Simplify Shipping: The Best 7 WooCommerce Shipping Plugins for Advanced Options

As more online stores grow and offer a variety of products, having a smart and efficient shipping strategy is crucial. What’s the secret sauce for meeting the different needs of today’s shoppers? It’s simple: customization and flexibility. The best shipping plugins for WooCommerce, like the ones we’ll be discussing today, have both.

WooCommerce, as a popular e-commerce platform, has many built-in features to make online store owners’ lives simple. Its default shipping option covers the basic grounds, but with some of the best WooCommerce shipping plugins you can take things up a notch like offering extra shipping options to boost the already good features of WooCommerce. These plugins help businesses provide dynamic shipping rates, customizable delivery choices, and smooth international shipping. With these tools, e-commerce companies can shape their shipping to fit their needs, creating an outstanding shopping experience.

This article will explore the best shipping plugin for WooCommerce and others, and how they can turn shipping from just a necessity into a competitive advantage. Keep reading to find out more!

The Need for a WooCommerce Advanced Shipping Plugin

Using a WooCommerce shipping plugin can be a game-changer for your e-commerce business, offering a multitude of advantages that can significantly enhance both your operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Here’s why incorporating a WooCommerce shipping plugin is a wise move:

• Customization and Flexibility: While WooCommerce offers basic shipping options, an advanced shipping plugin empowers you with a broader array of choices. You can customize shipping rates, delivery methods, and handling fees according to your business model and customer preferences. This flexibility ensures that your shipping strategy aligns seamlessly with your brand’s unique identity and customer expectations.
• Time and Cost Savings: The automation and efficiency offered by shipping plugins translate into saved time and reduced operational costs. This allows you to allocate resources to other crucial aspects of your business, such as marketing and product development.
• Competitive Edge: A superior shipping experience can set your business apart from competitors. Leveraging a shipping plugin to provide faster, more reliable, and more affordable shipping options can help you attract and retain customers who prioritize efficient shipping services.
• Integration with Third-Party Solutions: If your business relies on third-party inventory management, order processing, or CRM systems, most best-in-class shipping plugins can integrate seamlessly with these tools. This cohesive approach reduces manual data entry and ensures accuracy across platforms.
• Real-time Shipping Rates: Shipping costs can make or break a sale, and this is one of the reasons for cart abandonment. Offering accurate real-time shipping rates can boost conversion rates. A quality shipping plugin integrates with various carriers and dynamically calculates shipping costs based on different factors. You can optimize your shipping strategy with the help of dimensions, destination, shipping speed, and weight-based shipping WooCommerce plugins, ensuring accurate shipping costs based on the characteristics of the products.  This transparency helps customers make informed purchasing decisions.
• Diverse Delivery Options: Different customers have different shipping needs. A dedicated shipping plugin allows you to offer a variety of delivery options such as standard, expedited, same-day, or even local pickup. Through catering to various preferences, you cater to a wider customer base and enhance overall satisfaction.
• International Shipping: Expanding your market internationally requires dealing with diverse shipping regulations, customs duties, and carrier options. A WooCommerce shipping plugin can handle these complexities smoothly, enabling you to tap into global markets without hassle.
• Tracking and Notifications: Keeping customers informed about their order’s status enhances their trust in your brand. Shipping plugins often offer tracking functionalities that allow customers to monitor their package’s journey in real-time. Automated email notifications at various stages of shipping keep customers engaged and reduce support inquiries.

Apart from the above-mentioned reasons, we can’t skip the elephant in the room- WooCommerce provides three default shipping methods:

• Flat Rate
• Free Shipping
• Local Delivery

The shipping methods can be added for different shipping zones based on the different regions.

Pro Note: Shipping zones feature was introduced in WooCommerce version 2.6, prior to that only 5 shipping methods were provided.

The basic shipping methods only have the option to add shipping costs if applicable. It does not have an option for complex shipping rules. Like allowing shipping costs based on the product shipping classes, weight, price, number of items in the cart, and so on. The only benefit is that it can be added to different shipping zones based on the country, state, or postcodes.

There are many plugins that help you to set up complex shipping rules; let’s take a look at some of the best shipping plugins for WooCommerce.

What to Look for in A WooCommerce Shipping Plugin

When considering a WooCommerce shipping plugin for your online store, it’s crucial to assess various features to ensure that the chosen plugin aligns with your business requirements and enhances your shipping process. Here are the key features you should look for in a WooCommerce shipping plugin:

1. Robust and Unified Functionality

A comprehensive shipping plugin should offer a wide range of features in a cohesive manner. Opt for a multipurpose solution that can handle various shipping scenarios without the need for multiple plugins. 

An ideal plugin should be able to seamlessly carry out tasks of various types, or at the very least be welcoming of further integrations for complex cases. For instance, a robust and unified plugin may be able to handle shipping requirements that would otherwise require WooCommerce bulk shipping plugins to be downloaded separately. This minimizes complexity and makes management more efficient.

2. Flexibility in Shipping Rate Calculation

Different products may require distinct shipping rate methods based on factors like weight, dimensions, quantity, and product category. The ideal plugin should allow you to create custom shipping rate methods tailored to your specific needs. The ability to set up flexible rules ensures that shipping costs accurately reflect the variables involved.

3. Customization Capabilities

Every business has unique shipping requirements. A robust plugin should offer customization options to accommodate your specific needs. This might include defining shipping rules based on shipping classes, product types, order values, or customer locations.

4. Logistics Support

Global reach is crucial in e-commerce. Ensure the plugin supports both domestic and international shipping options. Partnering with a reliable shipping plugin vendor is essential, as they should provide ongoing support and troubleshooting assistance to ensure smooth operations.

5. Scalability

As your business grows, your shipping needs might become more complex. Choose a plugin that can scale with your business, accommodating increased order volumes and more intricate shipping requirements.

6. Diverse Shipping Options

Why utilize any plugins, if you’re not picking from among only the ​​best WooCommerce plugins for charging shipping? The plugin you choose should enable the creation of multiple shipping methods, rates, and packages. This empowers customers to choose shipping options that suit their preferences and budget. Additionally, the plugin should accommodate various shipping carriers and services, catering to both domestic and international deliveries.

7. Regular Updates and Features Addition

Choose a plugin that is actively maintained and updated by the vendor. Regular updates ensure compatibility with the latest versions of WooCommerce and address any security or performance concerns. Look for a vendor known for adding new features and improvements to keep up with the evolving e-commerce landscape.

8. Compatibility with Payment Gateways

Your chosen plugin should seamlessly integrate with the payment gateways you use. This ensures a smooth checkout process, as shipping costs are often tied to the chosen payment method and location.

9. User-Friendly Interface

The plugin’s user interface should be intuitive and easy to navigate. This is especially important if you or your team need to manage shipping settings on a regular basis. A user-friendly interface reduces the learning curve and potential errors. Handling deliveries and pickups with various factors like product types, preparation times, and pickup locations can be a challenge for store owners. The Order Delivery Date Pro plugin helps you easily set your preferred delivery date and time for products. Customers can then choose from the available options, ensuring timely delivery and customer satisfaction without feeling overwhelmed.

Elevate Your WooCommerce Shipping with These Top 5 Plugins

To meet the evolving expectations of modern shoppers and streamline your shipping operations, incorporating the right WooCommerce shipping plugin is a strategic move. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the best shipping plugins for WooCommerce that can revolutionize your e-commerce shipping strategies and provide unparalleled customer experiences:

1. Order Delivery Date Pro

Handling deliveries and pickups with various factors like product types, preparation times, and pickup locations can be a challenge for store owners. The Order Delivery Date Pro plugin helps you easily set your preferred delivery date and time for product delivery and local pickup. Customers can then choose from the available options, ensuring timely delivery and customer satisfaction without feeling overwhelmed.

Key Features and Benefits

• Ideal solution for local pickup delivery option: Select the product category and choose the pickup location you want. Set limit for delivery slots by specifying maximum orders that can be picked from a location & product category.
• Same Day and Next Day Delivery:  Set the fees for both same-day and next-day delivery. Also, set the deadline/ cut-off time for placing orders to qualify for these speedy shipping options.
• Tailored Delivery Solutions: Schedule deliveries based on product categories, shipping methods, and pickup locations.
• Crafted Delivery Schedules: Create unique delivery schedules, set charges for weekdays and special dates, and notify customers automatically.
• Recurring Deliveries: Seamlessly manage recurring orders with WooCommerce Subscriptions integration.
• Tailored Preparation Time: Assign specific preparation times for different products and you can also apply the minimum delivery for the delivery days you want.
• Optimized Shipping Costs: Implement strategies like shipping charges and pickup services to strike the right balance between costs and profits.
• Google Calendar Integration: Sync order details with Google Calendar for real-time tracking and organization.

2. Table Rate Shipping Method for WooCommerce

For businesses with diverse shipping scenarios, the Table Rate Shipping Method – Flexible Shipping offers excellent capabilities to tailor shipping rates based on a range of conditions. With this WooCommerce advanced shipping plugin, you can implement intricate shipping rules and configurations. Whether you’re calculating shipping costs based on weight, cart total, handling fees, or specific shipping classes, this plugin provides the versatility needed to cater to various customer preferences.

Key Features and Benefits

• Versatile Shipping Rate Calculation: Calculate shipping costs based on weight, cart total, handling fees, and more.
• Customizable Shipping Methods: Create unlimited shipping methods and cost calculation rules.
• Advanced Pricing Options: Set up shipping costs based on shipping classes, product dimensions, user roles, and more.
• Conditional Logic: Hide or disable shipping methods based on specific cart contents or conditions.
• Seamless Integration: Integrates with various shipping companies and offers compatibility with WPML and Polylang for multilingual stores.

3. WooCommerce ShipStation Integration by WooCommerce

Streamlining the order fulfillment process is the focus of WooCommerce ShipStation Integration. This free plugin empowers you to import orders, create batch labels, and communicate with customers effortlessly. With its advanced customization features, it fits businesses of all sizes and simplifies the management of shipping tasks.

Key Features and Benefits

• Seamless Order Fulfillment: Import orders, create batch labels, and communicate with customers without leaving the WooCommerce dashboard.
• Mobile App Support: Utilize the ShipStation Mobile app for on-the-go management.
• Integration with ShipStation: Integrate with ShipStation’s web-based shipping solution for advanced automation.
• Time and Cost Savings: Save hours off the fulfillment process and print labels wirelessly.
• Business Flexibility: Customizable features fit businesses of varying sizes and locations.

4. WooCommerce Advanced Shipping by Sormano

When customization and precision matter most, WooCommerce Advanced Shipping by Sormano rises to the occasion quite well. This plugin lets you create shipping rates based on a multitude of conditions, offering flexibility and fine-tuned control over your shipping strategy. From product categories to shipping classes, this plugin covers every aspect of complex shipping scenarios.

Key Features and Benefits

• Condition-Based Shipping: Set up shipping rates based on weight, cart total, product categories, and more.
• Versatility in Pricing: Establish shipping costs based on products’ dimensions, quantities, and cart line items.
• Advanced Customization: Customize shipping methods, costs, and rules to fit your unique business needs.
• Rule Hierarchy: Combine and organize rules to create efficient shipping strategies.
• Extensible and Expandable: Easily add custom conditions and calculation methods.
• Compatibility with WooCommerce Subscriptions: Seamlessly manage recurring deliveries alongside subscription schedules.

5. Advanced Shipment Tracking 

Advanced Shipment Tracking (AST) streamlines WooCommerce order fulfillment with a set of beneficial features. It allows you to easily manage and automate your fulfillment process, ensuring a streamlined workflow. The plugin also facilitates informative tracking by enabling the effortless addition and updating of tracking information, which keeps customers informed and reduces post-shipping inquiries. By optimizing the fulfillment process, AST contributes to improved overall customer satisfaction, making it a valuable tool for e-commerce businesses.

Key features

• Workflow Optimization: Rename the WooCommerce “Completed” Order Status to “Shipped” and enable a custom “Partially Shipped” status for orders shipped separately or at different times.
• Tracking Info Widget: Provide customers with a customizable widget in order status emails and on the View Order page for easy order tracking.
• Add Tracking Information: Quickly add tracking details to WooCommerce orders when editing or viewing orders.
• Multiple Tracking Numbers: Add multiple tracking numbers to a single order.
• Instant Order Fulfillment: Fulfill orders and send shipment details to customers when adding tracking information.
• 300+ Shipping Providers: Choose from a list of 300+ shipping providers with predefined tracking links for customer convenience.
• Shipment Tracking API: Update tracking numbers from third-party services and fulfill orders from external systems using the Shipment Tracking API endpoint.
• CSV File Import: Easily import tracking information in bulk from CSV files, saving time and avoiding manual entry.”

6. Flat Rate Shipping Plugin For WooCommerce

Flat Rate Shipping plugin lets you create multiple custom flat-rate shipping methods, tailoring them based on various conditions such as product, country, cart subtotal, quantity, category, product tag, and user preferences.

Features

• Multiple-way to create free shipping
• Set Fixed cost-based shipping method
• Create multiple custom flat rate shipping methods based on, product, product category, product tags, quantity, and cart-subtotal.
• Calculate Tax on the shipping method
• Clone Existing table rate shipping

7. WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping

Weight-Based Shipping is an uncomplicated and versatile shipping method designed for WooCommerce, primarily focusing on order weight (but not exclusively) to calculate shipping costs. This plugin lets you establish multiple rules based on different conditions.

Features:

• Order Details: Set rules based on order weight, subtotal, and destination.
• Custom Shipping Rules: Create as many shipping rules as needed for different order destinations, weight ranges, and subtotal amounts.
• Flexible Price Calculation: Configure each rule to apply a constant price (like a flat rate) or a progressive price based on the cart weight, or even a combination of both.
• Conditional Free Shipping: Establish a free shipping threshold using the plugin.

To Sum Up

The real magic of WooCommerce begins to shimmer and shine when you tap into the vast repository of plugins and extensions. The same goes for the shipping capabilities and strategy of your WooCommerce store. In a nutshell, the right WooCommerce shipping plugin can elevate your e-commerce store’s shipping capabilities to new heights. 

Whether you’re focused on customized delivery schedules, versatile shipping rate calculations, streamlined order fulfillment, advanced shipping customization, or simplified label printing, these top WooCommerce shipping plugins offer unique features to enhance your store’s efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall success. 

Through the selection of a WooCommerce shipping integration that aligns with your business goals and customer expectations, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of e-commerce shipping. Here’s to greater heights of customer satisfaction and operational efficiency!