If you're shopping for a ShipBob alternative, the question usually isn't whether a 3PL can pick and pack. Most can. It's whether you can predict the bill. That's the core difference between Simpl and ShipBob.
Simpl publishes a flat rate: starting at $7/order, with three picks, packaging, and postage included. ShipBob quotes each brand individually and bills picks, storage, and shipping as separate line items. Neither is wrong. They fit different brands. ShipBob runs a national network of fulfillment centers built for high-volume brands that want inventory spread across regions. Simpl runs one Austin warehouse and a flat rate, built for growing DTC brands that want a number they can plan around. This is an honest look at where each one fits, written by the team behind Simpl.
Simpl vs ShipBob at a glance Pricing model. Simpl: a published flat rate per order. ShipBob: custom quote, no published per-order rate.Starting price. Simpl: starting at $7/order, with three picks, packaging, and postage included. ShipBob: around a $275/month minimum, plus per-unit pick and storage fees.Monthly minimum. Simpl: $750/month, billed pay-the-difference. ShipBob: plan-based; the Growth plan targets roughly 400+ orders/month.Warehouses. Simpl: one Austin, Texas facility. ShipBob: multiple fulfillment centers nationwide.Best fit by volume. Simpl: 50 to 5,000+ orders/month. ShipBob: 2,000+ orders/month across regions.Contract. Simpl: straightforward terms, no onboarding fee, full agreement reviewed before you sign. ShipBob: varies by plan.Amazon FBA prep. Simpl: yes, including labeling, bundling, and Amazon inbound compliance. ShipBob: yes, surcharge applies.Integrations. Simpl: Shopify, Shopify Plus, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Squarespace, Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Etsy, TikTok Shop, plus an open API. ShipBob: broad platform support.Support. Simpl: a named account manager for every client, reachable by email with same-day responses. ShipBob: account manager at higher tiers.Same-day shipping. Simpl: orders in before 12pm Central ship the same day. ShipBob: cutoffs vary by center.Pricing, side by side Pricing is where most ShipBob alternatives get compared, so it's worth walking through both.
Simpl charges a flat rate per order, starting at $7. That rate covers three picks, standard packaging (right-sized boxes, mailers, kraft tape), and postage on negotiated FedEx, UPS, and USPS rates. Order and inventory software, the branded returns portal, and a dedicated account manager are included too. There's a $750 monthly minimum, billed pay-the-difference, so in a slow month you're charged the gap up to $750, not a separate platform fee on top. No setup fees, no receiving fees, no per-SKU charge. Heavier or oversized items follow a published rate card.
ShipBob prices differently. Instead of a published rate, it quotes each brand and bills the pieces separately: a monthly minimum starting around $275, per-pick fees, tiered storage, and shipping with a markup on top. For a high-volume brand spreading inventory across ShipBob's regional centers, that itemized model can pencil out. For a growing brand, the total is harder to forecast month to month, because the line items move with volume, storage, and season.
The short version: Simpl trades ShipBob's regional network for a number you can plan around.
Who should choose Simpl Simpl fits growing DTC brands doing roughly 50 to 5,000+ orders a month that want pricing they can predict and a real person to reach. If you're on Shopify, tired of itemized bills and slow support at a bigger 3PL, and you don't need inventory in five states yet, the flat rate and named account manager are the draw. Same-day shipping on orders in before 12pm Central, 5 to 7 day onboarding, and 99.99% order accuracy with mistakes corrected at Simpl's cost round it out. Austin's central location keeps ground transit reasonable for a national customer base.
Who should choose ShipBob ShipBob fits higher-volume brands, think 2,000+ orders a month, that want inventory distributed across a national network for faster, cheaper ground coverage coast to coast. If you're shipping enough volume to fill multiple regional centers and you'd rather optimize zone by zone than pay a flat rate, ShipBob's multi-warehouse model is built for exactly that.
Compare your own numbers Want a real number for your brand? Pricing starts at $7/order. Get started or see pricing .
Related comparisons FAQs What is a good ShipBob alternative for small brands? For a smaller or growing brand, a good ShipBob alternative is a 3PL with pricing you can predict and support you can actually reach. Simpl is one option built for that: a published flat rate starting at $7/order with three picks, packaging, and postage included, a $750 monthly minimum billed pay-the-difference, and a dedicated account manager for every client. It fits brands shipping 50 to 5,000+ orders a month that want a number they can plan around instead of a custom quote with separate line items.
How does Simpl Fulfillment pricing compare to ShipBob? Simpl publishes a flat rate per order, starting at $7, with three picks, standard packaging, and postage included, plus a $750 monthly minimum billed pay-the-difference. ShipBob doesn't publish a per-order rate; it quotes each brand and bills picks, storage, and shipping separately, starting around a $275 monthly minimum. Simpl's model is easier to forecast; ShipBob's itemized model can suit high-volume brands using its regional network. No setup or receiving fees apply at Simpl.
Does Simpl Fulfillment have a monthly minimum? Yes. Simpl has a $750 monthly minimum, typically reached around 100 orders a month, and it's billed pay-the-difference: in a slower month you're charged only the gap up to $750, not a separate platform fee on top. There are no setup fees, onboarding charges, or receiving fees.
Is Simpl Fulfillment good for FBA prep? Yes. Amazon FBA prep is one of Simpl's core services, including labeling, bundling, and prep that meets Amazon's inbound requirements, so you can keep DTC and FBA inventory in one Austin warehouse instead of splitting it across providers. That makes Simpl a fit for brands selling both on their own store and through Amazon.
What makes Simpl different from ShipBob? Two things: pricing you can read up front, and support you don't have to escalate to. Simpl publishes a flat rate starting at $7/order with picks, packaging, and postage included, and gives every client a named account manager reachable by email with same-day responses. ShipBob runs a larger, multi-warehouse national network with custom quotes and account management at higher tiers. Simpl trades national distribution for pricing clarity and hands-on service, which fits growing DTC brands more than enterprise-scale, multi-region operations.
