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AfterShip vs ShipBob

AfterShip and ShipBob are both E-commerce tools aimed at E-commerce and small businesses. Both have a free plan.

AfterShip

Shipment tracking, returns and post-purchase suite for online stores

ShipBob

Outsourced ecommerce fulfillment network with inventory software

PricingFreemium · $29Paid
Starting price$29/moNot published
Free planYesYes
Free trial7 days—
Built forE-commerce, Small businesses, EnterpriseE-commerce, Small businesses, Enterprise
Platformsweb, ios, androidweb
Country—US · 2014
Rating——

Choose AfterShip if

Shopify and multi-channel ecommerce brands shipping thousands of orders a year that want branded tracking and fewer support tickets.

  • Very wide carrier coverage for cross-border sellers
  • Measurably cuts where-is-my-order support tickets
  • Deep Shopify integration with a free starter app plan

Look elsewhere if: Merchants mainly looking for discounted shipping labels (Shippo, ShipStation) or an all-in-one EU shipping tool (Sendcloud).

Choose ShipBob if

Growing DTC brands shipping hundreds or thousands of orders a month that want to outsource warehousing and fulfillment.

  • Large multi-country network enables two-day delivery coverage
  • Software and integrations included at no extra charge
  • Negotiated carrier rates with UPS, USPS, FedEx and DHL

Look elsewhere if: Small shops that pack their own orders and only need shipping labels or inventory software (ShipStation, Shippo or Cin7 fit better).

AfterShip vs ShipBob pricing

AfterShip

  • Free (Shopify app)$0Shopify App Store plan with 50 shipments a month
  • Tracking Essentials$35/mo$29/mo billed yearly; 6,000 shipments/yr, $0.08 overage
  • Tracking Premium$70/mo$59/mo billed yearly; 6,000 shipments/yr, API and webhooks
  • EnterpriseCustomCustom volumes, SLAs and support

ShipBob

  • FulfillmentCustom quoteReceiving, storage, pick and pack and shipping quoted per brand
  • Software$0Merchant dashboard and store integrations free for customers
  • WMSCustom quoteWarehouse software for brands' own US warehouses

AfterShip · Key features

  • Branded tracking pages with product recommendations
  • Email and SMS delivery notifications across 1,300+ carriers
  • AI-predicted estimated delivery dates on product and checkout pages
  • Self-serve returns and exchanges portal (AfterShip Returns)
  • Shipping labels and rate comparison (AfterShip Shipping)
  • Shipping protection priced per declared order value

Cons

  • Pricing differs between direct site and Shopify App Store
  • API access requires Premium, not Essentials
  • Overage fees per shipment add up during peak season

ShipBob · Key features

  • Fulfillment centers across the US, Canada, UK, Europe and Australia
  • Inventory placement across locations to reduce shipping zones
  • Merchant dashboard with stock levels, order routing and analytics
  • Lot, expiry date and serial tracking for regulated products
  • Kitting, B2B, wholesale and EDI order handling
  • Returns processing with discounted return labels

Cons

  • No public rate card; every price requires a sales quote
  • Implementation fee and extra charges for kitting and custom packaging
  • Support responsiveness gets mixed reviews

AfterShip vs ShipBob: FAQ

Do AfterShip and ShipBob have a free plan?

Yes, both AfterShip and ShipBob have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.

Not sure yet?