ShipGopher
ShipGopher vs Pirate Ship
Both sell USPS and UPS labels at the same discounted carrier rates, far below the counter. The difference: Pirate Ship charges no fee but asks you to create a free account; ShipGopher needs no account, adds FedEx, and charges a small service fee.
| ShipGopher | Pirate Ship | |
|---|---|---|
| Account | No account. Just an email for your label | Free account needed (name and a physical address, not a PO Box) |
| Carriers | USPS, UPS and FedEx | USPS and UPS |
| Price | Discounted carrier rates + a service fee of $1 + 5% of the discounted postage | The same discounted rates, no fee or markup |
| No printer? | USPS: show a QR code at the Post Office. UPS and FedEx: print the label | QR codes for paperless labels at the Post Office or The UPS Store |
| Payment | Apple Pay, Cash App Pay, credit or debit card | Card, PayPal, Venmo or bank account (ACH) |
Facts checked October 25, 2026. Sources: Pirate Ship rates, what you need to start, paperless QR labels. Prices change; check each service before you buy.
When Pirate Ship is the better choice
- You ship often. With no fee, Pirate Ship costs less per label. In our October 2026 price study, Pirate Ship's USPS and UPS Ground prices matched the postage part of ours: for a 5 lb box from Phoenix to Chicago by USPS Ground Advantage, ShipGopher's $14.40 is $12.76 of postage plus a $1.64 fee.
- You want a paperless UPS label. Pirate Ship offers QR codes for UPS too; on ShipGopher, UPS and FedEx labels are printed.
- You sell online. Pirate Ship connects to online stores and keeps your shipping history in your account.
When ShipGopher is the better choice
- You don't want another account. No sign-up, no password, no address on file. Your email gets the label, receipt, tracking and cancel link.
- You want FedEx in the comparison. ShipGopher shows USPS, UPS and FedEx side by side.
- You ship now and then. On a typical label the fee is a dollar or two, in exchange for skipping the sign-up.