Shippo Pricing Explained: Is It Truly Free?

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Shippo’s Pricing Plans Breakdown
  • Free Starter Plan
  • Professional Plan (Starting at $19/month)
  • Premier Plan (Contact Sales)
• Key Features
  • Real-time Shipping Rate Comparison
  • Label Creation
  • Order Management
  • Shipment Tracking
  • Returns Management
  • Automations
  • Branded Tracking Pages
  • Customer Support
• Benefits of Using Shippo
• Choosing the Right Plan
• FAQ Section
• Conclusion

Introduction

Navigating the complex world of e-commerce shipping can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to understanding the costs involved. For online businesses, finding the right balance between affordable rates and a smooth customer experience is critical for success. Enter Shippo, a shipping platform designed to streamline and simplify the shipping process for businesses of all sizes.

But the question on everyone’s mind is: Is Shippo truly free? While Shippo does offer a free Starter Plan, it comes with limitations. This blog post will dive deep into Shippo’s pricing plans, exploring the features, benefits, and considerations for each tier. This detailed breakdown will help you determine which Shippo plan best aligns with your e-commerce needs and shipping goals.

Shippo’s Pricing Plans Breakdown

Shippo’s pricing structure offers three distinct tiers, catering to businesses at various stages of growth.

Free Starter Plan

This entry-level plan is perfect for small businesses with a limited shipping volume and basic shipping requirements. The Starter Plan offers core features such as:

• Access to discounted rates from popular carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL Express
• Seamless integration with your e-commerce store (Shopify, Etsy, eBay, and more)
• International shipping capabilities
• Automation rules for automating shipping processes and saving time
• Easy returns management with pre-paid return labels
• Real-time shipment tracking for you and your customers
• Performance insights through reporting and analytics
• Email support for answering your questions
• 1 user login for managing your shipping needs
• The ability to connect your own carrier accounts (at a cost of 5 cents per label)

However, the Starter Plan is limited to a maximum of 30 labels per month. This cap can quickly be reached, especially for businesses experiencing modest growth.

Professional Plan (Starting at $19/month)

For growing businesses seeking more features and flexibility, the Professional Plan is the most popular choice. It offers:

• Everything included in the Starter Plan
• Unlimited carrier account connections, giving you access to even deeper discounts
• Branded tracking pages, emails, and packing slips for a consistent brand experience
• Enhanced customer support through chat and phone
• Up to 5 user logins for collaborative shipping management
• A significant increase in label volume, allowing you to ship up to 10,000 labels per month

However, the Professional Plan’s monthly fee is tiered based on your label volume, meaning the cost increases as your business grows and you ship more.

Premier Plan (Contact Sales)

The Premier Plan is designed for large businesses with a high shipping volume and complex shipping requirements. This top-tier plan includes:

• All the features found in the Professional Plan
• A dedicated account manager for personalized support and strategic guidance
• The ability to add 15+ user logins to manage shipping operations with larger teams
• Unlimited shipments, ensuring your business can scale its shipping operations without limitations

If your business handles a significant volume of shipments or requires specialized support, the Premier Plan offers the tools and resources to meet your demands.

Key Features

Shippo’s extensive feature set aims to simplify, streamline, and optimize your shipping process, while also enhancing the customer experience.

Real-time Shipping Rate Comparison

Shippo’s rate comparison tool is a game-changer for businesses looking to find the best shipping rates. It provides real-time access to rates from over 85 carriers worldwide, including USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and many more. This allows you to compare costs, delivery speeds, and service options to choose the most suitable option for your customers, ensuring they get the best possible delivery experience.

Label Creation

Creating labels is quick and easy with Shippo. You can create labels for individual orders or multiple orders in bulk. The platform offers flexibility in defining package dimensions:

• Use carrier-provided parcels, offering pre-defined box sizes for commonly used packages
• Utilize pre-saved package templates for frequently shipped items, streamlining the process
• Input your own dimensions for unique or custom-sized packages

This flexibility ensures accurate label creation for any type of shipment, simplifying your shipping processes.

Order Management

Shippo’s order dashboard acts as a central hub for managing all your shipping needs. It offers powerful functionalities to streamline your workflow:

• Bulk editing: Update order information in bulk for efficiency, saving time on repetitive tasks.
• Order tracking: Monitor the status of your shipments in real-time, providing visibility into the entire shipping journey.
• Free package pick-ups: Schedule free package pick-ups for your orders through Shippo’s carrier network, eliminating the need for manual drop-offs and saving time.

Shipment Tracking

Shippo automates shipment tracking, creating a more seamless and satisfying experience for your customers. With Shippo, you can:

• Send automated tracking emails: Keep your customers informed about the status of their orders, fostering transparency and trust.
• Access real-time tracking details: View up-to-date shipment information directly within the platform, providing a convenient and centralized location for all your tracking needs.

Returns Management

Shippo simplifies the returns process, creating a more positive experience for both you and your customers. Here’s how it works:

• Generate pre-paid return labels: Provide your customers with hassle-free return labels, reducing their effort and minimizing friction during the returns process.
• Efficient returns logistics: Shippo’s platform allows you to manage returns efficiently, streamlining the process and improving customer satisfaction.

Automations

Shippo’s automation rules allow you to create customizable workflows. These rules can automatically assign shipping boxes, services, and other details based on specific order criteria. This eliminates manual data entry, reduces the risk of errors, and saves valuable time, freeing up your team to focus on other priorities.

Branded Tracking Pages

The Professional and Premier plans offer additional branding capabilities, enabling you to create a consistent brand experience for your customers. This includes the ability to personalize tracking pages, notification emails, and packing slips with your unique branding, further solidifying your brand identity and creating a cohesive experience for your customers.

Customer Support

Shippo provides various levels of customer support based on your chosen plan:

• Starter Plan: Email support is available for answering your questions.
• Professional Plan: Email, chat, and phone support are all included.
• Premier Plan: The Premier plan offers the most comprehensive support, including email, chat, phone, and a dedicated account manager.

Higher-tier plans provide more personalized and responsive support, ensuring you have access to assistance whenever you need it.

Benefits of Using Shippo

Shippo offers several benefits for e-commerce businesses of all sizes:

• Cost Savings: Shippo helps you save money by providing access to deep discounts from major carriers. Its rate comparison tool allows you to find the most competitive prices, ensuring you’re not overpaying for shipping.
• Time Efficiency: Shippo’s automation features save you valuable time by automating many shipping tasks, freeing up your team to focus on other crucial aspects of your business, such as product development, marketing, or customer service.
• Improved Customer Experience: Shippo’s features, such as branded tracking pages, hassle-free returns, and accurate shipping information, create a more positive and seamless experience for your customers. This leads to higher customer satisfaction, increased repeat business, and a stronger brand reputation.

Choosing the Right Plan

To select the ideal Shippo plan for your business, consider the following factors:

• Shipping volume: How many labels do you typically ship per month?
• User needs: How many users within your team need access to the platform?
• Support requirements: Do you need phone support, a dedicated account manager, or are you comfortable with email support?

If you’re just starting out or have a low shipping volume, the free Starter Plan might be a good starting point. However, as your business grows, you can easily upgrade to the Professional or Premier Plan to accommodate your increasing shipping needs and unlock more advanced features and support.

FAQ Section

• Can I change my plan? Yes, you can cancel or change your Shippo plan at any time. If you upgrade, the higher pricing will take effect at the beginning of your next billing cycle. If you downgrade, the downgrade will be effective at the end of your current billing cycle. This means you’ll have access to the features of the higher plan until the end of your current billing cycle.

• How can I upgrade my plan? You can easily upgrade your plan on your Plan page within the Shippo app or by reaching out to customer support at support@shippo.com.

• Are there any other fees? Besides the cost of postage and your chosen plan fee, there are no hidden fees. However, you may opt for additional services, such as shipping insurance or global address validation, which will be charged separately.

• Can I connect my own carrier accounts? Yes, you can connect your own carrier accounts across all Shippo plans. However, the Starter Plan charges a 5 cents per label fee for using your own carrier accounts, while Professional and Premier plans offer free connections.

• What are the rates for USPS Priority Mail Cubic pricing? The USPS Priority Mail Cubic pricing rates vary by zone and by the Cubic Feet Value of your package. You can use Shippo’s rate calculator to determine the exact pricing for your specific shipment, offering a quick and easy way to get accurate rates.

Conclusion

Shippo’s flexible pricing plans provide options for businesses at different stages of growth. The free Starter Plan offers a great entry point for small businesses, while the Professional and Premier plans provide more advanced features and support for growing and established businesses.

By carefully evaluating your shipping needs, label volume, user requirements, and support preferences, you can select the Shippo plan that best meets your business requirements.