The three big names in the field of courier agencies. They are reliable and cover a large area, and hence, most sought after names in the industry. All these three offer competitive prices and if you know the right way to use their services, you can find an affordable package that works best for your business.
Well, this guide gives you an in-depth analysis of the prices offered and answers one of the most frequently asked questions: what is cheaper - FedEx or UPS or USPS. Let's find out.
What are FedEx, UPS and USPS known for
Each of these bug names have a strength. For USPS, it's their affordable services that are quite useful for shipping media mail, lightweight and highly fragile parcels.
As for FedEx, they are known for their transparency and complete tracking ability of parcels. Plus, their express delivery services are spot on.
In the case of UPS, they are the first option for customers who wish to send large parcels and freight packages both domestically as well as internationally.
USPS vs UPS vs FedEx shipping rates
While talking about the price comparison, it's essential to consider the delivery time frame as well, as all these courier agencies price their packages based on the same.
Flat rate Shipping
FedEx, USPS and UPS offer flat rate shipping, but their versions are slightly different than the other, while the base concept remains the same.
In the case of USPS, the flat rate shipping is valid for parcels weighing 20 pounds and the same can be delivered within 1 to 3 business days. For FedEx, the maximum weight is raised to 50 pounds and you can choose the timeline - it can be 1, 2 or 3-days. This gives you more control over when your package will be delivered.
The maximum weight limit to qualify for the flat rate shipping is the same as FedEx in the case of UPS, but the only difference is that there’s five different options available.
Overnight Shipping option
As for the overnight shipping option, helpful for urgent deliveries, FedEx has the 2Day AM option, USPS has the Priority Mail Express delivery that delivers by 10AM and UPS has Next Day Air service.
The price levied by each of the courier agencies are as follows:
Note: This is the price for a 2lb package that is of 10” x 5” x 5” size [from Brooklyn to Miami].
Priority Mail
Priority mail is great for delivering the emergency packages and all the three courier services offer quite competitive prices. However, the delivery time varies and completely depends on the distance.
Small package option
If you want to deliver small packages that are under 1 pound, then a;ll of these courier services provide them and the packages will be delivered within 1 to 5 business days.
The price for a package that weighs around 12 ounces are as below:
Final Thoughts
If you are looking to send a small package once in a while, then USPS is definitely your savior. They are cost effective, don't have many restrictions and your package reaches on time. They also have a well organized distribution network and if it's a domestic delivery, the tracking process is pretty smooth and transparent.
When it comes to flat rate shipping too, USPS seems to have a fair upperhand in the case of small packages, but they aren’t the most affordable option for shipping large sized parcels.
Well, one thing is clear, its difficult to find the cheapest courier agency from the three and if you are trying to find a great shipping price, then its best to inquire about all these three couriers, compare the prices and then narrow down based on the duration of delivery, size of package and the distance from the pickup point and consignee address.
