Top Shipping Service
Expert Review Updated February 4, 2026

Pirate Ship Review

100% free shipping software with the cheapest USPS and UPS rates

By Top Shipping Service Team
8.8
Very Good How we rate
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Score Breakdown

Pricing 10.0
Features 7.5
Ease of Use 9.5
Carriers 7.0
Support 9.0
Scalability 7.0

Pros

  • Completely free - no monthly fees, no per-label fees, no markup
  • Cheapest USPS and UPS rates available anywhere
  • Extremely easy to use with a fun, pirate-themed interface
  • Excellent customer support (real humans, fast responses)
  • No account minimums or contracts

Cons

  • Limited to USPS and UPS only (no FedEx or DHL)
  • No automation rules or advanced workflow features
  • Limited marketplace integrations (no Amazon, eBay)
  • No inventory or warehouse management

Pricing

Pricing model: freemium Free plan available

Most Popular

Free

Free forever

  • No monthly fees
  • No per-label fees
  • No markup on carrier rates
  • Discounted USPS & UPS rates
  • Email & chat support
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Overview

Pirate Ship is the rare shipping software that's genuinely, completely free. There are no monthly fees, no per-label charges, and no markup on carrier rates. The company makes money through partnerships with USPS and UPS, passing along the maximum possible discounts directly to users.

Founded in 2017, Pirate Ship has quickly become a favorite among small business owners and Etsy sellers who want the simplest, cheapest way to ship packages. Its playful pirate theme and straightforward interface make shipping feel less like a chore and more like an adventure.

Key Features

Zero-Cost Shipping Labels

This is Pirate Ship's defining feature. You pay only the carrier's discounted rate - nothing else. There are no hidden fees, no per-label charges, no monthly subscriptions. For a business shipping 100 packages per month via USPS Priority Mail, this can save $5-15 per month compared to platforms that charge per-label fees.

Simple Rate Comparison

Enter your package details and destination, and Pirate Ship shows you available USPS and UPS rates side by side. The interface highlights the cheapest option, making it easy to pick the best rate without comparing dozens of service levels.

Batch Shipping

Despite being free, Pirate Ship supports batch label creation. You can import orders via CSV or from connected platforms, select rates in bulk, and print all labels at once. It's not as sophisticated as ShipStation's batch processing, but it gets the job done.

Customer Support

Pirate Ship's customer support is legendary in the shipping software space. Real humans respond to emails and chat messages quickly, often with helpful, detailed answers peppered with pirate humor. Many users cite support quality as a primary reason they stick with Pirate Ship.

Who Is Pirate Ship Best For?

Pirate Ship is ideal for:

  • Small businesses and side hustlers who want zero overhead costs
  • Etsy and Shopify sellers with moderate shipping volumes
  • Businesses that only need USPS and UPS (no FedEx/DHL requirements)
  • Anyone who wants the absolute cheapest shipping rates

The Bottom Line

Pirate Ship is the undisputed champion of value in shipping software. If your needs are straightforward - you ship primarily within the US using USPS or UPS, and you don't need advanced automation or extensive marketplace integrations - Pirate Ship is hard to beat. The fact that it's completely free with no catch makes it an easy recommendation for small businesses and individual sellers.