ShipStation Review: Is It Right for Your Business in 2022?
This article is part of a larger series on Retail Management.
When to Use ShipStation
ShipStation works to streamline your order fulfillment by integrating with other tools, managing orders, comparing rates, and handling the details of shipping. It’s recommended for ecommerce businesses, and has features that appeal to mid- and high-volume shippers.
In particular, we recommend ShipStation for:
- Growing in-house ecommerce fulfillment operations: ShipStation offers more pre-built integrations than any other shipping software on the market, is one of the only software to offer on-the-go-use from a mobile app, and offers deeply discounted shipping rates. The software also integrates with a number of fulfillment centers, which creates the ability to scale business solutions as you grow and lends to a smooth migration process should you choose to outsource fulfilment in the future.
- International sellers: ShipStation is compatible with more freight companies and international carriers than any other shipping software we evaluated. This provides an advantage for merchants frequently shipping orders to various countries.
- Ecommerce sellers handling a high volume of returns: ShipStation has a sophisticated branded returns portal that allows customers to initiate and complete their own returns online according to your pre-set parameters. This hands-off approach saves time for retailers handing lots of returns and is user-friendly for customers.
When to Use an Alternative
- Dropshippers: It’s possible to manage dropshipped orders through ShipStation by granting your suppliers an account with modified user permissions. That being said, this workaround isn’t nearly as functional as a platform built for direct vendor connectivity, such as Ordoro.
- Users seeking a starter plan: ShipStation doesn’t offer a free plan, and the lowest-level paid plan is somewhat limited. We recommend using OrderCup’s free starter plan to ship a small number of parcels or test shipping software’s fit for your operation.
- Small-scale sellers and startups: For the price, ShipStation’s features and integrations benefit mid-level businesses more so than young ventures. If you’re looking for an affordable shipping solution for a startup or small business, we recommend ShippingEasy, which offers better discounts, pricing, and customer service—plus an advanced marketing add-on to build your customer base.
How ShipStation Compares to Other Shipping Solutions
Free starter plan | ✕ | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Paid Plan Pricing (monthly) | $9–$159 | $5–$159 | $25–$180 | $59–$999 |
Discounted shipping rates | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Integration capabilities (shipping carriers, shopping carts, marketplaces, and ecommerce solutions) |
|
|
|
|
Inventory management features | Good | Good | Limited | Excellent (only available on Pro plan) |
Dropshipping features | Good | Limited | Limited | Excellent |
Customer support | Poor | Excellent (Higher-level plans only) | Excellent | Good |
Ease of Use | Fair | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
ShipStation Overview
PROS | CONS |
---|---|
Discounted shipping rates | No free plan |
Powerful multi-carrier rate comparison tool | Poor customer support on lower-level plans |
Customizable interface | Ineffective tech support |
Competitive pricing | Minimal dropshipping functionality |
Robust returns management features | Frequent technical issues |
Most direct integrations available | Integration functionality problems |
In our evaluation of the best shipping solutions, ShipStation scored 3.81 out of 5. It was awarded points for its functionality and impressive features—particularly its inventory and order management capabilities and available integrations.
The software was mainly docked for its ease of use, which has room for improvement. It’s customer support is highly criticized, and the platform experiences frequent technical issues.
Despite these drawbacks, ShipStation is a powerful shipping solution.
ShipStation Compatible Carriers
ShipStation’s carrier integrations are best-in-class. The software is compatible with the following carriers:
- UPS
- FedEx
- USPS
- LSO
- DHL eCommerce
- DCL Logistics
- Parcel Technology Solutions
- Rakuten Super Logistics
- Newsgistics
- Access Worldwide
- OnTrac
- IMEX Global Solutions
- FirstMile
- Globegistics
- APC
- Ascendia USA
- DHL Express UK
- DHL Express Australia
- DHL Express Canada
- UPS Canada
- UPS Australia
- DHL Express
- UPS UK
- RR Donnelley
- Fulfillment BY Amazon
- Australia Post
- Sendle
- Stamps.com
- Purolator
- Canada Post
- FedEx UK
- FedEx Canada
- DPD UK
- Parcelforce Worldwide
- Hermes UK
- Royal Mail
ShipStation Integrations
ShipStation offers more pre-built integrations than any other shipping software on the market, which comes in handy for midsize or expanding companies.
Here’s a complete list of ShipStation’s current direct integrations (note that some integrations are considered premium and will incur a charge):
Ecommerce platforms and carts
- 3dcart
- AbleCommerce
- AmeriCommerce
- Big Cartel
- BigCommerce
- CoreCommerce
- CS-Cart
- Ecwid
- EKM
- FoxyCart
- Handshake
- InkSoft
- Magento
- MikoShop
- Miva
- New Oxatis
- OpenCart
- Prestashop
- Salesforce Commerce Cloud
- Shopify
- ShopifyPlus
- Shopit
- ShoppingCart Elite
- Shopware
- ShopWired
- Sophio
- Squarespace
- UltraCart
- Volusion
- Weebly
- Wix
- WooCommerce
- X-Cart
- Yahoo!
- Zen Cart
- Zoey
Marketplaces
- Alibaba
- Amazon
- Amazon Australia
- Amazon Canada
- Amazon UK
- Bandcamp
- Best Buy Canada
- Bonanza
- Cdiscount
- Cratejoy
- eBay
- eBay Australia
- eBay Canada
- eBay UK
- Etsy
- GroopDealz
- Groupon Goods
- Houzz
- Jane.com
- Jet.com
- Mercado Libre
- Newegg
- Notonthehighstreet
- OnBuy
- Rakuten (Buy.com)
- Reverb
- Sears
- Shop Premium Outlets
- SimplePart
- Storenvy
- Tophatter
- Walmart
- Walmart Canada
- Wish
Order and inventory management
- Brightpearl
- ChannelAdvisor
- Cin7
- EcomDash
- GeekSeller
- Liftoff Ecommerce
- Linnworks
- QuickBooks Commerce
- SkuVault
- SureDone
- TradeGeck
Listing and multichannel management
- ChannelAdvisor
- ChannelSale
- Feedonomics
- GeekSeller
- Listing Mirror
- MoreCommerce
- Revolution Parts
- Sellbrite
- SellerActive
- SureDon
Other ecommerce tools
- Altis
- Amosoft
- Arka
- Backerkit
- Codisto
- Connex for QuickBooks Online
- DS Smith ePack
- eBridge Connections
- Ecomdash
- eDesk
- Feedvisor
- FlowLink
- Gorgias
- Infocon Systems
- Kabbage
- Klaviyo
- Liftoff Ecommerce
- Linnworks
- Logicbroker
- Mailchimp
- noissue
- Optiseller
- PayPal
- Pixc
- Printful
- Re:amaze
- Rewind
- Salesforce AppExchange
- Salesforce Essentials
- Seller Accountant
- Sezzle
- ShipperHQ
- Shipsurance
- Shopgate
- Snapchat
- Spark Shipping
- SPS Commerce
- Stitch Labs
- StreetPricer
- Stripe Relay
- VL OMNI
- WooCurve
- Zapier
- Zendesk
Fulfillment and logistics
- AmmoReady
- Amplifier
- Celery
- Complemar
- Ecom Logistics
- Evobox
- FBA
- hipCalm
- IFS360
- JD.com
- Kiddly
- MintFulfill
- Noram Partners
- Ruby Has
- SalesFlex
- Shiparoo
- ShipBob
- ShipDazzle
- ShippingTree
- ShipRelay
- Ship-Right Solutions
- ShipZOOM
- Synergy Diverse Solutions
- Synergy Logistics
- The ConneXtion
- The Douglas Stewart Company
- Vector
- Warehouse-Pro
Accounting and ERP
- AccountSuite
- Acumatica
- Avalara
- Brightpearl
- Celeritech
- Codeless Platforms
- Connex for QuickBooks Desktop
- EBCFO
- My Office Apps
- NetSuite
- QuickBooks
- Quickfire Digital
- SAP Business ByDesign
- SAP Business One
- VATGlobal
- Webgility
Agencies and solutions providers
ShipStation readily integrates with 135 agencies and solutions providers. View the full list.
ShipStation Pricing
ShipStation offers six paid plans ranging from a minimal Starter plan to a high-volume Enterprise plan. The primary differences between each program are the number of monthly shipments, user account allowance, customer support accessibility, and branding options.
There’s no contract required to use ShipStation, so you can cancel or switch plans at any time.
Plans | Pricing ($/Month) | Monthly Shipments | Users |
---|---|---|---|
Free Trial | 30-Day | ||
Starter | $9 | 50 | 1 |
Basic | $29 | 500 | 1 |
Plus | $49 | 1,500 | 2 |
Select | $69 | 3,000 | 3 |
Premium | $99 | 6,000 | 5 |
Enterprise | $159 | 10,000 | 10 |
All accounts have an unlimited store/sales channel allowance, and additional users can be added a la carte for $5/month.
Starter plan users can only contact customer support through email or a community forum—slightly better than ShippingEasy’s limited starter plan. Bronze, Silver, and Gold members have access to live chat, but phone support is only available to Platinum and Enterprise customers.
Another restriction on the software’s low-level plans is access to customized labels and packing slips. Starter and Bronze plan subscribers can apply their own branding to these deliverables in the form of a single logo—but Silver plan users and above have access to more comprehensive customization.
For high-volume shippers processing more than 10,000 shipments per month, custom pricing is available.
ShipStation promises to charge no additional fees outside of the subscription cost—except in the case of premium integrations, which includes Amazon SFP (Seller Fulfilled Prime).
Discounted Shipping Rates
All ShipStation users receive USPS Commercial Plus rates, discounted UPS rates, DHL Express Worldwide Shipping Discounts, and savings on shipping insurance.
ShipStation Features
ShipStation’s core features include order management, providing standard features such as batch processing, CSV entry, customizable grouping, split/combine functions, and more.
It also comes with inventory management capabilities—such as catalog support, stock allocation, inventory alerts, and syncing—as well as the ability to customize labels, packing slips, outbound emails, and tracking pages.
Here are some of the additional features that set ShipStation apart from its competitors:
Rate Comparison Tool
ShipStation’s shipping calculator also functions as a rate-shopping tool by comparing a wide variety of shipping options.
The tool is well-developed and intuitive, and allows users to toggle between different carriers and methods for each parcel. All rates displayed are up-to-date and accurate—meaning the rate you choose is exactly what you’ll be charged. If available, delivery estimates will also be shown.
An example of shipping rate comparison using ShipStation’s calculator tool
(Source: ShipStation)
The software will only display rates from carriers you’ve integrated and connected to your account. But, as explained above, ShipStation integrates with more carriers than any other shipping solution available.
Returns Management
ShipStation’s advanced returns management features create a significant edge over other shipping solutions.
It’s main offering is a branded returns portal, which saves time by allowing your customers to perform self-service returns on your site.
ShipStation allows users to generate return labels through USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL ecommerce. The action can be automated—so customers can complete a return without having to contact you—or done on-demand.
ShipStation supports scan-based labels (also known as pay-on-use returns, or POUR labels), so you can provide customers with convenient shipping without the risk of paying for unused labels.
Automation
Like all of our top picks for shipping software, ShipStation allows you to save time and labor by automating various tasks.
Automations work by programming “if, then” rules into the software—for example, a rule could dictate if an order is placed within a certain region, then select a specified carrier and delivery method for the parcel. For every order meeting the criteria, ShipStation will automatically purchase and even print the shipping label.
ShipStation offers three types of automation—which can be used on their own or in conjunction with each other:
- Product automation: Selected actions (such as insurance purchasing or inventory syncing) are triggered automatically when specified products are imported, edited, or ordered.
- Automation rules: Selected actions (such as outbound email sending or return label creation) are triggered automatically based on criteria set by you.
- Service mappings: When a customer chooses a shipping option at checkout (such as standard or expedited delivery), their preference is mapped to the actual service you want to use to ship an order to their region.
Mobile App
ShipStation is one of the only shipping software providers that offers on-the-go use from a mobile app.
Users report that the platform is easier to manage on a computer screen, but ShipStation Mobile allows you to quickly check inventory levels, manage orders, and make shipments from your phone.
The app also delivers push notifications for urgent events (such as low inventory alerts) and functions as a barcode scanner.
ShipStation’s mobile app retrieving an order from a scanned barcode
(Source: ShipStation)
Reporting
We found ShipStation’s analytics features to be robust, but its customization options are less intuitive than those of ShippingEasy.
ShipStation’s analytics feature can generate the following:
- Insights pages: Create visualization dashboards for your account overview, sales trends, product highlights, business operations, engagement, and customer overview.
- Insights reports: Access 20 pre-formatted reports for orders, shipments, accounting, products, inventory, hotkey and barcode actions, and raw data exports.
- Custom order and shipment reports: Build custom reports by adding only the fields you wish to export.
- Static reports: Create reports from periodic shipment or fulfillment data uploaded to ShipStation.
- Data archives: ShipStation compiles a monthly archive for your account’s orders, shipments, and shipment items.
ShipStation Ease of Use
ShipStation is easy to use—as long as you’re on a high-tier subscription plan.
Its customizable user interface and device connectivity make the platform practical and accessible to all subscribers. But the customer service limitations on the Starter plan create substantial difficulty.
Here are the factors that play into ShipStation’s ease of use:
ShipStation Alternatives
Best for: Small ecommerce businesses | Best for: Small-scale sellers and those seeking a starter plan | Best for: High-volume sellers seeking a multi-purpose tool |
Pricing: $5–$159/month | Pricing: $0–$180/month | Pricing: $59–$999/month |
What ShipStation Users Think
ShipStation’s overall ratings are high across most app stores and software review sites. The company’s mobile app has a positive score as well, with over 50,000 downloads on Google Play.
Many favorable reviews mention ShipStation’s functional interface and plentiful integrations. Reviewers frequently cite using the software to ship 200+ orders per day—making it clear that ShipStation is highly effective for midsize companies.
Multiple reviews state that the platform is “great when it works and support isn’t needed;” customer service is a consistent pain point across neutral and negative reviews from starter-level subscribers.
While the software has an abundance of positive ratings, the negative feedback is deeply opinionated—and much of it has been left within the past 12 months. Dissatisfied users report the web app being glitchy and slow with frequent bugs, and technical support maintaining a dismissive attitude toward the issues.
Other negative reviews describe the platform as a “nightmare” for accountants. These users report missing functionality from certain key accounting integrations, like the ability to work freely with order data points and enable automations.
- Capterra: 4.7/5 from about 750 reviews
- Shopify App Store: 4.3/5 from 530+ reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 from more than 140 reviews
PROS | CONS |
---|---|
Intuitive interface | Poor customer service |
Good value | Highly ineffective tech support |
Plentiful native integrations | Frequent technical issues |
Powerful features | Accounting difficulties |
Bottom Line
Shipping software is a must-have for ecommerce businesses, especially those performing fulfillment in-house.
ShipStation is a powerful tool for managing shipments, orders, and inventory—but it’s a better choice for mid- to high-volume shippers than small-scale sellers and startups.
For sellers with low sales volume, we recommend ShippingEasy. But if you’re shipping at least 500+ orders per month, ShipStation’s Bronze plan (or higher) is a worthy investment.