Yup, we get it. What was one of the quickest ways to go to market doesn’t cut it anymore.
Amazon FBA is a logistical powerhouse that gets products to customers faster than we could imagine. On the other hand, it comes with fees that seem to multiply overnight and policies that constrain delivering proper fulfilment experiences that it feels like we’re running our businesses with one hand tied behind our backs.
FBA also limits control over your branding. For example, Amazon ships products in its standard packaging, often without your brand’s logo or custom design. Also, Amazon enforces strict guidelines on how product pages look. Even with A+ Content, branding opportunities are constrained compared to a dedicated e-commerce store.
If you’re here, chances are you’ve felt the pinch too. You’re not alone. Many sellers are realizing that FBA’s one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t scale with their ambitions. This is when sellers look for alternatives to FBA. Since you are here, we’re guessing you are too!
In this article, we have listed 7 Amazon FBA alternatives that you can use instead of Amazon FBA. We will also guide you on how to choose an alternative.
Let’s dive in!
Criteria for Evaluating Amazon FBA Alternatives
Let’s start by understanding how to evaluate the various Amazon FBA alternatives to find the best one that fulfills your unique requirements. Consider the following factors to find your best fit:
Cost transparency: Look for providers with clear pricing models that include storage, shipping, and returns. Avoid surprises by asking for a full cost breakdown upfront. For example: Some providers, like ShipBob, offer upfront pricing calculators to help you estimate costs.
Scalability: Ensure sellers can handle increased order volumes during peak seasons without delays or additional fees. For that, check if they have multiple fulfillment centers.
Platform integration: Check if they integrate seamlessly with your e-commerce platform like Etsy, Magento, Shopify, or eBay in addition to Amazon.
Inventory management: Evaluate the service providers on how well they manage inventory–warehousing, tracking, and restocking.
Geographical reach and shipping speed: If you sell internationally, ensure the provider has fulfillment centers in key markets and offers reliable global shipping options. For local markets, check their speed and reliability for last-mile delivery.
Branding control: Check if the service provider offers custom packaging and inserts to strengthen your brand identity, unlike Amazon FBA, which is very restricting.
Returns management: Compare the return processing for–ease, customer satisfaction, and policies.
Analytics and reporting: Ensure they offer advanced analytics to help you optimize your inventory, reduce cost, and offer demand forecasts, just like Flexport’s real-time visibility dashboard.
TL;DR
- FedEx: Reliable delivery with global reach but has a high minimum order value
- eFulfillment Service: Affordable but less scalable for high-volume orders
- ShipMonk: Customizable branding options but lacks transparent fee structures
- ShipBob: Scalable but hidden fees
- Flexport: Tech forward but costly for small business
- Shipwire: Global warehousing and automation but high handling fees
- AMZ Prep: Amazon-focused but high fees
Top 7 Amazon FBA Alternatives
Let’s check the alternatives in detail so that you can understand how they compare to your needs:
1. FedEx
FedEx is a global e-commerce service provider with operations in over 200 countries, making it a top choice for high-volume sellers looking to scale internationally. Known for its reliable delivery and advanced logistics network, FedEx offers tailored solutions for businesses, prioritizing speed, branding, and customer satisfaction.
Key features
- Fast and flexible shipping: Provides standard, same-day, and two-day delivery options to meet customer expectations
- Streamlined returns: Offers an automated return portal that simplifies the process for customers and reduces operational strain for sellers.
- Seamless integration: integrates with popular e-commerce platforms, Shopify, Magneto & WooCommerce, and marketplaces, allowing you to sync inventory and order details in real-time
- High-volume discounts: Offers tailored pricing solutions for sellers shipping more than 200 packages daily.
- Advanced reporting: Has an analytics dashboard that provides insights into shipping performance, cost optimization, and customer delivery metrics.
Pros
- Global network to reach international markets
- Prompt delivery services
- Customizable branding options for packaging and inserts
- Advanced tracking capabilities
- Highly scalable for enterprises with high shipping volumes.
Cons
- Lacks transparent pricing
- Requires a minimum order of 200 orders per day, making it unsuitable for small businesses
2. eFulfillment Service
eFulfillment Service is a third-party logistics (3PL) fulfillment provider offering affordable and flexible fulfillment solutions to small and medium-sized businesses. With no set-up fees or minimum order requirements, it offers everything from pick and pack, kitting, warehousing, and inventory management to shipping and return processing.
Key features
- Omnichannel Fulfillment: Offers tailored fulfillment service across multiple channels, including eBay, Shopify, and others
- Flexible pricing: Offers flexible pricing solutions with no setup fee or minimum order volume requirements
- Personalized gifting experience: Helps amplify customer unboxing experience with kitting services, including subscription boxes, marketing inserts, custom packaging, and gift sets
- 24x7 Inventory monitoring: Provides 24/7 inventory management with the option for ‘pay for what you use’ and order and inventory monitoring
- Return management: Handles returns process, including inspection, restocking, and customer service.
Pros
- Budget-friendly for small-medium businesses
- Integrates seamlessly with popular e-commerce platforms
- Offers flexible and eco-friendly packaging and branding options
Cons
- Users report slow restocking, fulfillment delays, and missing stock
- Struggles to scale for businesses handling high-order volumes or operating globally
3. ShipMonk
ShipMonk is another 3PL platform providing comprehensive fulfillment solutions. It offers a flexible and customizable fulfillment process from receiving orders to shipping, ensuring efficient deliveries.
Key features
- Customize boxing: Allows branded packaging and personalized inserts
- Order sync: Syncs orders seamlessly across platforms like Shopify, Amazon, and WooCommerce
- Inventory management: Offers real-time inventory tracking, analytics, and low stock alerts with visibility and control over stock levels
- Shipping options: Offers a variety of shipping methods through partnerships with major carriers
Pros
- No minimum order requirement
- User-friendly platform interface
- Offers good onboarding support
Cons
- It does not guarantee next-day delivery
- Users report long delivery times, lost inventory, things packed wrong
- Costs are not transparent, especially fees like shipping fees, storage fees, and closing account fees
- Has a $250 pick-and-pack minimum
- Making claims for lost items is challenging
4. ShipBob
Founded in 2014, ShipBob serves over 5,000 eCommerce businesses with a network of 50+ fulfillment centers, offering two-day shipping to 99% of the U.S. Its proprietary technology streamlines order processing, inventory management, and shipping, making it one of the leading alternatives to Amazon FBA.
Key features
- Offers comprehensive order fulfillment, including warehousing, packing, shipping, tracking and returns
- Provides real-time inventory tracking and restocking alerts
- Seamlessly integrates with over 100 retailers, e-commerce platforms, and social channels for streamlined operations across sales channels
- Allows customized unboxing and personalized packaging
Pros
- 250+ shipping locations
- User-friendly interface
- No minimum order requirement
Cons
- It does not guarantee same-day shipping
- Hidden fee with several users reporting unexpected charges
- Slow response time from the customer support team and issues with accountability in case of mistakes
- Frequent reports of errors and delays in order fulfillment
5. Flexport (Deliverr)
Flexport is a technology-forward logistic solution that simplifies global trade with solutions like freight forwarding, customs clearance, and supply chain management. After acquiring Shopify Logistics and Delivery in 2023, Flexport expanded to include eCommerce fulfillment, D2C operations, B2B distribution, and last-mile delivery. With its global network and advanced tools, Flexport helps businesses streamline operations and grow internationally.
Key features
- Has strategically located warehouses operating over 3 million square feet of space
- Offers real-time visibility into inventory, allowing businesses to monitor stock, prevent over and under-stocking
- Customizable fulfillment solutions tailored to meet unique seller needs, like specialized shipping
- Offers ocean, freight, and trucking solutions
- Helps clear goods quickly, minimizes import duties, and leverages custom data to optimize the supply chain
Pros
- User-friendly interface offering real-time visualization of import status, making managing shipments and tracking data for KPIs easy
- Responsive support team
- Native reporting features that help in data analysis and informed decision-making
Cons
- Expensive compared to traditional freight forward services
- Users report slow responses for quotes and bookings, leading to delays in order processing
6. Shipwire
Shipwire is a cloud-based fulfillment and 3PL platform that streamlines logistics. Backed by CEVA Logistics, Shipwire offers robust tools to help sellers handle inventory, order fulfillment, and shipping across channels.
Key Features
- Enables managing multiple shopping integrations and automating shipping C2C orders
- Operates fulfillment centers across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, minimizing transit times and costs
- Manages B2B fulfillment and handles wholesale orders by connecting with retailers via EDI or API
- Optimizes returns, making the process hassle-free for customers
- Offers dropshipping solutions, helping sellers scale operations
- Selects efficient routes and carriers for cost-effective and timely deliveries
Pros
- Intuitive and user-friendly platform
- Highly scalable
Cons
- Reaching customer support and getting timely resolution to issues is challenging
- Users report high handling fees compared to other providers
- Occasional delays in shipment and failure in package dispatching
7. AMZ Prep
AMZ Prep is a fulfillment company specifically supporting Amazon sellers and e-commerce businesses. It offers a comprehensive suite of services, including warehousing, order fulfillment, Amazon FBA prep, Amazon FNSKU labeling and bundling, and tailored logistics solutions. It helps you optimize your supply chain while staying compliant with Amazon’s strict guidelines.
Key features
- Helps prepare inventory for Amazon FBA, ensuring all labeling, packaging, and compliance requirements are taken care of
- Manages orders from multiple platforms, including Shopify, Walmart, and others, through a centralized system
- Offers B2B fulfillment, seamlessly connecting sellers with retailers for EDI-automated wholesale and retail workflows
- 3PL technology platform with built-in reports and analytics experts support for forecasting inventory and orders
- Offers end-to-end freight services, including customs clearance and strategic inventory import and distribution across AMZ Prep fulfillment centers for quick and cost-effective delivery
- Provides crowdfunding fulfillment for Indiegogo and Kickstarter campaigns
- Offers custom packaging and kitting services for branding with Amazon, B2B, and retail distribution
Pros
- Professional and responsive customer service
- Transparent communication about inventory status
- Flexible and smooth inventory management features
Cons
- Has a high per-unit fee
- Faces internal issues leading to delayed shipments
- Frequent changes in account manager
- Has a minimum monthly order quantity requirement
Conclusion
Amazon FBA has undoubtedly revolutionized e-commerce, providing ease of doing business, but the rigid policies, high fees, and limited branding scope leave them searching for Amazon FBA alternatives.
While these FBA alternatives provide more control over branding and inventory, they come with trade-offs like hidden fees or slower shipping speeds that make the decision-making process even more critical.
This is where SalesDuo steps in as an all-in-one account management partner. With dual integration for Vendor and Seller Central, SalesDuo simplifies operations, automates processes, and provides complete support—from managing SEO and shortage claims to streamlining compliance.
Schedule a call with us to learn how we can transform your Amazon operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Author
Meet Arjun Narayan, a Business Dynamo with two decades of conquering boardrooms and founding two companies that didn't just survive but thrived. When he's not navigating business strategies and delivery teams, you'll find him immersed in his love for cars and exploring new models, geeking out over tech trends, globe-trotting for new adventures, and occasionally pondering the mysteries of the universe over a good cup of coffee.
