Is ShipStation Right for Your Ecommerce Business? Pros, Cons & What to Know
In the world of e-commerce logistics, tools like ShipStation are game-changers for small to mid-sized brands. But is it the right fit for your business as you scale?
Whether you’re fulfilling orders in-house or partnering with a 3PL like Rogue Fulfillment, understanding what ShipStation does — and what it doesn’t — is critical to making the right decision.
What Is ShipStation?
ShipStation is a cloud-based shipping software designed to streamline order fulfillment across multiple sales channels. It integrates with platforms like Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and dozens more, allowing businesses to import orders, compare carrier rates, print labels, and manage their shipping all in one place.
It’s a popular option for eCommerce brands who fulfill their own orders and want more control while gaining efficiency.
Why People Use ShipStation
Here are the biggest reasons ecommerce sellers turn to ShipStation:
1. Multi-Channel Order Management
ShipStation pulls in orders from multiple marketplaces and storefronts, making it easier to manage everything from one dashboard.
2. Discounted Shipping Rates
Users can access discounted rates from carriers like USPS, UPS, and FedEx — helping cut down on overall shipping costs.
3. Automation Rules
You can set automation rules for specific SKUs, shipping methods, or customer tags — saving time on repetitive tasks.
4. Branded Tracking Pages
ShipStation lets you create custom-branded tracking pages, which helps your customer experience feel more professional and consistent.
5. Batch Label Printing
For brands shipping in volume, batch printing lets you process dozens (or hundreds) of orders at once.
6. Reporting & Insights
The platform offers detailed shipping and order reports, which can help optimize your logistics strategy.
Where ShipStation Falls Short
While ShipStation offers a lot of functionality, it’s not perfect. Here are some limitations, and things to consider:
1. Not a Full Inventory Management System
ShipStation is great for shipping — but it’s not designed to handle complex inventory management, warehouse tracking, or demand forecasting.
2. Can Get Clunky at Scale
For rapidly growing brands, ShipStation’s interface and workflows can feel manual and fragmented, especially when juggling high order volumes.
3. No Fulfillment Services
ShipStation doesn’t pick, pack, or ship your orders — it’s a tool for businesses doing fulfillment themselves or managing dropshipping.
4. Limited Support
Users often mention that customer support can be slow or difficult to navigate, especially during peak times.
Is ShipStation Right for You?
If you’re a small to mid-sized ecommerce brand fulfilling orders in-house and need a reliable shipping platform, ShipStation can be a strong fit. It’s affordable, integrates with your tech stack, and can help you move faster.
But as you grow, your fulfillment needs might outpace what ShipStation has to offer.
That’s where a 3PL like Rogue Fulfillment steps in. We help brands go beyond shipping software by providing full-service fulfillment — receiving, inventory management, pick/pack, and on-time delivery — all with the same transparency and control you’re used to.
ShipStation + Rogue Fulfillment?
Already using ShipStation but thinking about outsourcing fulfillment? Good news: we’ve worked with plenty of brands who make the transition smoothly — and we can help you integrate or offload what’s no longer serving your needs.
Let’s talk about scaling smarter.