) to 2.25% + 30¢ (Plus), with in-person rates from 2.6% + 10¢ to lower tiers. Shipping discounts are tier-dependent—Grow and Advanced cite 'up to 87% off' USPS/UPS rates. The platform includes label buying, batch printing, and third-party calculated rates (Advanced and higher). Returns, tracking, and checkout customization are plan-gated.
Shopify
- +Label buying embedded in order workflow—no separate login
- +Carrier discounts scale with plan tier; Grow/Advanced cite up to 87% off
- +Checkout, inventory, POS, and shipping in one admin
- +Third-party calculated rates (Advanced+) for real-time carrier quotes at checkout
- −Transaction fees on Basic (2%) if not using Shopify Payments
- −Shipping discount details not itemized per carrier or service level
- −Advanced features (custom checkout, unlimited staff) locked to $299/mo or Plus tiers
ShipBob
ShipBob is a 3PL network charging per-unit receiving, storage (warehouse fees), and pick-pack-ship for each order. Per ShipBob's pricing page, all quotes are custom; no standard rate card is published. The vendor negotiates bulk carrier discounts and passes savings to customers. Case studies cite $2/order reductions (Semaine Health via Inventory Placement Program) and straightforward billing (Dossier, Our Place). Services include kitting, B2B/EDI fulfillment, returns processing, and international fulfillment in USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Europe. Software access is free for customers.
ShipBob
- +Full outsourcing—no in-house packing or warehouse space needed
- +Multi-location fulfillment (USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Europe) reduces transit time and costs
- +Free WMS software; analytics and inventory management included
- +Kitting, B2B/EDI, returns management as add-on services
- −No public pricing; variable fees per SKU complexity, order volume, and storage duration
- −Per-order costs higher than in-house label software for low-margin SKUs
- −Inventory Placement Program and deep discounts require multi-warehouse commitment
Easyship
Easyship provides multi-carrier rate comparison, label buying, and customs/duty calculation for international shipments. Per the vendor's pricing page, a free Core plan covers basic shipping features (up to 91% off labels claimed, 550+ courier services). Paid tiers—Growth, Plus, Select, Premium, Enterprise—are volume-gated but per-plan pricing is not published beyond 'Get a Quote.' The platform integrates 100+ ecommerce platforms, offers branded tracking, batch printing, and shipping rules. Enterprise includes API access and developer support.
Easyship
- +550+ courier integrations; claimed discounts up to 91% off labels
- +International shipping with tax/duty calculator and customs docs
- +Free Core tier for small-volume shippers; batch printing and automation on paid plans
- +API for platforms and developers; 100+ tech integrations
- −Paid-tier pricing not published; unclear cost jump from free to Growth
- −Discount percentages lack carrier-specific or service-level detail
- −Feature gates (shipping rules, branded tracking) not mapped to specific paid tiers on pricing page
ShippingEasy
ShippingEasy combines label automation with email marketing and customer feedback tools. Per the vendor's pricing page, Starter is free up to 25 shipments/month; Growth starts at $19.99/mo (26–200 shipments), with tiered plans (Basic, Plus, Select, Premium, Enterprise) scaling to 10,000 shipments/month. The platform claims industry-best USPS rates and up to 82% off UPS Daily Rates, plus Flat Rate Green cubic pricing. Features include batch printing, unlimited stores/marketplaces on Growth+, branded tracking, CSV uploads, and phone/chat support.
ShippingEasy
- +Free tier for micro-sellers (up to 25 shipments/mo); clear volume-based pricing
- +Email marketing and feedback tools bundled—no separate ESP needed
- +Flat Rate Green cubic discounts for USPS; claimed up to 82% off UPS Daily Rates
- +Phone/chat support on Growth+ plans; unlimited stores/marketplaces
- −Monthly fee per shipment tier—cost jumps if volume spikes mid-month
- −Carrier account connect fees not detailed on pricing page
- −Marketing features may duplicate existing ESP; not all sellers need bundled email campaigns
Verdict
- **Shopify sellers staying in-house**: Shopify Shipping at $29–$299/mo (plan-dependent) keeps labels, inventory, and checkout in one admin; up to 87% off USPS/UPS on Grow/Advanced plans. Skip separate software if you never multi-channel.
- **Multi-channel in-house packers (<25 shipments/mo)**: ShippingEasy Starter (free) or Easyship Core (free) for no-cost label automation and rate-shopping. ShippingEasy adds email marketing; Easyship handles international customs.
- **Multi-channel in-house packers (200+ shipments/mo)**: ShippingEasy Growth ($19.99/mo for 26–200, tiered up) or request ShipStation/Easyship quotes. ShipStation suits API-heavy workflows; ShippingEasy suits those wanting bundled marketing.
- **Outsourcing pick-pack-ship**: Request ShipBob quote if you lack warehouse space or want distributed fulfillment (USA + Canada/UK/AU). Per-order 3PL fees exceed in-house label costs but eliminate packing labor and real estate.
- **International-heavy sellers**: Easyship for customs/duty calculators and 550+ couriers, or ShipBob for overseas fulfillment centers (UK, AU, EU). Shopify Shipping handles international labels but lacks customs automation on Basic/Grow.
What we'd skip
- **ShipStation or Easyship paid tiers without a sales call**: No public pricing means you cannot model costs against current volume. Request quotes from both plus ShippingEasy Growth to compare.
- **ShipBob for low-margin, slow-turn SKUs**: Per-order pick-pack fees compound on products with <30% margins. In-house packing with ShippingEasy or Shopify Shipping preserves margin.
- **Shopify Shipping on Basic if processing >$10k/mo GMV**: 2% transaction fees (non-Shopify Payments) and 2.9% + 30¢ card rates erode profit. Upgrade to Grow ($79/mo, 2.7% + 30¢, no transaction fee with Shopify Payments) or negotiate ShipStation/ShippingEasy volume discounts.
- **Bundled email marketing in ShippingEasy if already using Klaviyo/Mailchimp**: Duplicate ESP costs. Use ShippingEasy Starter (free, no marketing) or ShipStation if email is handled elsewhere.
