# Ship orders

> “Print cheaper shipping labels for my orders”. Ranked by expert consensus and what people use now; affiliate links never change the order.

Shipping software lowers postage and saves you from typing addresses. Pirate Ship charges no monthly fee and adds no markup on USPS and UPS labels. Shippo compares USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL rates, with a free plan for up to 30 labels a month. ShipStation, from $14.99 a month, pulls orders from every store and marketplace into one queue with shipping rules. All three focus on the US, and only ShipStation also works for UK sellers.

Last checked: 2026-10-02

## Ranking

1. **[Shippo](https://suiteintent.com/t/shippo?m=GB)**: Discounted shipping labels for US sellers. · Best for: Cheaper postage for a small US shop · Free plan
2. **[ShipStation](https://suiteintent.com/t/shipstation?m=GB)**: Orders and shipping labels from every sales channel. · Best for: Shops shipping dozens of orders a day · From $15/mo
3. **[Pirate Ship](https://suiteintent.com/t/pirate-ship?m=GB)**: Free shipping software with cheap US labels. · Best for: US sellers who ship parcels every week · Free plan

## Side by side

| Tool | Price | Ease of use (1-5) | Team size |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Shippo | Free plan | 4 | solo, small team |
| ShipStation | From $15/mo | 3 | solo, small team |
| Pirate Ship | Free plan | 5 | solo, small team |

## Why these picks

- Prices last checked: 2026-10-02
- Ranked by expert consensus and what people use now; affiliate links never change the order.

## Head to head

- [Shippo vs ShipStation: labels or order queue](https://suiteintent.com/compare/shippo-vs-shipstation)

## Questions

### Pirate Ship or Shippo for a small US shop?

Pirate Ship suits you if you ship mostly with USPS or UPS, because the software is free and postage carries no markup. Shippo makes sense when you want to compare more carriers, since it adds FedEx and DHL to the list. Shippo's free plan stops at 30 labels a month, then you pay as volume grows. Try both with a week of real orders and compare the label totals.

### Is free shipping software enough, or do I need a paid plan?

Free tools cover most shops that ship from one store and print a few dozen labels a week. Pirate Ship has no paid tier at all, and Shippo charges only once you pass 30 labels a month. ShipStation has paid plans only, from $14.99 a month. The jump makes sense when you sell on several marketplaces and want rules to pick the carrier for you.

### Do I need shipping software if my store already prints labels?

Your store's built-in labels may be fine if you sell on one channel and like its rates. Separate software pays off when orders arrive from several stores and marketplaces at once. ShipStation gathers them into one queue and prints labels in batches across carriers. Compare a month of postage costs before and after to see whether the switch saves money.

### How do I print labels in bulk for a busy week?

Pirate Ship imports orders from your online store or a spreadsheet and prints labels in bulk. ShipStation applies the shipping rules you set as orders arrive, then batches the labels across carriers. Shippo connects to your store or marketplace, so orders land ready to ship. Use a thermal printer and 4 × 6 in labels to avoid cutting sheets by hand.

### Can I use these tools if I ship from the UK or the EU?

ShipStation is the only pick here that works for UK sellers, alongside the US. Shippo and Pirate Ship sell discounted labels for US sellers only. If you ship from the EU, start with your national post office's business account and compare it with the tools your shop platform offers. Check customs paperwork too, since parcels from the UK to the EU need a customs declaration.
