ShipMonk vs Shipium

by Gralio May 01, 2025

ShipMonk and Shipium serve different needs within the logistics space. ShipMonk acts as an outsourced fulfillment partner, handling physical storage and shipping, ideal for businesses wanting a complete 3PL solution despite reported operational concerns. Shipium provides sophisticated software to optimize shipping costs, carrier selection, and delivery accuracy for companies managing their own logistics or using other 3PLs, typically targeting larger businesses than ShipMonk's core SMB focus.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 218 reviews and 60 websites, saving 1 hour, 42 minutes of reading.

Logo of ShipMonk
Logo of Shipium

About

ShipMonk is a tech-focused order fulfillment company that helps online businesses streamline their shipping and logistics. They provide warehousing, inventory management, order processing, and shipping services, all managed through their software. With a network of fulfillment centers across the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe, ShipMonk enables faster and cheaper delivery for growing ecommerce brands.
Shipium is a shipping software designed for medium to large businesses in the retail and ecommerce space. It helps companies keep their delivery promises by providing accurate delivery dates and optimizing the entire fulfillment process. Shipium uses advanced algorithms to select the best shipping methods and carriers, potentially reducing costs and ensuring timely delivery. It aims to improve customer satisfaction by making online shopping experiences smoother and more transparent.

Summary

Main difference
ShipMonk is a full-service third-party logistics (3PL) provider that physically handles warehousing, packing, and shipping, managed through its software. Shipium is primarily a software platform that optimizes shipping decisions and logistics processes, integrating with a company's existing infrastructure rather than providing the physical fulfillment itself.

Relative strengths of ShipMonk (compared to Shipium)

  • End-to-End Fulfillment Service: ShipMonk provides the actual physical warehousing, inventory management, picking, packing, and shipping across its network of fulfillment centers, completely outsourcing the logistics operation which Shipium does not do.

  • Specialized Fulfillment Options: ShipMonk offers specific services like B2B fulfillment, cross-border shipping (DDP/Section 321), marketplace fulfillment (FBA prep), bonded warehousing, and handling of dangerous goods, catering to diverse physical fulfillment needs.

  • Order Customization Services: ShipMonk directly supports physical order customizations like custom packaging, kitting, and inserts as part of its fulfillment service, adding value beyond basic shipping management software like Shipium's focus area.

Relative weaknesses of ShipMonk (compared to Shipium)

  • Less Focus on Advanced Shipping Optimization: ShipMonk's software manages its fulfillment services but likely lacks the sophisticated carrier selection algorithms, delivery date accuracy logic, and cost optimization features that are central to Shipium's software.

  • Reported Operational & Pricing Issues: User reviews frequently cite concerns with ShipMonk regarding reliability, ease of use, implementation challenges, hidden fees, and billing transparency, areas where Shipium appears stronger based on limited data but a higher rating focus.

  • Less Suitable for Optimizing Existing Infrastructure: ShipMonk replaces your logistics, while Shipium is designed as a software layer to optimize existing warehouses and carrier relationships, making ShipMonk less ideal if you want to improve rather than outsource current operations.

Who should use ShipMonk VS. Shipium

We see ShipMonk as a solid choice for growing e-commerce brands looking to outsource their order fulfillment. Their tech platform simplifies managing inventory and shipping across their warehouse network. While reviews mention helpful support, others note potential issues with fees and receiving times, something growing businesses should consider when scaling. It's designed to help streamline logistics as sales increase

Shipium looks like a solid choice for growing ecommerce and retail businesses needing to streamline their shipping operations. We find it helps companies keep delivery promises by offering accurate dates and optimizing fulfillment from warehouse to customer doorstep. Based on its features, it appears to be quite effective in selecting the best carriers and potentially reducing shipping costs, aiming for a smoother customer experience overall for everyone involved in the process

  • In our experience, ShipMonk works best for small to medium-sized e-commerce businesses, though larger enterprises can also find it suitable.

  • We find ShipMonk is specifically tailored for the needs of online retailers and direct-to-consumer brands operating within the e-commerce sector.

  • We observe Shipium works best for medium-sized companies and large enterprises looking to seriously upgrade their shipping logistics.

  • In our experience, Shipium is particularly well-suited for ecommerce and retail businesses focused on efficient fulfillment and delivery.

ShipMonk and Shipium features

Supported
Partially supported
Not supported
Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

  • B2B order management
    Supported

    ShipMonk supports B2B order management, including multiple shipments, shipping speeds, and complex order processing.

    Not supported

    Shipium focuses on post-purchase logistics, not the checkout process itself.

  • Centralized Shipping Logistics Platform
    Supported

    ShipMonk offers a centralized platform coordinating workflows and data across systems for optimized shipping logistics.

    Supported

    Shipium centralizes and coordinates workflows, teams, and data across existing systems to optimize shipping logistics.

  • Cross-Border Fulfillment
    Supported

    ShipMonk offers cross-border fulfillment, handling customs, duties, and regulations.

    Partially supported

    Shipium offers cross-border shipping between the U.S. and Canada but lacks broader international support.

  • UPS integration
    Supported

    ShipMonk integrates with UPS for shipping via its Virtual Carrier Network.

    Supported

    Shipium integrates with UPS for shipping, offering access to various UPS services.

  • Shipping performance reporting
    Supported

    ShipMonk offers detailed shipping analytics, including cost analysis and performance metrics.

    Supported

    Shipium offers robust reporting on shipping KPIs like on-time delivery and costs.

  • DHL integration
    Supported

    ShipMonk integrates with DHL, offering various DHL shipping services.

    Supported

    Shipium integrates with DHL for shipping.

Qualities

  • Value and Pricing Transparency
    -0.67
    Rather negative sentiment
    No data
  • Customer Service
    +0.76
    Strongly positive sentiment
    No data
  • Ease of Use
    -0.2
    Neutral sentiment
    No data
  • Reliability and Performance
    +0.27
    Neutral sentiment
    No data
  • Ease of Implementation
    -0.33
    Rather negative sentiment
    No data

ShipMonk and Shipium Pricing

ShipMonk offers personalized quotes for their services. The pricing model is based on several factors, including storage, fulfillment fees, special projects, and shipping.

User sentiment

Rather negative
-0.67

See full Pricing page

No data
We couldn't find a pricing page for Shipium.

ShipMonk and Shipium review insights

176 reviews analysed from and

Users love

  • ShipMonk’s software is user-friendly and makes it easy to manage inventory, orders, and shipping.
  • ShipMonk’s fulfillment services are generally fast and efficient, with most orders being shipped out within 1-2 business days.
  • ShipMonk’s customer support team is generally helpful and responsive, with many users praising their "Happiness Engineers."
  • ShipMonk’s network of fulfillment centers allows businesses to ship products from multiple locations, which can reduce shipping costs and delivery times.

No data

Users dislike

  • ShipMonk’s additional fees, such as packaging and pick fees, can be high and sometimes hidden.
  • Some users have reported issues with ShipMonk’s customer service, such as slow response times and difficulty getting issues resolved.
  • ShipMonk’s receiving process can be slow and inefficient, with some users reporting delays in getting their inventory checked in.
  • ShipMonk’s billing practices have been criticized by some users, who have reported unexpected charges and difficulty getting refunds.

No data

ShipMonk and Shipium Ratings

  • G2
    3.8/5
    (41)
  • Capterra
    4.1/5
    (125)
  • Glassdoor
    2.9/5
    (235)
  • G2
    4.9/5
    (10)
  • Glassdoor
    4.3/5
    (8)

Company health

Employee growth

15% increase in the last year
17% increase in the last year

Web traffic

15% increase in the last quarter
26% decrease in the last quarter

Financing

July 2020 - $365M
October 2021 - $38M

How do ShipMonk's fulfillment center locations compare to Shipium's network reach?

ShipMonk operates its own physical network of fulfillment centers located across the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe, offering direct warehousing and shipping services. In contrast, Shipium is primarily a software platform designed to optimize shipping logistics, carrier selection, and delivery network configuration for businesses using their own or third-party warehouses; it does not operate its own physical fulfillment center network. Therefore, ShipMonk provides reach through its owned infrastructure, while Shipium focuses on optimizing reach within existing or chosen logistics networks.

Which product offers better control and transparency over unexpected fulfillment costs?

Based on user feedback and product descriptions, Shipium appears to offer better control and transparency over unexpected fulfillment costs. ShipMonk receives specific criticism for hidden fees, unexpected charges, and poor pricing transparency. Shipium, conversely, focuses its features on optimizing shipping costs through data-driven insights, carrier selection tools, and providing enhanced visibility, suggesting it provides better mechanisms for businesses to understand and manage their shipping expenses proactively.

What are the advantages of ShipMonk?

Based on the provided information, ShipMonk's advantages include offering a comprehensive suite of fulfillment services like B2B, cross-border (with DDP/Section 321), e-commerce, and marketplace fulfillment, all managed through its software. Its network of fulfillment centers across North America and Europe enables potentially faster and cheaper deliveries and simplifies global shipping, including bonded warehouse options. Users highlight the user-friendly nature of its software for managing inventory and orders, generally fast fulfillment speeds, often helpful customer support, and its capabilities for order customization and handling dangerous goods.

What are the disadvantages of ShipMonk?

ShipMonk faces criticism primarily around its costs and operational aspects. Users dislike the high or sometimes hidden additional fees for services like packaging and picking, alongside unexpected billing charges and difficulties with refunds, contributing to a negative perception of value and pricing transparency. The platform also receives negative feedback regarding its ease of use, reliability, performance, and ease of implementation. Some users report issues with customer service, citing slow response times and difficulty getting issues resolved, as well as inefficiencies in the inventory receiving process which can cause delays.

Alternatives to ShipMonk and Shipium

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Page co-authored by
MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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