Comparisons
Comparing Veeqo vs Pirate Ship for Shipping Software
- Written by Jana Gentry Smith
You've sifted through the sea of ecommerce shipping software and are left with two heavyweights: Veeqo and Pirate Ship.
As a growing business, you need a solution that isn't just good—it has to fit and flex as your business evolves.
We've compiled a straight-shooting comparison of these two contenders to help you make the most informed choice for your enterprise. Let's get into it.
Table of Contents
Pirate Ship
Pirate Ship Key Features
Pirate Ship Pros
Veeqo
Veeqo Key Features
Veeqo Pros
Which is the best software for you?
Pirate Ship Overview
Pirate Ship, a cloud-based business shipping software, is one of the go-tos for small businesses looking for hassle-free postage purchasing and label printing.
Need ZPL or PDF labels? Pirate Ship does that.
Want to share labels with customers? Pirate Ship helps you do that, too.
Since Pirate Ship’s launch in 2014, entrepreneurs, non-profits, small businesses, and anyone looking to add a bit of ease to their shipping process have found Pirate Ship’s humor, user-friendliness, and low shipping rates endearing.
It helps businesses streamline order fulfillment with affordable shipping rates and inexpensive mailing label costs.
Key features
Discounted USPS and UPS shipping rates
Order management and tracking
Shipping management
Alerts/Notifications
Inexpensive labels
Now that we've covered the key features, let's dive into how these translate into tangible benefits for your business:
Pirate Ship Pros
Affordable Shipping
Pirate Ship has negotiated deep USPS postage discounts that make it cheaper than buying postage directly from the USPS website.
Since Pirate Ship and USPS don’t share the rates with the public, your business might score an unadvertised competitive advantage (but you have to use Pirate Ship’s shipping estimation tools to reveal the rate).
To simplify rate calculation, Pirate Ship gives users access to a straightforward rate estimator and label creation process, which helps you determine rates based on package size and destination.
Enjoyable shipping experience
With its easy-to-navigate user interface, Pirate Ship simplifies shipping for busy entrepreneurs.
Catering to 'entrepreneurs, hustlers, and pirates,' this cloud-based software adds a dash of pirate flair that resonates with users. It's all part of their mission to make shipping easy and enjoyable.
When you need help, customers say that Pirate Ship's friendly support team is there to assist (while still talking like pirates).
Transparent pricing
There aren’t monthly fees, markups, or hidden costs lurking in the shadows when dealing with Pirate Ship. What you see is what you get.
The signup process is cost-free and commitment-free. Also, Pirate Ship gives users access to its easy-to-use rate estimator and label creation process.
Convenient shipping prep and pickup
It’s tough for small businesses to spare someone to wait in line at the post office.
That’s why Pirate Ship tries to take the hassle out of shipping prep and pickup by making it easy to schedule a carrier to pick up your shipments on a day that works for you.
The pickup service won't cost a dime for USPS packages, and your local mail person will handle USPS pickups as usual.
Pickup with UPS is even more flexible. You can opt for a dedicated pickup as part of their delivery route through Pirate Ship or use your regularly scheduled UPS driver for pickups. While USPS pickups are free, UPS pickup options have a fee depending on which UPS option you choose.
If you prefer FedEx or DHL, you’re out of luck. Pirate Ship can offer discounted USPS and UPS shipping because of its exclusive contracts with them.
Pirate Ship Pricing
Pirate Ship promises its customers that it will make money through its partnerships with USPS and UPS, not by charging you for each label or through monthly subscriptions.
It's a free-to-use software with no monthly plans or recurring payments to worry about.
There aren’t monthly fees, markups, or hidden costs lurking in the shadows when dealing with Pirate Ship. What you see is what you get.
The signup process is cost-free and commitment-free. Also, Pirate Ship gives users access to its easy-to-use rate estimator and label creation process.
Need business insurance? Pirate Ship has that, too, with third-party insurance available through Shipsurance.
*Rates from Pirate Ship’s rates page. Last accessed November 2023.
Pirate Ship Cons
However, while Pirate Ship is free, some businesses might find another business shipping software to be a better fit.
If you need expanded shipping options, broader ecommerce integrations, or a more efficient bulk order setup, you’ll see its limitations.
As Pirate Ship is designed with primarily low-volume sellers in mind, some users feel that the feature set is too basic, and the “software is not scaling friendly”, with users reporting a lack of tagging and batching capabilities and limited marketplace integration.
Even though Pirate Ship is free*, you must register a credit card for authorized label printing charges. Or you can pay for your shipping labels by pre-loading your account balance with your transferred PayPal account funds.
Other downsides to Pirate Ship that users mention include:
Challenges with label printing and formatting
No guaranteed delivery timeframes
Not always cheaper than other shipping providers
Further reading:
Veeqo Overview
For high-volume sellers or those who plan to be, Veeqo offers several advantages over Pirate Ship. That’s because Veeqo is more than just a shipping solution—it's a comprehensive software for managing your inventory, warehouse, and shipping.
Veeqo’s enterprise-level tools help you forecast your store's trends and generate on-demand reports. It’s like having a crystal ball that reveals your customers’ future buying habits.
The magic these insights provide can help guide your business decisions, helping you stay ahead of the curve.
Like Pirate Ship, Veeqo is completely free to use—no matter how many shipments you send each month or how many users you need. This means you can focus on growing your business without worrying about increasing monthly fees.
Key features of Veeqo:
Real-time inventory and warehouse management
Amazon A to Z Protections
Discounted shipping rates
5% back in Veeqo Credits
Demand forecasting
Amazon integration
Automation
Veeqo Pros
Now, let's unpack how Veeqo's features can boost your business:
Faster, cheaper shipping
With Veeqo, you get the lowest commercially available shipping rates. While Pirate Ship only has contracts with UPS and USPS, Veeqo has pre-negotiated pricing with UPS, USPS, FedEx, and DHL. Not only do you have access to the big four, but you can also earn up to 5% back with Veeqo Credits.
Veeqo's built-in, automated rate finder makes uncovering the best shipping rates for each parcel simple. No more tab-hopping in your browser to find the best deals: Veeqo instantly displays the best value labels.
Plus, the bulk shipping feature helps large businesses label and send up to 100 orders at once. What will you do with the hours each week that you would otherwise spend manually inputting order details?
Veeqo also serves US and UK customers, with customer service teams based in North America and Europe, giving it an edge over Pirate Ship.
Time-saving automation
With Veeqo's smart automation, you can set rules to make your warehouse more efficient. Whether you're aiming to speed up deliveries, manage inventory better, or streamline your warehouse, Veeqo has the tools for the job.
For example, Veeqp makes entering your preferences for weight, price, and delivery options easy. With that information, Veeqo will pick the best value labels when it's time to print.
Powerful inventory control
Beyond knowing which items are in stock, Veeqo customers who prioritize inventory management while scaling will be thrilled to rid their days of spreadsheets and embrace real-time visibility and order tracking.
Veeqo auto-updates after every sale on Shopify, Amazon, Walmart, and eBay. No more accidental sales of out-of-stock items = Happier customers.
Since Veeqo helps you keep an eye on your inventory, you can see what's in stock, which items are selling like hotcakes, and which ones aren't moving.
What's more, you can get the same digital scanner that Amazon uses, so your order packing is quick and error-free, and warehouse management is easier.
Integrations
Like Pirate Ship, Veeqo integrates with apps and marketplaces like eBay, Shopify, and Etsy. But Veeqo has a unique edge as an Amazon-owned company.
Veeqo integrates with Amazon, making it easier for ecommerce businesses with Amazon stores to get orders to customers quickly.
As a Veeqo customer, you have access to Amazon’s native shipping and fulfillment systems, giving you peace of mind and a few bonuses—like these—when you buy shipping labels for your Amazon orders on time:
A-to-Z protection
100% valid tracking rate
Also, Veeqo is an approved Shopify Plus partner, so you’ll get advanced support, security, and high-performance tools designed to meet the needs of high-volume sellers.
User-friendly interface
Even though Veeqo’s shipping software is packed with integrations and features, you’ll still find it user-friendly.
We've made sure of it, so even the least tech-savvy folks on your team will think it’s easy to use. It’s easy to set up and sync with your stores.
Customer service like no other!
Our customers often comment on the exceptional customer service we provide at Veeqo. Like Pirate Ship, customer service is a top priority at Veeqo.
Your Veeqo support team is always ready to assist via live chat, phone, or email. Their goal is to answer questions and resolve issues quickly so you can get back to doing what’s important—running your business.
Prefer to DIY your problems? We offer a vast library of help files and other resources to provide you with the advice and answers you need whenever you need them.
Veeqo Pricing
You know what makes running a business easier? Not spending money when you don’t have to.
And you don’t have to with Veeqo. It’s 100% free. Here’s what you can expect:
No subscription costs
No charges for extra users or spikes in order volumes
No hidden fees tucked away in the small print
No limits on shipping labels.
We're talking zero, nada, zilch.
You get fully loaded shipping software without spending a cent.
Veeqo will grow with your business as you scale
Any shipping management tool will make your order handling and label printing process more manageable. Done is better than none, right?
But as your business grows, you need a shipping solution that scales with you without a hefty price tag to anchor you down.
It’s true. Pirate Ship does offer good USPS and UPS shipping rates—and a splash of swashbuckling fun—but those won’t serve you as your orders and shipments become more complex.
With Veeqo, you get a powerful suite of enterprise-grade software, no matter the size of your company or how many parcels you ship each month.
It’s like wearing elastic-waist pants to a Thanksgiving buffet—Veeqo’s services will grow with you.
This makes it easy for any business to scale its inventory and order volumes without missing a beat or breaking the bank.
Ready to experience the simplicity and efficiency of shipping management at scale? Create your free Veeqo account today and see the difference for yourself.
