Running a boutique store is exciting—but running fulfillment for a fast-growing store? That’s a whole different kind of wild. If you’re scaling from 50 to 500 orders a day, using the wrong shipping tool can feel like trying to mop up a flood with a paper towel.
You’ve probably heard of ShipStation. Maybe you’re even using it. But as your store grows, you might want something faster, simpler, or more tailored to your workflow.
TLDR
ShipStation is great, but it’s not the only game in town. If your boutique store is growing fast, consider tools like Shippo, Easyship, Pirate Ship, and Veeqo. They’re lightweight, intuitive, and more flexible for scaling teams. Picking the right one could save you hours each week—and your sanity.
Why Look Beyond ShipStation?
ShipStation is full-featured. But sometimes, full-featured means feature overload. For small or mid-sized teams, that can slow things down.
Common reasons stores switch:
- Too many bells and whistles
- Pricing gets steep as you grow
- Clunky or outdated interface
- Not ideal for team collaboration
Now, let’s meet the lightweight heroes. These are tools that are faster, easier to use, and just as powerful for stores on the rise.
1. Shippo — Fast & Friendly
If you want a tool that just works, with no fluff, Shippo is your best friend. It’s quick to set up, easy to learn, and customer support is super responsive.
Highlights:
- Free plan with access to USPS and UPS discounted rates
- Pay-as-you-go pricing (great for variable sales)
- Integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, and more
- Batch label printing without lag
Where Shippo shines: It’s perfect for boutique teams who need to move fast. You won’t get buried in menus or lost in features.
Bonus: You can scale easily without massive pricing jumps.
Image not found in postmeta2. Easyship — Choose Your Carrier Adventure
This one’s for you if you’re shipping internationally or want full control over your carrier and delivery experience.
Highlights:
- Access to 250+ shipping solutions globally
- Works incredibly well for multiple warehouse locations
- Built-in taxes & duties calculator for international shipping
- Offers branded tracking pages
Where Easyship shines: Transparency. You see pricing, duty, and timing estimates all in one place—before you ship. Plus, it gives your customers great visibility on package tracking.
Watch out for: Some features are locked behind the higher-tier plans. But even on the free plan, there’s plenty to love.
3. Pirate Ship — Saving Your Gold
If your store survives on margins and efficiency, Pirate Ship might be the one. It’s all about low costs, simplicity, and transparency.
Highlights:
- TOTALLY FREE—no monthly fees, just shipping costs
- Simple user interface loved by busy businesses
- Truly unbeatable USPS and UPS rates
- Great for domestic shipping (less so international)
Where Pirate Ship shines: Budget-conscious brands and small teams. It’s seriously fast to learn and cheap to run.
Downsides? It doesn’t integrate with quite as many platforms as others. International shipping isn’t as robust either. But for everyday use, it’s an absolute gem.
Pro tip: Pirate Ship is often faster for printing 100+ labels than most paid platforms.
4. Veeqo — Built for Scaling
Veeqo is now owned by Amazon. That might sound scary—but it’s actually really good news. It means Veeqo is now completely free and has powerful features designed for teams growing fast.
Highlights:
- Unlimited users and shipping volume—free
- Automated order rules (like assigning carriers or splitting shipments)
- Inventory + fulfillment tools in one
- Integrates with Amazon, eBay, Shopify, BigCommerce, and more
Where Veeqo shines: Larger boutique brands with growing staff. You get shipping, inventory, and reporting in one dashboard.
Heads-up: Since it’s owned by Amazon, it’s optimized for Amazon sellers—but you don’t have to sell on Amazon to use it.
Image not found in postmetaQuick Comparison Table
| Tool | Best For | Free Plan? | Biggest Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shippo | Small stores with growing volume | Yes | Easy setup & batch shipping |
| Easyship | International & multi-location stores | Yes | Carrier transparency, global reach |
| Pirate Ship | Budget-conscious brands | Yes – always free | Simple & cheap USPS/UPS rates |
| Veeqo | Teams scaling beyond 500 orders/day | Yes – unlimited | Shipping + inventory combined |
What To Look For When Picking Your Tool
Not all lightweight tools are created equal. Ask yourself:
- How many platforms do you sell on?
- Do you ship mostly domestic or international?
- Do you need team features like user roles?
- How much automation do you want?
- Are you price-sensitive?
Your answers should steer your choice. For example:
- If you want super simple + low cost: go with Pirate Ship
- If you’re focused on going global: try Easyship
- If you’re growing a team and need automation: Veeqo
Final Thoughts
Shipping doesn’t need to be the bottleneck in your growth. These tools prove that you don’t need enterprise-level software to scale like a champ.
The best part? Every one of these tools offers a free plan or free trial. So try one (or two) and see what clicks with your flow. You don’t have to stick with ShipStation if it’s slowing you down.
Less stress. Faster shipping. Happier customers. That’s the goal.
Now, go fulfill those orders like the boss you are 🚀
Published on December 15, 2025 under .
