Pirate Ship suits US sellers who only ship with USPS and UPS and want free software with no monthly fees, as of October 2026, because it says it's paid by the carriers rather than by you. Shippo suits stores that also need FedEx or DHL Express, several user logins, branded tracking or an API, and its free Starter plan covers up to 30 labels a month. If you ship more than that or need more carriers, Shippo's paid plans are the next step.
Both tools print discounted shipping labels from your browser, so the choice comes down to carriers, volume and how many people pack orders. I read Pirate Ship's home page and Shippo's home and plans pages.
Shippo and Pirate Ship at a glance
| Shippo | Pirate Ship | |
|---|---|---|
| Carriers | USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL Express | USPS and UPS |
| Free option | Starter plan, up to 30 labels a month | Free account with no monthly fees |
| User logins | 1 on Starter, up to 5 on Pro, 15+ on Premier | Not covered on the pages I read |
| Store connections | Unlimited, even on Starter | Shipping integrations and spreadsheet import |
| Support | Email on Starter, chat and phone on Pro | Live chat or email, 14 hours a day, 7 days a week |
| For developers | Shipping, address, tracking and rating APIs | Not covered on the pages I read |
| Branding | Branded tracking pages and emails on Pro | Private Share links for labels |
How Pirate Ship stays free
Pirate Ship is open about its model. It says there are no monthly fees, no payment fees and no credit card needed to sign up, and that it's paid by the carriers, not by you. It has been helping people ship since 2014 and gives you USPS Commercial Pricing, UPS Ground deals and services like Priority Mail Cubic and Simple Export Rate. The trade-off is reach: Pirate Ship covers USPS and UPS only, so it's a US tool first.
Inside the app you get bulk label printing for subscription and batch shippers, saved presets for packages you send often, tracking from start to finish, built-in shipment reports and receipts, and a Private Share link when someone else needs to print a label. Support comes from a live crew by chat or email, 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, which is generous for a tool you don't pay a subscription for.
Where Shippo earns its place
Shippo is built for stores that outgrow one or two carriers. Even its free Starter plan includes discounted USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL Express labels, unlimited store connections, international shipping, return labels and automations. Pro adds pick lists with scan-to-print, delivery date estimates powered by AI, branded tracking pages and up to 5 user logins, and Premier adds a dedicated account manager and unlimited shipments. Developers can also build on Shippo's address, tracking and rating APIs.
Shipping questions to answer first
- Which carriers do your customers expect at checkout?
- How many labels do you print in a typical month?
- How many people need their own login?
- Does your store platform need a direct connection?
- Do repeat buyers expect branded tracking emails?
For the wider field, my roundup of shipping software for small businesses lists more options, and if you sell handmade goods, my Etsy marketing strategy guide pairs well with either tool.
My advice on Shippo or Pirate Ship
If you're a US seller shipping only with USPS and UPS, start with Pirate Ship. It's free, it doesn't ask for a card, and you'll see what its carrier deals do for your margins within a week. If you need FedEx, DHL Express, several logins or branded tracking, start on Shippo's free Starter plan and move to Pro once you pass 30 labels a month. Check both sites again before you commit, because carrier terms change through the year.
Do you make shipping or ecommerce software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pirate Ship free?
Yes. Pirate Ship says there are no monthly fees or payment fees and no credit card is needed, as of October 2026.
Does Pirate Ship support FedEx?
Not on the pages I read. Pirate Ship describes itself as free UPS and USPS shipping software.
Is Shippo free?
Shippo's Starter plan is free for up to 30 labels a month with 1 user login. Pro and Premier are paid plans with more users and features.
Which suits an Etsy or eBay seller?
Pirate Ship's own customer quotes mention selling on Etsy and eBay with USPS and UPS. Shippo suits sellers who also need FedEx or DHL Express or several store connections.
How does Pirate Ship make money?
Pirate Ship says it's paid by the carriers, not by the people shipping.
How many users can Shippo have?
Shippo lists 1 user login on Starter, up to 5 on Pro and 15+ on Premier, where you also get a dedicated account manager.
