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Pirate Ship vs Shippo

Pirate Ship and Shippo are both inventory & shipping tools. Pirate Ship is aimed at small businesses and freelancers, while Shippo is aimed at E-commerce and developers. Both have a free plan.

Pirate Ship

Free access to the cheapest USPS and UPS rates

Shippo

Shipping API and dashboard with discounted rates

PricingFreeFreemium · $19
Starting priceNot published$19/mo
Free planYesYes
Free trial——
Built forSmall businesses, FreelancersE-commerce, Developers
Platformswebweb
CountryUS · 2014US · 2013
Rating——

Choose Pirate Ship if

US small sellers.

  • Completely free software
  • Cheapest rates
  • Friendly support

Look elsewhere if: International or complex fulfillment.

Choose Shippo if

Small sellers and developers.

  • Free starter plan
  • Strong API
  • Discounted rates

Look elsewhere if: High-volume multi-channel warehouses (ShipStation).

Pirate Ship vs Shippo pricing

Pirate Ship

  • Free$0No monthly fees or markup; pay postage only

Shippo

  • Starter$0Up to 30 labels/mo, 1 user; 5c/label own carrier
  • Pro$19/mo$205/yr billed annually; 1-200 labels/mo, up to 5 users
  • PremierCustomUnlimited shipments, 15+ users, dedicated AM

Pirate Ship · Key features

  • Discounted USPS and UPS rates
  • No fees or markups
  • Batch label printing
  • Order imports
  • Tracking emails
  • Simple pricing

Cons

  • US only
  • Limited carriers
  • Fewer automations

Shippo · Key features

  • Discounted carrier rates
  • Label printing and batch
  • Tracking and notifications
  • Returns
  • Shipping API
  • Store integrations

Cons

  • Pro needed for volume
  • Fewer automations than ShipStation
  • US-centric

Pirate Ship vs Shippo: FAQ

Do Pirate Ship and Shippo have a free plan?

Yes, both Pirate Ship and Shippo have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.

Which is better for small businesses, Pirate Ship or Shippo?

Pirate Ship lists small businesses as a core audience, while Shippo is aimed more at E-commerce and developers.

Not sure yet?

Pirate Ship vs Shippo (2026): Pricing and Features