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Find the best rate for every shipment with our shipping rates comparison tools
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How to Compare Carrier Rates and Automate Shipping with Rate Shopper
Compare rates, calculate costs, and ship smarter
Automatically compare carrier rates in real-time
Choose your goal: cheapest, fastest, or best value
Control the carriers and services you include
Calculate dimensional weight before you print
Support free shipping and discount strategies without guesswork
Compare rates and print labels in one workflow
Scale savings with ShipStation API
Handle domestic and international shipping in one place
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Shipping rates comparison tool FAQs
What is a shipping rates comparison tool?
A shipping rates comparison tool evaluates shipping rates across multiple carriers and services in one place. ShipStation’s Rate Shopper uses real-time data and a built-in shipping calculator to help you: All of this is done based on the rules you set in ShipStation’s Rate Shopper tool.
How does ShipStation calculate shipping costs and show discounted rates?
ShipStation uses your shipment details to calculate shipping costs in real time. This includes: Rate Shopper then applies any available discounted rates from your connected carriers or ShipStation’s negotiated services, such as USPS Ground Advantage, so you can see savings before you print labels.
Can I compare shipping rates across international carriers?
Yes. ShipStation lets you compare rates across international carriers and services to find the best option for cross-border shipments. You’ll see rates from eligible carriers based on your package details and destination. Note that automated rate selection through Rate Shopper is currently available for domestic shipments, with international support coming in early 2026. How does Rate Shopper calculate delivery time? Rate Shopper estimates delivery using the time in transit from the business day after you ship. By default, that starts tomorrow. Only business days count—weekends are skipped. For example, a 2-business-day delivery starting Monday means your package arrives by Wednesday. Can you set service preferences with Rate Shopper? Yes. In Rate Shopoper, you can set up a Service Preference that will override the otherwise selected rate if your preferred service is only a certain amount more expensive. For example, if you have set your service preference to choose UPS Ground if the rate is within 1 dollar of the cheapest, it would select UPS Ground® if it were up to $0.99 more expensive than the cheapest rate. How much can I save using Rate Shopper? The possibilities are endless. Shippers save an average of 3.4% per label, automatically with Rate Shopper. Can I override Rate Shoppers selection if I need to? Absolutely. Rate Shopper suggests the best option based on your rules, but you always have final say. If you need to choose a different carrier or service for a specific order, you can override the selection before printing the label.