EasyPost vs. Stamps.com
Both print labels. The differences show up the moment your volume grows past the point Stamps.com was built for.
Two platforms, two very different ceilings
Stamps.com built a clean, simple product for small businesses printing labels from home. That's not a criticism — it's exactly what they set out to do. The problem is mid-market shipping operations weren't part of that design.
EasyPost
100+ carriers, AI-powered rate selection, and 99.99% uptime — built for businesses where shipping is infrastructure, not an afterthought.
- 100+ carriers, one integration
- Luma AI selects the best rate automatically
- 24/7 support including Sundays
- Up to 88% off retail rates
- $22M/year in billing errors caught and disputed
- $0 to get started
Stamps.com
Simple UI for printing USPS and UPS labels. Works well at low volume — significant gaps appear as complexity and volume grow.
- Simple web, PC, and Mac UI
- USPS and UPS only — two carriers total
- No AI carrier selection or rate optimization
- Phone support Mon–Fri only; no weekend coverage
- Monthly subscription — no free tier
- Documented history of outages and downtime
The full breakdown
Every dimension that affects your cost, workflow, and ability to recover revenue when shipments go wrong.
| What Matters | EasyPost | Stamps.com |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Control | ||
| When rates spike | Shift carriers the same day EP Wins | ✗ No alternative carriers to move to |
| Spotting where you overpay | Luma AI benchmarks spend and flags cost leaks EP Wins | ✗ No reporting or intelligence layer |
| Protection from billing errors | $22M/year in erroneous charges caught and disputed EP Wins | ✗ No active dispute process |
| Rate discounts off retail | Up to 88% off retail rates EP Wins | Negotiated USPS and UPS rates only |
| Pricing model | Pay-per-use — scales with volume EP Wins | Monthly subscription from $19.99/mo |
| Carrier Coverage | ||
| Carrier count | 100+ domestic, regional, and international EP Wins | USPS and UPS only |
| International shipping | Full support — global carrier network EP Wins | ✗ Not supported |
| Regional carrier access | Extensive EP Wins | ✗ Not available |
| Bring your own carrier account | ✓ Supported Tie | ✓ Supported (USPS and UPS only) Tie |
| Scale & Reliability | ||
| Uptime SLA | 99.99% published SLA EP Wins | ✗ No published SLA; documented outage history |
| Support coverage | 24/7/365 including Sundays EP Wins | Phone support Mon–Fri, 6am–6pm PT only |
| High-volume capacity | Scales automatically — no ceilings EP Wins | ✗ Not built for high-volume operations |
| Peak-season reliability | Proven at billions of shipments EP Wins | Scheduled maintenance windows are common |
| Intelligence & Automation | ||
| AI carrier selection | Luma AI selects optimal carrier per shipment EP Wins | ✗ Not available |
| Shipping analytics | Luma AI Insights — full performance visibility EP Wins | ✗ Not available |
| Rate simulation | Luma Advisor simulates carrier scenarios EP Wins | ✗ Not available |
| Platform & Integrations | ||
| API access | Full RESTful API — SDKs in 7 languages EP Wins | Basic API available |
| Shipment protection | EasyPost Guard — insurance, claims, purchase protection EP Wins | ✗ Not available |
| Branded tracking | Custom pages, SMS/email notifications, real-time updates EP Wins | ✗ Not available |
| Address verification | Built-in address verification API EP Wins | Basic address verification |
| Free to start | ✓ $0 to get started EP Wins | ✗ Monthly subscription required |
What Stamps.com wasn't built for
The USPS Developer Portal is a legitimate tool. But for most growing businesses, it creates problems that aren't obvious until you're already in production.
When the platform choice actually matters
The difference isn't visible at 200 shipments a month. It becomes very visible at 20,000.
A mid-market brand hits 10,000 shipments/month and USPS rates spike
With only USPS and UPS available, rate increases mean absorbing the cost. There's no third carrier to pivot to and no support when the team discovers the problem on a Sunday mid-peak.
Result: Higher costs. No viable alternative. Full increase absorbed.Luma AI flags the increase and identifies a regional carrier as cheaper for specific zones. The team shifts a portion of volume within the week — no new integration required.
Result: Costs normalized within days. Carrier mix permanently optimized.An ops team needs to ship internationally for the first time
International shipping isn't supported. The team pieces together a separate workflow with a different vendor — two systems, two bills, two sets of carrier relationships to manage.
Result: Fragmented operations from day one.International carriers activate through the same integration already handling domestic volume. Address validation, customs, and rate comparison all run on one platform.
Result: International expansion in days, not months.Peak season hits and the platform goes down
Documented outage history and scheduled maintenance windows make downtime during peak season a known risk. Phone support is closed on weekends — exactly when it's needed most.
Result: Labels don't print. Orders don't ship. Revenue stops.99.99% uptime maintained through consecutive peak seasons. 24/7/365 support staffed and ready — including Sundays and holidays.
Result: Peak season runs like every other day.Is Stamps.com still the right fit?
The honest answer on who should use which
The right platform depends on where your business is today — and whether it can take you where you're going.
EasyPost
- ✓Ship 500+ packages/month and want real rate savings
- ✓Need carrier flexibility now or as you grow
- ✓Want AI to reduce costs automatically — not just when you audit
- ✓Ship on weekends or holidays when support matters
- ✓Are expanding internationally or managing multiple locations
- ✓Require a published uptime SLA you can hold someone to
- ✓Need your platform to absorb carrier changes without breaking
Stamps.com
- →Ship fewer than 200 packages/month
- →Run a solo operation and need the simplest possible UI
- →Only ship domestically via USPS or UPS
- →Don't need programmatic carrier control or API access
- →Are early-stage and not yet planning for scale
Questions before you switch
Is EasyPost really free to start?
Do I have to give up my existing carrier accounts?
How long does it take to switch from Stamps.com?
What happens when a carrier changes their rates or API specs?
Still on Stamps.com? You're leaving carriers on the table.
See exactly what EasyPost looks like for your operation before committing to anything. Free to start. Most teams are live within a day.
