Ship orders faster with the top shipping APIs. Unveil top APIs to automate logistics, reduce errors, and improve customer satisfaction.
Have you ever considered what happens after placing an order on an e-commerce website?
From the customer’s perspective, it’s simple: place the order, receive a confirmation, and wait for the delivery. But behind the scenes, a highly intricate logistics operation unfolds, touching everything from inventory and warehouse coordination to shipping, tracking, and customer service.
In the early days, these logistics tasks were managed manually. After a customer placed an order, shipping details had to be entered manually, labels printed one by one, tracking IDs emailed individually, and so on. As order volumes grew, this process became inefficient, error-prone, and costly.
That’s where shipping APIs came in, revolutionizing the logistics workflow for modern e-commerce businesses. In this article, we will list the best shipping APIs for your business. But before we get into that, let’s take a look at what a shipping API is and how it may benefit e-commerce companies.
Let’s get started!
What is a Shipping API?
A Shipping API (Application Programming Interface) is a tool that allows your e-commerce website or application to communicate directly with shipping carriers like FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL, and others in real-time. Instead of manually entering shipping details, comparing carrier rates, printing labels, and tracking packages, a shipping API automates these processes by integrating them into your store’s backend system.
This seamless coordination ensures a fast, accurate, and professional post-purchase experience for your customers and saves hours of manual work for your team. Let’s say a customer places an order. Within seconds, the shipping API can:
- Select a suitable shipping carrier based on cost or delivery time
- Verify the delivery address
- Generate and print the shipping label
- Notify the warehouse
- Send tracking information to the customer via email or SMS
- Update order status in real time
What are the Most Important Functions that Shipping APIs Perform?
The main purpose of shipping APIs is to send and receive data to and from the shipping carriers and the store. Other than that, here are some of the most important functions that shipping APIs perform.
- Enable multi-carrier shipping
- Generate shipping labels automatically
- Tracking shipments and sending regular updates
- Delivery address verification
Shipping APIs: Advantages
Shipping APIs are designed to handle all the repetitive and time-consuming shipping tasks so you can focus on growing your business. Here’s why your e-commerce business should consider integrating a shipping API:
- Automation of Shipping Task
Manual entry of shipping details is tedious and error-prone. Shipping APIs automate everything from rate calculations and label printing to tracking and returns, saving time and reducing human error.
- Access to Multiple Carriers
Multi-carrier shipping APIs allow you to compare rates and services from several shipping providers in real-time. You can choose the most cost-effective or fastest shipping option for each order without switching platforms.
- Faster Order Fulfillment
Automated workflows enable faster processing of orders. The API notifies the warehouse, generates labels, and sends tracking updates, ensuring customers get their orders on time.
- Real-Time Tracking and Notifications
APIs provide instant tracking numbers and delivery updates to customers, reducing the volume of “Where is my order?” (WISMO) queries and improving the overall post-purchase experience.
- Address Validation
Incorrect shipping addresses cause delays and extra costs. Shipping APIs validate customer addresses in real-time, ensuring that packages are shipped correctly the first time.
- Cost Efficiency
By comparing shipping rates and automating processes, shipping APIs help businesses lower operational costs while offering better delivery options to customers. - Improved Customer Satisfaction
With faster deliveries, real-time tracking, and fewer shipping errors, your customers enjoy a smoother buying experience, leading to higher retention and repeat purchases.
Best Shipping APIs for E-Commerce
Now that you understand how powerful shipping APIs can be, let’s explore some of the most popular and reliable options available today.
ReachShip Multi-Carrier & Conditional WooCommerce Shipping Plugin
ReachShip offers a robust multi-carrier shipping plugin, integrating with carriers like Australia Post, DHL, UPS, USPS, and FedEx. It provides real-time shipping rates, label printing, and shipment tracking. The plugin’s conditional shipping feature allows for customized shipping rules based on various parameters, enhancing flexibility.
Key Features
- Integration with multiple carriers
- Real-time shipping rates and estimated delivery dates
- Label printing and shipment tracking
- Conditional shipping rules for customized solutions
- Bulk shipment creation and pickup scheduling
Pricing
- Free Plan: $0/month (includes 50 labels)
- Pro Plan: $8/month (includes 100 labels)
- Custom Plan: contact for pricing (includes More than 5000 Labels / Month)
ShipStation
ShipStation, formerly known as ShipEngine, is a comprehensive shipping solution that integrates with over 180 marketplaces and carriers, including USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and more. It offers automation features to streamline order processing, label creation, and shipping workflows.
With ShipEngine’s API, you can integrate your e-commerce website with a wide variety of shipping providers, create labels, track shipments, and handle returns from a single location. You can take care of all of your shipping requirements with this simple REST API, without having to learn the ins and outs of a variety of single-carrier APIs and interfaces. It is easy to configure and will easily integrate with the process you already have in place.
Key Features
- Integration with 180+ marketplaces and carriers
- Automation rules for order processing and shipping
- Branded tracking pages and customer notifications
- Inventory and order management tools
- International shipping support with customs documentation
Pricing
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Starter: $9.99/month (50 shipments/month)
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Growth: $29.99/month (500 shipments/month)
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Scale: $99.99/month (2,000 shipments/month)
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High-Volume: $399.99/month (unlimited shipments)
Shippo
Shippo, a multi-carrier shipping plugin, provides a user-friendly platform to access discounted shipping rates from 40+ global carriers. It supports label printing, real-time tracking, and return label generation, making it ideal for businesses seeking a scalable shipping solution.
Shippo provides a robust shipping API that helps you with comparing shipping costs, the verification of delivery addresses, and tracking shipments. This API interface enables you to provide a top-tier shipping service without the need for constant maintenance and upkeep on your end.
Key Features
- Access to discounted rates from 40+ carriers
- Real-time tracking and automated notifications
- Return label generation and management
- Integration with multiple e-commerce platforms
- Support for international shipping with customs forms
Pricing
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Starter: Free (up to 30 labels/month; $0.05 per label using your own carrier account)
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Professional: Starts at $19/month (up to 10,000 labels/month)
- Premier: Contact for pricing (unlimited shipments)
Easyship
EasyPost’s Shipping API is both versatile and simple, making it easy to compare rates offered by different shipping carriers, purchase and create shipping labels, validate addresses, track deliveries, and add insurance if needed.
Just like any other shipping API, it reduces the complexity of your shipping processes and increases customer satisfaction. Through a single integration, you will be able to compare pricing and purchase labels across dozens of different shipping providers, including USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL, among others.
Additionally, it gives you the ability to trigger real-time shipping updates via webhook notifications that you may customize. Instead of spending time on shipping, you can put your attention on your business because of the streamlined integration process.
Key Features
- 250+ global shipping solutions
- Automated tax and duty calculations
- Pre-negotiated carrier rates
- Branded tracking pages and customer communication tools
- Integration with major e-commerce platforms
Pricing
- Free: $0/month (basic features)
- Plus: $29/month; Billed monthly
- Premier: Billed monthly; $69/month
- Scale: $99/month; Billed monthly
GoComet Container Tracking API
GoComet’s Container Tracking API transforms how businesses monitor and manage container shipments by offering real-time visibility into cargo movements. Designed for shipping companies, freight forwarders, and logistics managers, this API integrates seamlessly with existing ERP or TMS systems to improve end-to-end logistics visibility.
Key Features
- Get live updates on container locations and movement history, reducing uncertainty and improving decision-making across your supply chain
- Set up proactive alerts for shipment delays, route changes, and key delivery milestones to minimize disruptions and optimize planning
- Access powerful analytics on container movement, turnaround times, and route efficiency
- Generate reports for internal stakeholders to drive continuous improvement and reduce logistics costs
Pricing
To get a quote, contact GoComet directly.
ShippyPro API
ShippyPro offers an advanced shipping API that streamlines shipping operations for e-commerce websites. It enables businesses to integrate with various shipping carriers, compare prices, generate labels, and track packages in real-time. With the API, all aspects of shipping and return processing may be managed from a single location. Shipping details from all of your orders are imported directly from your sales channel, allowing you to quickly and easily pick the most cost-effective shipping provider.
With the help of the ShippyPro API, shipping can be easily integrated into any e-commerce website. This enables business owners to optimize and automate their processes and concentrate on growing their businesses. With ShippyPro, you can easily manage your shipments, track their deliveries, issue refunds, and expand your business to new markets.
Key Features
- Real-time price comparison
- Label generation and order import
- Automated returns management
- Shipment tracking dashboard
Pricing
- professional: Starting from $107 per month.
- enterprise: Customized contact directly to get a quote.
Pitney Bowes API
Pitney Bowes Parcel Services API allows you to quickly integrate USPS and other shipping services into your website, generate regular shipping manifests to streamline the workflow, handle returns and cancellations, and much more. This is best for Domestic U.S. shippers looking for a USPS-first solution.
The API is capable of validating shipping addresses and searching the USPS database of addresses. If the API fails to detect the entered address, it will offer possible alternatives. The available shipping rates and the estimated time of delivery are updated in real-time for you to compare and go ahead with the most suitable one.
Using the Tracking API, you can track the delivery status of packages from the time they leave the warehouse all the way until they arrive at their delivery point. The Cancel Pitney Bowes Parcel Services API cancels and refunds shipments. It is an all-encompassing shipping API designed to optimize and accelerate your shipping workflow.
Key Features
- USPS address validation
- Shipping manifests
- Tracking from the warehouse to the doorstep
- Cancellations and refunds API
- Integration with major e-commerce platforms
Pricing
Contact Pitney Bowes for custom pricing based on your shipping volume and needs.
Bonus
Shiprocket API
The Shiprocket API serves as a bridge between your business and Shiprocket’s shipping and order management systems. You can now handle all of your orders and shipments from a centralized location, saving time and effort.
By syncing your catalog every 15 minutes, you can monitor all incoming orders and ensure that they are processed quickly. Shiprocket’s API is intuitive and compatible with all e-commerce platforms. After successfully integrating the API with your business, you will be able to begin managing your orders and shipping from within the Shiprocket platform.
Shiprocket’s API helps you integrate with multiple shipping companies, so you can compare their rates and pick the best one for your company. With this integration, you can arrange your operations while also keeping track of your shipments.
Last Shot
As e-commerce grows increasingly competitive, delivering a seamless post-purchase experience is crucial. Shipping APIs allow you to streamline fulfillment, improve accuracy, and scale without overwhelming your resources. Whether you’re a startup seeking affordable automation or an enterprise managing thousands of orders a day, there’s a shipping API designed to fit your needs. By integrating one of these APIs, you’ll:
- Reduce manual errors
- Cut fulfillment times
- Improve customer satisfaction
- Save on shipping costs
Start by identifying your specific business needs, then choose an API that offers the features and carrier support that match your logistics goals.
If you have any questions about integrating shipping APIs into your business, please let us know in the comments section below.
FAQ’S
- What is a shipping API?
A shipping API connects your e-commerce store with shipping carriers to automate rate comparisons, label creation, tracking, and more. - Do I need coding skills to use a shipping API?
While most APIs require technical setup, platforms like Shippo and Shiprocket offer plugins or easy integrations for non-technical users. - Can I use more than one carrier with a single API?
Yes, multi-carrier APIs like ReachShip, EasyPost, and ShipEngine allow you to access several carriers through one interface. - Is it worth integrating a shipping API for a small business?
Absolutely. Shipping APIs can save time, reduce costs, and enhance your customer service, critical for scaling a small business efficiently. - Can I track shipments in real-time using a shipping API?
Yes, most APIs offer real-time tracking updates and status notifications through webhooks or integrations. - Is it hard to integrate a shipping API into my store?
Most shipping APIs provide developer-friendly documentation and plugins for platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, and Magento to make integration seamless. - How do shipping APIs help reduce shipping costs?
Shipping APIs allow you to compare real-time rates from multiple carriers and choose the most economical option for each shipment. - Which is the best shipping API for WooCommerce?
ReachShip and ShipEngine offer WooCommerce-compatible plugins that provide robust features like label generation, address validation, and multi-carrier support.
