Tom Hadley
Content Writer
Why Teams Look for ShipHero Alternatives
ShipHero is popular for good reasons. It's quick to set up, easy to use, and a strong fit for DTC brands with straightforward pick–pack–ship workflows.
That works well at first.
As operations scale, pressure builds in small ways. Order volumes rise. Catalogues expand. New order types appear. What once felt simple starts to feel restrictive.
Automation still helps, but not everywhere. Some workflows run smoothly. Others need manual checks or fixes. Teams begin to double-handle tasks they used to trust the system to manage.
This is usually when teams start looking at ShipHero alternatives. The system hasn't broken. The operation has changed.
Common triggers tend to be: simplicity reaching its limits as volume and exceptions increase, automation gaps that create manual work, and rising warehouse complexity from more SKUs, wholesale orders, or additional locations.
The decision to switch is about keeping fulfilment running cleanly as requirements grow, not about dissatisfaction with the tool itself.
Who this guide is for: DTC brands, hybrid DTC and wholesale teams, and growing fulfilment operations that have outgrown ShipHero's lighter workflows.
Who it's not for: Small teams with simple fulfilment needs that still prefer speed and ease over deeper warehouse control.
How We Evaluated ShipHero Alternatives
There's no single "best" replacement for ShipHero. What works next depends on how your operation has changed and where pressure shows up first. We didn't assess tools as entry-level fulfilment systems, we looked at how well they support life after ShipHero.
Evaluation area | What we looked at |
|---|---|
Warehouse execution depth | Support for structured picking, packing, scanning, and exception handling beyond basic pick-pack-ship |
Automation & rules reliability | Whether rules hold up under pressure and apply consistently across workflows |
Multi-warehouse support | Order routing, stock allocation, and site-level control |
Shipping & carrier control | Routing logic, carrier selection, and service rules |
Integrations & extensibility | How easily the system connects to sales channels, carriers, and other tools |
Scalability without ERP overhead | Ability to scale without forcing teams into heavy enterprise systems too early |
Implementation & ongoing effort | Time to get live and the day-to-day operational burden once in place |
The Top ShipHero Alternatives
1. Helm WMS
Helm is a cloud-based warehouse management system used by eCommerce brands and fulfilment teams to manage orders, inventory, warehouse workflows, and shipping from one platform. It's built to support growing operations that need more structure than entry-level fulfilment tools, without moving straight into ERP-led warehouse systems.
Evaluation area | How Helm WMS performs |
|---|---|
Warehouse execution depth | Supports structured warehouse set-ups using zones and locations, with workflows such as replenishment designed to maintain control as SKU counts and order volume increase |
Automation & rules reliability | Focuses on reducing manual operational work through connected workflows across orders, inventory, and fulfilment |
Multi-warehouse support | Supports inventory tracking across multiple locations |
Shipping & carrier control | Offers integrated shipping with connections to a wide range of couriers. Voila is available as a shipping solution within The Despatch Company ecosystem |
Integrations & extensibility | Provides integrations across sales channels, marketplaces, and carriers |
Scalability without ERP-level overhead | Positioned as operational software for fulfilment teams rather than a full ERP |
Implementation & ongoing effort | Onboarding and set-up are part of Helm's commercial offering; timelines vary by warehouse size and requirements |
Who is Helm WMS best for? eCommerce operations that need tighter warehouse control, reliable inventory syncing across channels, and connected shipping workflows as complexity grows.
How much does Helm WMS cost? Helm offers a free plan for startups, with paid plans starting from £50 per month. Pricing can be found on Helm's pricing page.
What to consider: Helm is cloud-based, so teams that require on-premise deployments will need a different approach. For very large, highly automated distribution centres, enterprise WMS platforms may still be a better fit.
2. Infoplus WMS
Infoplus WMS is a web-based WMS designed for eCommerce retailers, wholesalers, and 3PLs, giving teams the ability to configure workflows around their operation.
Evaluation area | How Infoplus WMS performs |
|---|---|
Warehouse execution depth | Built specifically for warehouse operations, with support for structured picking, packing, and inventory workflows |
Automation & rules reliability | Offers configurable workflows and rules; set-up requires upfront configuration |
Multi-warehouse support | Designed to support operations across multiple warehouses |
Shipping & carrier control | Integrates with major carriers and shipping tools |
Integrations & extensibility | Provides integrations with eCommerce platforms and other operational tools |
Scalability without ERP-level overhead | Focuses on warehouse and fulfilment execution without bundling finance or full ERP modules |
Implementation & ongoing effort | More involved than lightweight fulfilment tools, requiring configuration to match warehouse processes |
Who is Infoplus WMS best for? eCommerce retailers, 3PLs needing multi-client handling, and wholesalers that want warehouse execution plus reporting without a full ERP suite.
How much does Infoplus WMS cost? Pricing is quote-based and depends on volume, warehouses, and workflow requirements.
What to consider: setup takes time and needs proper configuration; not as rigid as some WMS platforms, so consistency depends on how workflows are defined; often used alongside other systems for inventory, finance, or order management.
3. inFlow Inventory
inFlow Inventory is an inventory and warehouse management system used by small to mid-sized businesses, sitting between simple inventory tools and full WMS platforms.
Evaluation area | How inFlow Inventory performs |
|---|---|
Warehouse execution depth | Supports core warehouse workflows such as receiving, inventory tracking, picking, and packing, with limited depth compared to dedicated WMS platforms |
Automation & rules reliability | Offers basic automation; complex rules and exception handling are more limited |
Multi-warehouse support | Supports multiple locations, but routing logic is more constrained than warehouse-first systems |
Shipping & carrier control | Integrates with shipping tools and carriers, but relies on external platforms for deep control |
Integrations & extensibility | Connects with eCommerce platforms, accounting tools, and shipping software |
Scalability | Scales reasonably but can reach limits as complexity increases |
Implementation & ongoing effort | Quick to implement and easy to manage day to day |
Who is inFlow Inventory best for? Small to mid-sized businesses with one or two warehouses that want stronger inventory visibility and basic warehouse control.
How much does inFlow Inventory cost? Starts from £111 per month (billed annually) for the Entrepreneur tier, scaling to £349 and £699 per month for higher tiers, with custom pricing for Enterprise.
4. Descartes Peoplevox
Descartes Peoplevox is a WMS designed for high-volume retail and eCommerce operations, focused on enforcing standardised processes across busy warehouses.
Evaluation area | How Descartes Peoplevox performs |
|---|---|
Warehouse execution depth | Built for structured warehouse execution, with clearly defined picking, packing, replenishment, and stock movement workflows |
Automation & rules reliability | Strong rules-based workflows that enforce consistency; less flexible once configured |
Multi-warehouse support | Designed for multi-site operations, with centralised control |
Shipping & carrier control | Integrates with shipping systems; optimisation often handled through connected tools |
Integrations & extensibility | Integrates with eCommerce platforms and wider retail systems |
Scalability | Performs well at scale for high order volumes |
Implementation & ongoing effort | More involved than lighter WMS platforms, requiring upfront configuration |
Who is Descartes Peoplevox best for? High-volume retail or eCommerce brands that need strict process control and strong inventory accuracy.
How much does Descartes Peoplevox cost? Typically quote-based, depending on order volume, warehouse size, and configuration requirements.
5. Odoo Inventory
Odoo Inventory is the warehouse and inventory module within the Odoo modular ERP platform, for teams that want to adapt the system to their own processes.
Evaluation area | How Odoo Inventory performs |
|---|---|
Warehouse execution depth | Supports receiving, putaway, picking, and internal transfers, with depth depending on configuration |
Automation & rules reliability | Flexible automation through configurable rules; reliability depends on set-up quality |
Multi-warehouse support | Supports multiple warehouses with configurable routing and stock rules |
Shipping & carrier control | Integrates with shipping connectors and third-party tools |
Integrations & extensibility | Highly extensible through Odoo modules and custom development |
Scalability | Scales with volume and complexity, with added configuration effort |
Implementation & ongoing effort | Requires significant set-up and ongoing ownership |
Who is Odoo Inventory best for? Teams with non-standard warehouse workflows that want to own and tailor their system, ideally with internal technical resources or a trusted partner.
How much does Odoo Inventory cost? Open-source and paid editions, with pricing based on modules, users, and hosting choices.
6. NetSuite WMS
NetSuite WMS is the warehouse management module within Oracle NetSuite's ERP platform, for organisations that want warehouse activity tightly integrated with finance and procurement.
Evaluation area | How NetSuite WMS performs |
|---|---|
Warehouse execution depth | Supports structured warehouse workflows aligned to NetSuite's ERP data model |
Automation & rules reliability | Rules-based workflows and automation within the NetSuite framework |
Multi-warehouse support | Handles inventory across multiple locations as part of the wider ERP set-up |
Shipping & carrier control | Supports shipping through NetSuite and integrated partners |
Integrations & extensibility | Strong ERP-level integrations; customisations typically need NetSuite partners |
Scalability | Scales well for large organisations aligned to corporate systems |
Implementation & ongoing effort | Significant and usually partner-led |
Who is NetSuite WMS best for? Larger organisations already standardised on NetSuite that prioritise integration and governance over speed of change.
How much does NetSuite WMS cost? Enterprise-level and quote-based, typically bundled into a wider NetSuite licence.
7. Softeon WMS
Softeon is a WMS built for operations that prioritise process discipline and control across complex, multi-site environments.
Evaluation area | How Softeon WMS performs |
|---|---|
Warehouse execution depth | Deep support for structured warehouse workflows, designed for disciplined execution |
Automation & rules reliability | Strong rules-based automation; less tolerant of ad-hoc changes |
Multi-warehouse support | Built to manage multi-site operations with central control |
Shipping & carrier control | Supports shipping as part of a broader warehouse execution set-up |
Integrations & extensibility | Integrates with ERP and upstream systems |
Scalability | Designed for large operations where consistency matters more than flexibility |
Implementation & ongoing effort | Significant and usually partner-led |
Who is Softeon WMS best for? Structured, multi-site operations that need tight process control, even at the cost of slower change cycles.
How much does Softeon WMS cost? Enterprise-level and quote-based, depending on scope and complexity.
8. Blue Yonder WMS
Blue Yonder WMS is an enterprise-grade WMS for very large, high-volume warehouse and distribution operations, built for complex automation and advanced optimisation.
Evaluation area | How Blue Yonder WMS performs |
|---|---|
Warehouse execution depth | Deep support for complex workflows, including advanced picking strategies and automation-heavy environments |
Automation & rules reliability | Strong automation for predictable, repeatable execution at scale |
Multi-warehouse support | Built for large, distributed warehouse networks with centralised control |
Shipping & carrier control | Supports complex shipping as part of broader supply chain execution |
Integrations & extensibility | Integrates with enterprise ERP and supply chain systems |
Scalability | Designed for very high volumes and complex requirements |
Implementation & ongoing effort | Extensive and usually long-term |
Who is Blue Yonder WMS best for? Very large organisations running high-volume, highly automated distribution centres where enterprise control matters more than speed of deployment.
How much does Blue Yonder WMS cost? Enterprise-level and quote-based, driven by scope and automation complexity.
Which ShipHero Alternative Is Right for You?
Your situation | What to prioritise | Tools that tend to fit |
|---|---|---|
ShipHero still works, but volume is rising | Better execution depth without heavy set-up | Helm WMS, inFlow Inventory |
Automation gaps are slowing fulfilment | Reliable rules, fewer manual fixes | Helm WMS, Descartes Peoplevox |
You're adding B2B, wholesale, or early 3PL workflows | Flexible workflows and client-specific logic | Helm WMS, Infoplus WMS, Odoo Inventory |
You're moving to multiple warehouses | Clear routing and multi-site control | Helm WMS, Descartes Peoplevox, NetSuite WMS |
You need more control, not just more features | Enforced processes and operational discipline | Helm WMS, Descartes Peoplevox, Softeon WMS, Blue Yonder WMS |
Questions to Ask Before Switching from ShipHero
Which workflows still need manual fixes?
Where does ShipHero slow down at peak? Are you adding complexity, or just volume?
How much process change can your warehouse absorb?
Do you need flexibility or enforced standardisation?
Implementation & Migration Considerations
Moving to a more structured system brings clearer rules but more steps and set-up. Teams used to low friction may need time to adjust. Running ShipHero alongside a new system in parallel can reduce risk, but only if it's time-boxed. Build in time for training and at least one busy period before calling the switch complete.
