Rapid Fulfillment vs ShipBob: Pricing Comparison (2026)
ShipBob no longer publishes a rate card, but recent third-party reviews put its fulfillment fee at about $2.50–$3.50 per order with a monthly minimum near $275. On the same order profile, Rapid's published 2026 rates come to $1,598 a month at 1,000 orders versus about $2,810 at ShipBob, a saving of $1,212 (43% lower).
ShipBob vs Rapid at a glance
Rapid figures are from Rapid's 2026 Standard Fulfillment Agreement, Schedule C. ShipBob figures are third-party estimates checked in October 2026; sources are listed at the end.
| Fee | Rapid Fulfillment | ShipBob |
|---|---|---|
| Pick & pack, per order | $1.40 → $1.05 by monthly volume (first pick, one insert, packing slip, label and standard mailer included) | About $2.50–$3.50 per order, first 4 picks included (third-party) |
| Additional items / picks | $0.25 at 0–499 orders; $0.20 for picks 2–4 and $0.25 from pick 5 at 500+ | About $0.20–$0.35 per pick after the 4th (third-party) |
| Storage | $32 per pallet, $8 per shelf, $3 per bin per month; same rate all year | About $40 per pallet, $10 per shelf, $5 per bin per month (third-party) |
| Receiving | Free for 6 pallets or fewer; trucks and containers $150–$600 | About $25–$45 per hour (third-party) |
| Returns | $2.00 first unit, $0.40 second, $1.25 each after | About $3.00 per return (third-party) |
| Setup / onboarding | Waived | About $975, sometimes waived (third-party) |
| Monthly minimum | None. $49 account fee only in months under 100 orders | About $275 per month (third-party) |
| Store integrations | First store connection free; $24.99 per extra store | Free (ShipBob pricing page) |
| Deposit | $500 refundable, waived when you switch from another 3PL | None found |
| Postage | Billed separately at Rapid's carrier rates (from $5.02) | Billed separately; reviewers report markups |
| Order processing | Same-day pick and pack | No published cutoff time found |
Monthly cost: Rapid vs ShipBob
Fulfillment, storage, returns and account fees for three typical brands. Postage is excluded for both so the fees compare like for like. Competitor figures use the low end of each published range and count unpublished fees as $0, so savings are understated, not inflated.
| Brand profile | Rapid | ShipBob | Rapid saves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small: 75 orders, 1.5 items each, 1 pallet, 5% returns | $203 | $275 (monthly minimum) | $72 (26%) |
| Growing: 1,000 orders, 1.5 items each, 4 pallets, 5% returns | $1,598 | $2,810 | $1,212 (43%) |
| Scaling: 3,000 orders, 2 items each, 10 pallets, 3% returns | $4,550 | $8,170 | $3,620 (44%) |
Try your own numbers in the Rapid savings calculator.
When ShipBob may be the better fit
- You want a large national network with many U.S. and international warehouses run by one provider.
- Orders usually have 2–4 items: ShipBob's per-order fee includes the first four picks, which narrows the gap.
- You already rely on ShipBob's own dashboard, analytics and 2-day program.
Where Rapid comes out ahead
- Lower per-order fees at every volume we modeled, from 75 to 10,000 orders a month.
- Published, fixed rates: you can see the exact pack rate for your volume before you talk to sales.
- No monthly minimum and no setup fee, versus a reported ~$275 minimum and ~$975 setup.
- $500 deposit waived when you switch, so moving costs you nothing up front.
How to switch from ShipBob to Rapid
- Get your quote. Send your monthly orders, items per order and storage needs. Rapid confirms your rates from the published schedule.
- Sign and skip the deposit. Attach a recent invoice from your current provider and the $500 security deposit is waived. Setup is waived too.
- Connect your store. Your first store connection is free, and orders sync automatically.
- Move inventory. Deliveries of 6 pallets or fewer are received free. Keep your current 3PL shipping until stock lands at Rapid, then switch order routing.
ShipBob vs Rapid: frequently asked questions
Is Rapid Fulfillment cheaper than ShipBob?
On the profiles we modeled, yes. At 1,000 orders a month with 1.5 items per order, Rapid's fees are about $1,598 versus about $2,810 at ShipBob, before postage. ShipBob quotes each brand individually, so get both quotes in writing.
Does ShipBob have a monthly minimum?
Third-party reviews from 2026 report a minimum of about $275 a month. Rapid has no monthly minimum; a $49 account fee applies only in months with fewer than 100 orders.
Does ShipBob charge a setup fee?
Reviewers report an onboarding fee of about $975 that is sometimes waived. Rapid waives setup; it is only billed if a client cancels for convenience within the first 3 months.
Can I move my inventory from ShipBob to Rapid without a deposit?
Yes. Rapid waives its $500 security deposit for brands switching from another 3PL. Share a recent invoice from your current provider when you sign.
Why are ShipBob's prices listed as estimates?
ShipBob's pricing page says all quotes are customized, so we use recent third-party reviews and the low end of each range. That keeps the comparison conservative.
See your exact savings
Get a written quote on Rapid's published 2026 rates. Switching from another 3PL? Your $500 deposit is waived.
Get my quoteCompare all 3PLsSources and method
Competitor pricing changes and is often quoted individually; confirm current rates with each provider. Figures checked October 2026. ShipBob pricing page · eightx: ShipBob vs ShipMonk cost (Jul 2026) · RevenueGeeks: ShipBob pricing (Aug 2026) · Fulfill.com: ShipBob vs ShipMonk. Rapid rates: Rapid pricing. Company names are trademarks of their owners; Rapid Fulfillment is not affiliated with them.
