ShipStation API (ShipEngine) vs ShipHawk (2026): which should you pick?

Pick ShipStation API (ShipEngine) if

• Fits if you are a developer adding labels and tracking to a store or platform
• Works for teams that want discounted carrier rates with no monthly fee

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if nobody on your team writes code
• Tight if you have your own carrier contracts, as those need Advanced at $75 a month
• Pricey if you grow: $325 at 5,000 labels and $600 at 10,000
• Watch out: ShipEngine's own site now redirects to ShipStation, and Enterprise is only for 25,000+ shipments a month through sales

Pick ShipHawk if

• Fits if you run a warehouse tied to an ERP and ship parcels and freight
• Works for operations that want carrier choice and packing logic automated

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want a price first: none is published, only a demo request
• Not for you if you want to try it first: no free plan or trial is listed
• Skip it if you are a small shop packing orders at a kitchen table
• Watch out: it is software only, so you need your own carrier accounts

ShipStation API (ShipEngine)

• ShipEngine's site now redirects to ShipStation, and the docs say ShipStation API was formerly ShipEngine.
• Bringing your own carrier accounts needs the Advanced plan.
• Usage over the monthly allowance is billed per extra label, or pay-as-you-go for API calls.
• Enterprise is for volumes above 25,000 shipments a month and is sold through sales.

ShipHawk

• No prices are published; the pricing address redirects to the homepage and a demo request.
• It is software, not a carrier or a 3PL, so you need your own carrier accounts.
• It is built around ERP-connected operations, which may be more than a small shop needs.

ShipStation API (ShipEngine)

Labels and rate shopping

Create shipments and labels and compare rates across 100+ supported carriers.

Address validation

Validate addresses on the Advanced plan, with US and global validation listed.

Tracking

Track parcels and create tracking webhooks, available on the Free plan.

Taxes and duties

Calculates taxes and duties and produces customs documentation for international parcels.

LTL freight

Freight quotes, booking and tracking for LTL shipments, using your own accounts.

Sandbox

A sandbox with mock carriers lets developers test every endpoint, free beyond the trial.

ShipHawk

Carrier and mode selection

Uses the customer's negotiated rates to rate parcel, LTL and full-truckload shipments in one system and choose a carrier and service.

Smart Packing

Cartonization that selects the box or pallet for each order and works out packed weight, dimensions and rates without extra hardware.

ERP connections

Plugins for NetSuite, Acumatica, Microsoft Dynamics, Infor, Sage and SAP, plus ecommerce plugins and a REST API.

Warehouse management

A WMS covering receiving, putaway, picking, cycle counts and scan-pack verification, sold separately from the shipping product.

In-cart rating

Shows shipping rates at checkout and applies business rules to them.

Audit and analytics

Freight and parcel audit, shipping data analytics and a handheld dimensioner are listed among its products.

ShipStation API (ShipEngine)

• Free$0

  Discounted carrier accounts, labels, rate comparison, tracking and webhooks; no bring-your-own accounts.

• Advanced$75

  per month for up to 1,000 labels

  Adds your own carrier accounts and address validation. $0.075 per extra label; $325 at 5,000 labels, $600 at 10,000.

• EnterpriseCustom

  For 25,000+ shipments a month: higher rate limits, an implementation manager and branded partner UIs.

ShipHawk

Pricing could not be confirmed. See shiphawk.com.