WooCommerce shipping plugins can be invaluable for elevating your online store’s shipping strategy.

Making sure your online store ships products smoothly is super important. If you run a small online shop with just a few items to sell, the basic shipping options in WooCommerce might suffice.

However, if you’re managing a larger business with diverse products and a wide customer base, additional support is necessary. This is where WooCommerce shipping plugins come in handy.

With the right shipping plugin, you can enhance your WooCommerce shipping methods by adding advanced features. 

In this blog, we’ll explore the features of some popular WooCommerce shipping plugins that you can use to enhance the shipping functionality of your online store.

Why Use WooCommerce Shipping Plugins?

Using WooCommerce shipping plugins can significantly enhance the shipping experience for both store owners and customers.

Here are some key reasons why to use these plugins:

• Automated calculations - Shipping plugins automate the calculation of shipping costs, reducing the risk of errors and saving you time, especially for stores with an extensive product catalog or international shipping.

• Improved customer experience - Offering real-time shipping rates, multiple shipping methods, and accurate delivery estimates improves the user experience on your e-commerce site, boosting customer trust and satisfaction.

• Streamlined shipping process - These plugins help streamline the shipping process by automatically calculating accurate shipping costs and avoiding manual errors. Many plugins also allow you to generate and print shipping labels, saving time and reducing the need for third-party services.

• Cost-effective shipping solutions - Offer discounted rates by partnering with shipping carriers, allowing you to save on shipping costs. With multiple shipping options, you can choose the most cost-effective and efficient carrier for each order.
  
• Customizable shipping rules - WooCommerce shipping plugins allow you to tailor your shipping options to match your specific business needs, such as setting rates based on location, product type, weight, etc., more effectively.
  
• Shipping rules and restrictions - Shipping plugins allow businesses to establish specific rules and restrictions. For example, you can exclude particular products from international shipping or limit shipping to specific geographic regions.

Now that you’ve understood the importance of a shipping plugin for your WooCommerce store, let’s consider certain points to choose the best plugin.

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best WooCommerce Shipping Plugin

Here are some of the features to prioritize when selecting a WooCommerce shipping plugin:

• Real-time shipping rates

One of the most crucial features to consider is the ability to provide real-time shipping rates. This feature automatically calculates shipping costs based on the customer’s location, package weight, dimensions, and shipping method.

Look for a plugin that can fetch real-time shipping rates from carriers, ensuring customers receive accurate pricing at checkout.

If you sell to different countries, the plugin should support multiple currencies to provide accurate shipping prices for global customers.

• Custom shipping rules

Creating custom shipping rules based on order value, product weight, or destination is essential for tailoring shipping options to your business requirements.

Different plugins provide different options to set rules, so choose a plugin that will help you set up those rules for your online store.

Check if a plugin allows conditional logic to display or hide shipping methods based on specific criteria, such as cart items or customer location.

• Shipment tracking and label printing

Consider WooCommerce shipping plugins that provide shipment tracking features, enabling customers to track orders from their accounts.

You can also choose a plugin that generates and prints shipping labels directly from your WooCommerce dashboard, streamlining the fulfillment process.

• Ease of use and setup

The user interface and ease of setup are also key factors. That’s why you should choose a plugin with an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easy to set up and manage shipping options without extensive technical knowledge.

With the ease of use and setup process, the plugin will help you save time and reduce the chances of errors during installation and configuration.

• Scalability 

As your business grows, your shipping needs may evolve. For that, consider whether the shipping plugin can scale with your business.

The plugin should be able to handle your store’s growth, including increased order volumes, complex shipping requirements, and the addition of new carriers or shipping zones.

In addition, you may need advanced features such as bulk label printing, multi-warehouse support, or integration with third-party fulfillment services.

• Cost and pricing

Evaluate the upfront cost of the WooCommerce shipping plugin and any recurring subscription fees. 

Ensure it fits within your budget and offers good value for money.

Be aware of any additional charges, such as transaction fees for advanced features, and consider how these may impact your overall shipping costs.

• Compatibility

Make sure the plugin you choose has been tested with the latest version of WordPress and is compatible with the themes and other WordPress plugins you use on your website.

These features will help you provide customers with accurate rates, customization options, and the ability to track their shipments. 

This will create a seamless and efficient shipping experience for your WooCommerce store while simplifying your shipping management tasks.

10 Best WooCommerce Shipping Plugins (Both Free and Paid)

Our experts have tried various shipping plugins to streamline the fulfillment process.

With their feedback, we’ve segmented the top 10 best WooCommerce shipping plugins to help you decide.

We’ve covered each plugin’s functionality, pricing structure, and reviews.

1. Table Rate Shipping

Table Rate Shipping is one of the best WooCommerce shipping plugins that extend WooCommerce’s default shipping features, giving you highly customizable shipping options.

Key features of the Table Rate Shipping plugin:

• Different shipping rates: You can create different types of shipping rates using this useful WooCommerce plugin. Shipping rates can be defined based on location, price, weight, or item count.
  
• Multiple table rate calculation: You can set different types of table rate calculation such as per order, calculated per item, calculated per line, Calculated per class, etc.
  
• Rule-based shipping rate: Add rule-based shipping methods. Rules can be based on Weight, Number of items, Number of items by class, and Price.
  
• User-friendly UI: This plugin has a user-friendly interface, so you can easily set it up without hassle. You can easily add, duplicate, and remove shipping rates.

Pricing:

Table Rate Shipping comes only in the paid version, costing $119 annually.

Reviews:

WooCommerce.com - 3.4 out of 5 based on 16 reviews with 20,000+ active installations [as of the article’s published date].

2. WooCommerce Advanced Shipping

WooCommerce advanced shipping is one of the advanced plugins that enhance shipping functionalities.

It gives you the complete flexibility to charge shipping at different rates to different people. 

Features of WooCommerce Advanced Shipping:

• Conditional shipping rates: Add your own table rate shipping based on the conditions. You can use Weight, Volume, Country, and State conditions to set your table shipping rates.
  
• Simple user interface: It provides a simple user interface that makes setting up conditional shipping rates easy.
  
• Unlimited shipping method: Create unlimited shipping methods using this useful WooCommerce plugin.
  
• Extend functionality with extension: If you want, you can extend this WooCommerce plugin’s functionality with two more extensions: Shipping zones and Advanced pricing.

Pricing:

WooCommerce Advanced Shipping has the paid version, costing $119 annually.

Reviews:

Codecanyon.net - 4.8 out of 5 based on 509 reviews with 16,000+ active installations [as of the article’s published date].

3. AfterShip Tracking

AfterShip Tracking is one of the best WooCommerce shipping plugins to ensure customer satisfaction, allowing users to track their orders easily. 

Once you install this plugin, it automatically inserts AfterShip’s tracking link to your WooCommerce store so that customers can track the shipments. 

Features of AfterShip Tracking:

• Smart dashboard: Filter shipments by dates, statuses, carriers, shipping providers, and destination. Also, you can sort shipments by Order Title, Created, Order Date, and Pickup Date, etc.
  
• Shipment tracking statuses: This WooCommerce plugin allows you to track shipments with 7 standardized shipment tracking statuses.
  
• Email and SMS notification: Send shipping and delivery notifications to customers through Email & SMS using this tool. You can also schedule SMS to send order updates to your customers at the right time.
  
• Custom shipping page: You can create a custom order tracking page for WooCommerce. You can customize the look and feel of the page as per your brand’s logo and colors.
  
• Shipping providers: This plugin connects with over 900 shipping providers, such as UPS, DHL, USPS, China Post (ePacket), and China EMS. 

Pricing plan:

AfterShip has a free version available in the WordPress repository. Its premium plan starts at $9 a month to help you handle 1200 shipments per year. You have to pay extra for more shipments.

In addition, there are also advanced plans that offer more premium features.

Reviews:

WordPress.org - 4.8 out of 5 based on 627 reviews with 10,000+ active installations [as of this article’s published date].

4. ShipStation for WooCommerce

ShipStation for WooCommerce can help you create an impactful delivery experience for your customers. Connecting your WooCommerce store with this plugin takes just a few seconds.

It helps you simplify your shipping processes, keep track of shipments, and get your products to your customers quickly and at the best rates. 

Features of ShipStation for WooCommerce:

• Sync order with the marketplace: Sync WooCommerce orders with marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Etsy, all in one platform.
  
• Order tracking with email and SMS: You can instantly update tracking information and send custom email and SMS notifications.
  
• Save money: You can save lots of money by leveraging up to 84% off with top carriers like UPS, USPS, and DHL Express.
  
• Save time: This tool also makes life easy for store owners as you can print your whole day’s shipping labels within just a few clicks.

Pricing:

This WooCommerce shipping plugin is free to use.

Reviews:

WooCommerce.com - 3.5 out of 5 based on 12 reviews with 40,000+ active installations [as of this article’s published date].

5. WooCommerce Shipping Plugin for FedEx with Print Label

The WooCommerce FedEx Shipping Plugin is here to streamline your shipping process and enhance your customers' experience. This plugin is certified by FedEx and automates all your shipping tasks.

Features of WooCommerce Shipping Plugin for FedEx with Print Label:

• Real-time FedEx rates: Get accurate, real-time FedEx shipping rates, dynamically adjusted based on customer location and package details, prominently displayed on your cart and checkout pages.
  
• Effortless label printing: Bid farewell to manual label generation. This plugin empowers you to easily create and download FedEx shipping labels, whether it's for single orders or bulk shipments.
  
• Automated FedEx tracking: Keep your customers updated with automated email notifications containing FedEx tracking details, ensuring they can effortlessly track their orders' progress.
  
• Global shipping: Serve a worldwide customer base with support for both domestic and international shipping, expanding your e-commerce reach.
  
• Tailored shipping: Customize your FedEx shipping services, set estimated delivery dates, and select preferred FedEx Standard Boxes for efficient packing, all with a user-friendly interface.

Pricing plan:

The WooCommerce FedEx Shipping Plugin is available for just $99.00 for a single site license. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and one year of subscription and support.

Reviews:

Pluginhive.com - 5 out of 5 based on 283 reviews with 10,000+ active installations [as of the article’s published date].

6. ELEX WooCommerce USPS Shipping Plugin

ELEX WooCommerce USPS Shipping Plugin is an excellent shipping plugin for WooCommerce stores that streamlines USPS shipping integration. This is a free WooCommerce shipping plugin.

With its premium version, you can print shipping labels with postage and track shipments.

Features of ELEX WooCommerce USPS Shipping plugin:

• Access USPS real-time rates: This plugin can access real-time USPS rates based on product weight, box dimensions, shipping destination, etc. This tool can also fetch USPS postage rates for domestic and international shipping services.
  
• Custom method: You can set up a custom method title for specifically USPS shipping.
  
• Fallback rate: In case the USPS API isn't working, you can set up a fallback rate for customers so they can smoothly checkout.
  
• Restrict media mails: This tool can restrict media mails for certain products. You can do that by creating specific classes and then assigning them to products.

Pricing plan:

You can use the basic version of this plugin for free. The pro version costs $89 to be used on a single website.

Reviews:

Elexextensions.com - 5 out of 5 based on 68 reviews [as of the article’s published date].

7. Table Rate Shipping for WooCommerce

Table Rate Shipping for WooCommerce is a free plugin that provides WooCommerce stores with table rate shipping, tiered or conditional shipping.

You can configure shipping rates based on weight and total shipping price (with min and max).

Features of Table Rate Shipping for WooCommerce:

• Easy to use: This WooCommerce shipping plugin has an easy-to-use, intuitive user interface.
  
• Conditional shipping rate: You can charge shipping rates based on weight, total cost, etc. You can also charge a handling fee per order. Also, if you want, you can set up multi-tier shipping rates.
  
• Tax shipping rates: You can include or exclude tax on shipping rates based on your requirements.
  
• Unlimited shipping service: With the pro version of this plugin, you can offer unlimited shipping services, e.g., Standard Shipping, Express Shipping, etc.

Pricing:

You can use the free version with limited features. The pro version is available at $79/year for a single website.

Reviews:

WordPress.org - 4.6 out of 5 based on 72 reviews with 10,000+ active installations [as of the article’s published date].

8. Conditional Shipping for WooCommerce

Conditional Shipping for WooCommerce is the best WooCommerce shipping plugin for conditional shipping.

It has a unique feature allowing store owners to restrict shipping methods based on different conditions. 

Features of Conditional Shipping for WooCommerce:

• Conditional shipping methods: You can set up conditional shipping methods. Some of the conditional you can use include weight, total length, total height, order subtotal, etc.
  
• Dynamic shipping rates: This plugin supports dynamic shipping rates such as USPS and DHL.
  
• Custom shipping notice: With the premium version, you can display custom shipping notices. 

Pricing plan:

A free version is available. You can get the premium version at $49 per website.

Reviews:

WordPress.org - 4.6 out of 5 based on 21 reviews with 10,000+ active installations [as of the article’s published date].

9. Advanced Shipment Tracking for WooCommerce

Advanced Shipment Tracking for WooCommerce is one of the best WooCommerce shipping plugins for order tracking.

This tool allows you to manage and automate the WooCommerce fulfillment workflow easily.

Features of Advanced Shipment Tracking for WooCommerce:

• Tracking info widget: This tool comes with a tracking widget that you can use to send customers their shipping information so they can track their orders. The tracking info widget will display in the order status emails and on the view order option of my account page.
   
• Shipping providers: Advanced Shipment Tracking for WooCommerce is compatible with 300+ shipping providers. The tracking link directs the customers to the shipping provider’s website to track their orders.
  
• Import tracking info: This tool allows you to import multiple tracking numbers to orders in bulk from a CSV file, so you don’t have to do any manual work.
  
• Track per item: Not just an order, each item of an order can also be tracked using this tool. For that, you can just split order tracking and attach tracking numbers to order items.

Pricing structure:

You can use the basic version for free. The pro version costs $129 / year for a single website.

Reviews:

WordPress.org - 4.5 out of 5 based on 306 reviews with 60,000+ active installations [as of the article’s published date].

10. WooCommerce Weight-Based Shipping

WooCommerce Weight-Based Shipping is the best shipping plugin for WooCommerce stores that deal with weight-based shipping.

This is a simple yet powerful plugin that uses the weight of the order to calculate shipping costs.

Features of WooCommerce Weight-Based Shipping:

• Weight-based rules: You can create unlimited shipping rules based on order weights. You can also create rules based on shipping destination and subtotal range along with the weight.
  
• Flexible pricing: You can be quite flexible when setting up pricing for shipping. You can either set a constant price like a Flat Rate or a progressive price based on the cart weight, or both.
  
• Shipping class support: You can override the existing shipping class pricing with this plugin.

Pricing:

The weight based shipping plugin is available for free on WordPress repository. The plus version costs $19 a year for single website.

Reviews:

WordPress.org - 4.6 out of 5 based on 79 reviews with 60,000+ active installations [as of the article’s published date].

These were some of the best WooCommerce shipping plugins available in the market.

BONUS: A Shopping Cart Plugin to Boost Average Order Value of WooCommerce Store

According to a study, 9 out of 10 consumers say free shipping is the number one incentive to shop online more. This stat shows you can easily boost sales of your WooCommerce store if you offer free shipping. 

While it boosts sales, free shipping might actually end up costing you money because you're not making customers pay for the shipping fees – you have to cover those costs yourself. 

One smart solution is encouraging customers to buy more by offering additional products through upsells and cross-sells. When people buy more items in one go, the total amount they spend increases, which can help you make a profit even when you offer free shipping.

To offer upsell and cross-sell with free shipping, you can easily rely on FunnelKit Cart.

This mini cart plugin allows you to offer free shipping on a certain threshold amount when shoppers add their items to the cart. The rewards shipping bar shows how much more users have to add to their shopping cart for free shipping. 

The best part is that you can recommend relevant products on the slide-in cart itself, so users can add products to their cart with just one click. This makes it more convenient for them to avail themselves of free shipping and for the store owner to increase order value. 

For more details, check out our video tutorial:

5 Tips to Streamline the Entire Buying Process in Your WooCommerce Store

Streamlining the checkout and shipping process ensures a smooth buying and fulfillment process.

Here are some practical tips to achieve this:

1. Simplify the checkout process

A lengthy checkout process can lead to cart abandonment. Aim to keep the checkout page as short as possible. Our experts suggest splitting the checkout page into two steps for more clarity.

Or you can even use a custom one-page checkout that combines all necessary fields on a single page.

FunnelKit Funnel Builder is the plugin that can help you achieve that, be it for a one-page or multi-step checkout.

It enables you to modify the fields on your checkout form. In addition, you can even optimize the checkout page with one-click payments, auto-fill address suggestions, and more.

👉 Check out our detailed post on WooCommerce checkout optimization strategies.

2. Offer multiple payment and shipping options

Provide various payment options, including express checkout, credit/debit cards, buy now pay later, and more.

Offer a range of shipping options, from standard to expedited shipping. Display the estimated delivery date and costs clearly so customers can make informed decisions.

Encourage higher order values by offering free shipping on orders that exceed a certain amount. For that, you can use FunnelKit Cart to offer exciting cart discounts to your shoppers.

👉 Refer to our article on setting up Apple Pay and Google Pay in your WooCommerce store.

3. Use clear and transparent shipping information

Display shipping costs inside the cart as soon as the shopper adds them to their cart. It helps manage customer expectations and reduces cart abandonment due to unexpected fees.

Provide estimated delivery dates for each shipping option on the checkout page. This transparency lets users choose the shipping method that best fits their needs and builds trust in your brand.

Make your shipping policies for shipping locations, costs, international shipping, return policies, etc., easily accessible on your website. 

4. Optimize the shipping process

Use the shipping plugin that integrates with different carriers to generate shipping labels when an order is placed automatically. This saves time and reduces the risk of errors in the fulfillment process.

If you handle large volumes of orders, consider batch processing to prepare multiple orders instantly. This makes your workflow more efficient.

Provide customers with real-time shipment tracking updates through automated emails or SMS texts. 

Keeping customers informed about their order status reduces anxiety and minimizes customer service inquiries.

5. Integrate inventory management

Ensure your store’s inventory is synced with sales channels to avoid overselling and stock discrepancies. This allows you to fulfill orders promptly without the risk of backorders or delays.

You can even automate sending orders and product stock to Google Sheets for your inventory team for regular monitoring.

Set up low stock notifications to notify your team when inventory levels run low. This allows you to restock in time to prevent delays in order fulfillment.

For more tips, join our Facebook group or subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions related to WooCommerce shipping plugins.

1. How do I offer free shipping for specific products in WooCommerce?

You can offer free shipping for specific products by configuring shipping classes in WooCommerce. 

First, create a shipping class for the products you want to offer free shipping on. Next, go to your shipping zone settings and add a free shipping method.

Learn more about it in our WooCommerce free shipping post.

2. Can I use multiple shipping methods on my WooCommerce store?

Yes, WooCommerce allows you to use multiple shipping methods on your store. You can set up different methods like flat rates, free shipping and local pickup within each shipping zone.

Additionally, many shipping plugins offer advanced options to combine methods, set up rules, and provide customers with multiple choices at checkout.

Learn everything you need to know about WooCommerce shipping in our article.

3. How can I calculate shipping costs for international orders?

To calculate shipping costs for international orders, you need to set up international shipping zones in WooCommerce.

Once you’ve defined the shipping zones, you can use plugins that provide real-time shipping rates from different carriers like FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.

These plugins automatically calculate the shipping costs based on the customer’s address, package weight, and the carrier’s rates.

4. Is it possible to print shipping labels directly from WooCommerce?

Yes, you can print shipping labels directly from WooCommerce by using a shipping plugin that integrates with carriers.

These plugins allow you to generate shipping labels right from your WooCommerce dashboard, making the process seamless and efficient.

Furthermore, you can use some plugins to generate PDF invoices and packing slips too.

5. How do I add tracking information to customer orders?

Adding tracking information to customer orders can be done manually or automatically with the help of a shipping plugin.

After generating the tracking number with your carrier, you can enter it into the order details in WooCommerce.

Or you can use CRM like FunnelKit Automations to send shipment tracking emails to customers to track their orders.

Ready to Start with Your Favorite WooCommerce Shipping Plugin?

We hope you found our list of the best WooCommerce shipping plugins helpful. 

We tried to spotlight the most valuable features of each plugin, making it easier for you to decide. Whether you're looking for specific functions or a well-rounded solution, you can select the one that suits your needs best.

You can enhance your online store's shipping efficiency and customer satisfaction with the right plugin that aligns perfectly with your business goals.

Along with a WooCommerce shipping plugin, we recommend you go for FunnelKit Funnel Builder and FunnelKit Cart, as they are excellent plugins for boosting the average order value of your store. 

Not just that, its smart reward system offers users an impeccable shopping experience in your store.

If you are offering free shipping, you might as well make it profitable, right?