Partnering with the right 3PL can boost customer satisfaction, reduce costs, and lead to more efficient operations. So it’s not a decision to make lightly.
We (Red Stag Fulfillment) and ShipMonk are two of the top 3PL providers, but we both cater to different needs and use cases and offer varying features and services.
In this detailed (and honest) comparison, we’ll help you better understand which option is better suited to your business needs.
Editor’s note: Look, we’re reviewing ourselves here, so do note we might be a bit biased.
However, we’ll be the first to tell you we’re not the right fit for everyone—in fact, we turn away many brands who want to work with us.
For example, if you’re looking for services like Section 321 fulfillment or you ship high volumes of <1lb products, ShipMonk is going to be a better fit for you.
That said, we hope you find this comparison helpful. We’ve done our best to make it completely objective. And if you do want to work with us, please start a conversation using our contact form!
If we’re not the right fit, our consultative sales process will recommend a 3PL that fits you better. (We may even recommend ShipMonk!)
Red Stag vs. Shipmonk: quick comparison
| Red Stag Fulfillment | Shipmonk | |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | 99.993% measured accuracy in 2024 across inbound, inventory, order accuracy, and on-time shipping. Accuracy backed by guarantees—we pay you $50 for errors. | 99.99% reported fulfillment accuracy, <2% damage rate. |
| Pricing | Custom pricing, no hidden fees | Pricing tiers based on monthly order volume |
| Integrations | 9 direct integrations, including Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Magento. Custom API for any platforms without direct integrations. | 75+ direct integrations with shopping carts, marketplaces, and solution providers. Custom solutions available. |
| Networks | 2 fulfillment centers strategically located in Tennessee and Salt Lake City, delivery to 96% of U.S. within 2 days, ships almost anywhere. | 14 fulfillment centers in the U.S., Europe, Mexico, and Canada. Delivery to 100% of U.S. within 2 days, ships almost anywhere. |
| Support | Phone, email | Phone, email, case submission on website, knowledge base |
| Kitting and assembly | Yes | Yes |
| Inventory planning | Yes | Not listed as a service |
| Same-day shipping | Yes | Not listed as a service |
| Shrinkage | Zero-shrinkage policy. If any item is lost or damaged, we cover the wholesale price. | Liability of up to $10/unit for full cartons missing after they were received, up to $250/unit with Verified Inventory program (requires additional charge). |
| On-time shipment guarantee | Gets customers’ orders out the door on-time, or we pay you $50 for every late parcel. | No on-time shipment guarantee. |
| Receiving time | 2-day receiving guarantee | 3-day receiving guarantee |
About ShipMonk
ShipMonk offers ecommerce fulfillment services for direct-to-consumer (DTC) businesses of all sizes. Founder Jan Bednar started the 3PL company in 2014 after running into problems shipping goods from the U.S. back home to the Czech Republic.
The fulfillment company’s mission is to help omnichannel brands achieve growth and experience less stress when it comes to fulfilling orders. ShipMonk’s values include transparency, an emphasis on business growth, and a service-oriented approach.
What they do
ShipMonk offers several different kinds of fulfillment services, including:
- Inventory management
- Order fulfillment
- Pick to light (PTL)
- Warehousing
- Inventory receiving
- Returns processing
While they primarily cater to DTC ecommerce businesses, they also have fulfillment services for crowdfunding, B2B and retail businesses, and Seller Fulfilled Prime. Their Europe-based fulfillment center enables easy access to the E.U. as well.
Key benefits and features
ShipMonk offers some notable features and benefits that set them apart, including:
- Section 321 fulfillment
Duty-free import and CBP-compliant shipments help reduce overseas shipping costs - Multiple warehouses
14 warehouse locations, including a few in Europe, Mexico, and Canada for faster and more efficient shipping - Inventory management software
Real-time inventory tracking, ability to easily add SKUs, and inventory-level forecasting - Storage auto slotting
Monitors SKU sales and automatically routes products to the optimal warehouse location for better efficiency - Virtual Carrier Network
Transportation management strategy that guarantees on-time deliveries at competitive prices - Claims portal
In-portal system for automated claims submission, tracking, and resolution
Integration and pricing
One of ShipMonk’s top benefits is its 75+ integrations with popular ecommerce solutions, including Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, Amazon, eBay, Opencart, PayPal, and OpenSky. These integrations make omnichannel selling easier for ecommerce businesses.
ShipMonk also offers a tiered, transparent pricing model based on monthly order volume. High-volume orders result in more cost savings. You can get an immediate quote online based on how many orders you ship, your storage needs, and other factors.
Some of ShipMonk’s additional services, including special projects, container unloading, and packaging materials, come with additional fees. But other fulfillment services, such as claims management, enterprise fulfillment software, and discounted shipping rates, are built into the price.
About Red Stag Fulfillment
Red Stag Fulfillment has provided ecommerce and omnichannel fulfillment services since 2013. Our founders are ecommerce entrepreneurs who had a poor experience with a 3PL provider during the busy holiday season. It inspired them to build a company that provides reliable, high-quality fulfillment services for ecommerce businesses.
At Red Stag, we value accountability and trust, so we’re extremely detail-oriented in all of our services, and we treat every team member and client with respect. Our mission is to provide seamless fulfillment services to help businesses achieve growth.
What we do
Red Stag provides a wide range of ecommerce and omnichannel fulfillment services, including:
- Same-day order processing and shipping
- Returns processing
- Inventory tracking
- Data analytics
- Order tracking
- Kitting and assembly
- Pick-and-pack fulfillment
- Amazon FBA alternative services
- Inventory planning and optimization
We specialize in assisting businesses with more complex fulfillment needs, like oversized or bulky merchandise that’s more difficult to ship, and fragile items that require extra care. However, we also support businesses with lightweight products and a small number of SKUs.
Key benefits and features
At Red Stag, our clients benefit from:
- 100% order and inventory accuracy guarantees
We put you, your business, and your customers first, and if we make a mistake, we’ll make it right. - 0% shrinkage allowance
Zero shrinkage guaranteed, or we cover the wholesale price of lost or damaged items. - Specialized handling
We have the experience and expertise to keep large, bulky, or fragile items safe from damage during transportation - Exceptional support
All of our clients get high-value, hands-on customer support from team members who know the industry inside and out—and who started their careers in picking and packing! - Two-day receiving
Our guaranteed inventory receiving ensures your new merchandise is ready for orders. - Same-day shipping
We offer same-day shipping until 5 p.m. for quick deliveries—and happier customers. - Returns management
We’ll make sure your customers enjoy a simple, stress-free return process. - Kitting and assembly
From subscription boxes to product bundles, we’ll give your customers a great unboxing experience. - Detailed knowledge base
We have an extensive ecommerce and fulfillment knowledge base. Check out our blog to explore our vast content library.
Integrations and pricing
Red Stag Fulfillment offers integrations with all major ecommerce platforms, including Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Opencart, Magento, Shift4Shop, and PrestaShop. If you don’t see the platform you use among our current offerings, we offer custom API solutions to fit your needs.
Your business is unique, and so is our pricing model. After an in-depth consultation to identify your business needs, we’ll provide you with a detailed, inclusive custom quote. This ensures you get the exact fulfillment services you need—without paying for any you don’t.
Red Stag Fulfillment vs. ShipMonk: Which is the right match for you?
Now that you know more about both 3PL fulfillment providers, let’s compare some essential factors to help you determine which one will best fit your business needs.
Range and quality of services
Both ShipMonk and Red Stag provide 3PL and ecommerce fulfillment that includes inventory management, warehousing, custom packaging, automation, and more.
But ShipMonk offers fulfillment for crowdfunding and B2B/retail businesses as well. It also offers services that make international shipping more cost-effective and stress-free, like Section 321 fulfillment.
Red Stag offers services that aren’t available with ShipMonk, such as inventory planning and optimization, and specialized handling for shipping bulky or fragile items.
Customer reviews show that ShipMonk’s integrations with multiple sales channels and widespread warehouse locations, including overseas, are a plus. But they also mention hidden fees and no same-day shipping options as drawbacks.
Red Stag’s customer reviews praise our excellent customer support team and ability to handle oversized items with care. However, they’ve mentioned that the limited international shipping options are a potential drawback.
To sum it up, if you’re shipping bulky or large items, fragile items, or smaller products with a small number of SKUs, Red Stag is fully equipped to handle these orders safely and accurately. Shipping internationally? ShipMonk’s Section 321 fulfillment and overseas warehouses may be a more cost-effective choice.
Accuracy, responsiveness, and reliability
Both Red Stag and ShipMonk have accuracy rates of over 99% when it comes to order fulfillment, but Red Stag’s commitment to accuracy comes with a guarantee. We’ll pay $50 for every mistake and cover the shipping costs to make it right.
Your 3PL provider should have outstanding customer support that you can depend on for prompt assistance. Red Stag has hands-on support for all clients, including dedicated account reps. However, customers have complained about ShipMonk’s customer support in several reviews.
As for reliability, ShipMonk has several customer reviews that mention shipments taking longer than expected to be delivered, despite two-day and other fast shipping options.
Meanwhile, Red Stag is known for providing reliable service — backed by guarantees of zero shrinkage, two-day receiving, and on-time shipping all the time.
NOTE: While we’re talking about customer reviews, keep in mind that everyone has a different experience with their 3PL. While we have what we believe are industry-leading Net Promoter scores (NPS) (+85) and customer satisfaction scores, that doesn’t mean you won’t find brands who didn’t like working with us.
Scalability and growth support
ShipMonk provides streamlined fulfillment operations across all channels for greater scalability, making it easier for businesses to fulfill orders on multiple platforms. Their optimized shipping solutions and multiple warehouses provide customers with efficient and cost-effective service as their businesses expand.
Red Stag was created with scalability in mind. We start with a consultation to identify each customer’s current needs, but our services are designed for easy adjustments over time as customer needs change.
Our inventory planning and omnichannel fulfillment solutions are fully scalable and customizable, while our guarantees for fast inbound receiving, on-time shipping services, and 100% accuracy support seamless business growth.
Make an informed 3PL partner decision based on what you need
Red Stag and ShipMonk both offer fulfillment solutions that emphasize scalability and a streamlined approach, but the right choice for you depends on your business needs.
Whether you’re looking for your first 3PL partner or switching 3PL providers, we are happy to support you, your customers, and your business.
But if we’re not the right fit, we’ll help you find the ideal 3PL fulfillment partner to help your business grow and thrive.
Ready to remove your logistics headaches? Start a conversation to go over your fulfillment needs and see if we’re the right choice for you.
