ShipWave vs ShippingEasy: Full Comparison (2025)
Compare pricing, carrier rates, integrations, and automation features to find the right shipping platform.
Quick Verdict: ShipWave vs ShippingEasy
ShippingEasy and ShipWave both target e-commerce sellers with multi-carrier shipping. The key difference: ShippingEasy requires monthly subscriptions starting at $29/month while ShipWave is completely free.
ShippingEasy bundles marketing tools (email, automation) while ShipWave focuses purely on shipping excellence. For sellers who want combined shipping + email marketing, ShippingEasy might justify the subscription. For shipping-only needs, ShipWave saves money with comparable features.
| Criteria | ShippingEasy | ShipWave |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $29-$149/month | $0/month forever |
| USPS Discount | 20-40% off | Up to 54% off |
| Core Focus | Shipping + Marketing bundle | Shipping excellence |
| Email Marketing | Built-in (basic) | Use dedicated tools (Klaviyo, etc.) |
| Best For | All-in-one seekers | Cost-conscious sellers |
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | ShippingEasy | ShipWave |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $29/mo (500 shipments) | $0/month Unlimited shipments No per-label fees |
| Basic | $49/mo (1,500 shipments) | |
| Plus | $69/mo (6,000 shipments) | |
| Select | $99/mo (10,000 shipments) | |
| Enterprise | $149+/mo (custom) |
Annual Cost Comparison
| Monthly Volume | ShippingEasy Cost/Year | ShipWave Cost/Year | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 shipments | $348 | $0 | $348 |
| 1,500 shipments | $588 | $0 | $588 |
| 6,000 shipments | $828 | $0 | $828 |
| 10,000 shipments | $1,188 | $0 | $1,188 |
That's $350-$1,200+ in annual software savings alone—before counting ShipWave's better carrier discounts.
Carrier Discount Comparison
| Carrier | ShippingEasy Discount | ShipWave Discount |
|---|---|---|
| USPS | 20-40% off (Commercial) | Up to 54% off (Commercial Plus) |
| UPS | Varies by negotiation | Up to 48% off |
| FedEx | Advantage Program rates | Up to 45% off |
| DHL Express | Available | Discounted international |
Key difference: ShipWave offers USPS Commercial Plus rates, while ShippingEasy offers standard Commercial rates. Commercial Plus provides significantly deeper discounts—especially on Priority Mail and Ground Advantage.
Real Rate Example (2 lb Priority Mail, NY to LA)
| Platform | Rate | Savings vs Retail |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Retail | $15.50 | — |
| ShippingEasy | ~$11.20 | $4.30 (28%) |
| ShipWave | $10.20 | $5.30 (34%) |
The difference adds up: 100 packages/month = $100 extra savings with ShipWave's rates.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ShippingEasy | ShipWave |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Carrier Rates | ✅ | ✅ |
| Batch Label Printing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Automation Rules | ✅ (higher tiers) | ✅ All plans |
| E-commerce Integrations | ✅ 40+ platforms | ✅ Major platforms |
| Checkout Rate Display | ✅ Shopify | ✅ Shopify |
| Branded Tracking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Email Marketing | ✅ Built-in | ❌ Use dedicated tools |
| Inventory Management | ✅ Basic | ❌ Use dedicated tools |
| Billing Dispute Detection | ❌ | ✅ Exclusive |
| Claims Automation | ❌ | ✅ Exclusive |
| Amazon Dropship | ❌ | ✅ Exclusive |
| Phone Support | ✅ | ❌ |
ShippingEasy Pain Points
Common frustrations that ShippingEasy users experience:
- Monthly subscription fees: $29-$149/month adds up to $350-$1,800/year just for software
- Shipment limits: Plans have caps on monthly shipments—go over and you need a higher tier
- Feature gating: Many features require higher-tier plans (automation rules, advanced analytics)
- Mediocre email marketing: Built-in email tools are basic compared to Klaviyo, Mailchimp—but you're paying for them
- Lower USPS discounts: Commercial rates (20-40% off) vs Commercial Plus (up to 54% off)
- Complex interface: Bundled features create cluttered dashboard—1-2 week learning curve
- Bloated for pure shipping: If you just need shipping, you're paying for features you don't use
ShippingEasy tries to be a jack-of-all-trades (shipping + marketing + inventory) but masters none. Most businesses get better results from specialized tools.
The "All-in-One" Trap
ShippingEasy markets itself as all-in-one: shipping + email marketing + inventory in a single tool. Sounds convenient, right? Here's the reality:
Email Marketing
- ShippingEasy's email: Basic templates, limited segmentation, simple automation. Fine for beginners.
- Dedicated tools (Klaviyo, Mailchimp): Advanced segmentation, sophisticated automation, deep integrations, better deliverability. Professional-grade.
Businesses that graduate from beginner email marketing always move to dedicated tools. Why pay for bundled basic email in ShippingEasy?
Inventory Management
- ShippingEasy's inventory: Basic stock tracking, alerts. Works for simple needs.
- Dedicated tools (Skubana, TradeGecko): Multi-warehouse, forecasting, purchase orders, deep marketplace sync. Enterprise-grade.
Growing businesses outgrow ShippingEasy's inventory features quickly. Then you're paying for two systems anyway.
Better Approach
Use best-in-class tools for each function: ShipWave for shipping (best rates, no fees), Klaviyo for email (best e-commerce email), Skubana for inventory (if needed). You get better results and often spend less total.
E-commerce Integrations
| Platform | ShippingEasy | ShipWave |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify | ✅ | ✅ + Checkout rates |
| Amazon | ✅ FBA, Seller Central | ✅ MCF + Dropship |
| eBay | ✅ | ✅ |
| Etsy | ✅ | ✅ |
| WooCommerce | ✅ | ✅ |
| BigCommerce | ✅ | ✅ |
| Walmart | ✅ | ⚠️ Coming soon |
| Niche marketplaces | ✅ Many | ⚠️ Limited |
ShippingEasy has more total integrations for niche marketplaces. ShipWave covers the major platforms (Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, WooCommerce, BigCommerce) that represent 95%+ of e-commerce sellers.
ShipWave's Amazon integration is unique: both MCF fulfillment AND consumer marketplace dropship—no competitor offers both.
Who Should Choose ShipWave
Choose ShipWave if you:
- Want to eliminate monthly software fees ($350-$1,200+ saved annually)
- Need the deepest carrier discounts (especially USPS at up to 54% off)
- Prefer a focused shipping tool over bloated all-in-one
- Use (or want to use) dedicated email tools like Klaviyo or Mailchimp
- Ship primarily on Shopify and want native checkout rate display
- Value simplicity and speed in your shipping workflow
- Want billing dispute detection and claims automation (exclusive features)
ShipWave is ideal for cost-conscious sellers who want best-in-class shipping without paying for features they don't need.
Who Should Choose ShippingEasy
Choose ShippingEasy if you:
- Want shipping + email marketing in one platform (and are OK with basic email features)
- Need basic inventory management built-in
- Sell on niche marketplaces requiring specific integrations
- Prefer phone support for shipping issues
- Already use ShippingEasy and are satisfied
- Can justify $29-99/month for bundled features you'll actually use
ShippingEasy works for sellers who value convenience of bundled tools over cost savings of specialized tools.
Switching from ShippingEasy to ShipWave
Many sellers switch to ShipWave to eliminate monthly fees while improving carrier discounts. Here's how:
- Create free ShipWave account at shipwave.app (takes 2 minutes)
- Connect your e-commerce stores (Shopify, eBay, Etsy, etc.)
- Test with orders for one week—run parallel to compare
- Compare rates—ShipWave is typically $1-3 cheaper per label
- Set up dedicated email marketing if you used ShippingEasy's email (Klaviyo has a free tier)
- Cancel ShippingEasy subscription once you're confident
What You'll Gain
- $350-$1,200/year in software fee savings
- Better USPS rates (Commercial Plus vs Commercial)
- Cleaner, faster interface
- Exclusive features (billing disputes, claims automation)
What You'll Need to Replace
- Email marketing: Switch to Klaviyo (free tier available) or Mailchimp
- Inventory: Use dedicated tool if needed, or Shopify's built-in inventory
FAQs
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