Stamps.com vs Pirate Ship
Choose Stamps.com if you need to print postage for letters as well as ship packages; choose Pirate Ship if you mainly ship parcels and want software with no subscription fee. Both let you buy and print shipping labels, but Stamps.com offers mailing features and paid plans, while Pirate Ship focuses on USPS and UPS parcel shipping.
Last updated October 31, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Stamps.com | Pirate Ship |
|---|---|---|
| Software price | Basic $14.99/month; Professional $29.99/month; Multi-Location $49.99/month | Free software; pay for labels |
| Letter postage | Print stamps; Certified Mail and Registered Mail on Professional and above | No stamps, letter postage or Certified Mail |
| Carriers | USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL Express | USPS and UPS parcel labels |
| Printing limits | Basic: 25 stamps and 10 labels/month; higher plans: unlimited | No batch-printing limit; monthly limit not published |
| Integrations | QuickBooks Online on Professional and above | Shopify, eBay, WooCommerce and other listed stores |
| Users and permissions | Basic: 1 user; Professional: 3; Multi-Location: 10 per location with permissions | Unlimited users; all have the same permissions |
| Platforms | Browser; Windows and Mac desktop apps; iOS and Android apps | Website accessible on any device; no mobile app |
| Support | Basic: chatbot and help center; higher plans: live chat and phone | Live chat and email |
| International shipping | International shipping on Professional and above | USPS, UPS and Simple Export Rate parcel services |
| Batch workflows | Multi-address batch printing on Professional and above | Spreadsheet and store imports; batch label printing |
| Package pickups | Schedule USPS, UPS and FedEx pickups | Schedule USPS and UPS pickups |
| Trial or entry | 30-day trial; monthly subscription afterward unless canceled | Free account; pay when purchasing labels |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Stamps.com if
- Offices printing both letter postage and package labels
- Teams that need Certified Mail or Registered Mail on a qualifying plan
- Businesses seeking FedEx and DHL Express options alongside USPS and UPS
- Multi-location mailrooms needing location permissions
Choose Pirate Ship if
- Parcel shippers avoiding a monthly software subscription
- Online sellers importing orders from supported stores
- Teams needing multiple users without a published user cap
- Shippers who want live chat support without upgrading a plan
The verdict
The deciding factor is whether mailing is part of your workflow. Stamps.com is the better fit for offices that print stamps or need Certified Mail, especially if they also want shipping in one account. Pirate Ship is the better fit for parcel shippers who do not need letter postage and prefer to pay for labels without a monthly software subscription. Compare rates for your actual shipments before choosing on postage cost alone.
Stamps.com vs Pirate Ship: common questions
- Is Pirate Ship free compared with Stamps.com?
- Pirate Ship has no software subscription fee; you pay for the shipping labels you buy. Stamps.com lists paid plans starting at $14.99 per month after a 30-day trial, with postage and other usage charges separate.
- Can Pirate Ship print stamps for letters?
- No. Pirate Ship sells parcel shipping labels, not stamps or postage for letters. Stamps.com prints stamps and shipping labels.
- Which supports Certified Mail?
- Stamps.com includes Certified Mail and Registered Mail on its Professional and Multi-Location plans. Pirate Ship does not offer Certified Mail.
- Which carriers can I use?
- Stamps.com lists USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL Express. Pirate Ship provides USPS and UPS parcel labels, plus its Simple Export Rate service for eligible international packages.
- Which integrates with online stores?
- Pirate Ship lists integrations including Shopify, eBay and WooCommerce for importing orders. Stamps.com lists QuickBooks Online integration on its Professional and Multi-Location plans.
- What happens if I exceed Stamps.com's Basic printing limits?
- Stamps.com Basic includes 25 stamps and 10 shipping labels per month. Stamps.com says you can continue printing beyond a plan limit, but overage fees apply; Professional and Multi-Location list unlimited stamps and labels.
- Can multiple employees use each service?
- Stamps.com lists one user on Basic, three on Professional and ten per location on Multi-Location, which includes location permissions. Pirate Ship permits unlimited users, but says every user has the same account permissions.
- Can I ship internationally with both?
- Yes. Stamps.com lists international shipping on Professional and Multi-Location. Pirate Ship offers international parcel shipping through USPS, UPS and Simple Export Rate; it does not sell international letter postage.