The e-commerce industry is well known for being one of the fastest-growing globally.

According to Statista, the industry was worth $5.2 trillion worldwide in 2021, and this figure is predicted to rise to $8.1 trillion dollars by 2026.

However, one of the biggest hurdles in generating cash from this lucrative industry is also one of the most important. We’re talking about shipping. 

Without the proper tools and information, running a functional Shopify store becomes a logistical nightmare. 

When it comes to competition, 66% of online shoppers will purchase from a competitor with multiple shipping options. 

How do you navigate this? Night classes? YouTube? Don’t worry, Shopify shipping apps can take care of all that for you. 

To fill the gaps in your knowledge as the store owner, a range of applications have been released. These apps can assist you or the people you employ with almost every aspect of your Shopify experience, from front-end development and customization to more technical aspects such as shipping and upselling. This range of options can be almost overwhelming, and it’s hard to know which is the right one to go with. 

While we here at ReConvert specialize in the upselling process, we sure know our way around Shopify and can easily give you our recommendations when it comes to getting goods where they're meant to go.

But firstly, what is a Shopify shipping app?

Shopify Shipping Apps Explained

You can think of a Shopify shipping app as a handy software application that works alongside your Shopify store to make shipping easy. These apps are designed to help you with all things related to shipping, from automating processes to finding you the cheapest options.

With a Shopify shipping app, you can wave goodbye to manual label printing and tracking nightmares. These apps offer a range of useful features and tools that simplify your shipping tasks. Imagine being able to print shipping labels with just a few clicks, easily track orders, compare rates from different carriers, and manage your inventory hassle-free.

These apps integrate seamlessly with various shipping carriers, so you can access discounted rates and choose the best delivery options for your customers—a crucial tool in outperforming your competition. It's like having your own shipping guru by your side, making sure you get the best bang for your buck!

They also automate your customer interactions by automatically sending shipping notifications to your customers and generating customs documents for international shipments. 

Shopify Shipping Apps even provide nifty analytics and reports to help you keep track of your shipping performance. It's like having your own little shipping command center right within your Shopify store!

So, whether you're a small business just starting out or a seasoned e-commerce pro with a number of employees on your payroll, a Shopify shipping app can be a game-changer. It saves you time, reduces errors, and ultimately enhances the overall customer experience. 

By streamlining your shipping processes and taking care of the logistics, you can focus on what really matters—growing your business and delighting your customers.

7 of the Best Shopify Shipping Apps to Explore

1. Shippo

Shippo is a popular Shopify shipping app that's all about making your life easier. It seamlessly integrates with Shopify, giving you access to discounted shipping rates from top carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL. 

With Shippo, you can say goodbye to the hassle of shipping. It lets you do things like print labels in batches, set up automated tracking notifications, and even handle international shipping smoothly. No matter the size of your business, Shippo is a reliable choice.

👍Pros of Shippo:

• Discounted Shipping Rates: Shippo offers discounted rates from multiple carriers, allowing you to save on shipping costs.
• Carrier Options: Shippo supports various shipping carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL, giving you flexibility in choosing the best carrier for your needs.
• International Shipping: Shippo provides international shipping solutions, including customs forms and international label creation, enabling you to expand your business globally.
• Address Validation: The platform includes address validation features, reducing the chances of delivery errors and ensuring accurate shipping information.
• Returns Management: Shippo offers tools to manage returns efficiently, including creating return labels and tracking return shipments.

👎Cons of Shippo:

• Additional Cost: While Shippo itself is free to use, there may be costs associated with shipping labels and carrier services, which you need to consider.
• Learning Curve: Some users may find the initial setup and learning process of using Shippo to be a bit complex.
• Limited Customization: Depending on specific requirements, you may find that certain customization options or workflows are not available in Shippo.
• Customer Support: While Shippo offers customer support, some Shopify users have reported that response times can be slow or that they encountered difficulties in resolving issues.

💰Pricing: Free 30-day trial. $10/month (pricing may differ based on monthly label volumes).

2. Shopify Multi Carrier Shipping Label App

Shopify Multi Carrier Shipping Label App helps Shopify merchants display accurate shipping rates, print labels in one click, and track orders seamlessly. Save time and manage all shipping tasks from a single dashboard.

This app supports major carriers like UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, Amazon Shipping, Stamps, Aramex, Blue Dart, Australia Post, Canada Post, and more. Automate label generation, provide real-time tracking updates to customers, handle multiple parcel packing methods, request carrier pickups, and manage returns efficiently, all without leaving your Shopify store. Perfect for global shipping with minimal effort.

👍Pros:

• Automatically selects the cheapest shipping service for each order
  
  
• Handles domestic and international shipping with one app
  
  
• Allows flexible shipping cost adjustments and discounts
  
  
• Provides estimated delivery dates at checkout for a better customer experience
  
  

👎Cons:

• Slightly pricey for smaller stores
  
  
• Some features are carrier-specific and not supported by all carriers
  
  

💰Pricing: Plans range from $9/month to $99/month based on order volume and features.

3. ShipStation

ShipStation is a great Shopify shipping app that takes care of the nitty-gritty of shipping for you. Managing orders, printing labels, and automating shipping processes become a breeze with this app. It's super user-friendly and works seamlessly with multiple selling channels. 

ShipStation also offers some powerful features like inventory management, customizable packing slips, and detailed analytics to help you optimize your shipping operations. It's like having a shipping wizard right at your fingertips.

👍Pros:

• Lots of carrier options - you can pick the one that suits your needs best. From USPS to UPS and FedEx, they've got you covered.
• Discounted shipping rates - you can save some bucks on your shipping costs, which is always a win for your business.
• Awesome reporting and analytics - you can keep tabs on your shipping performance and get valuable insights to help you make smarter decisions.
• Great support - Lots of reviews mention that support is responsive and friendly.

👎Cons:

• Steep learning curve - It can take some time to figure out all the features and settings, especially if you're new to shipping software.
• Overkill for small stores - ShipStation offers some pretty advanced features, which is great if you need them. But if you're just looking for basic shipping functionalities, it might feel like overkill.
• Challenging UX - Some users have mentioned that the interface could be more user-friendly and visually appealing.
• Limited customization - basic customization is good, but there may be some limitations if you have specific customization needs or unique workflows.

💰Pricing: Free 30-day trial. From $9.99/month. Additional charges may apply.

4. Easyship

Easyship is the ultimate app for businesses looking to expand their reach globally. It's all about making international shipping a piece of cake. 

With Easyship, you can choose from a wide selection of couriers and compare rates and delivery times in real time. But it doesn't stop there. Easyship also simplifies handling customs and taxes for international shipments, ensuring a smooth cross-border shipping experience for both you and your customers. It's the perfect tool for taking your business worldwide effortlessly.

👍Pros:

• Integration with existing courier accounts - simple integration with your existing carriers makes it easy to start managing your shipping in one place.
• Tax and duties calculation - customs documentation make global shipping easier
• Super Customization options - from tracking to emails, and packaging slips - keep everything on-brand with visually pleasing updates and packing slips.
• Allows for insurance to be added at checkout - upsell customers to a higher basket and give them peace of mind with shipping insurance.

👎Cons:

• Free plan offers minimal features - it’s okay to get started and explore the app, but you’ll almost certainly need to graduate to a paid plan.
• Longer customer support response times - some reviews on the app store suggest that you’ll be waiting a while to get a response from support. 
• Publicly displayed prices are only an estimate - Customers only see a shipping estimate, which may differ from the actual rate they pay.

💰Pricing: Free for 50 shipments. Thereafter from $29/month.

5. ShipBob Fulfillment

ShipBob is the go-to Shopify shipping app if you want to supercharge your order fulfillment process. They have strategically located fulfillment centers that ensure fast and cost-effective shipping options for your customers. 

Say goodbye to long delivery times! ShipBob not only takes care of inventory management, but also automatically routes orders and provides real-time tracking. With ShipBob, you can offer a seamless end-to-end shipping experience that'll make your customers jump with joy.

👍Pros of ShipBob:

• Customization Suite: ShipBob's Customization Suite allows you to create a unique unboxing experience for your customers, adding branding elements and personal touches to enhance the customer's experience.
• Same-Day Shipping: ShipBob offers same-day shipping, ensuring quick order fulfillment and delivery, which can lead to higher customer satisfaction and repeat business.
• Warehouses in Multiple Countries: With warehouses in six countries, ShipBob enables you to store your inventory closer to your customers, resulting in faster shipping times and potentially reduced shipping costs.
• REST APIs for ERPs: ShipBob provides REST APIs that allow for smooth integration with popular ERP systems, facilitating efficient management of your business operations.
• Streamlined Fulfillment: ShipBob handles the fulfillment process for you, from inventory management to picking, packing, and shipping, freeing up your time to focus on growing your business.

👎Cons of using ShipBob:

• Limited Support for Special Services: At the time of writing, ShipBob doesn't support certain special services like gift wrapping. 
• Longer Support Times: Some users have reported longer support response times with ShipBob. If you need immediate assistance or encounter any issues, it may take longer to receive a resolution or support.
• Potential Hidden Fees: While ShipBob's pricing structure is generally transparent, some merchants have mentioned encountering unexpected or hidden fees. It's important to thoroughly review their pricing and terms to understand the full cost involved.

💰Pricing: Free to install. Billing is calculated for orders shipped, warehouse storage, receiving inventory, and any custom projects.

6. AfterShip

AfterShip focuses on enhancing your customer experience. It's all about real-time tracking updates that keep your customers in the loop. Supporting over 800 couriers worldwide, AfterShip ensures accurate tracking information for your customers. 

You can even have a branded tracking page and delivery notifications that maintain a consistent brand experience throughout the entire shipping process. AfterShip is your secret weapon for creating happy and satisfied customers.

👍Pros of using AfterShip:

• Built-in Shipment Status Analytics: AfterShip provides built-in analytics that give you insights into the performance of your shipments. You can track delivery success rates, identify bottlenecks, and make data-driven improvements.
• Centralized Shipment Tracking Dashboard: AfterShip offers a centralized dashboard where you can track and monitor all your shipments in one place. It saves you time and allows for efficient management of your orders.
• Email and SMS Customer Notifications: AfterShip enables you to automatically send shipment status updates to your customers via email and SMS. This helps improve customer experience and reduces support inquiries.
• Branded Tracking Pages and Personalization Options: AfterShip allows you to customize tracking pages with your branding, providing a cohesive and professional experience for your customers.
• AI-Estimated Delivery Dates: AfterShip utilizes artificial intelligence to estimate delivery dates for shipments. This helps set accurate expectations for your customers and reduces uncertainty.

👎Cons of using AfterShip:

• Carrier Matching Not Always Accurate: Some users have reported that carrier matching in AfterShip is not always accurate, leading to incorrect or delayed tracking updates. It's important to double-check and manually correct carrier information when necessary.
• Costly Add-On Features: AfterShip offers additional features and services through add-ons, which can add up to additional costs. Merchants should carefully evaluate the pricing and necessity of these add-ons before opting for them.
• Order Tracking Can Be Slow to Update: In certain cases, the tracking updates in AfterShip may experience delays, resulting in slower or outdated order tracking information. This can impact real-time visibility for both merchants and customers.

💰Pricing: Free for 50 shipments/month. Thereafter $11/month

7. ShippingEasy

ShippingEasy is a Shopify shipping app designed specifically for Shopify merchants. It offers a range of features and capabilities to streamline the shipping process and help merchants manage their shipping rates effectively. 

It offers a shipping calculator that calculates rates based on advanced shipping rules using over 30 parameters. Merchants can configure rates based on various factors and create custom shipping rules. The app supports rate blending and accurate rate calculations by zip code, postal code, and distance. ShippingEasy can be used in all countries supported by Shopify, and merchants can schedule a call for free setup.

👍Pros of using ShippingEasy:

• Excellent for complex shipping rules: If you have a lot of shipping rates for different regions, products etc, ShippingEasy is a great tool to simplify things and ensure you always charge the correct shipping fee.
• Good set-up assistance - Lots of reviews talk about how helpful the support team is - if you need help setting up your rates or building logic to control your rates, it’s good to know they’re on hand.
• Supports all currencies - Show shipping rates no matter what currency you use on your Shopify store.

👎Cons of using ShipEasy:

• Shipping rate calculation only: Ship easy doesn’t offer 3rd-party fulfillment, returns management or warehousing, like some of the other platforms on this list. The app only manages shipping rate calculations for your store.

💰Pricing: Free plan. 30-day free trial. First tier plan starts at $19.99/month.

How to Choose the Right Shopify Shipping App For Your Store

If one of the above apps has caught your attention, or even if you’ve already seen a different, smaller app that you’d prefer, it’s a good idea to ensure that the app you choose will work for your particular business and its demands. 

For instance, if you sell a few tech products and have a fairly consistent customer base, you might prefer an app with a fairly standard automated communication system. If you sell more personal items - say you run a Shopify clothing store or a jewelry business, these features might do more harm than good with regard to your customer relationships. 

No one likes dealing with a bot when it’s almost Christmas and your husband’s new shoes haven’t arrived yet.

Here are some handy things to look out for when choosing the right Shopify shipping app:

1. Integration with Dropshipping Platforms

What if you’re running multiple storefronts via multiple sites? Just because you might have the biggest presence on Shopify doesn’t mean you’re not selling products elsewhere. And why complicate things when you could have one shipping app for all your various eCommerce stores?

Your shipping app should seamlessly integrate with your chosen platform to ensure smooth order processing and fulfillment, leaving you free to update your stock and deal with less repetitive tasks.

If this is you, then Shippo could be a great option as they have 27 e-commerce partners, meaning however many stores you’re running, Shippo can handle it all.  

2. Shipping Carrier Options

Check the shipping app's supported carriers and whether they align with your target markets. Look for apps that offer a wide range of carriers, including reputable international options. Having access to multiple carriers allows you to choose the most cost-effective and efficient shipping solutions for your customers.

 If you’re looking to reach more secluded markets, Easyship would be your app of choice. Easyship integrates with over 250+ courier services, providing you with a wide selection of shipping options for different countries and regions. This extensive network allows you to choose the most suitable carrier based on factors like cost, delivery time, and reliability.

They also support a massive range of languages and currencies, meaning your customers will have fewer issues with payment and tracking orders! 

3. Shipping Rates and Discounts

 Consider whether the app offers discounted shipping rates from major carriers. Saving on shipping costs can significantly impact your profit margins, so it's beneficial to choose an app that provides competitive rates. Some Shopify shipping apps negotiate special rates with carriers, allowing you to access discounted shipping options that aren't available to individual shippers.

Although all our top picks offer competitive rates, Shipstation comes out on top with discounts on shipping reaching up to 84% with multiple carriers. 

4. Automation and Time-Saving Features

Efficiency is key in e-commerce, so prioritize apps that offer timesaving features and automation. 

Look for features like batch processing, label printing, and order tracking notifications. Automation can streamline your workflow, enabling you to process and fulfill orders more quickly, and enhance the overall customer experience.

Shipping Easy is focused on automating all of the stress involved in setting up shipping rates. This is handy when you’re moving a product fast and don’t have time to micromanage each and every stage. They also have the lowest UPS rates in the market.

5. Order Tracking and Customer Communication

Transparency and effective communication with customers is vital when shipping purchases. Ensure the shipping app provides robust order tracking capabilities, allowing customers to monitor their packages in real time. 

Additionally, look for apps that offer branded tracking pages and customizable email notifications to maintain a consistent brand experience and keep customers informed about their order status. 

Aftership is a great option for a more personal experience, offering you the option to create a fully branded experience that your customers will love! If your business has a brand attached to it that you’re pushing, using Aftership will bolster your marketing in a massive way. 

6. Inventory Management

While dropshipping doesn't involve managing inventory directly, having visibility into stock availability is crucial for all other eCommerce stores.

Some Shopify shipping apps integrate inventory management features, enabling you to sync stock levels with your dropshipping platform. This ensures accurate product availability information, helps prevent overselling and makes it easier to manage your eCommerce warehousing.

It’s important to be aware of where these overlaps occur, as accidentally running two different inventory sections could be a huge annoyance, and something that is more likely to happen than you think.

7. Customer Support and Reliability

Consider the level of customer support provided by the shipping app. 

Dropshipping businesses often rely on timely assistance to resolve shipping-related issues or address customer inquiries. These are the expectations you need to include in your employee handbook to ensure that your service levels stay high and your employees use the app to its full potential.

Look for apps that offer responsive customer support and have a good reputation for reliability and uptime to minimize disruptions to your business.

The apps we’ve listed wouldn’t be on this list if they weren’t reliable. That’s not to say you shouldn’t do your own research. Make sure you read all the fine print on every site. 

When you choose a Shopify shipping app, it’s likely you’ll be using it over the course of a few years. This means any hiccups you come into contact with later down the line are likely to stick around until you change systems, which is tiring and time-consuming. 

Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews are always a great way to get a true idea of a product or service.

Take the time to read reviews and seek recommendations from other e-commerce professionals. The Shopify app store is a great place to check out reviews,  where users share their experiences and provide ratings.

Pay attention to feedback regarding app functionality, ease of use, and customer support to gain insights into the overall user experience. Look at both the number of reviews and score out of five. The more reviews, and the higher the score out of five, the more certain you can be that it’s a quality product with good customer support.

Go Forth & Choose The Best Shopify Shipping App.

The Shopify shipping apps we’ve listed all deliver the same basic functions. However, choosing the right one is a matter of personal preference, practicality, and pricing as there are almost endless variations between apps. Hopefully, this is a good starting point and provides you with all the information you need to make an informed choice for your business.

Let’s be real, there’s a lot to digest here, and there’s going to be even more to read once you start doing your own research, but ultimately the goal is passive income —which is never quite as passive as it sounds.  

Good luck, and happy shipping! 

Shopify Shipping Apps FAQ

What is the best shipping app to use with Shopify?

The best shipping app for Shopify depends on your specific needs and preferences. Some popular options include Shippo, ShipStation, and Easyship. These apps offer features like seamless integration, discounted shipping rates, multi-carrier support, and automation. It's recommended to assess your business requirements and explore the features and user reviews of different shipping apps to find the one that suits you best.

Does Shopify have a shipping platform?

Shopify itself does not have a standalone shipping platform. However, Shopify provides integrations with various shipping apps and services, allowing merchants to connect and utilize third-party shipping solutions. These shipping apps offer a range of features to simplify shipping processes, such as label generation, order tracking, and carrier selection.

What shipping service does Shopify use?

Shopify does not use a specific shipping service directly. Instead, Shopify integrates with multiple shipping carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL, allowing merchants to choose the shipping service that best fits their needs. Shopify provides the infrastructure and tools to connect with these carriers, enabling merchants to access real-time rates, generate shipping labels, and manage order fulfillment seamlessly.

Does Shopify pay you for shipping?

No, Shopify does not directly pay merchants for shipping. The cost of shipping is typically handled by the merchant or passed on to the customer as part of their order. However, Shopify does provide integrations with shipping apps and services that offer discounted shipping rates, helping merchants save on shipping costs. These apps may provide additional features and tools to streamline the shipping process and improve efficiency.

Author Bio

Addisson Shaw is a passionate writer with a background in data sci