Ecommerce stores must deal with many traits to guarantee their success. One of the most challenging ones is fulfillment and shipping management.
As your business grows, you’ll need better shipping tools to cope with market demands. This is crucial to boost profits and customer delight.
Lucky for us, shipping software solutions can automate the whole fulfillment process.
Let’s get into the nitty gritties of these two great options!
ShipWorks vs ShipStation: Shipping Software Essentials
As a rule of thumb, your shipping app should meet the following needs:
- Store Compatibility. Make sure the shipping software is compatible with your shipping platforms. It makes it easier to collect and sync all import orders.
- Carrier Support. Your chosen suite must also connect with your shipping carriers. This is crucial to compare fees between couriers, and set up parcels for transport.
- Address Validation. Many delivery errors are due to wrong addresses. Shipping software can validate all customer data to prevent transit losses.
- Create and Print Labels. Shipping suites can generate and print package labels. All you need to do is submit the parcel data. Then, the software can pull and print the label automatically.
- Package Weight Scale. Some shipping apps include scales to weight parcels. It’s a great feature for self-shipping brands that must deal with oversize fees.
Proper shipping apps can rate carriers’ transport fees, print labels, or track deliveries. Thus, you’ll save time and money, and you’ll improve the customer’s experience.
ShipWorks vs ShipStation: Pricing and Considerations
What Is ShipWorks?
ShipWorks is a very popular fulfillment solution. It has no user limit. Therefore, the app can be installed on as many computers as needed.
The software is compatible with more than 30 shopping carts.
Also, it can import from 10 marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay. ShipWorks also integrates with carriers like FedEx, UPS, DHL, and USPS.
One downside is that Shipworks is a more “mainstream” solution. This means it has as many integrations as ShipStation.
However, its ease of use makes it a great choice for starting sellers. Also, note that ShipWorks is a Windows-based software. For this reason, Mac users must look for another fulfillment solution.
ShipWorks Pricing
Brands can use ShipWorks’ 30-day free trial to try out all features.
Their payment plans include 5 tiers:
| Ecommerce Essential | Ecommerce Professional | Warehouse Essential | Warehouse Professional | Warehouse Elite | |
| Monthly Shipments | 1,500 | 5,000 | 12,000 | 25,000 | 50,000 |
| Ship-From Locations | 1 | 1 | 2+ | 2+ | 2+ |
| Monthly Fee | $49 | $149 | $349 | $599 | $799 |
Note: There’s no limit of users
One of the great things about ShipWorks is that also features a Custom Enterprise plan.
This option is reserved for sellers who want unlimited shipment capabilities.
All tiers feature phone and email support and a carrier rating tool.
Additionally, Warehouse plans include a guided onboarding setup, and smart order routing.
What Is ShipStation?
ShipStation is another of the most popular shipping suites in the market and It is a web-based software. Therefore, it’s quick and easy to access from any computer with a web browser.
On the other hand, ShipStation works with more than 20 carriers, such as UPS, FedEx and DHL.
Thus, the app is fitted to handle orders worldwide.
The service can be set up to generate and print invoices and labels automatically, which is why it can also transfer tracking data to customers.
Note that ShipWorks offers integration with more than 30 platforms. Sellers can link the suite to Shopify, Amazon, or eBay to collect import data into one place. Additionally, the service also features an API package. This is great for sellers using local platforms.
Although ShipStation features pricier options, most packs feature complete access to most tools.
Shipworks, however, grants wide customer support for its users.
ShipStation Pricing
There is a free 30-day trial to access all ShipStation features.
After that period, ShipStation offers 6 pricing tiers:
| Starter | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Enterprise | ||||
| Monthly Shipments | 50 | 500 | 1,500 | 3,000 | 6,000 | 10,000 | |||
| Users | One | Two | Three | Five | Ten | Ten | |||
| Monthly Fee | $9 | $29 | $49 | $69 | $99 | $159 | |||
Labels and Packing Slips
Branded: Starter, Bronze, and Silver
Customized: Gold, Platinum, and Enterprise
Sellers that exceed 10,000 shipments must request a custom quote from ShipStation.
Additionally, all tiers include email and community forum support.
Bronze, silver, and gold plans also feature a live chat, and the platinum and enterprise option include phone support.
ShipWorks vs ShipStation – Feature Comparison
| ShipWorks | ShipStation | |
| User Access | No limit | 1 to 10 |
| Audience | Online retailersEcommerce sellerswarehouses | Online merchantsMulti-platform sellers |
| Shipping Features | Bills of landingGround and parcel shippingShipment trackingWarehouse management | Ground and parcel shippingShipment trackingWarehouse management |
| Integrations | 10 | 139 |
| Training Features | DocumentationLive onlineWebinars | DocumentationLive onlineWebinarsVideo tutorials |
| Platform Support | Windows | WindowsMacSaaSiOSAndroid |
| Free 30-Day Trial | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Tiers | Ecommerce Essential – $49 Ecommerce Pro – $149 Warehouse Essential – $349 Warehouse Pro – $599 Warehouse Elite – $799 |
Starter – $9 Bronze – $29 Silver – $49 Gold – $69 Platinum – $99 Enterprise – $159 |
Final Thoughts
Now, it’s time for you to review take a deeper view of what each software can do for your business.
ShipWorks is best for new sellers and warehouses. Although it offers pricier options, it boasts all-round features for shipping management.
On the other hand, ShipStation is the go-to option for online merchants. It’s easy to install, and it lets brands have real-time control over fulfillment.
Both suites can meet the fulfillment needs for ecommerce brands with ease. It’s up to you to choose the best option to deliver a stellar service to customers.
Author
Esteban Muñoz is a content writer at AMZ Advisers, with several years’ experience in digital marketing and e-commerce. Esteban and the AMZ Advisers team have been able to achieve incredible growth on Amazon for their clients by optimizing and managing their accounts, and creating in-depth content marketing strategies.
