InsureShip vs Route (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Route grades higher than InsureShip: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
InsureShip grades higher on platforms. Route grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
InsureShip
Shipping insurance sold at checkout or on bulk shipments
Which one is for you
Pick InsureShip if
- Fits if you want shoppers to buy insurance at checkout instead of you paying
- Works for a high-volume or B2B shipper that insures its own parcels in bulk
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you insure in bulk: $2.00 per $100 of declared value
- Watch out: the checkout program's pricing is not published, only confirmed with InsureShip
- Watch out: coverage is subject to terms, limits and exclusions, and availability varies by state
- Watch out: bulk coverage is sold through a quote
Pick Route if
- Fits if you run an online shop and want protection offered at checkout without paying for it yourself
- Works for a shop that wants tracking and returns pages beside it
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you do not want shoppers charged for protection, as that is what pays for the $0 plan
- Watch out: Custom plans are quoted by sales
- Too light for a shop that wants shipping labels, as the listing covers protection, tracking and returns
- Not for you if you need a long integrations list, as none is shown
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAInsureShipFair | 2.6GPARouteGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CBulk coverage is $2.00 per $100 of declared value, well above the $0.10 to $0.60 per $100 that Shipsurance shows. The checkout program is free for the store, but its pricing is not published. | A$0 a month for the merchant on Standard. The money comes from shoppers who opt in to protection at checkout. |
| Free plan and trial | BFree to add to your store, with shoppers paying at checkout. Month to month, no long-term contract. | BA free plan a shop can live on, as long as shoppers opt in. Custom plans are quoted by sales. |
| Features | CCheckout insurance, bulk coverage and claims handled by InsureShip. Coverage has terms, limits and exclusions, and availability varies by state. | CPackage protection, tracking, returns, analytics and routing. The free plan relies on shoppers paying at checkout, which is a limit on what it does for you. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. You install a plugin, then it handles claims. | CNo store rating on record. It has to be connected to your shop and set up first. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Checkout Champ and Sticky.io. No desktop or phone app. | CWeb only on the listing, with no integrations named. |
| Best for | shipping insurance at checkout or in bulk | package protection and tracking |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: InsureShip and Route. How we grade
Where they differ
- InsureShip also covers online store.
- Route also covers workflow automation and dashboards.
At a glance
| InsureShip | Route | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free plan |
| Starts at | $2.00 per $100 of declared value (enterprise bulk coverage); free to add at checkout | Not published |
| Free plan | None | Standard: $0 a month for merchants; shoppers fund package protection and returns coverage. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Online Shipping Insurance Services, Inc. | Route |
| Price read from | insureship.com | route.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
InsureShip
- Coverage is subject to policy terms, limits and exclusions, and availability varies by state.
- The checkout program's pricing is not published; the page says it is confirmed with InsureShip.
- Month to month with no long-term contract is stated for all three programs.
Route
- The $0 plan relies on shoppers paying for protection at checkout.
- Custom plans are quoted by sales.
- Route says it is SOC 2 certified and GDPR and CCPA compliant.
Key features
InsureShip
- Checkout insurance
- One-click opt-in offer on Shopify, WooCommerce, Checkout Champ, BigCommerce, Sticky.io and by API.
- Bulk coverage
- Insure outbound shipments at a flat rate on declared value.
- Claims handled by InsureShip
- Claims are filed with InsureShip rather than the merchant's support team.
- Coverage scope
- Loss, damage and theft, including porch piracy, up to $5,000 per shipment.
- Advertising partnerships
- Qualifying merchants can be paid for advertising space that promotes shipping insurance.
Route
- Package protection
- Covers lost, stolen or damaged packages.
- Tracking
- Visual order tracking pages for shoppers.
- Returns
- Exchange-first returns portal with fraud checks.
- Analytics
- Dashboards, BI APIs and exports for return data.
- Smart routing
- Workflows routing returned items to resale or warehouse.
Plans
InsureShip
Checkout shipping insurance$0
free to add to your store; shoppers pay for coverage at checkout
Shoppers opt in at checkout and file claims with InsureShip. Program pricing is confirmed with InsureShip.
Enterprise bulk coverage$1,000
per $50,000 of insured shipment value ($2.00 per $100)
For high-volume and B2B shippers insuring their own shipments, with a dedicated account manager and in-house claims team. Sold through a quote.
Route
Standard$0
per month
Whole platform with consumer-funded pricing; no monthly or hidden fees per the page, and eligible for the Merchant Incentive Program.
CustomCustom
Flat fee, volume-based or consumer-funded options, with API and custom integrations and monthly billing.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, InsureShip or Route?
As of Nov 13, 2026, InsureShip starts at $2.00 per $100 of declared value (enterprise bulk coverage); free to add at checkout, and Route publishes no starting price.
Which has a free plan, InsureShip or Route?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Route has a free plan. InsureShip does not.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.