Best 3PL for Shopify in the US: Top Logistics Solutions

Growing a Shopify store, many merchants can start to feel overwhelmed as inventory piles up, and logistics can become a headache as there are more orders to pack and returns to handle. This can take your attention away from other important tasks in your business and affect your customer service.

In this blog, you’ll learn about the benefits of working with reliable third-party logistics (3PL) partners, and some of the best options for Shopify sellers.

What Are the Top 3PL Providers for Shopify Merchants? (Ranked & Reviewed)

To give you a clear idea of the 3PL landscape, we’re going to break down five of the best 3PLs for Shopify sellers and outline their key features and what type of business they would be best for. This should help you decide which 3PL provider could be the best fit for your Shopify store. We’ll start with Shopify’s own logistics solution to give you a reference point before exploring other options.

1. Shopify Fulfillment Network

The Shopify Fulfillment Network (SFN) is Shopify’s in-house logistics solution which has been built from the ground up to serve Shopify merchants. Using this 3PL solution, you’ll be able to access a network of fulfillment centers and use Shopify’s data to improve your delivery speed and inventory placement.

Key features

• Built directly into the Shopify ecosystem
• Smart inventory distribution which uses demand forecasts to make accurate projections
• Two-day delivery coverage across most of the US
• Centralized analytics in Shopify

Integration with Shopify

Since this solution is Shopify’s native 3PL, there’s no integration needed. Orders automatically flow from your store to SFN without the need for any additional apps or setup.

Pricing structure

Aside from your Shopify plan, the fees you’ll pay are:

• Storage fees
• Pick and pack fees
• Shipping costs

You may need approval and minimum order thresholds depending on the volume of orders you receive.

Warehouse locations

SFN relies on an expansive network of US fulfillment centers which offer fast delivery across the major regions.

Best for:

Shopify merchants who want to manage everything within one interface, to simplify order management.

2. ShipBob

ShipBob is one of the most popular Shopify 3PLs since it has a large US warehouse network, advanced analytics tools, and is a great fit for fast-growing DTC (Direct-to-consumer) brands with its fulfilment services.

Key features

• Nationwide network of warehouses makes for fast shipping
• Real-time inventory and order analytics
• Two-day shipping coverage across most of the US
• International fulfillment expansion options

Integration with Shopify

You can use ShipBob’s Shopify integration through the official Shopify app, which allows you to view and manage orders, inventory, and keep up to date with order tracking details.

Pricing structure

The fees involved with ShipBob include:

• Receiving fees
• Storage fees
• Pick and pack fulfillment fees
• Shipping costs

You may also have minimum order volumes depending on the service level.

Warehouse locations

ShipBob has warehouses all over the US, with some in California, Illinois, Texas, and other states.

Best for:

DTC Shopify brands that need to scale on a nationwide level.

3. ShipMonk

ShipMonk is a well-known Shopify 3PL that specializes in automation, subscription box fulfillment, and customization options for product packaging.

Key features

• Advanced fulfillment automation for flexible workflows
• Custom bundling services
• Subscription box fulfillment support
• Real-time inventory tracking

Integration with Shopify

ShipMonk offers direct integration with Shopify through the official app, giving you access to order tracking, inventory updates, and automated workflows.

Pricing structure

ShipMonk generally charges:

• Receiving fees
• Storage charges
• Pick and pack fees
• Packaging and shipping costs

Costs vary depending on the order volume and customization needs.

Warehouse locations

ShipMonk operates fulfillment centers in different locations across the US, including in:

• Florida
• Pennsylvania
• Nevada

Best for:

ShipMonk is generally considered best for subscription brands, bundled products, and brands that are looking for custom packaging.

4. Red Stag Fulfillment

Red Stag Fulfillment is a 3PL provider that specializes in heavy, oversized, and high-value products.

Key features

• High order accuracy rates
• Suitable for handling heavy and oversized products
• Strong security measures to keep products safe
• Performance guarantees on fulfilment metrics

Integration with Shopify

Red Stag Fulfillment integrates with Shopify through its fulfillment platform, which allows you to automatically sync orders and track shipments in real time.

Pricing structure

With Red Stag Fulfillment, pricing centers around:

• Storage fees
• Pick and pack charges
• Receiving fees
• Shipping costs

Since they focus on handling complex or heavy products, Red Stag Fulfillment may have slightly higher prices than other 3PL providers.

Warehouse locations

Red Stag Fulfillment currently has fulfillment centers in:

• Tennessee
• Utah

Best for:

Shopify merchants that sell large, fragile, or high-value products.

5. Deliverr (by Flexport)

Deliverr, which is now part of Flexport, is a 3PL provider that supports fast delivery across the US.

Key features

• Two-day delivery coverage across most of the US
• Simple per-unit pricing model
• Strong infrastructure for high volume orders

Integration with Shopify

Deliverr integrates with Shopify through its own fulfillment app which allows for automated order routing and real-time inventory updates.

Pricing structure

Deliverr charges based on:

• Product size and weight
• Storage duration
• Shipping distance

Warehouse locations

Deliverr has a network of warehouses across the US to offer expansive coverage and fast delivery speeds.

Best for:

Shopify merchants who need fast nationwide delivery and simple fulfillment pricing.

Why 3PL is Crucial for Shopify Growth

As you grow your Shopify store, fulfillment can become increasingly complex as you need to juggle inventory management, order packing, and coordinating shipping to reliably meet your customers’ needs. With a reliable 3PL provider, you can focus your energy elsewhere to drive growth for your store and provide an excellent customer experience.

• Operational efficiency - When you use a 3PL for your Shopify store, you can automate the order management workflow all the way from processing through to shipping.
• Faster shipping - Many Shopify 3PL providers operate multiple warehouses across the US which allows for reliably quick shipping.
• Cost-effectiveness - With bulk shipping discounts for many 3PL providers, along with a lower risk for errors, you can keep customers happy while keeping your internal costs down.

How to Choose the Best 3PL for Your Shopify Store: Key Criteria

Choosing the best 3PL for your Shopify store requires you to consider various operational and financial factors.

Key 3PL metrics

When choosing the best 3PL provider for your Shopify store, it’s important to consider the following performance indicators to assess how suitable they might be for your store:

• Order accuracy rate
• On-time shipment rate
• Inventory accuracy
• Order cycle time
• Shipping costs and transit times
• Return processing efficiency

Integrations

The best 3PL providers seamlessly integrate with Shopify allowing you to manage everything with ease.

It’s a good idea to look out for the following:

• API access
• Native Shopify app integrations
• Real-time inventory synchronization
• Automated order processing

Warehouse network

The number of warehouses a 3PL provider has around the US will directly influence delivery speeds. If a provider has an extensive network of distributed warehouses, this can help cut down on shipping distances and allow for faster delivery coverage.

Pricing

Most 3PL providers use a combination of the following pricing components:

• Storage fees
• Pick and pack fees
• Shipping costs
• Receiving fees
• Packaging services

Understanding each of these costs can help prevent any unexpected expenses.

Minimum order volumes

Some 3PL providers require that you have a minimum number of orders each month, so if you run a smaller Shopify store, you’ll need to pay attention to this figure when choosing a provider.

Specialized services

Some 3PL providers will offer additional fulfillment capabilities which help bring value to your Shopify store products or workflows, such as:

• Custom packaging
• Kitting or bundling
• Temperature-controlled storage
• Subscription-box fulfillment

Customer support

Whenever you have issues arise with fulfillment, it’s important to know that there is someone on hand to talk to so you can resolve the issue quickly and keep disruption down to a minimum. Look for the type of customer support that works best for your business, whether that’s calls, live chat, email, or account managers.

Shipping costs

The shipping process can vary from one 3PL provider to another. Costs are a big factor to consider as they can directly impact your profitability. Using a payment platform like Wise Business can help you reduce the total cost for goods sold with international suppliers as you have access to transparent currency conversion.

What to Avoid When Choosing 3PL for Shopify

Not every 3PL provider will represent a good fit for your Shopify store. Here are some things to avoid when selecting the best option for your business:

• Hidden fees - Many fulfillment providers will advertise low base pricing, but it’s the additional charges you have to look out for which can add up, such as account management fees and peak season surcharges.
• Poor integration - If a provider lacks seamless Shopify integration, you may still need to manually export orders or update inventory, which can increase the risk of suffering fulfillment delays or errors with inventory.
• Lack of scalability - The best 3PL should grow with your Shopify store, so if a provider can’t handle increased order volume during major sales events, for example, you can run into bottlenecks which will impact customer service.
• Poor customer service - 3PL providers that don’t offer reliable customer service can be cause for concern since they might be slow to respond in the face of logistical problems which will then impact your customer base.

Conclusion

Choosing the best 3PL for Shopify can significantly improve your success when growing your Shopify store. The right partner will help you automate the fulfillment process, freeing up time and energy that you can use to grow the business.

Always consider factors such as pricing transparency, the reliability of integration with Shopify, and the extent of the provider’s warehouse network to ensure you find the best option for your store.

While a 3PL can handle your operational logistics, Wise can help you handle your finances, especially when it comes to dealing with international suppliers and global partners.

Wise Business: The smart way to manage your finances in multiple currencies

Wise Business can support your scaling Shopify business as it allows you to send and receive funds internationally as if you were a local, and offers transparent, low-fee currency exchange so you always get the best deals.

Open a Wise Business account online

Wise is not a bank, but a Money Services Business (MSB) provider and a smart alternative to banks. The Wise Business account is designed with international business in mind, and makes it easy to send, hold, and manage business funds in multiple currencies. You can get major currency account details for a one-off fee to receive overseas payments like a local. You can also send money to 140+ countries.

Common Shopify 3PL Questions

• What are the hidden costs I should watch out for when choosing a 3PL for my Shopify store?

In addition to basic fulfillment fees,you should pay attention to receiving fees, storage fees which are especially important for slow-moving inventory, pick and pack surcharges, and account management fees. You should also consider minimum order volumes, as these can impact how many orders you need to use a provider, which impacts how much you’ll need to pay in fees.

• How important is Shopify integration for a 3PL?

Seamless integration with your 3PL provider is hugely important as it ensures you can access real-time inventory updates, automate the order processing workflow, and get accurate shipping information. Without reliable integration, you may end up manually handling a lot of issues which can take time and take your energy away from driving business growth.

• Can a 3PL help me scale my Shopify business internationally?

Yes, many 3PL providers offer US warehouses all over the US that speed up national delivery times, and some also support international shipping, though you’ll need to check how they handle international fulfillment.

• Q: My Shopify store is growing rapidly. How do I ensure my 3PL can keep up?

Choose a 3PL provider that has reliably helped many brands scale their ecommerce businesses. Pay attention to customer reviews, testimonials from businesses your size, and be sure to ask about peak season capacity and order volume limits.

Consider using Wise Business to make it easier to scale your finance management alongside the increase in transactions, as you can benefit from competitive rates regardless of the volume.