QuickBooks Shipping Manager Review: The Pros and Cons You Need to Know

Written by

Lucinda Honeycutt

Updated

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Written by

Lucinda Honeycutt

Updated

Reviewed By Our team of writers and content creators are experts in ecommerce and we fact-check every claim in our work to ensure it’s accurate and up-to-date. (Learn about our editorial guidelines.).

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Looking for amazing shipping software to manage orders for your ecommerce businesses? Did you know QuickBooks has legit order management tools built in? If you’re already using QuickBooks for other aspects of your business, the Shipping Manager is absolutely free to use!

Product
Summary
Ratings
Easy to Use
Included with a QuickBooks subscription
Only pay for postage you need
Limited carriers
Must be a QuickBooks subscriber
No international shipping
Value 3
Features 1
Customer Support5
Integrations 4
Ease of Use 3
4.0
Overall Score
User Rating
3.5
63 reviews

While QuickBooks’ Shipping Manager may not be the best option for every business, it is worth considering; especially if you’re already using other QB tools. For many small businesses and budding ecommerce companies, QuickBooks’ Shipping Manager can save you time and money. It’s also easy to use!

In this review, we’ll talk about the pros and cons of QuickBooks for fulfillment to help you determine if it’s a good fit for you. We’ll also discuss alternatives that may be better for businesses in need of something more powerful.

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What Is QuickBooks Shipping Manager?

While most of us know QuickBooks for their accounting software, their Shipping Manager is another game changer. With it you can:

  • process shipments
  • print labels
  • schedule pickups
  • track packages
  • enjoy discounted rates

Best of all, the Shipping Manager is free for current QuickBooks users. Simply sign up through your QuickBooks interface for immediate access.

CompanyCarriersInternational ShippingReturns ManagementFulfillment ServicesInsurance
Stamps.com5+
ShippingEasy5+
Easyship100+Via Partners
ShipEngine100+
ShipStation75+
Shipworks6
Shippo85+Via Partners
OrderCup15+
Ordoro8Via Network
Quickbooks3

QBSM works with USPS, UPS, and FedEx, offering discounts as high as 26%! You can autofill shipping labels with recipient information straight from your QuickBooks database to save time and reduce errors.

How Much Does QuickBooks Shipping Manager Cost?

As stated previously, the shipping tools are free to use for QuickBooks customers. The basic plan for QuickBooks Online accounts starts at $30/month, which includes the Shipping Manager and the latest accounting version.

PricingFree TrialMonthly FeePay as You GoShipping Discounts
Stamps.com28 Days$19.99-$34.99+Up To 84%
ShippingEasy30 Days$0-$159.99Up To 84%
Easyship30 Days$0-$200+Up To 89%
ShipEngine30 Days$0-$600+Up To 84%
ShipStation30 Days$9.99-$229.99Up To 84%
Shipworks30 Days$9.99-$799Up to 77%
Shippo30 Days$0-$200+Up to 90%
OrderCup30 days$25-$180
Ordoro15 days$0-$149Up to 88%
QuickbooksYes$15-$100Up to 26%

Compared to other shipping management platforms, QuickBooks is quite affordable; especially if you can make use of the accounting tools. The Shipping Manager is much simpler than many of its competitors, though for many small businesses, it is life-changing.

QuickBooks Shipping Manager Software Features

One of the key features of this software is the ability to create shipping labels and track packages directly from within the QuickBooks platform. This eliminates the need for manual data entry and reduces the chance of errors.

Other features include:

  • automatic address verification
  • batch processing for bulk shipments
  • reports such as shipping costs analysis
  • compatibility with label printers and thermal printers

While QuickBooks may lack some advanced features found on other shipping platforms, it covers the basics well. Overall, QSM can help business growth by saving you time and money on deliveries.

Shipping FeaturesTracking PageShipping Rates at CheckoutSMS NotificationsRecurring Order AutomationSCAN Forms
Stamps.com
ShippingEasy
Easyship
ShipEngine
ShipStation
Shipworks
Shippo
OrderCup
Ordoro
Quickbooks

Shipping Features

QuickBooks integrates with UPS, FedEx, and USPS. This allows users to compare rates and choose the most cost-effective shipping options.

Simple package tracking is also valuable for businesses and customers alike. Address verification will reduce shipping errors, meaning fewer returns and delays.

Shipping FeaturesMultiple User AccountsUSB Scale SupportBranded Returns PortalDropshippingSeller Fulfilled Prime
Stamps.com
ShippingEasy
EasyShip
ShipEngine
ShipStation
Shipworks
Shippo
OrderCup
Ordoro
Quickbooks

Though QuickBooks could be considered entry-level shipping management software, it is a massive upgrade for businesses currently handling fulfillment manually.

Ecommerce Integrations

QuickBooks’ accounting tools integrate with many of the power players in ecommerce, such as:

Ecommerce IntegrationsShopifyBigCommerceWooCommerceWixSquarespace
Stamps.com
ShippingEasy
Easyship
ShipEngine
ShipStation
Shipworks
Shippo
OrderCup
Ordoro
Quickbooks

QuickBooks integrates with these sales channels to share customer information and other accounting data. That data can then be used in the Shipping Manager to bypass a lot of data entry. The result is faster order fulfillment with less room for errors.

Marketplace Integrations

QuickBooks can follow this same two-step integration with many online marketplaces, including:

Marketplace IntegrationsEtsyAmazoneBayWalmart
Stamps.com
ShippingEasy
Easyship
ShipEngine
ShipStation
Shipworks
Shippo
OrderCup
Ordoro
Quickbooks

Again, the data being synced is primarily for core QuickBooks functionality. Fortunately, much of that data is helpful for shipping and you can import it into the Shipping Manager for easy label printing and order management.

Customer Support

QuickBooks boasts millions of users worldwide, necessitating a robust customer service system. Expect 24/7 support via phone, chat, and email.

Customer SupportDedicated AMPhone Support24/7 SupportHelp CenterLive Chat
Stamps.com
ShippingEasy
Easyship
ShipEngine
ShipStation
Shippo
Shipworks
OrderCup
Ordoro
QuickBooks

Most users contacting QuickBooks’ customer support will inquire about accounting. But they will also be able to assist you with questions about the Shipping Manager.

Alternatives

The bottom line is that every business has different needs and pain points. If QuickBooks is a poor choice for your company, consider these proven alternatives:

Best For Ecommerce
Best For Small Business
Best For Discounts
4.5
4.1
4.3
Best For Ecommerce
Best For Small Business
Best For Discounts

Stamps.com

Stamps.com is similar to QuickBooks in that it is more lightweight than the other alternatives. Expect basic functionality like label printing and postage discounts, rather than a suite of advanced shipping tools.

Stamps.com Homepage

Pricing for Stamps.com can be even cheaper than QuickBooks. However, if you can make use of other QuickBooks features, QB offers a much better value. Do note that Stamps.com postage discounts are generally higher than QBSM, sometimes significantly.

ShippingEasy

Compared to QuickBooks Shipping Manager, ShippingEasy focuses primarily on shipping solutions, rather than being essentially an add-on. You will have access to more features, better integrations, and often higher discounts.

ShippingEasy

On the other hand, ShippingEasy has a broader price range and will likely end up costing you more. But if you have a large or growing ecommerce business, the extra functionality and discounts will pay for themselves.

Easyship

Easyship is very comparable to ShippingEasy. Compared to QBSM, both offer more tools at a higher price. If you will make use of these extra tools, the price difference isn’t much of a hurdle.

Easyship Homepage

ShipStation

ShipStation ramps things up, targeting businesses with high order volumes. You will find more features than QB Shipping Manager, and a better UI for managing a plethora of packages.

Shipstation

In short, ShipStation caters to larger businesses, while QuickBooks is better for small-to-medium-sized operations. ShipStation is also one of the more expensive alternatives.

ShipEngine

ShipEngine is a step up from QBSM as far as features and integrations, but not by a wide margin. If you find QuickBooks or Stamps.com to be a little underpowered for your operation, this is a good next step.

ShipEngine Review: ShipEngine Homepage

However, with comparable pricing to more powerful tools like ShipStation and Easyship, ShipEngine doesn’t really set itself apart. Though some businesses will fall into the gap between “too big for QuickBooks” and “too small for ShipStation.”

Leave Your Review

Do you use QuickBooks for your business? Has it proven useful or was it a mistake? Share your thoughts below!

About the author

Photo of author
Lucinda Honeycutt
Lucinda has been a web geek since the '90s. She's a web designer and content creator who specializes in small business, ecommerce, digital marketing, and SEO.

User Reviews:

3.5/5 (63 votes)

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