Best Shipping Software for 2026 - Krowdbase

Shipping Software Buyer’s Guide: Features, Benefits, Pricing, and Selection

Shipping is one of the most important stages of the customer order lifecycle. A business may attract customers, create an effective online store, and process payments successfully, but poor shipping can still result in complaints, refunds, negative reviews, and lost repeat purchases.

Customers expect businesses to provide accurate delivery estimates, reasonable shipping costs, timely dispatch, reliable tracking, and clear communication. Meeting these expectations becomes increasingly difficult when orders are received from multiple channels and must be fulfilled through different warehouses, carriers, service levels, and destinations.

Shipping software simplifies this process by bringing carrier services, customer orders, shipping rules, labels, tracking, and reporting together. Instead of logging into individual carrier systems, employees can review available services and process shipments from one interface.

For smaller businesses, shipping software may primarily be used to import eCommerce orders, compare parcel rates, print labels, and send tracking updates. Growing companies may require automation, multiple warehouses, inventory integrations, batch processing, international shipping, and branded customer communication. Enterprises may need sophisticated routing, high-volume carrier management, parcel and freight support, cross-border compliance, and detailed logistics analytics.

Shipping platforms may operate as standalone applications or as part of a broader order management, warehouse management, transportation management, or eCommerce system. Some providers focus on parcel shipping, while others support less-than-truckload freight, full truckload, air freight, ocean freight, and multimodal logistics.

The best shipping software should reduce manual effort, provide access to suitable carrier services, control shipping expenditure, improve dispatch speed, and give customers reliable delivery information.

What Is Shipping Software?

Shipping software is a logistics application used to plan, process, purchase, document, track, and analyse the transportation of customer orders and business goods.

The software typically connects with sales channels or order management systems and imports the information required to create a shipment. This may include the recipient’s name, delivery address, product details, package dimensions, package weight, order value, delivery method, and customs information.

Users can then compare shipping services, purchase postage, generate labels, print documentation, arrange carrier collections, and update tracking information.

Shipping software may support:

• Domestic parcel delivery
• International parcel shipping
• Postal services
• Courier services
• Same-day and local delivery
• Less-than-truckload freight
• Full truckload shipping
• Air freight
• Ocean freight
• Return shipments
• Dropshipping
• Multi-warehouse fulfilment
• Third-party logistics operations

The exact capabilities depend on the provider. Some systems are designed for small online sellers, while enterprise shipping platforms manage complex carrier networks, international documentation, distributed warehouses, and large shipment volumes.

How Shipping Software Works

Shipping software coordinates the stages between receiving a customer order and transferring the package to a carrier.

Order Import

Orders may be imported from an eCommerce store, online marketplace, point-of-sale system, order management platform, warehouse system, ERP application, spreadsheet, or API.

The software captures customer, product, delivery, payment, and service information required to prepare the shipment.

Address Validation

The platform may check whether the delivery address is complete and correctly formatted.

Address validation can identify missing postal codes, incorrect street information, unsupported destinations, and other issues that could cause delays or carrier adjustments.

Package Preparation

Users enter or retrieve the package weight, dimensions, contents, value, and service requirements.

Businesses may save package presets for frequently used boxes, envelopes, pallets, and product combinations.

Carrier Rate Comparison

The system retrieves available shipping rates and services from connected carriers.

Users can compare costs, estimated delivery times, tracking availability, insurance options, and service restrictions.

Carrier and Service Selection

A shipping service may be selected manually or through automation.

Rules can choose a carrier according to package size, destination, order value, promised delivery date, product type, shipping cost, or customer preference.

Label and Document Generation

The software generates shipping labels, packing slips, customs declarations, commercial invoices, manifests, and other required documents.

Labels may be printed individually or in large batches.

Shipment Confirmation

Once a shipment is created, the system records the tracking number and updates the connected sales channel or order management platform.

Customer Communication

The customer may receive an email, SMS, or branded tracking link confirming that the order has shipped.

Further updates can be sent when the package is in transit, delayed, delivered, or available for collection.

Reporting

Shipping data can be analysed to understand carrier expenditure, average delivery times, shipment volume, service usage, exceptions, late deliveries, and destination trends.

Why Businesses Need Shipping Software

Businesses need shipping software because manual shipping processes become difficult to manage as order volume increases.

Without a centralised system, employees may need to copy customer addresses from an eCommerce platform into a carrier portal, calculate package details, compare services manually, print labels one at a time, and return to the sales channel to enter tracking numbers.

This repeated work consumes time and increases the risk of mistakes.

Shipping software automates many of these steps. Orders can be imported automatically, carrier services can be compared in one place, labels can be generated in batches, and tracking numbers can be sent back to the sales platform.

Cost control is another important reason businesses adopt shipping software. Carrier pricing can vary according to destination, package dimensions, weight, delivery speed, account rates, and service level. Rate-shopping tools help users identify an appropriate option rather than automatically using the same carrier for every shipment.

Businesses also need reliable shipping data. A central platform allows managers to review which carriers are used, how much each shipment costs, whether packages arrive on time, and where delays occur.

International shipping creates additional complexity. Businesses may need to calculate duties and taxes, classify products, prepare commercial invoices, provide customs descriptions, and comply with destination restrictions. Shipping software can organise and automate parts of this process.

Customer experience is equally important. Buyers want to know when an order has been dispatched and where it is located. Automated tracking communication reduces uncertainty and may lower the number of “Where is my order?” enquiries received by customer service teams.

Key Features of Shipping Software

Multi-Carrier Shipping

Multi-carrier functionality allows businesses to connect with several postal, courier, freight, and local delivery providers.

Users can manage different carrier accounts through one platform rather than working through separate websites.

Carrier Rate Shopping

Rate-shopping tools compare available services according to cost, delivery estimate, package characteristics, and destination.

This helps businesses select services according to commercial and customer requirements.

Shipping Label Generation

Shipping software generates carrier-compliant labels containing addresses, barcodes, service information, and tracking details.

Labels may be printed through desktop printers, laser printers, or thermal label printers.

Batch Label Printing

High-volume businesses can generate and print labels for multiple orders simultaneously.

Batch processing reduces repetitive work and speeds up warehouse dispatch.

Automated Shipping Rules

Automation rules assign carriers, services, package types, insurance, confirmation requirements, or warehouse locations based on predefined conditions.

For example, a business may automatically select an expedited service for orders above a certain value or a regional carrier for particular destinations.

Address Validation

Address validation checks customer information before a shipment is purchased.

This can reduce carrier surcharges, failed delivery attempts, and returned packages.

Order Import and Synchronisation

The system imports orders from connected eCommerce platforms, marketplaces, retail systems, and business applications.

Shipment status and tracking details can be synchronised back to these channels.

Packing Slip Generation

Packing slips list the products, quantities, customer details, order numbers, and handling instructions included in a shipment.

They help warehouse teams verify that each package contains the correct items.

Customs Documentation

International shipping features may generate commercial invoices, customs declarations, product descriptions, harmonised system codes, and country-of-origin information.

Duties and Tax Support

Some platforms estimate or calculate duties, taxes, and landed costs for international shipments.

This helps businesses provide customers with clearer cross-border pricing.

Shipment Tracking

Tracking features display shipment progress across connected carriers.

Employees can review collected, in-transit, delayed, out-for-delivery, delivered, and exception statuses.

Branded Tracking Pages

Businesses may create customer-facing tracking pages with their logo, colours, support information, product recommendations, or promotional content.

Customer Notifications

Customers can receive automatic shipment confirmation, tracking, delay, delivery, and return notifications through email or SMS.

Returns Management

Shipping software may generate return labels, create return portals, track returned packages, and coordinate return shipping rules.

Shipping Insurance

Users may purchase carrier or third-party shipping protection for valuable or high-risk orders.

Some platforms also provide claim-management tools.

Pickup Scheduling

Businesses can arrange carrier collections without leaving the shipping application.

Manifest Generation

Shipping manifests summarise packages transferred to a carrier during a collection or dispatch period.

They support carrier acceptance and warehouse recordkeeping.

Freight Shipping

Advanced systems may support less-than-truckload, truckload, pallet, air, ocean, and multimodal freight.

Features can include freight rate requests, carrier selection, bills of lading, load planning, and shipment tracking.

Dimensional Weight Calculation

Shipping platforms may calculate dimensional weight using package dimensions and carrier rules.

This is important because carriers may price large but lightweight packages according to the space they occupy.

Multiple Warehouse Support

Businesses can process shipments from different warehouses, retail stores, fulfilment centres, or third-party providers.

The platform may apply separate carrier accounts, printers, rules, and user permissions for each location.

Barcode Scanning

Warehouse employees can scan order numbers, product barcodes, package identifiers, and tracking labels.

Scanning reduces manual entry and improves shipment accuracy.

User Permissions

Role-based access controls determine which users can purchase labels, change addresses, approve shipments, view carrier rates, or access reports.

API Access

Shipping APIs allow developers to add rate calculation, label generation, address validation, tracking, and other shipping capabilities to custom applications.

Reporting and Analytics

Reports may cover shipment volume, carrier spending, cost per package, delivery performance, service selection, destination, package characteristics, claims, and exceptions.

Integration Capabilities

Shipping software commonly integrates with eCommerce platforms, marketplaces, warehouse management systems, order management tools, ERP applications, inventory software, accounting platforms, and customer service systems.

Benefits of Using Shipping Software

Faster Shipment Processing

Shipping software reduces the time required to transfer order information, compare carriers, generate labels, and update tracking numbers.

Warehouse teams can process larger shipment volumes with fewer repetitive tasks.

Lower Shipping Costs

Rate comparison and automated service selection help businesses avoid using unnecessarily expensive delivery methods.

Discounted carrier rates may also be available through some platforms.

Fewer Address Errors

Address validation identifies incomplete or incorrectly formatted delivery information before a package is handed to the carrier.

Improved Shipping Accuracy

Automated order imports, barcode scanning, package presets, and integrated labels reduce manual entry and fulfilment mistakes.

Better Customer Communication

Automated tracking and delivery notifications keep customers informed without requiring manual messages from employees.

Easier Multichannel Fulfilment

Orders from websites, marketplaces, stores, and other sales channels can be managed through one shipping environment.

Greater Carrier Flexibility

Businesses can compare and use several carriers rather than depending on one provider for every destination and package type.

Better International Shipping

Customs-document generation, duty estimates, service restrictions, and international carrier integrations simplify cross-border fulfilment.

Improved Warehouse Productivity

Batch printing, presets, scanning, and automation reduce the number of steps required at each packing station.

Centralised Shipment Visibility

Managers and customer service teams can review shipment details across carriers without opening multiple systems.

Easier Returns Processing

Return labels and customer portals create a more organised process for exchanges, refunds, and product returns.

Improved Scalability

Businesses can process higher volumes, add warehouses, connect new channels, and expand internationally without increasing manual work at the same rate.

Better Decision-Making

Shipping analytics help managers understand costs, carrier performance, service usage, delivery delays, and operational bottlenecks.

Industries That Use Shipping Software

Retail and eCommerce

Retailers and online stores use shipping software to import orders, compare carrier rates, print labels, and communicate tracking information.

Multichannel retailers may process orders from websites, marketplaces, physical stores, and social commerce platforms through the same system.

Wholesale and Distribution

Wholesalers and distributors ship large numbers of business orders, cartons, pallets, and repeat deliveries.

They may require parcel and freight support, customer-specific carrier arrangements, warehouse integrations, and scheduled shipping.

Manufacturing

Manufacturers use shipping platforms to deliver finished products, replacement parts, samples, and business supplies.

The software may connect with production, inventory, warehouse, ERP, and customer order systems.

Third-Party Logistics

Third-party logistics providers process shipments for multiple clients.

They need multi-client administration, carrier account management, warehouse integrations, billing information, label generation, and detailed reporting.

Food and Beverage

Food producers, retailers, meal businesses, and distributors manage temperature-sensitive, perishable, and time-sensitive shipments.

They may require delivery scheduling, special handling, regional carriers, and service-level controls.

Healthcare and Medical Supplies

Medical suppliers, laboratories, pharmacies, and healthcare distributors ship regulated, valuable, or time-sensitive products.

They may require secure tracking, delivery confirmation, temperature controls, and detailed records.

Fashion and Apparel

Fashion businesses ship products with frequent size, colour, and style variations.

Shipping software helps coordinate high order volumes, promotional periods, international delivery, and returns.

Electronics

Electronics retailers and distributors ship valuable, fragile, and sometimes regulated products.

They may use insurance, signature confirmation, serial-number integrations, and careful package selection.

Automotive Parts

Automotive suppliers ship items ranging from small components to large and heavy parts.

A suitable platform may need both parcel and freight carrier support.

Subscription Businesses

Subscription-box companies process recurring shipments on regular schedules.

Shipping software can automate label creation, batch processing, and tracking communication.

Printing and Publishing

Printers, publishers, and fulfilment businesses ship books, marketing materials, documents, and merchandise.

They may require bulk shipping, postal services, and package presets.

Construction and Industrial Supplies

Industrial suppliers ship tools, machinery parts, materials, and oversized goods.

Freight support, pallet documentation, and multi-location fulfilment may be required.

Who Should Use Shipping Software?

Startups

Startups can use shipping software to establish consistent fulfilment processes before shipment volumes become difficult to manage.

A cloud-based platform may provide labels, carrier rates, and integrations without requiring complex infrastructure.

Small Businesses

Small retailers and eCommerce sellers benefit from simple order imports, discounted rates, label printing, and tracking notifications.

Ease of use and predictable pricing are especially important for small teams.

Mid-Sized Businesses

Growing businesses may require multiple users, warehouses, carriers, sales channels, automation rules, advanced reporting, and international support.

Enterprises

Enterprise organisations need scalable infrastructure, high-volume processing, carrier orchestration, distributed shipping locations, APIs, security controls, and detailed analytics.

eCommerce Sellers

Online sellers use shipping software to connect stores and marketplaces with postal and courier services.

Wholesalers and Distributors

Wholesale businesses use shipping tools for bulk parcel, pallet, and freight movements.

Warehouses

Warehouses use shipping software at packing stations to validate orders, choose services, print labels, and prepare manifests.

Third-Party Logistics Providers

Third-party logistics companies need multi-client processing, carrier integrations, warehouse connectivity, and customer reporting.

Developers and Software Platforms

Developers may use shipping APIs to build rates, labels, tracking, and address validation into custom applications.

Cost and Pricing Considerations for Shipping Software

Shipping software pricing depends on shipment volume, users, locations, carrier connections, required features, and support.

Monthly subscription pricing is common. Plans may include a limited number of shipments, users, or sales channels.

Higher plans may provide additional automation, carrier accounts, warehouses, reporting, APIs, and customer support.

Some providers use per-label or pay-as-you-go pricing. Businesses pay when they create shipments rather than paying a fixed monthly subscription.

Other platforms offer free software access and earn revenue through carrier arrangements, postage, insurance, or additional services.

Enterprise systems normally use custom quotations based on transaction volume, locations, integrations, service requirements, and implementation complexity.

Businesses should distinguish between the software charge and the actual shipping cost. Carrier postage, fuel surcharges, residential fees, delivery-area charges, insurance, customs fees, duties, and taxes may be billed separately.

How Much Does Shipping Software Cost?

There is no universal price because shipping requirements vary significantly.

Entry-level tools may be suitable for businesses processing a small number of shipments each month. They may include basic labels, tracking, and selected carrier integrations.

Small-business plans often increase in price according to monthly label volume, users, automation, and connected channels.

Mid-market platforms may add multiple warehouse locations, advanced reporting, custom workflows, API access, branded tracking, returns, and international capabilities.

Enterprise shipping software is usually priced through a proposal. The cost may depend on annual shipment volume, carrier network, transaction speed, countries, warehouses, support, implementation, and integrations.

Businesses should also budget for:

• Carrier postage
• Insurance
• Customs duties and taxes
• Implementation services
• Integration development
• Employee training
• Label printers
• Barcode scanners
• Labels and packing materials
• Premium support
• API usage
• Additional warehouse locations
• Data migration
• Return shipping
• Maintenance and configuration

Total cost of ownership should include both software expenses and the operational cost of processing shipments.

A low-cost tool may become expensive if it lacks automation and requires substantial manual work. A more advanced platform may provide better value when it reduces labour, improves carrier selection, and supports higher order volumes.

Pros and Cons of Shipping Software

Advantages

Shipping software centralises carrier services and order information.

Rate comparison may help reduce shipping expenditure.

Bulk label printing and automation improve warehouse productivity.

Address validation reduces delivery problems.

Tracking communication improves customer visibility.

Multiple carrier support provides flexibility during service interruptions or capacity constraints.

International documentation features simplify cross-border shipping.

Reports help businesses monitor carrier performance and costs.

API integrations support custom logistics workflows.

Potential Challenges

Initial setup can be complex when businesses have several warehouses, carriers, printers, channels, and automation rules.

Carrier rates displayed in software may vary from final invoiced costs because of adjustments, dimensions, accessorial fees, or incorrect package information.

Employees may need training to understand carrier rules, international documents, and exception handling.

Integration failures can prevent orders or tracking numbers from synchronising correctly.

Some platforms support parcel shipping more effectively than freight.

Subscription costs may increase with shipment volume, users, locations, or advanced features.

Dependence on a cloud platform can create disruption if the service is unavailable.

Businesses should test the platform, validate carrier billing, monitor integrations, and maintain documented backup procedures.

Cloud-Based vs On-Premise Shipping Software

Cloud-Based Shipping Software

Cloud-based platforms are accessed through a browser or connected application.

They generally offer faster implementation, automatic updates, remote access, and easier connections with eCommerce platforms.

Cloud systems are suitable for small businesses, distributed teams, multi-location warehouses, and organisations that do not want to maintain local servers.

Businesses should review security, internet availability, system reliability, data handling, and vendor support.

On-Premise Shipping Software

On-premise software is installed within infrastructure managed by the business.

It may provide greater control over local equipment, carrier connections, data, and custom workflows.

However, the organisation must maintain servers, software updates, backups, security, and availability.

On-premise deployment may suit large warehouses, regulated organisations, or businesses with specialised local systems.

Hybrid Shipping Environments

Some businesses use cloud management while operating local printing applications, warehouse devices, carrier integrations, or ERP systems.

The correct deployment model depends on transaction volume, infrastructure, security requirements, warehouse operations, and integration needs.

Shipping Software vs Order Management Software

Shipping software focuses on carrier selection, labels, documentation, tracking, and delivery.

Order management software manages the broader order lifecycle, including customer orders, payments, inventory allocation, fulfilment, cancellations, and returns.

An order management system determines what must be fulfilled. Shipping software determines how the package will be transferred to the customer.

Some platforms combine both capabilities, while others integrate separate systems.

Shipping Software vs Transportation Management Software

Shipping software commonly focuses on parcel and eCommerce fulfilment.

Transportation management software manages broader transportation planning, freight procurement, routing, load consolidation, carrier contracts, freight auditing, and supply chain execution.

A small online store may only need parcel shipping software. A manufacturer or distributor moving pallets and truckloads may require a transportation management system.

Shipping Software vs Warehouse Management Software

Warehouse management software controls receiving, storage, picking, packing, and inventory movement within a warehouse.

Shipping software takes over when an order is ready to be packed and transferred to a carrier.

A WMS may determine which products must be picked, while the shipping platform generates the carrier label and tracking number.

Shipping Software vs Delivery Management Software

Shipping software usually connects businesses with external postal and carrier networks.

Delivery management software is often used by businesses operating their own local drivers, couriers, or delivery fleets.

Delivery platforms may include route optimisation, driver applications, dispatching, proof of delivery, and live vehicle tracking.

How to Choose the Best Shipping Software

Define Shipment Requirements

Identify monthly shipment volume, package sizes, destinations, delivery speeds, and product restrictions.

Review Carrier Support

Confirm that the platform supports required postal services, couriers, freight providers, and regional carriers.

Evaluate Sales Channel Integrations

The software should connect reliably with websites, marketplaces, order systems, warehouse platforms, and ERP applications.

Compare Rate-Shopping Capabilities

Review whether the system displays negotiated account rates, platform rates, delivery estimates, and service restrictions.

Assess Automation

Look for rules that automatically assign services, package types, warehouses, insurance, confirmation, and international documents.

Examine International Shipping

Businesses shipping internationally should review customs documents, harmonised codes, duties, taxes, restricted goods, and cross-border tracking.

Consider Shipment Volume

The platform should process normal and peak-season volumes without delays or expensive pricing changes.

Review Printing and Hardware Support

Confirm compatibility with thermal printers, desktop printers, scales, scanners, and warehouse workstations.

Evaluate Tracking Features

Review carrier tracking, branded pages, customer notifications, delivery exceptions, and customer service visibility.

Assess Returns

Determine whether the software provides return labels, portals, exchange workflows, and return tracking.

Review Reporting

The system should provide visibility into costs, carriers, services, delivery performance, and exceptions.

Evaluate APIs

Businesses with custom applications should review API coverage, documentation, transaction limits, uptime, and developer support.

Consider Customer Support

Reliable support is particularly important when warehouse operations depend on the platform throughout the day.

How to Compare Shipping Software

Businesses should compare shipping software through practical operational requirements rather than selecting the platform with the longest feature list.

Begin with carrier support. Confirm that the system works with existing carrier accounts, negotiated rates, and required regional services.

Next, compare sales channel and warehouse integrations. Orders and tracking information should transfer consistently without manual intervention.

Rate-shopping should be evaluated using realistic package weights, dimensions, destinations, and services.

Businesses should test label generation, batch processing, printer compatibility, package presets, and automation rules.

International sellers should compare customs documentation, landed-cost support, duties, taxes, carrier coverage, and restricted-product handling.

Review pricing according to shipment volume, users, warehouses, APIs, support, and additional modules.

Customer reviews may provide insight into system reliability, usability, billing, support, and integration quality.

Krowdbase helps businesses compare shipping software according to carrier support, features, pricing information, reviews, integrations, shipment volume, deployment model, international capabilities, and business suitability.

Implementation Best Practices

Map the Existing Shipping Process

Document how orders currently move from purchase to packing, carrier collection, and tracking.

Audit Carrier Accounts

Review carrier contracts, account numbers, negotiated rates, pickup arrangements, and billing contacts.

Standardise Package Data

Record accurate dimensions and weights for commonly used packaging.

Validate Addresses and Products

Clean customer addresses and ensure products contain information required for customs and carrier restrictions.

Configure Automation Carefully

Begin with straightforward rules and test them before adding complex conditions.

Test Printers and Scales

Verify label size, barcode quality, workstation access, and device connectivity.

Begin with a Pilot

Use selected users, channels, or warehouses before wider deployment.

Train Employees

Provide practical training on labels, voids, manifests, international documents, returns, and shipment exceptions.

Monitor Carrier Invoices

Compare software rates with final carrier invoices to identify adjustments and incorrect package information.

Maintain Backup Procedures

Document how shipments will be processed if the software, internet connection, printer, or carrier integration is unavailable.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Incorrect Package Dimensions

Incorrect dimensions can result in carrier billing adjustments.

Businesses should measure packaging accurately and maintain standard package presets.

Address Errors

Incomplete addresses can cause delays and return fees.

Use address validation and require customers to review delivery details during checkout.

Integration Failures

Orders or tracking numbers may stop synchronising.

Monitor connection logs and create procedures for failed imports and updates.

Printer Problems

Label printers may become disconnected or produce unreadable barcodes.

Maintain tested printer configurations, spare labels, and backup printing options.

Unexpected Carrier Charges

Additional fees may appear because of dimensional weight, residential delivery, remote areas, or incorrect classification.

Review carrier invoices regularly and improve shipment data.

International Customs Delays

Incomplete descriptions, values, or classifications may delay clearance.

Maintain accurate product records and review destination requirements.

Excessive Manual Decisions

Employees may repeatedly choose carriers and services manually.

Automation rules can improve consistency and processing speed.

Customer Tracking Enquiries

Customers may contact support when tracking information is unclear.

Provide automatic notifications and a central tracking page.

Return on Investment from Shipping Software

Shipping software ROI can be measured through labour savings, reduced carrier expenditure, improved delivery performance, and fewer errors.

Businesses can compare the amount of employee time required to process each shipment before and after implementation.

Carrier savings may be measured by reviewing average shipping cost, service selection, and the percentage of shipments assigned through rate shopping.

Warehouse productivity can be evaluated through shipments processed per employee, labels generated per hour, and average dispatch time.

Accuracy improvements may include fewer incorrect addresses, voided labels, lost tracking numbers, and carrier adjustments.

Customer experience may be measured through fewer tracking enquiries, reduced complaints, improved delivery reviews, and higher repeat purchases.

International growth may provide additional returns when the platform makes cross-border shipping easier to manage.

Businesses should calculate ROI using software fees, implementation, equipment, labour savings, carrier savings, error reduction, and revenue impact.

Top Shipping Software Companies

The following platforms provide recognised parcel, freight, eCommerce, multi-carrier, or enterprise shipping capabilities. Businesses should verify current features, carrier availability, pricing, and regional support before choosing a provider.

ShipStation

ShipStation is a cloud-based shipping platform that helps businesses manage parcel and selected freight shipping through one environment. It provides carrier connections, order imports, automation, rate access, label generation, tracking, and integrations with popular commerce systems. ShipStation describes its platform as supporting carriers, automations, discounts, and scalable shipping through a single login.

It is suitable for small businesses, growing eCommerce retailers, multichannel sellers, warehouses, and larger fulfilment operations.

Its strengths include broad integration coverage, automated shipping rules, batch processing, and centralised order shipping.

Shippo

Shippo provides multi-carrier shipping software and APIs for businesses that need rates, labels, tracking, and logistics functionality.

Businesses can use its application directly or integrate shipping capabilities into custom websites and platforms through its API. Shippo positions its offering as scalable multi-carrier software for both direct shipping and embedded logistics workflows.

It may suit startups, small businesses, developers, eCommerce platforms, and growing online sellers.

Easyship

Easyship is a shipping and fulfilment platform with international carrier connections, order synchronisation, labels, tracking, customer updates, and customs-document support.

The company states that its platform can synchronise orders, print labels individually or in bulk, provide branded tracking, send delivery updates, and create customs documentation.

Easyship is particularly relevant to eCommerce businesses shipping internationally or needing access to multiple courier services.

ShippingEasy

ShippingEasy provides shipping, order, customer marketing, and related eCommerce capabilities.

It is generally designed for small and mid-sized online sellers that need centralised order imports, carrier labels, tracking, and shipping automation.

Businesses should compare current plan availability, order limits, integrations, and related marketing features.

Ordoro

Ordoro provides multi-carrier shipping, order management, inventory, supplier, and dropshipping capabilities.

It can import orders from supported channels, manage shipment activity, connect with major carriers, and return tracking information to sales platforms.

Ordoro may suit eCommerce retailers, dropshippers, and growing product businesses that want shipping and inventory functionality in one environment.

Veeqo

Veeqo provides multichannel shipping and inventory management for online sellers.

It helps businesses import orders, print labels, update inventory, manage warehouses, and coordinate fulfilment across several channels.

It may suit small and growing retailers that want combined shipping and inventory features.

AfterShip Shipping

AfterShip Shipping centralises multichannel order shipping, rate calculation, labels, workflow automation, and carrier management.

Its API can also be used to add rate calculation and label generation to websites and custom applications.

AfterShip may suit businesses that want shipping capabilities connected with broader tracking, returns, and post-purchase customer experience tools.

Sendcloud

Sendcloud provides shipping automation, carrier connections, checkout delivery options, labels, tracking, and returns.

It is particularly relevant to European eCommerce businesses requiring access to regional carriers and cross-border delivery options.

Businesses should evaluate country coverage and carrier availability according to their fulfilment markets.

ShipWorks

ShipWorks provides shipping management for eCommerce sellers, warehouses, and high-volume fulfilment operations.

It supports order imports, carrier connections, labels, automation, and multi-station workflows.

It may suit businesses that need desktop-connected or warehouse-focused shipping operations.

Pirate Ship

Pirate Ship provides a simple online shipping platform focused primarily on purchasing labels and accessing selected carrier services.

It may be suitable for individuals, startups, and small businesses that prioritise straightforward domestic parcel shipping.

Businesses requiring extensive automation, international carrier networks, or enterprise integrations may need a broader platform.

Freightview

Freightview is designed to help businesses compare freight rates, book shipments, prepare documentation, track loads, and analyse freight spending.

It is more relevant to shippers managing less-than-truckload and freight movements than to businesses focused only on small parcels.

ShipHawk

ShipHawk provides advanced shipping and warehouse automation for high-volume fulfilment operations.

Its platform supports parcel and less-than-truckload shipping, business rules, automation, and warehouse execution.

It may suit retailers, manufacturers, distributors, and warehouses with complex products, high shipment volumes, or mixed parcel-and-freight requirements.

Metapack

Metapack provides enterprise multi-carrier delivery and shipping technology.

Its platform supports checkout delivery options, carrier management, fulfilment, cross-border shipping, customer service, and post-purchase visibility.

It is mainly suitable for enterprise retailers, brands, and large international commerce operations.

Descartes Shipping Solutions

Descartes provides shipping and logistics software for freight forwarders, retailers, distributors, and enterprise supply chains.

Its logistics platform supports shipment execution, multimodal management, customs compliance, and cloud-based freight operations.

It may suit complex international, freight-forwarding, and enterprise logistics environments.

ClickPost

ClickPost provides logistics intelligence, carrier connectivity, shipment tracking, delivery exception management, returns, and post-purchase communication.

It may suit larger eCommerce businesses and retailers managing high shipment volumes across multiple carriers.

Related Software Categories

Order Management Software

Order management software captures and processes customer orders.

Shipping software receives fulfilment-ready order information and creates the carrier shipment.

Warehouse Management Software

Warehouse management software controls receiving, storage, picking, packing, and inventory movement.

It integrates with shipping software at the dispatch stage.

Inventory Management Software

Inventory management software tracks product availability, locations, and stock movement.

Shipping confirmations can update inventory and order status.

Transportation Management Software

Transportation management software handles freight planning, carrier procurement, routing, auditing, and execution.

It is commonly used alongside parcel shipping tools in complex supply chains.

eCommerce Software

eCommerce software allows businesses to sell products online.

Shipping integrations transfer orders and return tracking information to the store.

Delivery Management Software

Delivery management software coordinates local fleets, drivers, routes, and proof of delivery.

It complements carrier-based shipping platforms.

Freight Management Software

Freight management software supports pallet, truckload, air, ocean, and multimodal shipping.

Businesses use it when parcel tools are insufficient for larger goods.

Returns Management Software

Returns management software coordinates return authorisations, labels, inspections, refunds, and exchanges.

It often connects with outbound shipping systems.

Route Planning Software

Route planning software creates efficient delivery sequences for company-operated vehicles.

It is useful for local and last-mile delivery operations.

Fleet Management Software

Fleet management software monitors vehicles, drivers, fuel, maintenance, and location.

Businesses running their own delivery fleet may use it alongside shipping systems.

Logistics Software

Logistics software manages transportation, warehousing, fulfilment, inventory, and supply chain activities.

Shipping is one component of a broader logistics environment.

Supply Chain Management Software

Supply chain software supports sourcing, planning, suppliers, inventory, production, and distribution.

Shipping data helps businesses understand delivery performance and transportation costs.

Customs Compliance Software

Customs software manages trade documentation, classifications, duties, restricted goods, and international compliance.

It complements cross-border shipping platforms.

Package Tracking Software

Package tracking software provides shipment visibility across carriers.

It may offer branded tracking pages, customer notifications, and exception management.

Postal Software

Postal software prepares mail, postage, address data, manifests, and postal documentation.

It is often used for letters, publications, bulk mail, and selected parcel workflows.

Latest Trends in Shipping Software

Artificial Intelligence

Shipping platforms are increasingly using AI to recommend carriers, predict delivery times, identify costly shipment patterns, detect exceptions, and improve routing decisions.

Automated Carrier Selection

Businesses are moving from fixed carrier rules toward dynamic selection based on price, service, destination, reliability, and delivery commitments.

Predictive Delivery Management

Platforms are using historical data to identify shipments likely to arrive late or encounter exceptions.

This allows customer service teams to act before the customer reports a problem.

Real-Time Rate Shopping

Rate engines are becoming more closely connected with checkout, warehouse, and order-management workflows.

Businesses can select services according to live operational conditions.

Embedded Shipping APIs

Software companies, marketplaces, and eCommerce platforms increasingly embed rates, labels, tracking, and address validation directly into their products.

Cross-Border Automation

Shipping platforms are improving customs documentation, duty calculation, landed-cost estimates, product classification, and international carrier selection.

Sustainable Shipping

Businesses are evaluating consolidated shipments, packaging efficiency, delivery distance, carrier emissions, and lower-impact delivery options.

Branded Post-Purchase Experiences

Tracking pages and notifications are becoming part of customer engagement rather than simple carrier updates.

Multi-Carrier Resilience

Businesses are connecting with more carriers to reduce dependence on a single provider during service disruptions, peak seasons, or regional capacity shortages.

Shipping and Warehouse Convergence

Some platforms are combining shipping, inventory, warehouse execution, order management, and returns within one operational environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is shipping software?

Shipping software helps businesses compare carrier services, generate labels, create documents, track packages, update customers, and analyse shipping activity.

What businesses use shipping software?

Retailers, eCommerce sellers, wholesalers, manufacturers, distributors, warehouses, subscription companies, and third-party logistics providers use shipping software.

What are the main features of shipping software?

Common features include carrier integrations, rate shopping, label printing, address validation, tracking, automation, customs documents, returns, and reporting.

How does multi-carrier shipping software work?

It connects several carrier services within one platform so businesses can compare rates, purchase labels, and manage tracking without using separate portals.

Can shipping software reduce delivery costs?

Rate shopping, automation, carrier discounts, accurate package data, and performance reporting may help businesses control shipping costs.

Does shipping software support international delivery?

Many platforms support international carriers, customs declarations, commercial invoices, product classifications, duties, taxes, and cross-border tracking.

Can shipping software print labels in bulk?

Yes. Many platforms allow businesses to generate and print labels for multiple orders simultaneously.

Can shipping software connect with Shopify and marketplaces?

Many products integrate with eCommerce platforms and marketplaces. Businesses should confirm support for each required sales channel.

What is the difference between shipping software and an OMS?

Shipping software focuses on carrier and delivery processes. An order management system manages the broader order lifecycle.

What is the difference between shipping software and a TMS?

Shipping software commonly focuses on parcels and eCommerce fulfilment. A transportation management system provides broader freight planning and execution.

How much does shipping software cost?

Pricing may be free, pay-as-you-go, subscription-based, per shipment, or custom. Costs depend on shipment volume, users, carriers, locations, features, and support.

Is free shipping software suitable for businesses?

Free tools can suit small businesses with simple requirements. Growing organisations may require advanced automation, integrations, warehouses, reporting, and support.

What should I look for in shipping software?

Evaluate carrier support, rates, integrations, automation, international capabilities, tracking, returns, reporting, scalability, and pricing.

Where can I compare shipping software?

Krowdbase helps businesses compare shipping platforms according to features, pricing information, carrier integrations, reviews, supported channels, alternatives, and business suitability.

Where can I find shipping software alternatives?

Krowdbase allows users to explore alternatives to popular shipping platforms according to shipment volume, carrier requirements, business size, integrations, and budget.

Conclusion

Shipping software helps businesses manage carrier selection, rates, labels, documentation, tracking, customer notifications, returns, and shipping analytics through one centralised platform.

By replacing repetitive manual processes, the software can improve warehouse productivity, reduce shipping errors, provide greater carrier flexibility, and create a more transparent customer delivery experience.

The right solution depends on shipment volume, package types, carriers, destinations, sales channels, warehouse locations, international requirements, automation, integrations, and budget.

Small businesses may require an easy-to-use platform for labels and discounted rates. Growing eCommerce companies may need multichannel orders, batch processing, automation, branded tracking, and returns. Enterprises may require high-volume carrier orchestration, freight support, APIs, distributed warehouses, cross-border compliance, and detailed analytics.

Before selecting a platform, businesses should test rate accuracy, carrier availability, label printing, order synchronisation, automation rules, tracking, reporting, and customer support. Total cost should include software, carrier charges, implementation, equipment, returns, integrations, and internal administration.

Krowdbase helps organisations discover, compare, and evaluate the best shipping software in one place. Businesses can explore software profiles, product features, pricing information, customer reviews, carrier integrations, supported sales channels, alternatives, deployment options, and comparison details to identify a platform aligned with their fulfilment and delivery requirements.