E-Commerce Shipping
Shippo for WooCommerce: Pros, Cons, and What You Should Know
Shippo is a popular and reliable shipping platform used by thousands of e-commerce businesses, including many WooCommerce store owners. It makes shipping orders easier by connecting your store with major carriers like USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL to save shipping costs.
By integrating the Shippo API with a shipping plugin like Shippo Shipping PRO, you can display live shipping rates directly at checkout and seamlessly print shipping labels. From Shippo’s easy-to-use dashboard, you can also manage return labels, automate customs documentation for international orders, and track shipments, all in one place.
With over 15,000 businesses, including WooCommerce, Etsy, and eBay sellers. They rely on Shippo to streamline their shipping and cut shipping costs, it’s easy to see why Shippo has become a top solution for fast and affordable shipping solution.
✅ 5 Pros of Using Shippo for Small WooCommerce Stores
- Multi-Carrier Integration: Shippo connects with 60+ global and regional shipping carriers, providing WooCommerce store owners the flexibility to compare shipping rates and choose affordable and reliable shipping services for shipping.
- Live Shipping Rates via API: Shippo offers a powerful API that allows WooCommerce stores to obtain live shipping rates. When used in combination with a shipping plugin like Multi-Carrier Shippo Shipping PRO For WooCommerce, you can display live shipping rates in the cart and checkout page, automate label creation, order syncing, and shipment tracking, streamlining your entire fulfillment process.
- Advanced Automation Tools: Shippo dashboard support for batch label printing, tracking updates, and automated customs documentation for international orders. These features are especially beneficial for stores handling high order volumes.
- Discounted Carrier Shipping Rates: Shippo users benefit from discounted shipping rates, especially with USPS and DHL, without needing their own negotiated contracts. This can significantly lower shipping costs for small businesses.
- User-Friendly Interface: Shippo’s intuitive dashboard and WooCommerce integration make it easy to get started. Whether you’re fulfilling a few orders a day or managing high-volume workflows, the platform supports a fast and smooth shipping experience.
⚠️ 5 Cons of Using Shippo for Small WooCommerce Stores
- Limited Support Availability: Shippo’s customer support is only available during standard business hours. This can be inconvenient for stores that operate or ship across different time zones and need urgent help during evenings or weekends.
- Basic Customization Options: While the platform works well, its customization capabilities are somewhat limited. Businesses with complex shipping rules may find Shippo lacks flexibility.
- International Shipping Limitations: Shippo does support international shipping, but the coverage is limited. Additionally, it does not offer return label options for all international destinations.
- Hidden Address Validation Issues: The address validation feature can occasionally return incorrect or reformatted addresses, which may lead to delivery issues. Additionally, Shippo charges a fee for international address validations. For WooCommerce stores with high volumes of international visitors, these fees can add up quickly and result in higher-than-expected costs.
- No Live Support for Shipping Delays: Shippo does not provide automated handling for shipping delays. It also does not provide live support to assist with packages that are delayed or stuck in transit.
Shippo Pricing Overview
Shippo offers a simple and affordable pricing model that’s great for small businesses. You can start with a pay-as-you-go plan, where you only pay a small fee for each label you print. If you ship more often, you can upgrade to a monthly subscription that includes more features and removes the per-label fee. Best of all, Shippo includes access to its API in all plans, so you can show live shipping rates, print labels, and automate shipping tasks with the Shippo Shipping PRO plugin without paying anything extra.
Shippo offers three subscription plans:
Starter Plan: The Easiest Way to Start Shipping with Shippo
| Feature | Details |
| Cost | Free (no monthly subscription) |
| API Access | ✅ Included. |
| Label Allowance | Up to 30 labels per month using Shippo’s carrier accounts |
| Per-Label Fee | – $0.07 per label after the first 30 labels – $0.07 per label when using your own carrier accounts |
| Address Validation | – Free for U.S. addresses – $0.09 per international address |
All Shippo customers begin with the free Starter Plan, which includes up to 30 shipping labels per month, making it a great option for small stores or those just getting started. You’ll also receive a 30-day free trial of Shippo’s Professional Plan.
Best of all, you can use Shippo’s Starter Plan together with the free version of the Shippo Shipping PRO plugin for WooCommerce. This powerful combination lets you test shipping rates, explore supported carriers and services are supported, and preview PRO features, completely free and with no risk.
It’s the perfect way to evaluate whether Shippo and the Shippo Shipping PRO plugin are the right fit for your store. If the Shippo Professional Plan doesn’t suit your needs, you can easily downgrade before the trial ends to avoid any subscription fee.
💼 Professional Plan: For Growing WooCommerce Businesses
| Feature | Details |
| Cost | Starts at $19/month for 31–200 labels; (based on label volume) |
| API Access | ✅ Included |
| Label Allowance | Up to 10,000 labels per month |
| Per-Label Fee | No per-label fee |
| Address Validation | -Free for U.S. addresses -$0.08 per international address |
| Additional Features | -Branded tracking pages and emails -Multi-user access (up to 5 users) -Priority support |
🏢 Premier Plan: Great for High-Volume Shippers
| Feature | Details |
| Cost | Custom pricing (contact Shippo for details) |
| API Access | ✅ Included |
| Label Allowance | Unlimited |
| Per-Label Fee | No per-label fee |
| Address Validation | -Free for U.S. addresses -$0.06 per international address |
| Additional Features | -Dedicated account manager -Advanced reporting and analytics -Support for over 15+ users |
All Shippo customer starts with the free Starter Plan, which allows you to create up to 30 shipping labels per month. You’ll also get a 30-day free trial of the Professional Plan to explore its advanced features. If it’s not the right fit for your business, you can downgrade at any time before the trial ends to avoid being charged the subscription fee.
Hidden Costs When Using Shippo
While Shippo’s pricing is straightforward, there are a few additional costs to keep in mind. For instance, using the address validation feature through the API may result in extra charges, particularly for international addresses. Additionally, some users have noted that discounted carrier rates may revert to standard pricing over time, which could impact your overall shipping costs. It’s a good idea to review these potential fees carefully when planning your shipping budget.
Additional Fees
- Shipping Labels: Cost varies based on carrier rates and package details
- Address Validation:
- U.S. addresses: Free
- International addresses: $0.06–$0.09 per address, depending on your plan
- Tracking API: $0.01 per unique tracking number created outside of Shippo
- Insurance: Optional; rates depend on package value and destination
- Carrier Surcharges: Address correction surcharges average $4.64 per package if addresses are incorrect
Shippo Pricing Summary
| Shippo Plan | Monthly Fee | API Access | Label Allowance | Per-Label Fee | International Address Validation |
| Starter | Free | ✅ | 30 labels | $0.07 | $0.09 per address |
| Professional | $19+ | ✅ | Up to 10,000 labels | None | $0.08 per address |
| Premier | Custom | ✅ | Unlimited | None | $0.06 per address |
Final Summary
Shippo is a great shipping solution for small WooCommerce businesses that want to streamline their fulfillment process. By using Shippo’s API together with the Shippo Shipping PRO plugin, WooCommerce store owners can display live shipping rates on the cart and checkout pages, giving customers accurate cost estimates and improving the overall shopping experience. Shippo’s automation features and discounted carrier rates help reduce manual work and lower overall shipping expenses.
That said, it’s important to be aware of a few limitations, such as limited customer support hours and potential hidden costs.
Overall, Shippo is a solid choice for small WooCommerce stores looking for an easy platform with powerful API access and multiple carrier support.
Want to streamline shipping in WooCommerce? Combine Shippo with the Shippo Shipping PRO plugin for a powerful, real-time, and automated shipping experience.
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