Switching from Pirate Ship to ShipWave: migration guide

Both Pirate Ship and ShipWave are free shipping platforms with USPS Commercial Plus pricing, so why switch? The key difference is carrier coverage. Pirate Ship only offers USPS and UPS, while ShipWave provides USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL in one platform. If you've been manually comparing FedEx rates separately, ShipWave consolidates everything. Additionally, ShipWave's interface is designed for faster batch shipping and provides more detailed rate breakdowns showing exactly why one carrier beats another for each shipment.

Before starting your migration: 1) Export your address book from Pirate Ship (Settings → Export Addresses). 2) Download any shipping reports you need for records. 3) Note custom ship-from addresses and package presets. 4) Check for scheduled pickups that need transferring. 5) Document your most-used services (Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, etc.). 6) Ensure no shipments are pending in Pirate Ship before switching.

Sign up at shipwave.app—it's free, just like Pirate Ship. Enter your email, create a password, and verify via email. Add your primary ship-from address during onboarding. If you have multiple warehouse locations, you can add additional ship-from addresses later. The entire setup takes about 2 minutes. No credit card required until you actually purchase a label.

Export your Pirate Ship address book as a CSV file, then import it into ShipWave. Go to Settings → Address Book → Import. Upload the CSV and map columns to ShipWave's format. ShipWave validates addresses during import and standardizes formatting automatically. Most imports complete instantly. Your saved recipients and business addresses transfer over cleanly.

If you used Pirate Ship's saved box sizes, recreate them in ShipWave. Go to Settings → Package Presets and add your common dimensions and weights. Name them meaningfully (e.g., "Small Flat Rate Box", "Standard Product Box 8x6x4"). Having presets dramatically speeds up label creation—select from a dropdown instead of entering dimensions manually each time.

Here's the good news: ShipWave offers the same USPS Commercial Plus rates as Pirate Ship. Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express pricing should be identical or within pennies. The difference is that ShipWave shows you FedEx and DHL options alongside USPS, so you might discover cases where another carrier is cheaper than USPS for certain packages. Many users find savings on heavier packages (5+ lbs) when FedEx Ground beats USPS.

The biggest benefit of switching from Pirate Ship to ShipWave is FedEx access. FedEx Ground often beats UPS Ground pricing for heavier packages. FedEx SmartPost can be cheaper than USPS for certain weight/zone combinations. FedEx Express services fill the gap between USPS Priority Mail Express and overnight delivery. When you create a shipment in ShipWave, you'll see all FedEx options automatically—no separate account needed.

Run both platforms in parallel for 1-2 weeks. Ship identical packages through both to compare: Are rates the same for USPS services? Is the interface faster or slower? Do tracking emails work properly? This testing period ensures you're comfortable before fully committing. Since both platforms are free, there's no cost to maintaining both during the transition.

Once testing confirms ShipWave meets your needs, transition your daily workflow. If you use integrations, connect your e-commerce platform to ShipWave (Shopify, WooCommerce, eBay, etc.). Update any saved bookmarks and shortcuts. Inform your team about the switch and provide a quick walkthrough of the new interface. Most users find the transition takes less than a day.

After successful testing, make ShipWave your primary platform. Keep Pirate Ship accessible for 30 days to reference tracking on old shipments or handle returns. All tracking numbers remain valid—they're managed by carriers, not platforms. After the transition period, you can close your Pirate Ship account or simply stop using it. There's no penalty for having inactive accounts on either platform.

What's similar: Free to use, USPS Commercial Plus rates, no monthly fees, easy label printing. What's different in ShipWave: FedEx and DHL support, more detailed rate breakdowns, enhanced batch shipping interface, better mobile experience. What you might miss: Pirate Ship's playful pirate branding (if you liked it). The core functionality is equivalent, with ShipWave offering broader carrier coverage.

After switching: 1) Compare rates on every shipment for the first month to learn carrier pricing patterns. 2) Try FedEx Ground on packages over 5 lbs—you might save money. 3) Set up default preferences to match your old Pirate Ship workflow. 4) Explore DHL for international shipments if you ship overseas. 5) Use batch shipping for order fulfillment to maximize efficiency.