ShippingCowShippingCow vs ShipBob
A heavy-goods specialist against a national standard-parcel network.
ShipBob is a national fulfillment network built primarily for standard-size ecommerce parcels. ShippingCow is built for products 50 to 149 lb and refurbishes returned powered goods at board level. Brands shipping heavy or oversize products usually compare the two on surcharge handling and returns recovery rather than network size.
ShippingCow and ShipBob, side by side
| Compared on | ShippingCow | ShipBob |
|---|---|---|
| Locations | Three US warehouses: New Jersey, California, Texas | 50+ global locations across the US, Canada, the UK, Europe and Australia |
| Built for | Products that pack into one carton of 50 to 149 lb | Ecommerce fulfillment at network scale. Ask what share of their volume is over 50 lb |
| Board-level repair of returns | Yes, in the New Jersey building | Not mentioned on their locations page. Ask |
| Best fit | Heavy, bulky, high-value powered goods | A broad catalogue that needs many nodes |
ShipBob's figures are from ShipBob's own locations page, checked on Sep 25, 2026.
When they are the better choice
If most of your catalogue is under 50 lb, if you need more than three nodes, or if a large integration marketplace matters to you, a bigger network will likely serve you better.
Questions to ask both of us
1. What share of your current volume is over 50 lb?
2. Show me an invoice line for one of my SKUs, with base rate and each surcharge on its own line.
3. Which warehouse would each of my orders ship from, and at what zone?
4. What happens to a returned unit that still powers on?
Sources
| Source | What we took from it |
|---|---|
| ShipBob: fulfillment center locations | 50+ global locations in the US, Canada, the UK, Europe and Australia |
Competitors' figures are from their own pages, checked on Sep 25, 2026. Ask them to confirm anything that decides your choice.
Questions
Is ShippingCow a ShipBob alternative? +
For heavy and oversize products, yes. For high-volume standard parcels, a national network is usually the better fit.
Do you have more warehouses than ShipBob? +
No. Three.
Can you refurbish returns? +
Yes, for powered goods with boards.
Qualify, and your first pallet is on us: we truck it in and receive it. For customers who pass the Cost Audit. One pallet.