Pirate Ship and Shippo – two shipping tools that can save ecommerce sellers big time on costs, speed up order fulfillment, and let them scale their operations.
After putting both platforms through their paces on pricing, features, ease of use and integrations, I've come to the conclusion that Pirate Ship is a good bet for small US-based sellers, while Shippo is a better fit for growing stores with international shipping needs.
Let's take a closer look so you can make up your mind.
Pirate Ship vs Shippo: The Lowdown
Pirate Ship – Ideal for small US-only stores who want the most cost-effective USPS and UPS rates (no monthly fees, yay!)
Shippo – Suitable for growing or international businesses that need advanced automation and multiple carriers
From here on out, I'll give you a rundown of how Pirate Ship and Shippo stack up on pricing, shipping features, integrations, ease of use and more.
Quick Comparison: Pirate Ship vs Shippo
| Feature | Pirate Ship | Shippo |
| Best For | Small US-based stores | Growing multi-channel stores |
| Pricing | Free | Free plan + paid options |
| Shipping Carriers | USPS, UPS | USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, others |
| International Shipping | No | Yes |
| Integrations | Basic (Shopify, CSV) | 85+ platforms and carriers |
| Return Labels | Manual | Automated, branded returns |
| Automation | None | Advanced shipping rules |
| Customs & Docs | No | Yes |
This quick snapshot should give you a good idea, but stick around for the full comparison to see which tool fits your business best.
Pirate Ship: Where Cost-Effectiveness Reigns Supreme
If you're all about saving cash on shipping costs, Pirate Ship is the clear winner.
Pirate Ship Pricing
- Always free – no monthly fees whatsoever
- No per label fees, you heard that right
- No contracts or subscription tiers to worry about
- Offers USPS Commercial Pricing and discounted UPS rates – really, really cheap
Shippo Pricing
- Free plan:
- Free as in beer – zero costs
- $0.05 per label if you use Shippo's rates (ouch!)
- Professional plan:
- starts at $10/month
- includes 60 labels a month
- higher tiers available based on volume
- Premier plan:
- custom pricing for big fish
- tailored for high volume users
Shippo's pricing is flexible, but those $0.05 fees can add up faster than you think, especially if you're churning out hundreds of orders a month.
Pirate Ship, on the other hand, is a no-brainer for small operations or those who don't want any cost surprises.
Pirate Ship Wins
Cost-effectiveness hands down. Pirate Ship is free, with no label fees or monthly charges. While Shippo's free plan works for low volume users, that $0.05 per label can eat into your profits pretty quickly.
Shippo: Where Advanced Shipping Features Shine
Pirate Ship gets the job done, but Shippo has a whole host of features that'll take your shipping to the next level.
Pirate Ship Key Features
- Discounted USPS and UPS rates
- Simple, user-friendly interface
- Batch label printing
- CSV order upload
- Manual return label generation
- Not a lot of automation options
Shippo Key Features
- Multi-carrier shipping – UPS, FedEx, DHL, the works
- Advanced automation rules – streamline your shipping
- Branded shipping labels and tracking pages – add a personal touch
- Built-in return labels and customer emails – a one-stop solution
- Customs form support for international shipments – no more paperwork headaches
- Address validation and insurance options – all the bells and whistles
The extra tools in Shippo start to make a difference when you're juggling multiple marketplaces, bulk orders, and international shipping needs. Pirate Ship stays simple, but simplicity has its limits as you scale.
Shippo Wins
Shippo has a more comprehensive shipping feature set. It's perfect for stores that need multi-carrier support, automation, branding, or international shipping.
Best for Shipping Carriers: Shippo
If you're looking for a shipping tool with a wide range of carrier options, Shippo takes the crown.
Pirate Ship Supports:
- USPS (with Commercial Pricing)
- UPS (discounted rates)
- Only domestic shipping
Shippo Supports:
- USPS, UPS
- FedEx, DHL Express
- Couriers in the US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada
- And even international delivery and customs support
Having access to more carriers also means you can compare rates in real time and choose the cheapest or fastest option for every shipment. That flexibility can really save you on fulfillment costs and improve delivery times.
Shippo Wins
Shippo's got this one in the bag. Pirate Ship is stuck with just USPS and UPS, and only works for US shipments.
The Lowdown on Integration: Shippo ties up the integrations crown
Integrations are a huge time-saver when it comes to processing orders, especially if you're selling on multiple platforms or using inventory software. This is especially true if you're juggling more than one platform at a time.
Pirate Ship Integrations
- Native app with Shopify
- You can hook Pirate Ship up to WooCommerce via Zapier or plugins
- BigCommerce works with Zapier, too
- CSV import/export (handy, but not exactly effortless)
- Multichannel syncing is sadly not on the menu
Shippo Integrations
- They've got over 85 integrations that work like a charm
- You can connect to Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, BigCommerce, and even those pesky marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay
- Inventory tools like Ordoro, Finale Inventory, and more
- API access if you need to get really custom with your setups
If you're using multiple platforms to sell – think Shopify and Etsy – Shippo makes order management way easier. Pirate Ship has you jumping around between tabs, uploading CSVs by hand.
The Winner: Shippo
Shippo knocks Pirate Ship out of the park when it comes to integrations. With Shippo, you get native connections to more ecommerce platforms and marketplace channels, which means order syncing and fulfillment just happens.
Which is Easiest to Use: Pirate Ship
If you want your shipping platform to be super easy to get up and running, Pirate Ship is the way to go.
Pirate Ship User Experience
- Super clean, no-frills dashboard
- Quick onboarding – literally a few clicks and you're good to go
- Minimal setup required
- Perfect for beginners
Shippo User Experience
- A bit more robust, with step-by-step onboarding
- You do have to put in a bit more work to configure carriers and automation rules
- But hey, there are tutorials and a support center to help you out
Pirate Ship feels like it was made for someone who just wants to ship something right now – no fuss, no muss, no reading a guide or watching a webinar.
Shippo gives you more control, but you may need to invest a bit more time upfront to get it all set up.
The Winner: Pirate Ship
Pirate Ship is a breeze for new users. It takes Shippo a bit longer to get going, but once it's all set up, you get a lot more flexibility.
Who's Best for International Shipping: Shippo
Sorry, Pirate Ship, but for international shipping, Shippo is the clear winner.
Pirate Ship
- Only good for US domestic shipping
- No customs form support
- No international carrier options
Shippo
- Supports shipping to 195+ countries worldwide
- Automatically generates customs forms for you
- Supports international returns
- And that's not all – it also includes address validation for global shipments
International shipping can be a real pain, but Shippo makes it a whole lot easier with automation and compliance tools. Pirate Ship just isn't built for sellers who ship beyond the good ol' US.
The Winner: Shippo
If you need to ship outside the US, Pirate Ship is basically not an option. Shippo is the clear choice for anyone shipping internationally.
Best for Returns and Tracking: Shippo
Handling returns professionally is a big deal. It reduces friction, improves customer satisfaction – the whole shebang.
Pirate Ship Returns & Tracking
- You can create return labels the old-fashioned way
- No branded returns portal – you're on your own
- You get standard USPS/UPS tracking links
Shippo Returns & Tracking
- Automagically generates return labels for you
- You can create a branded returns portal – looks pro, feels pro
- Custom tracking pages with your logo? Yep, that's a thing
- And get this – email notifications for delivery updates?
Returns are a big part of ecommerce, especially in fashion, beauty, and electronics. Shippo gives customers a much better post-purchase experience, which builds trust and repeat sales.
The Winner: Shippo
Shippo gives customers a way more professional experience, which is a big deal for repeat business.
Who's Best for Automation: Shippo
Automation is key when order volume takes off – saves time, reduces errors, the whole nine yards.
Pirate Ship
- No automation features – you're on your own
- Manual order selection and label creation – a real time-suck
- No shipping rules or carrier logic – you're in the dark
Shippo
- Automate carrier selection based on weight, location, and all that jazz
- Batch label printing – boom, done
- Automation rules for shipping services – you can set it up to run itself
- And hey, API support for advanced workflows – if you need it
Shippo's automation lets you apply logic once and then run your shipping on autopilot. Pirate Ship requires you to do everything manually, which adds up when you're scaling.
The Winner: Shippo
Shippo's automation saves time, reduces errors, and gets the job done. Pirate Ship may be simple, but it lacks the time-saving tools you need.
Support: It's a Dead Heat
Both platforms have decent support options – but neither one stands out from the pack.
Pirate Ship Support
- Got email and live chat
- US-based reps who'll get back to you
- Knowledge base with some basic tutorials
Shippo Support
- Same here – email and chat
- Priority support for paid users – a nice touch
- Help center with a ton of info – if you need it
Both companies are responsive and helpful, but if you're on a paid Shippo plan, you get slightly faster help. Pirate Ship does a decent job, too, given the resources they have.
The Winner: It's a tie
Both Shippo and Pirate Ship have good support – but Shippo edges it out slightly with their more extensive documentation and priority support tiers.
What Real Users Have to Say
We asked some real ecommerce sellers about their experiences with Shippo and Pirate Ship:
Pirate Ship Users Said:
- “It's free, and it just works. Saved me $300/month by ditching that other paid software”* “No nonsense, super easy to get the hang of – Perfect for small time sellers with Etsy and Shopify shops.”
- “Wish they had more features for international orders.”
Shippo Users Have to Say:
- ” Absolute game changer for handling Amazon, Etsy and Shopify all from one place.”
- “The automations and branded returns have been a total lifesaver for saving us time.”
- “To be honest, there can be a bit of a learning curve, but its totally worth it once you get it sorted out.”
These user insights kind of mirror what we found during our own testing: Pirate Ship is pretty straightforward and affordable, but Shippo can handle more complexity.
The Final Verdict: Pirate Ship or Shippo – Which is Right for You?
Pirate Ship is probably a good fit if:
- You only do shipping within the States
- You want the absolute lowest rates from USPS/UPS
- You're looking for a super simple, free tool with minimal fuss
Shippo is best suited if:
- You're shipping to places outside the US
- You work with multiple carriers or have multiple platforms you sell from
- You want to have some automation, be able to brand it all and have a bit more control overall
At the end of the day, it really comes down to where you are in your ecommerce journey. You can start with something simple and then scale up with the tool as your business grows.
My Take on Things
If you're just starting out or you've got a tiny operation thats US-only, Pirate Ship really can't be beat for simplicity and cost – its like the ultimate lowkey tool.
But if your store is growing, or you're shipping all over the world, or you really need some automation to save you time – Shippo will give you the tools you need to stay on top of your shipping without totally losing your mind.
Before you make a decision, try both out for size. Pirate Ship is free to use, and Shippo lets you give their free plan a go without any big commitments.
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