FedEx vs. USPS: Which is better for eCommerce?

FedEx and USPS are two prominent shipping carriers that offer hassle-free shipping for eCommerce store owners. Finding the one that works best for you is indeed a task. To determine the best option between FedEx and USPS, you need to understand their distinct features in depth.

FedEx and USPS have their distinctive features and origins. FedEx is known for its quick deliveries and excellent tracking features. It is a multinational shipping carrier company, serving thousands of eCommerce stores and individuals to deliver the posts and packages with no delay. Whereas USPS is more managed by the government and is the primary postal service of the US. It is primarily used to ship small to large packages both domestically and internationally.

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FedEx vs. USPS: Which is Best for Your eCommerce Business?

The choice of shipping will depend on the type of business you are doing.

If you are looking for options to ship quickly, then FedEx is the best alternative. It has a superior tracking system and offers overnight delivery. FedEx allows shipping of items with maximum weight limits of 150 lbs. FedEx is ideal for shipping out larger packages to both international and domestic locations quickly and securely.

USPS is a cost-effective option for shipping smaller packages, which are of about 2 lbs or less. It is found to be more or less economical. The maximum weight limit allowed is 70 lbs. USPS is found to be the most affordable option for domestic and international shipping.

Beyond these basic differences, these shipping services have their unique disadvantages and advantages. Let’s take a look at their basic features to get a better understanding.

FedEx Shipping Services

FedEx shipping services are known for their fast and reliable services, especially their overnight services. Here are some of the popular FedEx shipping options:

Ground Delivery: Business ground delivery offers delivery within 1-5 business days. Best for heavy shipments.
Home Delivery: Residential delivery by ground shipping offers delivery within 1-5 business days. Best for large packages up to 150lbs.
FedEx Same-Day: Same-day door-to-door delivery option offering delivery within hours, depending on availability. Operates 7 days a week, 365 days a year throughout the U.S.
FedEx 2-Day: Delivers within 2 business days to most areas of the U.S.
FedEx 2-Day AM: Delivery is done in 2 days and reaches by 10:30 AM to residences and rural areas.
FedEx Express Saver: Delivery happens within 3 business days to most of the United States by 4:30 PM and by 8:00 PM to residences
FedEx First Overnight: This is the most expeditious shipping option available. Delivers within the next business day at 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m., or 9 a.m. local time in most parts of the US and by 2:00 PM in remote areas of the US.
FedEx Priority Overnight: Delivery takes place between 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM to rural locations and residences. Optional Saturday Delivery.
FedEx Priority International: Delivery in 1-3 days
FedEx Economy International: Delivery in 2-5 business days
FedEx International Mail Service: Best service for mailing low-value shipments, premium delivery takes 4-7 days, and standard delivery takes 7-11 working days.

Advantages and Disadvantages of FedEx

FedEx, like any other shipping option, has its distinct advantages and disadvantages. Here is a quick list of them.

Advantages:

Save on shipping costs and surcharges, and also earn rewards for shipping through the FedEx reward program.
The Ship Manager tool is available for package tracking and management
Reliable service with rural advantage. No more waiting to receive your packages.
Fast and expedited shipping services.
FedEx International Ship Assist, which shows harmonized system code, customs clearance, etc, beforehand.
Allows shipping packages weighing up to 150 lbs and extra care for sensitive shipments.
Weekend deliveries are also possible.

Disadvantages:

Has fewer pickup and drop-off locations compared to the USPS
Complex pricing structure
Strict shipping policies
Higher shipping rates.

USPS Shipping Services

USPS is ideal for shipping small packages, most affordable compared to FedEx. Here are some of the USPS services:

Priority Mail: Offers a flat rate on boxes weighing less than 70 lbs, and delivers within 2-3 business days.
First Class Mail: Designed for shipping small packages that weigh under 13 lbs, and also envelopes. Offers 1-5 business-day shipping.
USPS Ground Advantage: Delivery takes place in 2-5 business days.
Retail Ground: Economical shipping option for oversized packages that aren’t time-sensitive in terms of delivery.
Priority Mail Express: This is the USPS’s fastest delivery option, with overnight delivery seven days a week. 1-3 day delivery to most US post Offices by 6 PM for packages under 70 lbs within the US.
Media Mail: A special service for shipping media, educational, video, and audio files. They enforce a 70 lbs weight limit for shipping. It delivers within 2 to 8 business days of shipping.

Advantages and Disadvantages of USPS

USPS also has its share of advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look at them.

Advantages:

Access to many locations across the US.
Offers free one-time or repeat pickups for businesses that run large volume shipping.
Offers an extensive selection of free Express Mail and Priority Mail packaging for businesses to choose from, to save money on the cost of shipping supplies.
They also offered free package tracking for all services.
Improved insurance coverage for Express and Priority Mail shipments.
All-in-one pickup option for different mail services
Easy-to-print postage and shipping labels at home.
In-person service is also available.
Delivers to mailboxes and P.O. boxes.
Offers a last-mile delivery option for other shipping carriers.

Disadvantages:

Less efficient tracking and responsive customer service compared to FedEx service.
Can only ship items that weigh 70 lbs or less.
More expensive if you’re sending out large quantities of packages individually.

Which is Faster: FedEx or USPS

When it comes to speed, FedEx is popular for its quick delivery options like overnight delivery, same-day delivery, etc. with an excellent tracking service. But again, USPS Priority Mail offers faster delivery than the FedEx Home delivery option. When compared, USPS Priority delivers packages in 1.79 days on average, compared to 2.21 days for FedEx to ship parcels, particularly on a Monday using the regular shipping services.

So, when you consider shipping to other regions apart from the US, then FedEx is ideal as they offer instant shipping solutions. Whereas, when it comes to domestic and affordable shipping, USPS is ideal.

FedEx Ground vs. USPS Priority

Confused about which to choose between FedEx Ground and USPS Priority? No need to worry. Let’s get a brief idea about both of these shipping options.

Shipping with FedEx Ground

FedEx Ground is a low-cost shipping service offering delivery to businesses at a fast pace to various locations. When you opt for FedEx Ground, shipments typically travel by truck on the road. Here are some features of using FedEx Ground.

Shipping/Transit Time: Delivery within the US locations takes 1-5 business days. Shipping to and from Alaska and Hawaii requires a minimum of 3-7 business days.
Weight Limit: Can ship packages weighing up to 150 lbs per package and 200 lbs per shipment.

Shipping with USPS Priority

USPS Priority Mail service that offers fast delivery time and free package pickup at your home or office. Here are some features of using USPS Priority for shipping.

Shipping/Transit Time: Delivery within the US takes 1-3 business days.
Weight Limit: Packages up to 70 lbs can be shipped.

FedEx Vs. USPS: Which is cheaper?

If you are considering shipping packages weighing less than 2 lbs, then USPS is cheaper than FedEx. When you are shipping anything that is weighing more than 2 lbs, FedEx is better. However, if your item can fit into the flat-rate boxes that have small, medium, or large sizes, then USPS is cheaper than FedEx.

Here is an estimated price for shipping a 2-lb package from New York to Los Angeles.

Courier	Service	Delivery Time Frame	Starting Cost
USPS	Priority Mail	2-3 business days	$15.45
USPS	Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box	2 business days	$11.70
USPS	Priority Mail Express 1-Day	1 business day	$31.40
FedEx	FedEx Ground	1-5 business days	$16.40
FedEx	FedEx Express Saver(FedEx Box)	3 business days	$15.10
FedEx	FedEx 2-Day	2 business days	$52.69

As you can see, USPS offers the cheapest shipping options for shipping.

FedEx Vs. USPS: An Overall Comparison

Here is a table that gives you a complete idea about the features of both these shipping carriers, to help you choose the one that fits your needs.

FedEx vs. USPS: Choose the Best Shipping Carrier

Overall, if you see, both these services, FedEx and USPS, have several features that make them ideal for your business. Both have several advantages and disadvantages, but again, what you choose depends on your business scenario.

If you want to include the FedEx shipping options on your WooCommerce store, then you can make use of the following plugins:

ReachShip Multi-Carrier & Conditional WooCommerce Shipping Plugin

You don’t need to waste your time switching from platforms to get the cheapest rate for your shipping needs. This free plugin help you get shipping rates comparison in a snap of a second.

Key Features:

Creation and automation of shipments
Real-time shipping rates and print labels from the admin dashboard
Sophisticated packaging algorithm
Customizable carrier shipping with the Conditional Shipping feature
Set conditions and rules for shipping effectively

EasyPost Shipping Method Plugin for WooCommerce

Get hold of live shipping rates of all the premium carriers in one click. The plugin uses EasyPost APIs to get the right rates of the shipping carriers.