ShipBob claims it’s among the leading fulfillment sites for ecommerce businesses, notably when it comes to direct-to-consumer brands. With global fulfillment locations, pick-pack-ship services, advanced analytics, and easy integration with local and global carriers, ShipBob has become the third-party logistics (3PL) platform of choice for leading brands, which include Black Claw, Prymal, Drop FX and more.
But while ShipBob may be among the leading 3PL platforms with competitive shipping costs and order fulfillment services, it’s hardly the only one.
Yes, there are plenty of other 3PL programs out there that you can select from – and they all have their fair share of pros and cons compared to ShipBob (and each other). In this post, we’ll explore the various ShipBob logistics services alternatives to help you decide what 3PL solution is right for your company, especially considering the ecommerce market has been continuously growing and is expected to reach a peak of $1.3 trillion in 2028. Read on to learn more:
ShipBob Competitors
Just as ShipBob has an unconventional approach to ecommerce fulfillment, so do many of the ShipBob alternatives that are out there. In this post, we’ll focus on five ShipBob alternative delivery services: ShipCalm, ShipMonk, Red Stag Fulfillment, ShipHero and Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Here’s an overview of each competitor.
ShipCalm
ShipCalm is an all-in-one logistics solution that combines technology and services to accelerate growing brands. ShipCalm supports all types of goods – from fragile items to dangerous and oversized ones – and it also kits and packages items with unique requirements at scale. ShipCalm relies on advanced analytics and warehouse management software to automate warehouse inventory services and scale operations with ease.
Aside from the features that make ShipCalm stand out as an attractive alternative to ShipBob, there are various intangibles it also boasts. For instance, customer commitment. With industry-leading customer service and support, ShipCalm’s customer care team is always available to help in a pinch. With other strengths that include technology integration, end users can rest assured that ShipCalm is invested in its customers’ success.
ShipMonk
An ideal solution for small and medium-sized businesses, ShipMonk offers an all-in-one scalable solution that’s designed to help firms grow their business while taking the hassle out of 3PL fulfillment. In the ShipBob vs ShipMonk debate, there are a few key areas where the latter 3PL solution shines. One is in the number of technology integrations it supports. More specifically, ShipMonk supports more than 100 shopping cart and marketplace integrations. As an added bonus, setting up these integrations is free.
ShipMonk also excels in helping firms manage special projects that are outside the norm and in its high level of customer support.
Red Stag Fulfillment
Red Stag Fulfillment is for ecommerce operators and founded by ecommerce operators, so solutions are purpose-built to help scale a business and designed to meet a firm’s unique needs. In fact, Red Stag was actually founded because of frustration with 3PL and questioning whether there was a better way. Rather than settle for missed picks, shrinkage and other 3PL issues that can harm a brand’s reputation, Red Stag prides itself on high pick and pack accuracy – or it will pay its customer to make up for the mistake.
It’s this sort of guarantee, combined with its fulfillment offerings for firms of all shapes, sizes, specialties, and working with heavy and oversized items, that has helped establish it as a viable ShipBob alternative. Other highlights of Red Stag’s 3PL solution are its robust return management system and its specialized warehouse solutions.
ShipHero
ShipHero’s fulfillment services are backed by an advanced software-centric approach. Powered by its WMS platform, ShipHero offers the tools to improve transparency between it and its customers, while creating detailed reports on inventory and sales, operations and shipments, and efficiency reporting.
Aside from its leading shipping and inventory software solutions for in-house fulfillment, ShipHero is also sustainability-focused, works with open-ended regional carriers and offers transparent pricing.
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
With more than 100 United States warehouse locations and 75 international warehouse locations, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), has perhaps the greatest reach in 3PL – a key benefit that allows products to get to their destinations sooner by utilizing Amazon’s existing global network.
FBA is particularly advantageous for sellers that are already using the Amazon network, as “Prime” designation allows access to more than 200 million subscribers. It’s a big reason why FBA is used by more than 85 percent of all Amazon sellers.
ShipBob Alternatives Compared
Warehouse locations, pricing, carrier options and accuracy rate are all key factors when deciding on a 3PL partner – whether it’s ShipBob or one of the alternatives that we’ve outlined in the above section. Here’s a closer look at these alternatives at a glance to help you make the best decision on fulfillment services for your business:
| Service | Monthly Minimum | U.S.
Warehouse Locations |
International
Warehouse Locations |
Shipping Carrier Options | Amazon SFP | Accuracy Rate |
| ShipCalm | No minimum order volume, $3,000/quarter | 2 | 0 | All major carriers | Yes | ??? |
| ShipMonk | $250 (pick and pack) | 8 | 3 | All major carriers plus DHL | Yes | 99.9% |
| Red Stag Fulfillment | 200 orders | 2 | 0 | All major carriers | Yes | 99.98% and 100% guarantee |
| ShipHero | 500 orders | 5 | 2 | All major carriers plus DHL and GLS | Yes | 99.9% |
| Fulfillment by Amazon | No minimum | 110 | 75 | Amazon Logistics, UPS | Yes | N/A |
Key Features of ShipBob Competitors
What’s important to you when selecting a 3PL partner? In this section, we’ll delve further into some of the competitive advantages that our list of ShipBob alternatives boasts. From pricing to pros and cons, here’s an overview of ShipCalm, ShipMonk, Red Stag Fulfillment, ShipHero and Fulfillment by Amazon.
ShipCalm
- Pros: When it comes to customer service, it’s hard to beat the personalized attention that ShipCalm offers to every one of its clients. Other big advantages to working with ShipCalm include its ability to handle all types of products and its ability to integrate efficiently with other technology platforms.
- Cons: Its pricing structure may not make it the most competitive pricing option for small or start-up businesses.
- Pricing: Pricing can be customized based on business needs, but ShipCalm tends to require a minimum spend per quarter. Learn more about ShipCalm’s pricing structure here.
ShipMonk
- Pros: If you’re a small to medium-sized business, ShipMonk might be the best 3PL option for you. Its unique packaging and branding options can help your firm’s products stand out from others, creating further brand awareness and helping you grow.
- Cons: Have large or heavy products? ShipMonk might not be the best solution for you.
- Pricing: Pricing tends to be tiered based on the type of business and its specific needs.
Red Stag Fulfillment
- Pros: One of Red Stag Fulfillment’s competitive advantages is its specialty in handling bulky or oversized items. Red Stag also offers a premium return management system.
- Cons: Red Stag puts more of its focus on large, bulky items and not so much on small, delicate ones.
- Pricing: Pricing tends to be based on product size and weight.
ShipHero
- Pros: ShipHero’s business model is rooted in robust software solutions and analytics to help build transparency with its customers. ShipHero also offers a robust inventory management tool.
- Cons: While ShipHero’s software and analytics can help any business stay on track with its shipments, they’re not without a learning curve.
- Pricing: ShipHero’s pricing varies based on the product’s size, weight and storage time.
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
- Pros: FBA has the most extensive domestic and international network of all ShipBob competitors. It can also easily integrate with Amazon sales to reach the e-commerce giant’s customer base.
- Cons: Not focused on Amazon sales? FBA might not be the best solution for you.
- Pricing: Similar to ShipHero’s pricing model, FBA’s model tends to vary based on product size, weight and storage time.
Choosing the Right Alternative for Your Business
ShipMonk vs ShipBob? ShipCalm? FBA? How do you choose the right alternative for your business?
While knowing the basics of what each alternative can offer is a key step to finding the right fit, it’s really about scalability and integration. For instance, if you’re a small business, how well does a 3PL firm integrate with your current operations? Additionally, think about how scalable the solution is as your firm grows over time. Does it have the capability to grow with you or will you likely be looking for another 3PL provider when you reach a certain volume of business?
Finally, look for the key competitive advantages of each firm and how each 3PL’s specialty could benefit your business. Whether it’s the pricing model, the type of product they specialize in working with, the fulfillment center network or something else, selecting a 3PL partner should be done so carefully and thoughtfully.
Final Thoughts
The right fulfillment partner shouldn’t just be someone you settle working with – it should serve as an extension of your business.
Don’t underestimate the value that the right 3PL provider can offer to your business. It can help you streamline your operations, improve order accuracy and customer loyalty, enhance the overall customer experience and grow along with your business. If that’s what a good 3PL partner can do for you, just think of how the wrong partner can adversely impact your business.
The right 3PL provider depends on the specific needs of your business and what type of business you’re operating. Budget also plays a role, as do factors like the extent of the provider’s operations. 3PL providers aren’t a one-size-fits-all situation – you have to put in the legwork to decide what provider will work best for your operations. In some cases, the best choice might be ShipBob. In other cases, the right choice is likely to be an alternative, like ShipCalm.
Take Your Next Step with ShipCalm
If you’ve determined that ShipBob isn’t the right 3PL provider for your operations, know there are plenty of viable alternatives that can meet – or even exceed – the needs of your business. ShipCalm is among the leading 3PL providers for its ability to tailor its fulfillment services to the unique needs of every business, no matter how big or how small it is.
What’s more is ShipCalm can integrate with existing business systems, so partnering won’t require any sort of major infrastructure overhaul within your company. But perhaps the best thing about ShipCalm is how services are designed to scale up as your business grows. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a startup, small business, medium-sized business or major operation, ShipCalm can tailor its shipping solutions to meet your needs and adapt and adjust over time.
Beyond its high-end features as a leading 3PL provider, ShipCalm also places a large emphasis on the customer experience. If you have a problem or need assistance, you can rest assured that ShipCalm’s customer support team will be there to help you resolve it so you can get back to growing your business.
For more information on ShipCalm, including pricing details and an overview of its range of key features, contact us today.
