How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- DHL Express and USPS cover the two most common jobs: fast international delivery and low-cost domestic parcels with tracking included.
- Pirate Ship, Shippo and Easyship save small sellers money by comparing carrier rates and printing discounted labels, usually for free.
- Roadie and OnTrac suit same-day and alternative ground delivery, especially for retailers that need faster last-mile options.
- Always price the same parcel across two services, since weight, size, destination and speed change the cheapest option every time.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 DHL Express | International express parcels | See website | No |
 USPS | Low-cost domestic parcels | See website | Yes |
 Roadie | Same-day last-mile delivery | See website | No |
 OnTrac | Alternative ground delivery | See website | No |
 Shippo | Multi-carrier labels for sellers | Free to start | Yes |
 Pirate Ship | Free discounted UPS and USPS labels | Free | Yes |
 Easyship | Comparing 550 plus couriers | Free plan | Yes |
 ShipStation | High-volume shipping workflows | See website | Free trial |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best courier apps
#1
DHL Express
Best for: International express parcels
Visit dhl.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
DHL Express is the carrier to check first when a parcel must cross a border quickly. Its international express network reaches most countries with next-possible-business-day service on major routes, and its customs paperwork support helps first-time exporters avoid the delays that come from a missing form or a wrong commodity code. Tracking stays visible across handoffs, which matters when a customer is waiting on the other side of the world.
The price reflects that speed. Express international delivery costs more than postal or economy options, and fuel surcharges and remote-area fees can lift the final bill above the first quote. DHL is also less of a domestic US parcel carrier than its rivals, so a parcel staying inside the US usually ships cheaper elsewhere. Use DHL when delivery date and customs handling matter more than the lowest possible price.
What we like- Next-business-day delivery to many countries
- Strong customs support
- Clear tracking across borders
Watch out for- Premium pricing for express speed
- Domestic US options are limited
- Fuel surcharges add to the quoted rate
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
USPS remains the cheapest way to send most small domestic parcels. Ground Advantage includes tracking and delivers in 2 to 5 days, while Click-N-Ship lets you pay for postage, print a label at home and schedule a free pickup, which removes a trip to the post office. For books, clothing, small electronics and other light parcels, USPS usually beats private carriers on price, especially for residential addresses.
The trade-offs are speed and service. Express services exist but cost notably more, and delivery estimates are ranges rather than guarantees for ground parcels. Claims and customer support can also take longer than at a private carrier. For a small seller or anyone sending a personal parcel, though, USPS is the baseline every other option should be compared against.
What we like- Ground Advantage delivery in 2 to 5 days with tracking
- Click-N-Ship labels from home
- Free package pickup
Watch out for- Express options cost more than ground
- Delivery estimates vary by distance
- Support is harder to reach than at private carriers
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Roadie works differently from a traditional parcel carrier. It matches deliveries with a network of independent drivers, which makes it strong for same-day retail, pharmacy, auto parts and oversized items that do not fit standard parcel networks. A retailer can offer customers fast delivery without building its own fleet, and items like furniture, tires and large equipment move through the same system.
Roadie is built for businesses rather than someone sending one birthday parcel. Pricing is quoted per delivery based on size, distance and urgency, and casual senders will find the carrier apps simpler for a single box. If you run a store and want same-day delivery as a selling point, or you regularly move items that parcel carriers reject or surcharge heavily, Roadie deserves a place in your delivery mix.
What we like- Same-day delivery to 97 percent of US households
- Handles oversized and awkward items
- Driver network suits retail and pharmacy
Watch out for- Business-focused pricing
- Not a parcel label tool for casual senders
- Coverage and pricing vary by item and route
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
OnTrac presents itself as the leading alternative carrier network for e-commerce, and its pitch is direct: ground delivery up to 2 days faster and around 30 percent less expensive than legacy carrier ground services, with 7-day delivery options that help retailers promise weekend arrival. A coast-to-coast express service with 2 to 3 day delivery is also rolling out, which gives sellers a mid-speed option between ground and overnight.
OnTrac is a carrier for businesses, not an app where a consumer prints a single label. You need a business shipping arrangement, and service levels vary by region and by how your parcels enter the network. For a growing online store that ships mostly ground parcels and wants to cut costs without slowing delivery, OnTrac is worth quoting against your current carrier. For occasional personal parcels, USPS or Pirate Ship fits better.
What we like- Ground network positioned as faster and cheaper than legacy ground
- 7-day delivery options
- Growing coast-to-coast express service
Watch out for- Business carrier, not a consumer label app
- Residential coverage varies
- Pricing requires a business account
#5Shippo
Best for: Multi-carrier labels for sellers4.2/5 on
G2 (77 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit goshippo.com
Starting priceFree to start
Free planYes
Shippo is a shipping app for sellers who use more than one carrier. You connect a store, import orders, compare rates across 40 plus carriers, print labels and send tracking updates to customers from one dashboard. That single workflow replaces the habit of logging into three carrier sites and retyping addresses, which is where most shipping mistakes happen.
The platform is free to start, with label costs paid per shipment and discounted rates on many carriers, while higher-volume features and premium support sit on paid plans. Discounts are not uniform, so one carrier may be cheapest for a light parcel and another for a heavy one, and Shippo makes that comparison visible before you buy. For sellers shipping daily, Shippo is a practical middle ground between a single carrier account and a full warehouse system.
What we like- Labels from 40 plus global carriers
- Store integrations for major platforms
- Pickup scheduling and tracking
Watch out for- Label discounts vary by carrier
- Advanced features sit on paid plans
- Support quality varies by plan
#6Pirate Ship
Best for: Free discounted UPS and USPS labels4.5/5 on
G2 (24 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit pirateship.com
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Pirate Ship is the simplest money-saver on this list. It is free, with no monthly fee and no credit card required, and it gives users pre-negotiated discounts on UPS and USPS labels. You compare the two carriers for each parcel, print the cheaper label, and track the shipment from the same account. Batch printing, saved package presets and shipment reports cover the needs of most small sellers and frequent personal shippers.
The limit is carrier choice. Pirate Ship covers UPS and USPS only, so if another carrier is cheaper for a particular route, you will not see it here. It also lacks the deep store automation of Shippo or ShipStation. For anyone who ships with UPS or USPS anyway, and especially for Etsy and eBay sellers, Pirate Ship is close to a free win: same carriers, lower label prices, no subscription.
What we like- Free to use with no monthly fee
- Pre-negotiated UPS and USPS discounts
- Simple label, batch and tracking tools
Watch out for- Only UPS and USPS carriers
- No built-in store automation at Shippo scale
- International options are narrower
#7Easyship
Best for: Comparing 550 plus couriers4.4/5 on
G2 (182 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit easyship.com
Starting priceFree plan
Free planYes
Easyship casts the widest net of any app here, comparing rates across 550 plus courier services and offering discounted labels, with a free plan for getting started. Its international tools stand out: it shows landed costs, including taxes and duties, at checkout, so a buyer abroad sees the full price instead of getting a surprise bill on delivery. Store integrations cover major platforms, and automation rules can pick the cheapest or fastest service for each order.
That breadth makes the first setup longer than Pirate Ship. You will spend time connecting a store, setting shipping rules and learning the dashboard before the savings feel automatic. Easyship suits sellers with international customers or a wide range of parcel sizes, where comparing many couriers pays off. For domestic-only shipping of a few parcels a week, a simpler app will do.
What we like- Rate comparison across 550 plus courier services
- Discounted labels up to 91 percent off
- Landed cost and tax estimates for international orders
Watch out for- Interface has a learning curve
- Best features suit e-commerce stores
- Support hours reflect a global team
#8ShipStation
Best for: High-volume shipping workflows4.3/5 on
G2 (588 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit shipstation.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
ShipStation is the workflow tool for sellers who ship at volume. It pulls orders from many stores and marketplaces, applies automation rules, compares rates across 200 plus parcel carriers, and prints labels in batches, with freight options for larger shipments. The time saving is the point: sellers report creating many more labels per hour once rules replace manual choices, and fewer address and service errors slip through.
ShipStation charges by plan, with pricing tied to shipment volume, and offers a free trial rather than a permanent free plan. That makes it overkill for someone shipping a handful of parcels a month. For a growing store where shipping has become a daily job, or a team that needs inventory, warehouse and freight workflows in one place, ShipStation is the app that scales without forcing a move to enterprise software.
What we like- Rate shopping across 200 plus parcel carriers
- Batch labels and automation rules
- 400 plus integrations and freight support
Watch out for- Paid plans, with pricing by shipment volume
- Setup takes longer than simpler apps
- Small shippers may not need its depth
How we chose
We compared courier apps on the jobs people actually hire them for: getting a parcel there on time, at a fair price, with tracking the recipient can follow. We checked vendor homepages and feature pages, and weighed public reviews, carrier rate comparisons and seller feedback, with attention to who each tool is built for, since a business carrier and a consumer label app solve different problems. We did not claim hands-on testing of every service, and shipping rates change with fuel, size and destination, so always price your exact parcel before you commit.
How to pick the right courier app
Start with the parcel, not the brand. Weigh it, measure it, and note the destination and the date it must arrive. A light parcel under a pound often ships cheapest with USPS or a discounted label app, while a heavy or oversized item may need Roadie or a freight option. International parcels add customs forms and landed costs, which is where DHL and Easyship earn their keep. Write down the service level you need, since paying for overnight delivery on a parcel nobody needs urgently is the most common waste in shipping.
Then compare the total, not the label price alone. Check whether pickup is free or charged, whether tracking and insurance are included, and what happens if a parcel is lost or damaged. For repeat shipping, test two apps for a week with real orders and compare the average cost per parcel, including the time spent packing and printing. A slightly more expensive label can still win if it saves an hour a day or cuts customer messages about missing parcels.
A short shipping checklist
- Weigh and measure the packed parcel, not just the item, since carriers charge on the larger of actual and dimensional weight.
- Compare at least two carriers or apps for the same parcel, service level and destination.
- Confirm tracking, insurance and pickup terms before buying the label.
- Keep the receipt and tracking number until delivery is confirmed.
- For international parcels, confirm customs forms, duties and any restricted items before dispatch.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to send a small parcel in the US?
For most small, light parcels, USPS Ground Advantage or a discounted USPS label through Pirate Ship is cheapest, with tracking included. Compare the USPS and UPS options in Pirate Ship for each parcel, since the winner changes with weight and destination. Multi-carrier apps like Shippo and Easyship can beat both when another carrier discounts a particular route.
Which courier app is best for international shipping?
DHL Express is best when speed and customs handling matter most, while Easyship is best when you want to compare many couriers and show buyers the full landed cost. USPS international services are cheaper for light parcels that are not urgent. Always confirm delivery times, customs requirements and whether duties are prepaid or collected on delivery.
Can I schedule a pickup instead of visiting a drop-off point?
Yes, in most cases. USPS offers free package pickup through Click-N-Ship, Shippo lets you schedule carrier pickups, and business carriers like OnTrac and Roadie arrange pickups as part of their service. Pickup availability and any fee depend on the carrier, the service level and your location, so confirm it when you buy the label.
Do I need a business account to use these apps?
No for most of them. Pirate Ship, Shippo and Easyship welcome individual sellers and frequent personal shippers, and USPS and DHL serve anyone. Roadie and OnTrac are business-focused, so they suit stores and companies rather than one-off personal parcels. Check the account requirements on the vendor site before you plan a shipment around a particular carrier.
How do I track a parcel sent through a multi-carrier app?
Multi-carrier apps pass the carrier tracking number to you and usually to your customer as well, and you can follow the parcel on the carrier tracking site or inside the app. Branded tracking pages from Shippo, Easyship and ShipStation keep customers informed without them needing to know which carrier handled the parcel. Save the tracking number until delivery is confirmed.
What happens if a parcel is lost or damaged?
Start with the carrier or app that sold the label, since claims follow the carrier terms and the coverage included with the service. Some services include a set amount of cover, while others require you to buy extra insurance for valuable items. Photograph the packed parcel, keep the receipt and tracking record, and report the problem promptly, since claim deadlines vary.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.dhl.com
- https://www.usps.com
- https://www.roadie.com
- https://ontrac.com
- https://goshippo.com
- https://pirateship.com
- https://www.easyship.com
- https://www.shipstation.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.