ShipStation Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
ShipStation costs Free to $349.99 per month as of March 2026. Pricing depends on your chosen tier, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
Yes, ShipStation offers a freemium plan as of March 2026. The free tier includes 5 features with limits on shipments and users. Paid plans start at $14.99/month (Starter). Pricing verified from 1 sources by CostBench.
ShipStation offers a freemium model with limited features; upgrade to unlock more.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- 1 user
- 1 store connection
- Discounted carrier rates
- Tracking emails
- Chatbot support
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- 3 users
- Unlimited store connections
- Automated rate shopping
- Return labels
- Basic automations
- Reporting
- Email support
Free Plan Limits
| Limit | Free Plan | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| shipments | 10 | Unlimited/Higher |
| users | 1 | Unlimited/Higher |
| storeConnections | 1 | Unlimited/Higher |
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like 3 users or Unlimited store connections
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- ShipStation branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Starter Plan Comparison
| Free $0 | Starter $14.99/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 5 included | 7+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | ShipStation branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Quick label printing and basic shipping | Small businesses to set up and manage shipping |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is ShipStation free?
Yes, ShipStation offers a freemium plan with 5 core features included. However, there are limits on shipments, users that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in ShipStation's free plan?
ShipStation's free plan includes: 1 user, 1 store connection, Discounted carrier rates, Tracking emails, Chatbot support. Key limits include shipments: 10, users: 1, storeConnections: 1.
03 What's NOT included in ShipStation's free plan?
The free plan excludes: 3 users, Unlimited store connections, Automated rate shopping, Return labels, Basic automations. You'll also have ShipStation branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from ShipStation's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like 3 users or Unlimited store connections, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $14.99/month.
05 Is ShipStation's free plan really free forever?
Yes, ShipStation's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.