Easyship vs ShipStation: Which Shipping Software Is Right for You?

Original Source: https://ecommerce-platforms.com/articles/easyship-vs-shipstation

When it comes to eCommerce fulfillment, shipping software isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a core part of your operational engine.

Whether you’re fulfilling international orders or automating domestic shipments, the platform you choose can affect customer experience, costs, and scalability.

Easyship and ShipStation are two of the top-rated tools in this space, but which one is the better fit for your store?

I’ve tested both platforms extensively across pricing, international capabilities, automation, integrations, and ease of use. Here’s what I found.

Easyship vs ShipStation: Quick Verdict

ShipStation – Best for high-volume domestic shipping, warehouse automation, and advanced workflows
Easyship – Best for international shipping, tax and duty calculations, and global courier access

In this review, I’ll take a closer look at how Easyship and ShipStation stack up across key areas like automation, pricing, carrier support, and returns.

Quick Comparison: Easyship vs ShipStation

Here’s a quick side-by-side overview of the two platforms:

FeatureEasyshipShipStationBest ForInternational sellersHigh-volume US-based operationsStarting PriceFree plan available$9.99/monthCarrier Support250+ global couriers50+ couriers (mostly US-based)Own Carrier AccountsNot supportedFully supportedTax & Duty EstimatesYes (automated at checkout)No (manual entry required)Customs DocumentationAuto-generatedManual or 3rd-partyLabel PrintingYesYes (batch & automated)Automation RulesBasicAdvancedReturns PortalCustomizableBuilt-inIntegrations100+ (Shopify, Woo, etc.)300+ (incl. ERPs, marketplaces)SupportEmail, chatPhone, chat, email

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Pricing: It’s a Close Match, But It Depends on Your Use Case

Both platforms are priced competitively, but how you pay (and what you get) differs quite a bit.

Easyship Pricing

Easyship offers a freemium model, making it easy to get started.

Free – $0/month
For up to 50 shipments/month and one store integration

Plus – $29/month
Up to 500 shipments, branded tracking, and automation

Premier – $69/month
For stores shipping 2,500+ packages monthly

Enterprise – Custom pricing

What I liked about Easyship is that it includes full access to its courier discounts, even on the free plan. You don’t need to bring your own carrier accounts, and you won’t pay extra fees per shipment outside of the courier charges.

ShipStation Pricing

ShipStation charges based on shipment volume and user count.

Starter – $9.99/month
50 shipments/month, 1 user

Bronze – $29.99/month
500 shipments, 1 user

Silver – $59.99/month
1,500 shipments, 2 users

Gold – $99.99/month
3,000 shipments, 3 users

Enterprise – $159.99+/month
6,000+ shipments, up to 10 users

You also get access to discounted rates through ShipStation or can use your own accounts with UPS, FedEx, DHL, and USPS.

The Verdict:
If you’re shipping internationally and want built-in rates, Easyship gives you more value out of the box.

If you’ve already negotiated rates and ship high volumes domestically, ShipStation could save you more in the long run.

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Courier Support and Carrier Flexibility: Easyship wins for international shipping

This is where the two platforms start to diverge.

Easyship Courier Support

Over 250 global couriers

Rates from major providers like DHL, UPS, Aramex, SF Express, Australia Post, and regional carriers

Rates are pre-negotiated by Easyship

You cannot use your own rates

In practice, this setup works best for sellers who want a plug-and-play approach to fulfillment. You don’t need to negotiate your own deals, which is a major plus if you’re just getting started or you’re expanding into new countries.

The downside is that if you already have better rates with a courier, there’s no way to plug them into Easyship. You’re locked into using Easyship’s marketplace pricing, which might not be ideal for more experienced merchants.

ShipStation Courier Support

50+ couriers (primarily US-focused)

Supports all major US carriers: USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL

You can use your own carrier accounts

Multi-warehouse support for logistics teams

ShipStation gives you the flexibility to choose between using your own accounts or leveraging their discounted rates. That freedom can lead to significant savings for high-volume shippers with good negotiated deals.

It also makes the platform a better fit for fulfillment networks, 3PLs, or businesses with multiple operational hubs that need to control their logistics stack down to the courier level.

The Verdict:
Easyship wins for international shipping, but if you already have great rates and want to stick with your own providers, ShipStation gives you that flexibility.

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Automation and Workflow Rules: ShipStation wins (for scale)

Shipping automation saves hours—especially when dealing with thousands of orders. Let’s break down what each platform offers.

Easyship Automation

Basic automation rules (e.g., choose courier based on delivery zone or weight)

Default shipping options at checkout

Auto-generates customs forms

Auto-selects lowest cost or fastest courier

While helpful for small teams, automation is relatively limited compared to ShipStation. It’s designed to simplify the basics—ideal if your operations aren’t very complex or if you’re a solo founder.

That said, as your fulfillment needs grow, you may find Easyship’s automation lacking the nuance required for more granular workflows like splitting orders, tagging customers, or prioritizing certain couriers under specific conditions.

ShipStation Automation

Deep automation engine

Auto-select carriers based on SKU, customer location, or shipping service

Set label printing triggers

Automate warehouse routing

Integrates with inventory tools for syncing stock levels

ShipStation is built for scale. The automation features allow you to create conditional workflows that can take actions based on dozens of data points—like weight, value, order age, or tag.

This level of customization is especially helpful when managing multiple sales channels, warehouses, or international shipments with specific handling needs.

The Verdict:
For serious volume and hands-off workflows, ShipStation’s automation is in a different league. You’ll get full control over how orders are handled.

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Tax, Duties, and Customs: Easyship Wins Big

If you sell internationally, this section matters—a lot.

Easyship

Automatically calculates taxes and duties at checkout

Displays landed costs to customers before payment

Generates all required customs paperwork

Reduces chargebacks and failed deliveries due to unpaid taxes

These features make Easyship ideal for cross-border selling. Customers get full visibility on what they’ll pay—no surprises when their package arrives.

This reduces failed deliveries and increases trust, especially in markets like Canada, the UK, and the EU, where VAT and import taxes can get expensive fast.

ShipStation

Limited support for international tax

Requires manual customs setup or third-party tools

No checkout tax estimation

With ShipStation, international sellers have to handle much of the customs and tax management outside the platform.

That could mean using third-party tax calculators, entering customs values manually, or risking under-declared shipments that get delayed or returned. For high-volume global sellers, this setup becomes inefficient fast.

The Verdict:
If you sell outside the US, Easyship is the clear winner here.

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Returns and Customer Experience: ShipStation wins

A streamlined returns process is essential for customer satisfaction.

Easyship Returns

Customers can initiate returns via a branded portal

Store owners approve or reject returns before label generation

Return labels use Easyship’s carrier rates

Tracking included on all shipments

The returns portal is one of Easyship’s most underrated features. It’s clean, customizable, and simple for customers to use. You can even localize the experience based on where your customers are located.

However, if you’re handling high return volumes or need deep reporting on return reasons and resolutions, you may still find yourself limited without third-party tools.

ShipStation Returns

Built-in return labels

Rules-based automation for accepting or rejecting returns

Return status tracking within your dashboard

Easy to handle in bulk across multiple warehouses

ShipStation is designed for operational teams. The return management tools help your staff process returns quickly and at scale, especially when handling multiple SKUs, fulfillment centers, or customer support requests.

You can build return workflows that are as automated as your outbound shipping rules.

The Verdict:
Both are solid, but ShipStation offers better control for large-scale returns, especially if you’re using multiple warehouses.

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Integration and Platform Support: ShipStation wins again

Whether you’re on Shopify or WooCommerce, both tools offer good support—but ShipStation goes further.

Easyship Integrations

100+ platforms including:

Shopify

BigCommerce

WooCommerce

Magento

Kickstarter

Integrates with marketplaces like eBay, Etsy, and Amazon

Basic CRM integrations

Easyship’s integration catalog covers most common eCommerce platforms and marketplaces. It’s more than enough for small to mid-size sellers.

But when it comes to advanced use cases—like syncing with inventory software, ERPs, or accounting platforms—you’re likely to hit some roadblocks unless you’re willing to work with third-party middleware like Zapier or API connectors.

ShipStation Integrations

Over 300+ integrations:

All major shopping carts and marketplaces

Amazon, eBay, Walmart

ERPs like NetSuite and Brightpearl

Accounting platforms like QuickBooks

ShipStation is built for sellers who operate across multiple systems.

Its extensive catalog makes it a go-to for businesses that rely on custom tech stacks, multi-channel operations, or 3PLs.

Whether you’re syncing with accounting tools, connecting inventory software, or managing suppliers, ShipStation has the depth to support it.

The Verdict:
If you’re working in a complex tech stack, ShipStation offers deeper integration options.

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Onboarding and Ease of Use: Easyship is quicker to launch

Easyship Onboarding

Signup takes less than 10 minutes

Plug-and-play setup with Shopify or WooCommerce

Dashboard is clean and beginner-friendly

Ideal for small teams or solo operators

The UI feels modern and well-organized. You can connect a store, set up shipping preferences, and start printing labels in under an hour.

Most users won’t need much onboarding help unless they’re configuring international tax or automating complex return workflows.

For small teams, that makes Easyship a strong entry-level choice.

ShipStation Onboarding

More setup steps required

Takes 1–2 hours to configure rules, integrations, and carriers

Best suited to sellers who understand logistics

Steeper learning curve, but more powerful long term

Expect a steeper learning curve if you’re new to shipping software.

The interface is functional, but not overly intuitive. That said, the platform’s power becomes clear once everything is configured.

For teams with operational experience or technical support, the payoff is worth it.

The Verdict:
For ease of use, Easyship is quicker to launch. For flexibility and scale, ShipStation pays off after setup.

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Case Studies and Real-World Examples

Here’s how real businesses are using these tools:

Easyship Case Study: Lexdray

Kickstarter project with international backers

Reduced delivery errors by 90%

Enabled upfront tax/duty visibility

Boosted on-time delivery by 30%

This case highlights Easyship’s strength in cross-border logistics. Lexdray had to fulfill thousands of orders in over 40 countries, and they needed a reliable way to reduce customs-related delays.

Easyship handled everything from duty estimates to customs forms, making international fulfillment seamless for a one-time campaign.

ShipStation Case Study: Fast-Growing Shopify Brand

3,000 orders/month

Cut fulfillment time by 40% using automation rules

Integrated with multiple warehouses

Saved 18 hours/week on manual tasks

This brand needed a platform that could keep up with rapid growth. They used ShipStation to route orders based on geography, set rules for shipping services, and automatically print labels across locations.

The efficiency gains weren’t just about time—they reduced errors and improved delivery times without adding headcount.

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Customer Support and Documentation: ShipStation wins

Easyship Support

Email and live chat support

Onboarding specialists for paid plans

Knowledge base and video guides

Support response times vary based on time zone

Easyship’s help center covers most common questions, and the live chat is responsive during business hours. That said, support quality can vary depending on plan level and timezone.

US-based users may occasionally encounter slower replies, especially during peak hours or holidays.

ShipStation Support

Phone, chat, and email support

Live agent access during US business hours

Priority support for enterprise clients

Help center with tutorials and user forums

ShipStation offers reliable and fast support for users in the US.

The knowledge base is extensive, and the support team is trained to help with both tech setup and shipping strategy. If your operations are time-sensitive, that responsiveness can make a big difference when you’re troubleshooting an issue.

The Verdict:
ShipStation offers more accessible and faster support, especially for US sellers.

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Final Thoughts: Which Should You Choose?

Both Easyship and ShipStation are excellent tools, but they suit very different business models.

Choose Easyship if you:

Sell internationally and need built-in support for tax, duties, and customs

Don’t have your own negotiated carrier rates

Want to offer transparent checkout costs to global customers

Run a crowdfunded or subscription-based store

Easyship is ideal for brands looking to grow across borders without dealing with the complexities of international logistics.

From customs documents to tax estimation, it takes care of the messy details so you can focus on building your brand. It’s especially useful if you’re operating lean, with minimal technical support or logistics infrastructure.

Choose ShipStation if you:

Ship high volumes domestically

Already have carrier accounts and negotiated rates

Need complex automation across multiple locations

Operate multiple warehouses or sales channels

ShipStation is designed for scale and control. If your fulfillment process involves high order volume, custom workflows, and multiple warehouses or suppliers, it’s one of the most capable tools available.

The automation engine alone can save your team hours every week, and the flexibility around carrier accounts is unmatched.

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