Free multi-carrier shipping software | Descartes XPS

Reduce Costs & Increase Efficiency: How Free Multi-Carrier Shipping Software Can Help

Are you looking for ways to cut shipping costs and increase operational efficiency for your ecommerce business? Not only do lower costs lead to a wider profit margin (yes, please!), but faster deliveries make for happier customers who are more likely to become loyal to your brand, recommend you to friends, and purchase from you again.

Free multi-carrier shipping software is the secret to reducing costs and increasing efficiency in ecommerce operations. By allowing you to ship with multiple domestic and international carriers (including FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL, and more), multi-carrier software helps you provide fast and cost-effective shipping to your customers while reducing labor costs and expenses.

What is multi-carrier shipping software?

Multi-carrier shipping software integrates multiple shipping carrier accounts, sales channels, and functions of the shipping process in one streamlined platform. It helps you easily compare carrier rates and transit times, print shipping labels, and track shipments for all orders in one place. With all your programs integrated, you can automate repetitive tasks and avoid wasted time.

Pros

Low-risk opportunity for brands of any size to save money on shipping
Rate shopping and access to deeply discounted rates
Easily shift volume from one provider to the next as demand requires

Cons

May not allow you to use your own negotiated carrier rates
May charge label or service fees to access certain features
May not support all carriers’ special services

Best for

Small to midsized businesses with growing order volume
Multiple sales channels, pop-up shops, or promotional shippers
Managing seasonal peaks and spikes in order volume

What is single carrier shipping software?

Single carrier shipping software is a program owned by a specific carrier and accessed via the carrier’s website or downloaded to your desktop. It allows shippers to review and select the carrier’s services, print shipping labels, view tracking information, and manage shipments. Some examples of this software include UPS WorldShip®, USPS Click-N-Ship, and FedEx Ship Manager®.

Pros

Simplicity of managing one shipping carrier account for all shipments
Develop a strong relationship with one preferred carrier
Potentially negotiate your own discounted rates and perks

Cons

Does not offer carrier rate shopping to get the best rate for every order
Limited agility/flexibility in your shipping strategy if the carrier has issues
Less control over carrier rate negotiations (they have all the data)

Best for

Low-volume or infrequent shippers who want simplicity
Businesses that require specific carrier services not supported by other software
Prefers desktop or on-premises shipping software

How does free multi-carrier software reduce shipping costs?

There are a variety of ways free solutions can help you save money on shipping and operational costs. Some of these include:

Discounted Rates and Rate Comparison

Multi-carrier software can reduce your overall shipping costs by helping you to easily compare factors like cost, speed, and service levels. By diversifying your carriers with shipping software, you can get discounted rates and optimize your shipping strategy to lower costs.

Increased Operational Efficiency

We all know that time is money. More efficient processes avoid wasting time on tasks, meaning you can reduce manual labor and increase efficiency.

Reduce Customer Acquisition Costs

Happy customers who receive their goods on time will likely return to your business and spread the word about your brand for free!

Free Software = One Less Expense

By selecting a free software option instead of a paid subscription, you are avoiding yet another monthly expense for your small business.

How can shipping software benefit small businesses?

Pre-Negotiated Discount Rates

Multi-carrier solutions change the game for small businesses with negotiations for deeply discounted shipping rates.

Do More Work with Fewer People

Many small businesses are upgrading to multi-carrier shipping software instead of single-carrier or in-platform software.

Easily Add More Sales Channels

Most third-party shipping solutions offer pre-built integrations for all major sales channels.

What is the best free multi-carrier shipping software?

Some popular free multi-carrier programs (in alphabetical order) include:

Descartes XPS Ship – Easy Domestic and International Shipping

Offering a more robust feature set than you would expect from free shipping software, Descartes XPS Ship has no subscription fees.

Easyship – Most Global Shipping Services

With “250+ courier services from USPS, UPS, DHL and more,” Easyship leads the pack in terms of global shipping services.

Pirate Ship – Cheap UPS and USPS Shipping

Perhaps the most playful free shipping software brand, Pirate Ship is easily recognized by its whimsical pirate theme.

ShipStation – ShippingEasy Free Software

ShipStation is one of the most widely known shipping solutions right now. They offer free software via ShippingEasy.

Veeqo – Amazon Shipping Service

As “an Amazon company,” Veeqo provides free multi-carrier shipping software.

Where are the hidden costs in free software?

Check for hidden costs such as:

Label or service fees
Cost to add more users
Fees to use your own carrier account

Key Takeaways

With shipping discounts and efficient rate comparisons across carriers, multi-carrier software helps businesses save money and ship faster.
Free multi-carrier software is a low-risk option for small to mid-sized businesses, allowing you to cut operational costs.
Small businesses can get deeper discounts by using third-party shipping platforms that have pre-negotiated preferential rates.
Multi-carrier shipping software allows for greater agility and more choices than relying on a relationship with a single carrier.