ShipHero is a third-party logistics (3PL) and SaaS provider geared towards small to midsize businesses. It delivers third-party order fulfillment services in addition to cloud-based warehouse management software (WMS) for ecommerce retailers and 3PL providers.
In our evaluation of the top order fulfillment companies for small businesses, ShipHero ranked third with 4.21 out of 5, based on 23 evaluation criteria. My in-depth research for our ShipHero review—which included a visit to one of ShipHero’s warehouses—revealed that it offers a unique array of in-house and hybrid fulfillment solutions, as well as functional third-party services.
ShipHero Overview
Pros
- Affordable two-day shipping to lower 48 states
- Options for standalone WMS software to support in-house or hybrid fulfillment
- Flat-rate shipping costs: Closely control margins with ultra-predictable pricing
- Robust warehouse management software (WMS) for brands and smaller 3PLs
Cons
- Restrictive minimum order volume requirements
- Limited warehouse network
- Zone-free shipping fee structure can make value inconsistent
- Concerning negative user reviews
Deciding Factors
Supported Business Types | Ecommerce sellers, retail stores, small to midsize businesses, startups, D2C sellers, online marketplace sellers, B2B sellers, subscription box services, and 3PL companies |
Standout Features |
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Minimum Requirements | 500 orders/month |
ShipHero Pricing (Fulfillment) |
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WMS (Warehouse Management System) Pricing |
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Contract Length | None |
US Warehouse Locations | 6 |
Non-US Warehouse Locations | 2 (Canada) |
Shipping Partner Options | UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL, GLS, and open-ended regional carriers |
Customer Support | 24/7 via email and in-app ticketing system |
Is ShipHero Right for You?
ShipHero is a good fit for:
- Ecommerce retailers: ShipHero is one of our top solutions for small business ecommerce fulfillment and shipping. Its shipping fee structure is best for sellers delivering to a wide range of locations.
- 3PLs; hybrid and in-house fulfillment: Robust warehouse management software (WMS) can be used to power your self-managed warehouse.
- Direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands: ShipHero has the infrastructure to affordably optimize transit times.
- Amazon sellers: ShipHero is Seller-fulfilled Prime (SFP)-eligible for Amazon success.
ShipHero is not suited for:
- High-value, heavy, fragile, oversized, or dangerous products: Red Stag Fulfillment is more equipped and economical for special-handling needs.
- Shipping to nearby zones: ShipHero’s zone-free shipping fees may make its value inconsistent.
- Global distribution: We recommend ShipBob for its wide international warehouse network.
ShipHero Alternatives
Best For | Minimum Monthly Requirement | US Warehouse Locations | Error Rate | Read Full Review | |
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International fulfillment and optimized distribution | $275 min. spend | 35+ | 0.05% | ||
Products requiring special handling | ~200 orders | 2 | 0.02% | ||
Scaling in-house fulfillment | $500 monthly subscription or workspace rental | 9 | <1% | ||
Amazon fulfillment for small and manageable goods | None | 110 | Undisclosed | ||
Crowdfunding fulfillment and subscription box management | $250 monthly pick-and-pack spend | 8 | 1% | ||
What Users Say in ShipHero Reviews
Users Like | Users Don’t Like |
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Good onboarding process | Ineffective and slow customer support |
User-friendly software interface | Decline in service |
Lots of powerful features | Frequent hidden fees |
Helped business grow | High shipping costs |
ShipHero reviews are mixed, with many positive ratings but also significant negative feedback. Many customers who left a negative ShipHero review reported issues like poor communication, mishandled inventory, unexpected fees (including a $500 “tech fee”), and frequent late shipments. Slow and ineffective support responses have also been a concern, especially for smaller vendors, and high shipping costs are noted.
Despite these issues, ShipHero maintains a high overall rating on platforms like Trustpilot and G2. Positive ShipHero reviews highlight helpful staff, an easy onboarding process, and effective software for both fulfillment and WMS. Recent reviews suggest improvements in service quality, indicating a return to previous standards.
- Trustpilot1: 4.6-star rating from 550+ reviews
- Shopify App Store2: 3.5-star rating from 165+ reviews
- G23: 4.2-star rating from about 85+ reviews
ShipHero Pricing
ShipHero pricing for fulfillment services is custom-quoted. However, Shiphero universally charges $0.70/cubic foot per day for storage and $0.33 per additional pick. In ShipHero reviews, some users mention a $500 monthly “tech fee,” but it’s unclear to whom this fee applies or whether it’s still being charged.
ShipHero offers a unique flat-rate pricing model for packing, shipping, supplies, and postage. This cost is based on package size, weight, and service level (standard, two-day, or overnight) rather than shipping zones, with the exception of Zone 9 and international shipments.
This predictable fulfillment cost structure may be helpful for many small businesses and startups, allowing them to better plan and manage shipping expenses. It can also make the transition from in-house to outsourced fulfillment smoother.
That said, the value of ShipHero pricing depends on your business’s specific needs. For instance, if your orders are primarily local, providers like ShipBob might be more cost-effective.
Read our ShipBob vs ShipHero comparison to see how each company’s pricing, features, and reviews stack up.
ShipHero WMS Pricing
ShipHero’s warehouse management system (WMS) is offered and billed as a separate product from its third-party fulfillment services.
The company offers two versions of its warehouse management software: one tailored for merchants and brands managing in-house fulfillment, and another for 3PLs serving external clients. An additional, customizable plan is available for enterprise-level brands.
Standard features for managing a warehouse like inventory management, returns, automation, and reporting come with all plans, alongside top-rated customer support and optional consulting.
The 3PL-specific software includes customer portals, billing management, and finder listings. The standard version for brands lacks these third-party features but offers more store connections at a lower price.
For a detailed list of features and add-on options, visit ShipHero.
WMS for Brands | WMS for 3PLs | Enterprise WMS for brands | |
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Starting Price | $1,995/month | $2,145/month | Custom-quoted |
Onboarding | Included | $1,000 | Custom-quoted |
User Seats (additional seats $150/month each) | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Store connections (additional connections $30/month each) | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Number of SKUs | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Number of Orders | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Customer Portals | ✕ | Unlimited | ✕ |
3PL features | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
ShipHero Quality & Functionality
ShipHero’s services are efficient and scalable while maintaining a self-reported 99.9% accuracy rate. It also provides a sizable list of integrations and shipping partner options.
I recommend the provider for its reasonable number of fulfillment locations, but other top fulfillment companies with large warehouse networks (such as ShipBob and Flexport) may be better suited for growing businesses.
Click below to expand on the features contributing to the quality and functionality score in our ShipHero review:
ShipHero offers a free, cloud-based fulfillment software for desktop and mobile, streamlining order management, returns, inventory, and billing. It provides real-time inventory and order updates, insights, and customizable reorder settings across multiple warehouses.
The platform supports multichannel sellers with a unified dashboard, channel-specific views, and easy integration with major ecommerce platforms. Additionally, it includes customizable automation for efficient warehouse routing, shipping method selection, and address validation.
We found that its analytics capabilities aren’t very robust, but ShipHero’s fulfillment software can generate reports in the following categories:
- Inventory reporting
- Operational reporting
- Shipments reporting
- Efficiency reporting
- Sales reporting
ShipHero has fulfillment centers in six US locations plus two in Canada, providing 1.1 million+ square feet of warehouse space. Users can distribute their inventory using multiple locations throughout the company’s network to optimize shipping costs and delivery times.
Unlike some fulfillment companies (such as Flexport), all of ShipHero’s North American locations are owned and operated by the provider. This structure minimizes room for error and streamlines control.
The company works with a wide scope of shipping providers—plus an open-ended roster of smaller regional carriers—to achieve affordable two-day shipping options to the lower 48 US states.
ShipHero pricing has a flat-rate fee structure that doesn’t use shipping zones to calculate shipping costs. This means that all orders of the same size, weight, and service level are charged at the same rate, regardless of the distance they need to travel to get to the customer (with the exception of Freely Associated States in Zone 9 and international orders).
This unique structure may benefit or disadvantage some businesses because its value depends on where your customer orders from in any given month and on the location of your inventory.
Although its exact value may be inconsistent, ShipHero’s no-zone shipping fee structure allows for unbeatable levels of billing predictability. This can enable precise forecasting and budgeting, which is especially helpful for startups and businesses transitioning to outsourced fulfillment.
ShipHero’s list of one-click native integrations includes a decent array of shipping solutions and leading ecommerce platforms and marketplaces. It also integrates seamlessly with Etsy, which many competing fulfillment providers don’t.
Clients can use one of its three integration partner apps to connect with platforms that ShipHero doesn’t offer direct integrations for, such as Loop Returns and Brightpearl. Alternatively, ShipHero’s open API can be used to create custom connections.
Here’s a current list of ShipHero’s available direct integrations:
- Ecommerce platforms and shopping carts: BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento 2, MyStoreNo, Shopify
- Online marketplaces: Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Etsy, Google Shopping
- Shipping and freight solutions: APC, Asendia, Australia Post, Bring, Canada Post, Canpar, Couriers Please, Deutsche Post, DHL Ecommerce, DHL Express, DPD, Endicia, ePost Global, eShip, Estafeta, FedEx, FedEx Cross Border, Firstmile, Global-e, Globegistics, Globegistics 2.0, GLS US, Hermes, Interlink Express, Joeyco, NZ Post, OnTrac, Passport, Purolator, Royal Mail, Segmail, Sendcloud, Sendle, Shippo, Startrack, UPS, USPS, Webshipr, Xdelivery
- Other integrations: Channel Advisor, Oracle NetSuite, SPS Commerce, 6 River Systems
ShipHero Specialty Services
ShipHero stands out for its specialty services, offering standard features like assembly/kitting, reporting, and custom packaging, along with unique value-adding options. It’s notably qualified to handle Seller-fulfilled Prime orders, a key benefit for Amazon sellers.
While it lacks climate-controlled storage and an extensive international warehouse network, ShipHero has fulfillment centers in Canada and supports Canadian expansion.It can also send cross-border shipments domestically.
ShipHero’s two fulfillment centers in Canada are positioned close to the US border, which enables the company to offer a duty-free importing program through Section 321.
Section 321 is a type of shipment used to clear the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). Under Section 321, shipments can bypass the tariffs and duties typically associated with international packages. One of the most commonly used ways to qualify for Section 321 is to send shipments valued below $800.
Importers can have their wholesale shipments delivered to one of ShipHero’s Canadian locations. From there, the stock is incrementally moved into the US, divided into multiple $800 portions. This allows the imported goods to qualify for Section 321, which eliminates import duties with only a few days of downtime.
ShipBob and ShipMonk also facilitate duty-free import through Section 321 from their warehouse locations in Canada and Mexico.
ShipHero’s proprietary warehouse management software is available to brands and 3PLs to power their in-house fulfillment or self-managed warehouse. It’s a complete, cloud-based solution that streamlines order fulfillment processes by providing businesses with tools to manage picking, packing, inventory, orders, and shipping directly on their mobile or desktop devices.
The platform works for ecommerce brands and merchants by connecting multiple stores with a centralized system that synchronizes and updates inventory. Similarly, it can be used by 3PLs to offer an end-to-end order fulfillment solution for clients with a customer portal, billing platforms, and listing tools.
Key features include automation, analytics for operational efficiency, shipping rate comparison, customizable permissions, purchase order management, and a sandbox account. Additionally, ShipHero WMS users can access the company’s third-party fulfillment services for seasonal demands, growth, or regional expansion.
PostHero—a suite of proprietary shipping tools—is available to all ShipHero WMS and third-party fulfillment clients.
PostHero expands your ability to track outgoing orders from shipment to delivery by centralizing tracking and shipping info, generating relevant reports, and providing customizable insights with robust data visualization.
According to the provider, these tools help businesses identify growth opportunities, recognize and address fulfillment gaps, and simplify tracking across carriers.
ShipHero Ease of Use
ShipHero offers decent ease of use thanks to its intuitive software, excellent operational transparency, and good scalability.
However, the company’s customer support is limited to email and an online ticketing system, and many users report that it’s unresponsive and unhelpful. This, as well as the company’s moderate minimum order volume requirements, impacts ShipHero’s usability.
Here’s an overview of the factors we considered when evaluating ShipHero’s ease of use:
- Operational accuracy: According to the company, ShipHero’s mobile pick-and-pack systems and automation technology eliminate 99.9% of errors.
- Error policies: ShipHero’s policies are far less customer-friendly than competitors such as Red Stag Fulfillment. The provider is not responsible for any damage in storing, picking, packing, and shipping inventory, so it’s important to insure your goods. In the case of wrong shipments, non-shipments, and swapped shipments, reimbursement is limited to the shipping fee and/or return fee at ShipHero’s discretion. Inventory that is lost in the provider’s warehouse will be reimbursed as a ShipHero credit for future shipping and storage costs.
- Customer service: ShipHero advertises 24/7 customer support, but service is only available via email or an in-app ticketing system. This could lead to delayed response times and communication challenges.
- Transparency: ShipHero’s software provides visibility into each order’s status in real time, including photos of every packed box. Billing transparency is also provided through detailed, itemized invoices.
- Scalability: ShipHero’s minimum order requirements (500/month) are moderately accessible to microbusinesses and startups. Its 1.1 million square feet of total warehouse space provides ample room to grow.
ShipHero Expert Score
The company received a high expert score in my ShipHero review thanks to its flexibility and unique services for small businesses. My inspection of its Las Vegas facility showed an efficient, high-tech operation, blending SaaS with fulfillment services effectively.
Its compatibility with Amazon Seller-fulfilled Prime is a notable plus, distinguishing it from many competitors, including some top-rated providers.
However, drawbacks like negative reviews, limited customer support, and variable shipping rates impacting cost-effectiveness are concerns.
Methodology: How We Evaluated ShipHero
To conduct our ShipHero review and evaluate other fulfillment services, we consider the factors that matter most to small retail and ecommerce businesses.
We evaluate each provider on a 23-point scale shaped by industry experience, reader surveys, and competing providers’ attributes. Our criteria weighs functionality, scalability, and transparency throughout a range of processes.
30% of Overall Score
20% of Overall Score
Since many fulfillment companies offer pricing on a custom-quoted basis, it’s difficult to fairly compare the specific costs of each provider. So, our evaluation considers pricing transparency, billing transparency, and billing predictability.
ShipHero pricing has an ultra-predictable shipping cost structure and offers good billing visibility. However, some users report hidden fees, overcharges, and surprises costs, which brought down its score to 3.38 out of 5.
15% of Overall Score
We evaluated companies on customer service accessibility, software usability, operational transparency, order minimums, and scalability. High scores were given for dedicated service reps, functional software that tracks order status, and growth-friendly services ideal for small businesses.
Our ShipHero review found that it offers user-friendly software and excellent scalability. However, its 500-order/month minimum and customer service limited to email and ticketing reduced its final category score to 4.23 out of 5.
15% of Overall Score
20% of Overall Score
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
These are some of the most common questions I encounter about ShipHero.
ShipHero is used primarily by retail and ecommerce businesses to outsource their order fulfillment or manage their in-house fulfillment warehouse operations. It helps businesses increase efficiency and gives them room to distribute resources to other critical areas.
ShipHero’s fulfillment centers have built-out infrastructure to manage high volumes of inventory, order processing, and shipping. Other businesses, including ecommerce sellers and retailers, outsource their fulfillment operations to ShipHero by sending their products to the company’s warehouses and forwarding their orders as they come in.
ShipHero is good for DTC and B2B ecommerce businesses with physical products, especially if they have more orders than they can handle in-house. It’s also suitable for crowdfunding projects and Amazon sellers needing Seller-fulfilled Prime Eligibility.
ShipHero’s SaaS warehouse management software (WMS) is designed for retailers and 3PLs managing in-house fulfillment, with tools for inventory, order management, pick and pack, shipping, and returns.
Sellers with products needing special care (heavy, oversized, fragile, hazardous, or high-value) should consider Red Stag Fulfillment. If you’re aiming for international expansion, ShipBob’s global network is advantageous. Amazon sellers might find Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) most beneficial. Small-scale sellers requiring on-demand services and space for in-house fulfillment should look at Saltbox.
Bottom Line
Excellent ease of use and highly efficient services make ShipHero a strong choice for third-party fulfillment and/or warehouse management software. This dual offering gives ShipHero’s clients the unique ability to blend in-house and outsourced fulfillment, which can support growth or aid in the transition between fulfillment strategies.
That being said, ShipHero’s pricing structure may not provide consistent value for some businesses, and its limited warehouse network isn’t ideal for expansion. We recommend evaluating multiple options to ensure a good match between you and your fulfillment provider.
Broker sites, such as WarehousingAndFulfillment.com, compare your specific needs to 500+ pre-screened companies to find the best fit for your business. Plus, the service is completely free to use.
Visit WarehousingAndFulfillment.com
User review references:
1Trustpilot
2Shopify App Store
3G2