How to Insure Your ShipStation Shipments: 2026 Guide
Quick Answer
- ShipStation is a multi-carrier shipping platform connecting 400+ marketplaces and carriers for US e-commerce businesses
- Plans start at $9.99/month for 50 shipments and go up to $399.99/month for unlimited volume
- Carrier liability through ShipStation defaults to $100 per shipment, which is not enough for high-value goods
- You can protect every ShipStation shipment with Secursus Shipping Insurance, regardless of which carrier or plan you use
ShipStation is one of the most widely used shipping management platforms in the US, with over 100,000 merchants using it to print labels, compare carrier rates, and manage fulfillment across Shopify, Amazon, eBay, WooCommerce, and dozens of other channels. If you run an e-commerce business and ship more than a handful of orders per month, ShipStation probably deserves a look. This guide covers the 2026 plan structure, the key things that changed recently, and what you need to know about insuring the shipments you process through the platform.
What ShipStation Actually Does
ShipStation sits between your sales channels and your carriers. It pulls orders from wherever you sell, lets you compare real-time carrier rates, prints labels in bulk, automates repetitive tasks with rule-based workflows, and sends branded tracking updates to your customers.
The platform connects to over 400 integrations including Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, TikTok Shop, and Walmart. On the carrier side, it gives you access to discounted rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and GlobalPost that are typically 30% to 90% lower than retail walk-in rates.
The 2026 version of ShipStation has also added AI-powered automation that automatically selects the best carrier and service for each order based on rules you define, along with improved warehouse workflow tools and more detailed analytics on shipping costs and delivery performance.
ShipStation Pricing 2026: The New Plan Structure
ShipStation changed its plan structure in 2025 and 2026, moving from six tiers (Starter, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Enterprise) to four cleaner tiers. Here is the current breakdown:
| Plan | Monthly shipments | Monthly price | Key feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Up to 50 | $9.99 | Core shipping, 300+ integrations |
| Growth | Up to 500 / 1,000 | $29.99 / $59.99 | More users, advanced customization |
| Scale | Up to 2,000 | $99.99 | Multi-user, API access, automation |
| High-Volume | Unlimited | $399.99 | Full feature set, priority support |
All plans come with a 30-day free trial and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. No credit card is required to start the trial.
What changed in 2025 and 2026: ShipStation moved API access to the Scale tier ($99.99/month), which caused significant friction for existing customers on lower plans who had built their workflows around API integrations. If your business relies on custom API connections, budget for the Scale plan from the start to avoid a forced upgrade later. ShipStation also updated USPS rates on January 18, 2026, with Ground Advantage seeing an average commercial discount decrease of 2% for ShipStation users compared to retail rates.
Why Carrier Liability Through ShipStation Is Not Enough
ShipStation makes it easy to ship at scale, but it does not solve the insurance problem. When you print a label through ShipStation using USPS, UPS, or FedEx, the default carrier liability still applies:
- USPS: $100 included on Priority Mail. Nothing on First-Class.
- UPS: $100 included. Declared value available with surcharge.
- FedEx: $100 included. Declared value available with surcharge.
For an e-commerce store shipping electronics, watches, jewelry, collectibles, or any item above $200, that default coverage is almost never enough. Carrier declared value programs also come with exclusions, depreciation rules, and lengthy investigation processes that can delay payouts for 30 to 90 days.
The other issue is that carrier claims must be filed within strict deadlines. UPS and FedEx require notification of loss within 60 days. Miss the window and you have no claim regardless of what happened.
How to Insure ShipStation Shipments with Secursus
Secursus works independently from ShipStation. You do not need to change how you ship or which carrier you use. The process is simple:
- Create your shipment and print your label in ShipStation as normal
- Before handing the package to the carrier, take out insurance on Secursus by entering the tracking number and declared value
- Coverage activates immediately and remains valid through to final delivery
Secursus covers loss, theft, and damage up to $120,000 per shipment, with no exclusions for second-hand goods, collectibles, watches, or luxury items. The average claim is resolved in 3 business days, compared to 30 to 90 days through carrier processes.
For a $500 item, Secursus insurance costs approximately $3. For a $2,000 item, approximately $12. The rate is 0.6% to 1% of the declared value with no subscription or commitment required.
For businesses shipping high volumes through ShipStation, we can also discuss a bulk integration. Contact us directly and we will set up a solution tailored to your shipping frequency.
ShipStation vs Alternatives: Quick Comparison
ShipStation is not the only option in its category. Here is how it compares to the most common alternatives for US e-commerce merchants:
| Platform | Starting price | Carriers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ShipStation | $9.99/month | 40+ | Multi-channel merchants, mid-volume |
| Shippo | Free (pay per label) | 40+ | Low-volume, pay-as-you-go |
| EasyPost | API-based | 100+ | Developers, custom integrations |
| Ordoro | $59/month | 20+ | Inventory-heavy operations |
ShipStation sits in the middle ground: more features than Shippo, more accessible than EasyPost's API-first model, and better pricing than Ordoro for pure shipping volume. For businesses that already use Shopify or WooCommerce and ship more than 50 orders per month, ShipStation is typically the easiest starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ShipStation free? ShipStation offers a free 30-day trial with no credit card required. After the trial, the cheapest paid plan is $9.99 per month for up to 50 shipments. A limited free tier with up to 25 shipments per month is also available on some configurations.
Does ShipStation offer shipping insurance? ShipStation does not provide its own shipping insurance. Carrier liability through ShipStation defaults to $100 per shipment on most services. For full value coverage, you need a third-party insurance policy. Secursus covers ShipStation shipments on all carriers up to $120,000 per parcel.
Which carriers does ShipStation support? ShipStation connects to 40+ carriers including USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL Express, GlobalPost, OnTrac, and regional US carriers. You can use ShipStation's negotiated rates or bring your own carrier account at no additional fee.
Can I use ShipStation with Shopify? Yes. ShipStation integrates natively with Shopify and is one of the most commonly paired combinations for US e-commerce. It pulls orders automatically, syncs tracking back to Shopify, and updates fulfillment status in real time.
What happened to the ShipStation API access in 2026? ShipStation moved API access to the Scale tier ($99.99/month) in 2025. Customers on lower plans who had built API-dependent workflows were cut off without prior warning, which generated significant negative reviews. If API integration is part of your setup, plan for the Scale tier from the start.
How do I file a claim for a lost ShipStation shipment? If you have Secursus insurance, contact us directly with your tracking number, proof of value, and the shipping receipt. We process claims independently from the carrier. If you are relying on carrier declared value only, file directly with the carrier within their stated deadlines: 60 days for UPS and FedEx, 80 days for USPS. For a detailed guide on each carrier's process, see our complete guide to lost or stolen packages.
