What is the best alternative to ShipStation?

By our editorial score, Shippo (7.6/10) is the highest-rated alternative here. The better fit depends on why you are leaving ShipStation: the relationship label on each alternative (lighter, head-to-head or more powerful) and its reason are the quickest way to narrow it down.

Is there a free alternative to ShipStation?

Yes. 1 of the 5 alternatives have a free plan: Shippo. Free plans are rare in shipping software: most tools offer a free trial instead, and the free tiers that exist cap the number of labels a month.

How much is ShipStation per month?

It depends on plan and shipment volume. Starter starts at $14.99 a month for 50 shipments and reaches $174.99 for 5,000. Standard starts at $29.99 and Premium at $349.99, both scaling to 100,000 shipments. Annual billing saves 20%, and postage is paid separately (checked 3 October 2026).

Does ShipStation have a free trial?

Yes. The trial lasts 30 days, needs no credit card and comes with a full refund promise within 90 days. There is no free plan (checked 3 October 2026).

ShipStation alternatives

ShipStation pulls orders from every store and marketplace into one list, compares carrier rates and prints labels. The catches are plans priced by monthly shipment volume, a 3-user cap on Starter and postage billed on top. These are the alternatives our reviews name, each with the reason it made the list.

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team · Oct 4, 2026 · no sponsored placements

Top ShipStation alternatives

Ranked by our editorial score.

Descartes Sellercloud Multichannel ListingMore powerful
A wider multichannel operations platform that also manages listings and inventory, for sellers who have outgrown a shipping-only tool.
vs ShipStation: More features (9 vs 8) · Better value (7 vs 6)
Source: our ShipStation review
Comparison: “vs Sellercloud: Sellercloud covers listings and inventory too; ShipStation centers on shipping.”
Our score7.6 / 10
Starts at$1.3K/mo
Free planNo
Read review Descartes Sellercloud
Shippo Developer & TechnicalLighter option
Multi-carrier labels and a shipping API without ShipStation's heavier order management and warehouse layer.
vs ShipStation: Better value (8 vs 6) · Easier to use (8 vs 7)
Source: our ShipStation review
Comparison: “vs Shippo: both print multi-carrier labels; ShipStation adds more order management and warehouse tools.”
Our score7.6 / 10
Starts at$19/mo
Free planYes
Read review Shippo
Ordoro Multichannel ListingLighter option
Shipping, inventory and dropshipping software with a free tier, for small sellers who want to start without a subscription.
vs ShipStation: Better value (7 vs 6) · Fewer integrations (7 vs 9)
Source: our Ordoro review
Comparison: “vs ShipStation: ShipStation offers a 30-day trial but no free plan; Ordoro has a free tier.”
Our score7.3 / 10
Starts at$59/mo
Free planNo
Read review Ordoro
ShipWise (formerly DesktopShipper) Multichannel ListingHead-to-head
Similar label automation for ecommerce orders, worth comparing on which stores and carriers it connects to.
vs ShipStation: Harder to use (5 vs 7)
Source: our ShipStation review
Comparison: “vs DesktopShipper: similar label automation; check which stores and carriers each connects to.”
Our score6.8 / 10
Starts atCustom
Free planNo
Read review ShipWise (formerly DesktopShipper)
ShipHero Multichannel ListingMore powerful
A full warehouse management system for brands and 3PLs that run their own warehouse floor, well beyond label printing.
vs ShipStation: Better support (8 vs 7) · Weaker value (4 vs 6) · Harder to use (5 vs 7)
Source: our ShipHero review
Comparison: “vs ShipStation: label and shipping software from $14.99/mo; ShipHero runs the full warehouse.”
Our score6.4 / 10
Starts at$2.0K/mo
Free planNo
Read review ShipHero

* “Lower listed price” compares the entry prices in our reviews. Where the two tools price differently (per seat, per contact, per email sent), the cheaper option depends on your list size and sending volume.

How they compare

Our five sub-scores out of 10. Bold means at least a point above ShipStation.

Tool	Score	Features	Value	Ease of use	Ecosystem	Support	Starts at	Free plan
ShipStation(replacing)	7.4	8	6	7	9	7	$14.99/mo	No
Descartes Sellercloud	7.6	9	7	6	8	7	$1.3K/mo	No
Shippo	7.6	7	8	8	8	7	$19/mo	Yes
Ordoro	7.3	8	7	7	7	7	$59/mo	No
ShipWise (formerly DesktopShipper)	6.8	8	6	5	8	7	Custom	No
ShipHero	6.4	8	4	5	8	8	$2.0K/mo	No

Choose by what you need

The same reviewed relationship as the list above — not a new comparison.

Choose Shippo for something lighter

Multi-carrier labels and a shipping API without ShipStation's heavier order management and warehouse layer.

Choose ShipWise (formerly DesktopShipper) for a direct swap

Similar label automation for ecommerce orders, worth comparing on which stores and carriers it connects to.

Choose Descartes Sellercloud for more power

A wider multichannel operations platform that also manages listings and inventory, for sellers who have outgrown a shipping-only tool.

Free alternatives to ShipStation

1 of the 5 alternatives have a free plan.

Shippo

What each free plan includes

Shippo Review Shippo

Free (30 labels/mo); Pro from $19/mo

How we picked them

Every alternative here is named in one of our own reviews — either in the ShipStation review (as a lighter or more powerful option, or in a head-to-head comparison) or in the other tool's review. Each relationship was then checked by hand: would someone replacing ShipStation reasonably consider this tool? Rankings follow our editorial score only; no tool pays to be listed or ranked.

Each entry quotes the review it came from, checked on 4 October 2026.

0 tools our reviews mention alongside ShipStation that we left out, and why

Questions about ShipStation alternatives

The tool you are replacing

ShipStation Multichannel Listing7.4 / 10

Starts at: $14.99/mo
Free plan: No
Ease of use: 7/10
Value: 6/10

Best for: Sellers shipping from several stores or marketplaces

Why people look for an alternative

Cost grows with every shipment tier, so a growing store keeps moving up the price ladder.
Starter stops at 3 users and email or chat support.
Bringing your own carrier accounts and the Shipping API start on Standard, not Starter.
Postage and insurance are billed separately from the subscription.

Read our ShipStation review

Quick answers

Highest ratedShippo7.6/10
Best with a free planShippo7.6/10
Lowest listed starting priceOrdoro$59/mo
Easier to use than ShipStationShippoease 8 vs 7

Multichannel Listing

Also on Conversion Gems

Our picks: best multichannel listing tools

Alternatives