Our Honest Review on ShipWorks

Written by

Lucinda Honeycutt

Updated

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Written by

Lucinda Honeycutt

Updated

Reviewed By Our team of writers and content creators are experts in ecommerce and we fact-check every claim in our work to ensure it’s accurate and up-to-date. (Learn about our editorial guidelines.).

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If your ecommerce business is growing faster than you can handle on your own, it may be time to look into a shipping solution to make things easier.

If you’re looking to streamline your shipping process so you can handle a larger order volume, ShipWorks may be the answer.

Product
Summary
Ratings
Close to 100 integrations
Mobile app
Great for multichannel
Must use Enterprise for phone support
Complaints about customer support availability
Learning curve with desktop software
Value 4
Features 4
Customer Support4
Integrations 4
Ease of Use 4
4.0
Overall Score
User Rating
4.2
20 reviews

In this ShipWorks review, we’ll examine the shipping and software features, integrations, and customer support. If ShipWorks doesn’t seem like it’s what you need, you’ll also have alternatives to investigate, too.

Best ShipWorks Alternative
ShippingEasy
4.3

Online shipping software that saves you money through discounted shipping rates and much more! Start your 30-Day FREE Trial Now at ShippingEasy.com!

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What is ShipWorks?

Shipworks Home page

ShipWorks is shipping software that offers both a desktop version and a cloud-based version. The company first launched in 2002, as a desktop-only software for Windows. As one of the oldest options on the market (it’s one of the few that’s been around over a decade), it’s done a great job of adapting to market changes.

CompanyCarriersInternational ShippingReturns ManagementFulfillment ServicesInsurance
Stamps.com5+
ShippingEasy5+
Easyship100+Via Partners
ShipEngine100+
ShipStation75+
Shipworks6
Shippo85+Via Partners
OrderCup15+
Ordoro8Via Network
Quickbooks3

ShipWorks has plans that are ideal for warehouses. It’s an ideal choice for high-volume shippers, so if you’re just getting started, it may be worth looking at other options.

They used to have plans for ecommerce businesses, but have recently changed. They now recommend those businesses use ShipStation instead. Both companies are part of Acutane, which is a family of ecommerce shipping solutions.

ShipWorks Pricing

ShipWorks offers a variety of pricing plans after a 30-day free trial:

  • Warehouse Essential: $349/month: Upgrading to this plan gives users 12,000 shipments per month.
  • Warehouse Professional: $599/month: With this plan, users get two ship-from locations and 25,000 shipments per month.
  • Warehouse Elite: $799/month: With this plan, users get two ship-from locations and 50,000 shipments per month.
PricingFree TrialMonthly FeePay as You GoShipping Discounts
Stamps.com28 Days$19.99-$34.99+Up To 84%
ShippingEasy30 Days$0-$159.99Up To 84%
Easyship30 Days$0-$200+Up To 89%
ShipEngine30 Days$0-$600+Up To 84%
ShipStation30 Days$9.99-$229.99Up To 84%
Shipworks30 Days$9.99-$799Up to 77%
Shippo30 Days$0-$200+Up to 90%
OrderCup30 days$25-$180
Ordoro15 days$0-$149Up to 88%
QuickbooksYes$15-$100Up to 26%

ShipWorks Software Features

Shipping FeaturesTracking PageShipping Rates at CheckoutSMS NotificationsRecurring Order AutomationSCAN Forms
Stamps.com
ShippingEasy
Easyship
ShipEngine
ShipStation
Shipworks
Shippo
OrderCup
Ordoro
Quickbooks

All plans include:

  • Unlimited chat, phone, and email support
  • Unlimited workstations and users, so there’s no need to upgrade your plan as the number of users you need grows.
  • A free USPS postage account
  • Discounted shipping rates from multiple carriers

The Warehouse plans include guided onboarding setup and intelligent order routing. Automatically route orders based on factors such as:

  • Product inventory
  • Warehouse location
  • Marketplaces rules
  • SKUs

Shipping Features

ShipWorks’ key features include:

Shipping FeaturesMultiple User AccountsUSB Scale SupportBranded Returns PortalDropshippingSeller Fulfilled Prime
Stamps.com
ShippingEasy
EasyShip
ShipEngine
ShipStation
Shipworks
Shippo
OrderCup
Ordoro
Quickbooks

Desktop or Cloud-Based

Old schoolers may like the option to install the ShipWorks software on a Windows computer. Mac users who have BootCamp or another software that allows for a Windows partition may also take advantage of the software. The setup process can be a bit complex, especially if you’re a Mac user. And there is a bit of a learning curve, too, according to some users. Because of this, many opt for the web-based solution.

Support for Multiple Sales Channels

If you operate an ecommerce store on your own website, but also sell products with third-party online retailers like Amazon, you’ll appreciate that ShipWorks makes it easy to keep all your orders in one place. After you connect your stores, ShipWorks will automatically import orders from those platforms to track everything in one place.

Task Scheduling and Automation

ShipWorks lets you customize your shipping rules and automation. It’s easy to build shipping profiles and set preferences based on things like package size and weight, shipping method.

Support for Multiple Shipping Carriers

The ShipWorks shipping platform supports many shipping companies, such as USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and more. Some carriers also provide international shipping.

Discounted Shipping Rates

ShipWorks negotiates discounted shipping rates with all major carriers due to the volume of packages they ship. You can take advantage of those discounts to reduce your overall shipping costs.

Batch Printing

ShipWorks makes it easy to streamline your shipping process. It supports batch printing shipping labels, so you can take care of multiple packages at once. It works with nearly all laser and inkjet printers as well as thermal label printers. With customizable label templates, you can streamline your shipping process.

Address Verification

With the built-in address verification system that uses the same database as the United States Post Office, you can make sure the shipping information your customers enter is correct. A single typo could change the final destination, which could result in your package being delivered to the wrong address, or getting lost in transit.

As you work on printing labels, the Shipworks server will send the information through address verification. If anything appears wrong, it will give you a chance to correct it before shipping the package. Many times, the address verification system can fix issues without you needing to reach out to the customer.

ShipWorks Insurance

ShipWorks provides up to $5,000 in insurance coverage. Using automation rules, you can make sure certain products are covered, regardless of which major shipping carriers you use.

Insurance rates per $100 in shipment value:

  • USPS Domestic: $0.75
  • USPS International: $1.55
  • FedEx and other carriers: $0.55

All carriers aside from USPS cover the first $100 in package value. The ShipWorks insurance covers the rest. There are some insurance exclusions though, for things like:

  • Bulk shipments
  • Precious metals and gemstones
  • Perishables
  • And more…

Ecommerce Integrations

ShipWorks has integrations for most major ecommerce platforms, including:

Ecommerce IntegrationsShopifyBigCommerceWooCommerceWixSquarespace
Stamps.com
ShippingEasy
Easyship
ShipEngine
ShipStation
Shipworks
Shippo
OrderCup
Ordoro
Quickbooks

If you use other ecommerce software, you can connect it with the ShipWorks API.

Marketplace Integrations

ShipWorks integrates with four major third-party marketplaces, including:

Marketplace IntegrationsEtsyAmazoneBayWalmart
Stamps.com
ShippingEasy
Easyship
ShipEngine
ShipStation
Shipworks
Shippo
OrderCup
Ordoro
Quickbooks

If you have other marketplaces, you may be able to connect them via API.

Customer Support

ShipWorks provides some of the best customer service options out there, though they do lack a live chat option. You can reach the tech support team by phone at 1-800-952-7784. Those local to the St. Louis area (where the company is headquartered) can also dial 314-821-5888. Phone support is available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm CST.

Customer SupportDedicated AMPhone Support24/7 SupportHelp CenterLive Chat
Stamps.com
ShippingEasy
Easyship
ShipEngine
ShipStation
Shippo
Shipworks
OrderCup
Ordoro
QuickBooks

Email support is available via support ticket or by emailing support@shipworks.com.

Their customer support center includes community forums, a knowledge base, comprehensive FAQs, and a collection of live and archived webinars.

Alternatives

Since ShipWorks is a better option for high-volume merchants, smaller operations may be interested in these other shipping companies.

Best For Ecommerce
Best For Small Business
Best For Discounts
4.5
4.1
4.3
Best For Ecommerce
Best For Small Business
Best For Discounts

ShippingEasy

ShippingEasy

If you’re tired of the shipping process being as complicated as assembling a piece of IKEA furniture, then ShippingEasy might be your savior. It’s an online shipping solution that simplifies your e-commerce shipping needs. With features like discounted shipping rates, automated order import from many online shopping carts and multi-carrier shipping, it’s like having your very own personal shipping assistant. Plus, the name isn’t just for show – they really do make shipping easy. So easy, in fact, you might find yourself shipping things just for the fun of it!

Stamps.com

Stamps.com Homepage

Ever wish you could just print your own postage at home instead of waiting in line at the post office behind someone who is sending 100 different packages to 100 different places? Well, with Stamps.com, you can! This nifty service lets you buy and print official U.S. postage for any letter, package, or class of mail using your own computer and printer. It’s so convenient, you’ll feel like you’ve got your own personal post office right in your living room. Just don’t start wearing a mail carrier uniform around the house, your family might start to worry.

EasyShip

Easyship Homepage

With a name like EasyShip, you’d expect things to be… well, easy. And you’d be right! This platform offers users a streamlined shipping process, with access to over 550 shipping solutions and rates discounted up to 91%. It’s like being given the keys to a candy store… but for shipping. You’ll be sailing through your orders faster than a pirate on the high seas!

ShipStation

Shipstation

If your shipping process is more tangled than a plate of spaghetti, then ShipStation might just be the fork you need to untangle it all. It’s a web-based shipping solution that helps ecommerce retailers import, organize, and ship orders quickly and easily. It’s so efficient, you might start to wonder if there’s a tiny team of shipping elves living in your computer.

ShipEngine

ShipEngine Review: ShipEngine Homepage

If your shipping process needs a little revving up, ShipEngine could be the tune-up you’ve been looking for. With features like real-time tracking, batch label creation, and customs form automation, it’s like having a supercharged engine under the hood of your shipping operation. Just remember, with great power comes great responsibility – don’t let all that speed go to your head!

Leave Your ShipWorks Reviews

Are you a current or former ShipWorks customer? One way we add value for Ecommerce CEO readers is through our real user reviews. Share your experience to help others make an informed decision about which shipping software to use.

About the author

Photo of author
Lucinda Honeycutt
Lucinda has been a web geek since the '90s. She's a web designer and content creator who specializes in small business, ecommerce, digital marketing, and SEO.

User Reviews:

4.2/5 (20 votes)

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