Free vs. Paid Shipping Software: Which Really Costs More?
Do I Choose Free or Paid Shipping Software for My Small Business?
Youâre a small business owner. You want to make your shipping process more efficient. To save time and money. The solution? Shipping software, obviously! But do you choose free or paid shipping software? Seems like a no brainer. Small business means a smaller budget. And free is always better, right? Well, thatâs not necessarily trueâŠ
Free shipping software can often lack features, which costs users more time and money. Below, youâll find a comparison of Ship.comâs paid Executive Plan vs. Pirate Shipâs free software. And by the end, youâll be able to answer your questions. Do I choose free or paid shipping software? And which one really costs more?
Paid Shipping Software - Ship.com Executive Plan
Pricing
$29 Per Month for Unlimited Shipping (or $22 P/M with yearly billing)
Summary
Ship.comâs Executive Plan is the most affordable and comprehensive software around vs. other paid shipping platforms. For just $29, users can access unlimited shipping, HUGE discounts on UPS and USPS labels, 2-click home pick-up, and way more. And you really donât need to be a tech geek to use the software!
Slick automations and robust tools for order and inventory management will save SMBâs hours a week on shipping. To add to that, Ship.com includes simple yet powerful marketing tools. The Rewards and Email tools are ideal for small retailers looking for an easy way to engage customers and grow those profit margins.
Overall, Ship.com is a true all-rounder that offers way more value than its $29 p/m. And itâs the perfect solution for small business owners looking to scale. Keep reading below for a more detailed breakdown of Ship.comâs standout features. đ
Standout Features
Print hugely discounted shipping labels in just 3 clicks and request a home pick-up in 2!
Users of Ship.com can print heavily discounted UPS and USPS shipping labels in just 3 clicks. That includes up to 77% off UPS!
To add to that, they can even request home pick-ups in just 2 clicks. This way, they can ship from home, avoid post office queues, and cut their shipping time by 90%.
Slick automations, simple layout and powerful order and inventory management features
Ship.com integrates with multiple eCommerce platforms like Spotify, Square, PayPal, Etsy, and more. This means that users can connect their brand and the software will auto import all your customer order info! The result? No more spending hours on end manually entering customer orders.
Plus, the powerful features for order and inventory management make the platform a winner. Ship.com makes it easy to combine multiple orders into one shipment in just a few clicks. As well as print multiple shipping labels, pack lists and packing sheets at once with batch processing.
Robust and easy-to-use small business tools
There are also awesome add-on small business growth tools on Ship.comâs Executive Plan. And theyâre comprehensive, while not being too techy.
The Email Marketing Tool allows users to set up ready-to-go templates and automated emails. This way, users can keep buyers engaged with personalized messages. And hugely cut their time spent sending emails at the same time.
Meanwhile, the Rewards Tool allows sellers to assign points for purchases and automatically tracks customer progress. A simple âset it and forget itâ. Shoppers are twice as likely to buy more products from a brand if they offer a rewards program. So itâs an excellent tool to help grow profits.
Awesome and comprehensive customer support
Ship.com offers quick customer support via live chat, email, and phone that is second to none.
"I just started using ship.com, and the support from the help desk and others has been top notch! Thank you!!"
Jaclyn Roeber, SeneGence seller and Ship.com user
Simple returns management
Processing returns with Ship.com is super easy. Now, customers want simple and speedy returns - the software really helps you deliver that.
In-house shipping insurance Included
The Executive Plan automatically includes the Ship.comâs own Delivery Guarantee for each shipment! So if your package is lost, stolen, or broken, Ship.com will refund you the cost. How cool is that?
Pros:
Simple layout and easy to use
Heavy discounts on UPS (up to 77% off!) and USPS labels, as well as cubic discounts
Unlimited shipping for just $29/month
Request next day pickup from home in just 2 clicks
Excellent customer support via live chat, email, and phone
Connects with major eCommerce platforms such as Spotify, Square, PayPal, and Etsy
Awesome add-on SMB growth tools including email marketing and rewards tool
Powerful features for order and inventory management
Comprehensive reporting features
Quickly print shipping labels in 3 clicks
Slick automations that take away the need for manual data entry
Order tracking and delivery notifications
Ship mobile app for on-the-go order tracking
Cons:
No international shipping (yet)
Free Shipping Software - Pirate Ship
Pricing
Free⊠Obviously. đ
Summary
Pirate Ship is a free shipping software for small businesses. And it deserves some kudos - itâs a decent free solution. Users can compare the best available rates, access big discounts on UPS & USPS labels, and arrange home pick-ups. Pirate Ship also has other features like the ability to import orders, address validation, and order tracking. Plus, the software is pretty easy to use.
However, while Pirate Ship does an ok job with the basics, it isnât as feature rich as Ship.com. Customer service is limited to chat and email. In addition to this, Pirate Ship doesnât offer tools with add-on value like Ship.comâs email and rewards tools. And integrations with major platforms like PayPal and Square are missing.
To add to that, customers have reported issues with importing larger orders from spreadsheets or eCommerce stores. Batch buying labels has also proved difficult among Pirate Ship users. Plus, reviews show issues with processing shipping insurance claims.
Standout Features
Free and easy to use, large discounts on shipping rates, and the ability to ship from home
Pirate Ship is free to use with no additional fees. And it offers big discounts on UPS & USPS labels. Users can find the cheapest and fastest shipping rates available and order free home pick-ups.
Automatic address validation, save and auto-complete, and presets for frequently shipped packages
The platform validates addresses, preventing shipping errors when typing in an address. Pirate Ship also remembers previous shipping addresses and suggests addresses when you're typing.
And users can save package presets with their most common shipping settings. This can be handy when you ship a lot of the same product.
Order tracking and ability to schedule when you want tracking emails to be sent
Pirate Ship offers the ability to see tracking updates from UPS and USPS. Users can also schedule tracking emails and notifications to be sent to their customers.
However, this can only be done on the desktop app. Pirate Ship doesnât offer a mobile tracking app.
Integrated shipping reports
The free software also has reports feature where users can access their shipping and payment history.
Pros:
Free
Heavily discounted UPS & USPS Rates
Software finds cheapest and fastest shipping rates for you
Import orders from spreadsheets or eCommerce store
Request home pick-up
Handful of eCommerce integration options including Etsy, eBay, and Shopify
Automatic address validation & correction
Cons:
No phone support
No mobile app for on-the-go order tracking
Not as feature rich as paid platforms like Ship.com
Only basic features for order and inventory management
Missing tools that add extra value like Ship.comâs email and rewards tools
Customers report problems with importing larger orders
Batch buying labels can be difficult
Reviews show issues with shipping insurance claims
No integrations with major POS such as Square & PayPal
Conclusion - Free Isnât Always Better and Paid Pays Back
Free shipping software may seem appealing at first. Especially for small business owners. But the cost of the functionality and features you will lose out on is far greater than a monthly subscription cost. Theyâre ok for starting out, but as soon as orders increase, SMBâs find themselves needing to look elsewhere for a more efficient shipping solution.
On the other hand, Ship.comâs Executive Plan is perfect for small businesses looking to scale. Compared to free software, the features and support are a lot more comprehensive. Thereâs also the added value of more customer support options, in-house shipping insurance, and powerful rewards and email tools. At $29 p/m itâs a steal. And the richer features will pay users back way more in time and money.
All in all, Ship.com is the ideal option for SMBâs for now and for the future.
Test the Waters - Try the Ship.Com Platform for Free Today!
Choosing your go-to shipping software is a big decision. Thatâs why Ship.com offers a 14 Day Free Trial with no obligation. As well as access to the top tier subscription. That way, users get the full experience of using the software.
By starting your free trial today, youâll be able to:
Get $15 shipping credit and ship your first package for FREE. đ
Access the lowest shipping rates (up to 77% off) on the planet and increase your profit margins. đ€
Cut your shipping time by 90% and win back family time by shipping orders in just 3 clicks and scheduling home pick-ups. đ đ
Improve the accuracy of shipments and reduce delivery errors. đ đ€©
Increase customer retention and reduce marketing costs with an easy-to-use rewards tool. â
Take advantage of all these benefits now, for FREEâŠ