Shipping Software vs Shipping API: Which is right for my business? - ShipStation
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Fulfillment Automation Batch, route, and print labels automatically for fast, seamless order fulfillment.
Order Management Combine orders across channels and prioritize based on filters, tags, stores, and more.
Inventory Management Optimize picking, packing, and shipping so orders move faster with fewer errors.
Warehouse Management Create pick lists that align with your warehouse layouts and workflows to reduce time and errors.
Returns and Exchanges Turn returns into opportunities with a smooth, branded return process that fosters trust.
Intelligence Turn shipping into your competitive advantage with intelligence that improves with every order.
Tracking Keep customers informed with order updates at every step, reducing support calls.
International Shipping Confidently ship globally with prepaid duties and taxes, customs forms, and more.
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Your all-in-one shop for hardware, labels, and packaging.
From pro-grade printers and scales to starter kits, polymailers, boxes, tape, and more, find everything you need to grow your business.
ShipStation APIAn API with powerful shipping speed, scalability, 200+ carriers, and quality support.
Order Consolidation Centralize data from marketplaces, shopping carts, and custom platforms.
Shipping Ingest order sources, print labels, schedule pickups and simplify shipping globally.
Shipping Rate Comparison Access discounted rates with 250+ carriers, use your own carrier accounts — or both.
International Shipping Get real-time shipping rates, labels, and customs compliance in a single integration.
Address Validation Prevent label-printing errors and failed deliveries with automated address checks.
Checkout Offer convenient delivery options, show accurate costs, validate addresses, and more.
Tracking Reduce and resolve customer queries with enhanced tracking from warehouse to delivery.
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We integrate with how you do business. Move fulfillment onto a single platform that scales with your shipping needs.
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We integrate with how you do business. Move fulfillment onto a single platform that scales with your shipping needs.
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Scale Your Business With Our Integrations
We integrate with how you do business. Move fulfillment onto a single platform that scales with your shipping needs.
APIsCustomize your fulfillment workflows with flexible, fast APIs
\ Order Consolidation APICentralize data from marketplaces, shopping carts, and custom platforms.](/content/fulfillment/api/order-consolidation/index.html) \ Shipping APIPrint shipping labels, schedule pickups, and simplify shipping with 200+ carriers.](/content/fulfillment/api/shipping/index.html) \ Shipping Rate Comparison APIGet exclusive discounts from top carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx, GlobalPost, and more.](/content/fulfillment/api/shipping-rate-comparison/index.html) \ Address Validation APIPrevent label-printing errors and failed deliveries with automated address checks.](/content/fulfillment/api/address-validation/index.html) \ Checkout APIOffer convenient delivery options, show accurate costs, validate addresses, and more.](/content/fulfillment/api/checkout/index.html) \ Tracking APIReduce and resolve customer queries with enhanced tracking from warehouse to delivery.](/content/fulfillment/api/tracking/index.html) \ Analytics APIIdentify carrier, shipping and delivery trends while improving efficiency and reducing risk.](/content/fulfillment/api/analytics/index.html)
Scale Your Business With Our Integrations
We integrate with how you do business. Move fulfillment onto a single platform that scales with your shipping needs.
All IntegrationsConnect your entire stack, from ERPs to e-commerce solutions
Shopify](/content/partners/shopify/index.html) WooCommerce](/content/partners/woocommerce/index.html) Paypal](/content/partners/paypal/index.html) USPS](/content/partners/usps/index.html) UPS](/content/partners/ups/index.html) Amazon](/content/partners/amazon/index.html) Big Cartel](/content/partners/big-cartel/index.html) Yodel](/content/partners/yodel/index.html) FedEx](/content/partners/fedex/index.html) TikTok Shop](/content/partners/tiktok-shop/index.html)
Scale Your Business With Our Integrations
We integrate with how you do business. Move fulfillment onto a single platform that scales with your shipping needs.
Resources
Customer StoriesLearn how customers across the globe are shipping their products more efficiently with ShipStation
\ Green GridironAuthentic NFL game-used footballs transformed into premium collectible display pieces.](/content/stories/green-gridiron/index.html) \ SelkirkHigh-performance pickleball brand crafting premium paddles and gear for players at every level.](/content/stories/selkirk/index.html) \ People’s Choice Beef JerkyFamily-owned jerky company crafting premium, handcrafted, small-batch beef snacks.](/content/stories/peoples-choice-beef-jerky/index.html) \ Rush Order TeesCustom apparel company delivering fast, high-quality printed shirts nationwide.](/content/stories/rush-order-tees/index.html) \ Coggins Promotional AdvertisingPromotional products company helping businesses strengthen brands through custom merchandise.](/content/stories/coggins-promotional-advertising-inc/index.html) \ SpiceologyInnovative spice brand creating bold seasonings for chefs and homecooks.](/content/stories/spiceology/index.html)
FEATURED CUSTOMER STORY
How Guardian Sports Used Automated Returns to Scale After Going Viral with the NFL
After the NFL adopted their concussion-reducing Guardian Cap, this Atlanta-based sports safety company saw orders explode to 400 per day—and the team’s manual processes couldn’t keep up.
BlogGet the latest on carriers, shipping rates, Ecommerce trends, and emerging fulfillment technologies
Shopify and ShipStation Tracking Notifications That Keep Customers Informed Shopify ShipStation tracking notifications improve post-purchase updates, real-time shipping visibility, and customer tr...
From Every Parcel to Every Pallet: Something Big is Coming to ShipStation See what's coming and why it changes everything for growing ecommerce businesses and how they ship.
Amazon MCF with ShipStation, Simplified Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment with ShipStation helps you connect orders, tracking, and fulfillment across sales chann...
Shopify Shipping and Fulfillment Guide Learn how ShipStation for Shopify shipping and fulfillment helps automate orders, print labels, compare rates, and simpl...
ShipStation for Amazon FBA and FBM Orders ShipStation for Amazon FBA and FBM orders helps you manage fulfillment, products, and customer updates in one place. Lea...
Connect NetSuite Directly to ShipStation: A Simpler Way to Manage Ecommerce Fulfillment ShipStation's new native integration with Oracle NetSuit provides NetSuite users with a direct connection to ShipStation...
FEATURED BLOG
ShipStation Ecommerce Benchmark Report 2026
The conclusion is clear: AI is already influencing demand, competition, and delivery performance—and retailers that fail to adapt risk being excluded from AI-led shopping journeys altogether.
Resource HubYour stop for everything from best practices to holiday trends to product tips and more.
Shipping Rates Calculator](/content/fulfillment/shipping/shipping-rates-calculator/index.html) Speak With Sales](/content/contact-us/index.html) Speak With Support](https://help.shipstation.com/hc/en-us/) Guides](/content/guides/index.html) Videos](/content/videos/index.html) Knowledge Base](https://help.shipstation.com/hc/en-us/) Events and Webinars](/content/webinars/index.html) Community Forum](https://community.shipstation.com/) Newsroom](/content/press/index.html) About Us](/content/about-us/index.html) ShipStation Supplies](https://supplies.shipstation.com/)
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From pro-grade printers and scales to starter kits, polymailers, boxes, tape, and more, find everything you need to grow your business.
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Getting Started](https://docs.shipstation.com/apis/shipengine/docs/getting-started/get-started) API Documentation](https://docs.shipstation.com/api-overview) Developer Guides](https://docs.shipstation.com/apis/shipengine/docs/guides/auth) Connect to MCP](https://docs.shipstation.com/connect-mcp) Libraries and SDKs](https://docs.shipstation.com/apis/shipengine/docs/getting-started/tools) Postman collections](https://docs.shipstation.com/apis/shipengine/docs/reference/postman) Release Notes](https://docs.shipstation.com/apis/release-notes) API Status](https://status.shipengine.com/)
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ShipStation Ecommerce Benchmark Report 2026
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ShipStation Ecommerce Benchmark Report 2026
In this Article
- Shipping Software vs Shipping API: Which is right for my business?
- Why should I use a shipping platform?
- What is the difference between them?
- Shipping Software:
- Shipping API
- How are they similar?
- What does it take to get set up on each?
- Who typically uses each system?
- Shipping Software
- Shipping API
- How do I Choose the Best Shipping Software or Shipping API?
Shipping Software vs Shipping API: Which is right for my business?
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Shipping Software vs Shipping API: Which is right for my business?
Why should I use a shipping platform? Both a and a have the same end goal: creating shipping labels.
By James Messer
Last Updated Oct 13, 2022 – 5 min read
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Why should I use a shipping platform?
Both a and a have the same end goal: creating shipping labels. It lets you avoid going into a carrier’s website/app to print your shipping labels. This can be a manual and tedious process that consumes far more time than necessary. Instead of copy/pasting or retyping order info into the carriers’ different platforms, make the carriers them to you!
What is the difference between them?
Yes, shipping softwares, such as ShipStation, and shipping APIs, like ShipEngine, create shipping labels. They differ, though, in how they accomplish this. They each solve this problem in vastly different ways.
Shipping Software:
A shipping software lets you connect your selling channels and your carrier accounts into a single location where you can organize and manage your orders in a single place and create shipping labels.
Features unique to a Shipping Software:
Selling Channel Integrations: Shipping channel integrations are most commonly associated with a shipping software. Since a shipping API exists to add shipping functionality into an existing platform, your selling channels may not be able to be integrated using it. Check to make sure such a workflow is supported. Here’s an example of where ShipEngine’s documentation references connecting order sources.
A User Interface: While a shipping software may be built with the framework of a shipping API, it will have a user interface, which is where you will work.
Shipping API
A shipping API doesn’t have an interface beyond its login portal (where you can connect carriers and view reports). A shipping API connects to your existing website or order management system to incorporate carriers’ shipping features into your existing workflow.
Features unique to a Shipping API:
No User Interface: Since a shipping API allows you to build shipping functionality into an existing application, there is no need to provide a user interface in the same way that a shipping software would.
More Customer-Facing Customization: Since a shipping API is a highly customizable solution for shipping, you can apply its functionality in a number of ways. For instance, you can build seller-side rates into your app using a shipping API.
How are they similar?
A shipping API and a shipping software are similar in that they both accomplish the same core task: creating shipping labels. However, a great shipping platform doesn’t stop there. There are many more features available beyond this core functionality.
Carrier Relationships: Because of the unique space that shipping platforms work in, they can build very close partnerships with carriers. Through these close partnerships, you can usually access discounted shipping rates simply by signing up. For instance, ShipStation and ShipEngine both offer discounted rates for Stamps.com, DHL, and FedEx simply by signing up.
Carrier Features: Both a shipping software and a shipping API let you access carrier features like end of day manifesting, return labels, address validation. All with a quick and easy connection process.
What does it take to get set up on each?
Setting up a shipping software
A shipping software usually only takes a few minutes to set up. However, getting familiar with it can take a little while. Since you will be creating a new workflow around a shipping software’s functionality, it can take a little time to get fully up and running with a new system.
Setting up a Shipping API
A shipping API requires a developer to set up. Through SDKs (Software Development Kits) and robust developer guides, and intuitive carrier connection modals, the build time is cut down significantly. But once it’s up and running, it can take no time to master.
Who typically uses each system?
How to Choose the Best Shipping Software - YouTube
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How to Choose the Best Shipping Software ShipStation
ShipStation7.05K subscribers
Shipping Software
A shipping software can be used by merchants of all sizes. If you have 5 shipments a week or 50,000, a shipping software can offer you the same timesaving advantages.
Shipping API
A shipping API, however, is typically used by larger merchants. It can be an involved setup process and requires you to incorporate into compatible platforms. For instance, many selling channels such as eBay or Amazon wouldn’t allow you to incorporate a shipping API into their platform.
How do I Choose the Best Shipping Software or Shipping API?
We’ve compiled two guides to help make the right decision on shipping technology for your business. Discover How to Choose the Best Shipping Software or How to Choose the Best Shipping API today.
James Messer
James Messer is a copywriter specializing in shipping, logistics, and ecommerce.