Both handle shipping labels. The differences show up when volume grows, rates spike, or you need more than a Windows-installed app can deliver.
Each was built for a different kind of operation. The question is whether your platform can take you where you're going.
100+ carriers, AI-powered optimization, and 99.99% uptime — built for businesses where shipping is infrastructure.
Windows-installed, on-premises software with scan-to-ship workflows and UI-based order management.
Every dimension that affects your cost, carrier flexibility, and ability to grow.
| Feature | EasyPost | ShipWorks | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Pay-per-use — scales with volume | $189–$799+/mo fixed subscription | EP Wins |
| Max rate discount | Up to 88% off retail via Wallet Carriers + AI | Up to 84% off via Best Rate Tool | EP Wins |
| Rate shopping intelligence | Luma AI auto-selects best carrier per shipment | Best Rate Tool — manual comparison, no AI | EP Wins |
| Billing error protection | $22M/year in erroneous charges caught & disputed | Not available | EP Wins |
| Feature | EasyPost | ShipWorks | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier count | 100+ domestic, regional, international, same-day | USPS, UPS, FedEx + select others | EP Wins |
| Regional carrier access | Extensive — activate any carrier via one API | Limited carrier set | EP Wins |
| International shipping | Full global carrier support, customs, address validation | Very limited international capability | EP Wins |
| Bring your own carrier | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Carrier onboarding | Config-based — no new code per carrier | Manual setup per carrier through UI | EP Wins |
| Feature | EasyPost | ShipWorks | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure | Cloud-native — no local install required | Windows-installed, on-premises + web components | EP Wins |
| Uptime SLA | 99.99% published SLA | Not published | EP Wins |
| High-volume capacity | Scales automatically — no ceilings | 16,000 labels/hour (hardware-dependent) | EP Wins |
| Peak-season reliability | Proven at billions of shipments | Dependent on local hardware & Windows environment | EP Wins |
| Support coverage | 24/7/365 including Sundays & holidays | Phone & email (business hours only) | EP Wins |
| Feature | EasyPost | ShipWorks | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI carrier selection | Luma AI — auto-selects optimal carrier per shipment | ✗ No AI carrier selection | EP Wins |
| Rate simulation | Luma Advisor simulates carrier scenarios before you commit | ✗ Not available | EP Wins |
| Shipping analytics | Luma Insights — benchmarks spend, flags cost leaks | Basic reporting | EP Wins |
| Automated workflows | Fully programmable via API and business rules | Customizable automations via Windows UI | Tie |
| Scan-to-ship | Available via Forge platform | ✓ Native scan-to-ship | ShipWorks |
| Batch processing | Available via API | ✓ Native batch processing | ShipWorks |
| Feature | EasyPost | ShipWorks | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| API type | True API-first — RESTful, one integration for all carriers | API available but UI-primary; limited programmatic depth | EP Wins |
| Official SDKs | 7 languages: Python, Node.js, Ruby, PHP, Java, C#, Go | Limited SDK support | EP Wins |
| Sandbox environment | Full production parity sandbox | Not available | EP Wins |
| Webhook support | Full, reliable webhook infrastructure | Basic | EP Wins |
| Carrier change mgmt | EasyPost absorbs changes — your code stays intact | You maintain carrier integrations yourself | EP Wins |
ShipWorks works well inside its designed use case. These are the moments when it doesn't.
The differences aren't visible at 200 shipments a month. They become very visible at 20,000.
The Best Rate Tool surfaces lower rates — but switching carriers requires manual reconfiguration through the UI. Support is unavailable on Sunday when it's discovered. They absorb the cost.
Higher costs. Manual fix under pressure. No Sunday support.Luma AI flags the increase and identifies a regional carrier as cheaper for Zone 4–7. They shift 30% of volume within the week — no new integration, no engineering sprint.
Costs normalized within days. Carrier mix permanently improved.Multi-location setups are available in Warehouse plans, but per-client AI optimization doesn't exist. Each client is managed manually. No white-label capability.
Manual overhead per client. No differentiated service offering.EasyPost Forge supports white-labeled multi-client shipping natively. Each client gets its own carrier mix and Luma AI recommendations — no custom build required.
AI-powered shipping as a competitive differentiator for clients.International carrier options are very limited. Customs workflows require manual processing outside the platform. A second system is needed for global operations.
Two systems to manage. Fragmented from day one.International carriers activate through the same integration already handling domestic. Address validation, customs, and international rate comparison run on one platform.
International expansion in days, not months.ShipWorks has real strengths. Here's where it's the better choice.
ShipWorks is a good product for a specific kind of operation — warehouse teams that rely on scan-to-ship workflows and batch printing from a UI, operations running on Windows infrastructure, and merchants managing orders across many marketplaces through a single dashboard. The problem isn't ShipWorks. It's staying on it past the point where on-premises architecture and fixed-tier pricing can keep up with your growth.
The right platform depends on where your business is today — and whether it can take you where you're going.
EasyPost gives you every carrier ShipWorks connects to — plus 80+ more, AI-powered rate selection, and the cloud infrastructure to grow without rebuilding.