The best 3PL shipping software depends on whether you need a warehouse system or a label engine. WMS platforms such as Extensiv and ShipHero include per-client billing; label tools such as ShipStation, Shippo, and GoatLabels rate-shop parcels. GoatLabels gives four carriers, one queue, and a flat Pro plan, but no client sub-accounts.
USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL quoted together from US and Singapore origins, on GoatLabels' carrier accounts.
all quotedFree covers 50 shipments a month. Pro is $40 a month flat with unlimited shipments.
The main 3PL shipping software options split into warehouse systems that bill each client and label engines that rate-shop parcels. Extensiv and ShipHero are WMS platforms with per-client billing and quote-based pricing. ShipStation and Shippo publish monthly tiers. GoatLabels is a label engine with a flat Pro plan and no client sub-accounts. Each row below states only what the vendor's own page said.
Updated . Vendor details last checked.
| Software | What it is | Published pricing | Separating clients | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extensiv 3PL Warehouse Manager | 3PL warehouse management system (WMS) with small parcel label generation and UCC-128 labels. | No price published on its product or Billing Manager pages; pricing is through a demo. | Yes. Billing Manager gives each client a portal to view their own rates, line items and charges. | extensiv.com |
| ShipHero | Warehouse management system with a 3PL client portal. | No price published on its homepage; pricing is through a demo. | Yes. 3PL billing fees are set per client across recurring, receiving, storage, shipment, return and ad hoc charges. | ShipHero help center |
| ShipStation | Multi-carrier shipping platform (labels, automations, store connections). | Starter $14.99, Standard $29.99, Premium $349.99 a month at the entry shipment tier; price rises with volume. API from Standard. | A "3PL manager" is listed as an add-on fee. Bring your own carrier account on Standard and Premium. | shipstation.com/pricing |
| Shippo | Multi-carrier label platform and shipping API. | Starter free up to 30 labels a month; Pro $17 a month up to 10,000 labels, then $0.08 a label; Premier by quote. | Not listed on the pricing page we checked. | goshippo.com/pricing |
| GoatLabels | Label engine: USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL rate-shopped on every parcel, one queue, REST API, bulk CSV, 13 store connectors. | Free $0 a month for 50 shipments. Pro $40 a month flat, unlimited shipments, cheaper label rates. API calls unlimited on both. | No sub-accounts. Every ledger line carries your reference, so per-client cost is an export you filter. | goatlabels.io/pricing |
Competitor prices and features are as published on each vendor's own page on 2026-09-26. Plans change, so check the linked page before you decide. Where a cell says a feature is not listed, we did not find it on that page; it may still exist.
A 3PL should check three things before buying shipping software: how clients are billed, how the price moves with volume, and whether its warehouse system can call the label engine directly.
If yes, you need a WMS with a billing module, such as Extensiv or ShipHero, and the label engine is a feature inside it. If your clients pay you per parcel and their orders already live in stores or a WMS export, a label engine is the smaller, cheaper piece to buy.
Client volume is lumpy. A plan that steps up with shipments or seats charges for your peak month in every month. Compare the published tiers against your slowest and busiest month, not your average.
A REST label API with test keys, an Idempotency-Key header and signed webhooks lets your warehouse system buy the label itself. Check which plan unlocks the API before you count on it.
GoatLabels does not separate 3PL clients into sub-accounts. You run one account and one prepaid wallet, and every label debits that wallet to a dated ledger entry carrying your reference. Put the client name or code in the reference and per-client shipping cost becomes an export you filter at month end.
Orders arrive the way clients already send them: 13 store connectors (Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, eBay, TikTok Shop, Etsy, Walmart, BigCommerce, Squarespace, Wix, Square, Magento, Temu), bulk CSV import of up to 500 rows where errors name the row and field and one bad row does not fail the batch, or the REST API with test keys, Idempotency-Key and signed, replayable webhooks. Everything lands in one queue, is rate-shopped across USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL, and can auto-print through PrintNode.
GoatLabels is the wrong choice when you need client-level accounts, your own carrier contracts, contractual support or freight. Stay with a WMS or a broader platform if any of these apply:
Free is $0 a month for 50 shipments. Pro is $40 a month flat with unlimited shipments and cheaper label rates. Labels are paid from a prepaid wallet by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or ACH.
Volume pricing
illustrativeone flat plan, unlimited shipments
$0 / forever
A one-client pilot before you move the whole floor.
Billy AI lives in the web app on every plan, desktop or mobile, unlimited use. Pro adds Billy on Telegram.
GET /api/v1/shipments
200 OK · plan: free
Free API access on Free, still free on Pro.
Run it through the bulk importer and compare each rate-shopped label against what you pay on
ShippoPirate ShipShipStationLabel prices are quoted live from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL and shown as one all-in number, no surcharges added at checkout. Full pricing details
Related reading:shipping software for 3PLs, warehouse shipping labels, wholesale distributor shipping labels, bulk shipping labels from CSV, GoatLabels vs ShipStation.
Put last month's parcels through the rate shopper and compare USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL against what each client's labels cost you today.
No contract. Free plan at $0 a month.
