Looking out for best Shipping Carrier services, but confused between USPS, UPS, and FedEx, then you don’t have to worry as we are going to compare all the three postal services through which you can choose the right one as per to your needs.
United States Postal Service (USPS)
The United States Postal Service, popularly known as USPS is a widely used and well-known independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government. This postal service is completely responsible to provide postal service in the United States together with its insular areas that are also associated states.
The USPS is also known by several names such as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service. This is considered to be one of the few government agencies that clearly authorized by the United States Constitution. This postal service is also best known for offering end to end tracking status of any of the mail item.
USPS Shipping & Services
The USPS offers a number of services that covers domestic mail, international mail, among many more. Here’s a quick summary of the services that are available with the USPS.
Domestic Mail & Shipping Services
These services are available when you are shipping packages in the United States.
- USPS Retail Ground: Delivery Time from 2 to 8 business days
- Media Mail: Delivery Time from 2 to 8 business days
- First-Class Mail: Delivery Time from 1 to 3 business days
- Priority Mail: Delivery Time from 1 to 3 business days
- Priority Mail Express: Delivery Time from 1 to 2 days or overnight
International Mail & Shipping Services
These services are available when you are shipping packages on an international level as USPS offers international shipping as well.
- Global Express Guaranteed: Delivery Time from 1 to 3 business days
- Priority Mail International Service: Delivery Time from 6 to 10 business days
- Priority Mail Express International: Delivery Time from 3 to 5 business days
- First-Class Package International Service: Delivery Time differs as per to the destination
Other Services
In addition to above-mentioned shipping services, the USPS also offers a number of other services, which consist of:
- USPS tracking
- Certified Mail
- Free shipment pickups
- Free supplies for priority mail as well as priority mail express
- Ship to military (You can send APO, FPO, DPO), and so much more.
USPS Shipping Service Prices
Note: All the prices depend on package weight, size, as well as the destination location.
- USPS Retail Ground: Starts at $7.35
- Media Mail: Starts at $2.75
- First-Class Mail: Starts at $0.33
- Priority Mail: Starts at $7.35; *flat-rate boxes available
- Priority Mail Express: Starts at $25.50
USPS Benefits & Drawbacks
Pros
- USPS offers the cheapest option for small packages
- It offers mailboxes and PO boxes to its customers
- Provide free pick-up service
- Saturday delivery is also available
Cons
- Customer support is not up to the mark
- Offer limited tracking services options
United Parcel Service (UPS)
United Parcel Service or UPS is one more popular multinational package delivery as well as a supply chain management company in the US. It offers cargo airline, freight-based trucking operation, as well as retail-based packing and shipping centers among many more.
USPS Shipping & Services
The UPS offers a number of services that covers domestic mail, international mail, among many more. Here’s a quick summary of the main shipping options offered by UPS.
Domestic Mail & Shipping Services
- UPS Standard: Delivery Time is 3+ days
- UPS Ground: Delivery Time from 1 to 5 days
- UPS Hundredweight Service: Delivery Time from 1 to 5 days
- UPS 3 Day Select: Delivery Time in 3 days
- UPS 2nd Day Air: Delivery Time in 2 days
- UPS Next Day Air: Delivery Time in the next business day
International Mail & Shipping Services
- UPS Express Critical: Contact UPS
- UPS Worldwide Express: Delivery Time from 1 to 3+ days
- UPS Worldwide Expedited: Delivery Time from 2 to 3+ days
Other Services
UPS also offers several value-added services, which consists of
- Delivery confirmation
- Day-to-day pickups
- UPS returns
- Hold for pickup
- Saturday delivery is available
- Users get notification services
UPS Shipping Service Prices
Note: All the prices depend on package weight, size, as well as the destination location.
- UPS Standard: Starts at $8.10
- UPS Ground: Starts at $12.32
- UPS Hundredweight Service: Varies Price range
- UPS 3 Day Select: Starts at $11.23
- UPS 2nd Day Air: Starts at $18.40
- UPS Express Critical: Varies Price range
- UPS Next Day Air: Starts at $24.70
UPS Benefits & Drawbacks
Pros
- UPS customers get guaranteed express shipping
- Reasonable prices for even heavy shipments
- Offers great tracking services
- No holiday peak pricing additional charge
Cons
- It can be expensive some times
- Users didn’t get free package pick-up
- Saturday delivery is available but it costs extra
FedEx
FedEx is another popular shipping company which is well-known for its overnight shipping service as well as pioneering a system that helps in tracking packages and also provides real-time updates on package location.
FedEx Shipping & Services
The FedEx offers a number of services that covers domestic mail, international mail, among many more. Here’s a quick summary of the main shipping options offered by FedEx.
Domestic Shipping Services
- FedEx Ground: Delivery Time from 1 to 7 days
- FedEx Express Saver: Delivery Time from 1 to 3 days
- FedEx 2 Day: Delivery Time in 2 days
- FedEx Standard Overnight: Delivery Time in the next business day
- FedEx Priority Overnight: Delivery Time in mid-morning on the next business day
- FedEx First Overnight: Delivery Time in the morning on the next business day
International Mail & Shipping Services
- FedEx International Ground: Delivery Time from 2 to 7 days
- FedEx International Economy: Delivery Time from 4 to 5 days
- FedEx International Priority: Delivery Time from 1 to 3 days
- FedEx International First: Delivery Time in early morning delivery in 1-3 days
Other Services
Here’s a sampling of what’s available FedEx several value-added services:
- Shipping insurance
- Packing services
- Free Saturday delivery
- Free FedEx Express boxes, and more
FedEx Shipping Service Prices
Note: All the prices depend on package weight, size, as well as the destination location.
- FedEx Ground: Starts at $7.85
- FedEx Express Saver: Starts at $16.07
- FedEx 2 Day: Starts at $18.22
- FedEx Standard Overnight: Starts at $27.18
- FedEx Priority Overnight: Starts at $29.18
- FedEx First Overnight: Varies Price range
FedEx Benefits & Drawbacks
Pros
- It offers good tracking updates
- Saturday delivery is also available
- For large shipments, the prices are negotiable
Cons
- It can be expensive some times
- Users get no free package pick-up
- There are only fewer offices available
USPS Tracking
USPS tracking is the service which allows monitoring the location of their mail. after getting the shipping id, you are able to check your USPS tracking updates and other details. USPS Shipping & Tracking system is the barcodes each registered mailpiece comes with. A barcode is scanned whenever a package goes through a USPS Postal facility. The Postal Service (USPS) includes automatic tracking in most of its domestic and international shipping options so that you are able to track your USPS Packages as it makes its way to the destination.
How To Track a USPS Package?
USPS Provides various Ways in which you are able to Track your USPS Packages:
- By web: visit the USPS website to use USPS Tracking.
- By text: send a text message to 28777 with your tracking code.
- By smartphone: download and use the USPS Mobile app for iPhone or Android to get the tracking status of your shipment.
How To Find the USPS Tracking Number?
You are able to find your USPS tracking number in these ways:
- USPS Tracking Number is available on Your Post Office shipping receipt.
- USPS Tracking Number is available on your sales receipt (if you bought insurance at the Post Office).
- USPS Tracking Number is available in your email confirmation (if you shipped from USPS.com).
- USPS Tracking Number is available in the shipping confirmation email, you received from an online retailer.
- USPS Tracking Number is available in the bottom peel-off portion of your USPS Tracking label.
Most of the USPS Tracking Codes are 22 Numbers long, arranged in groups of 4 digits. However, there are other formats, among them shipping ids that start with the letters EA, EC or CP, which indicate that the package is being mailed overseas.
The first four or five digits (for domestic shipping options) and two letters (for the international ones) indicate the type of mail service you’re using.
| Service | Sample number |
|---|---|
| USPS Tracking | 9400 1000 0000 0000 0000 00 |
| Priority Mail | 9205 5000 0000 0000 0000 00 |
| Certified Mail | 9407 3000 0000 0000 0000 00 |
| Collect On Delivery Hold For Pickup | 9303 3000 0000 0000 0000 00 |
| Global Express Guaranteed | 82 000 000 00 |
| Priority Mail Express International | EC 000 000 000 US |
| Priority Mail Express | 9270 1000 0000 0000 0000 00 EA 000 000 000 US |
| Priority Mail International | CP 000 000 000 US |
| Registered Mail | 9208 8000 0000 0000 0000 00 |
| Signature Confirmation | 9202 1000 0000 0000 0000 00 |
Final Verdict
The USPS is considered to be the number one shipping option for many merchants, particularly for the ones who ship small and light products. Furthermore, it also offers free pick up, free Priority as well as Express Mail packaging, with several delivery options which is very useful for small business requirements. At the same time, UPS offers guaranteed shipping, package tracking, as well as no holiday peak extra charges. FedEx is for those who are looking for fast deliveries, package tracking, and Saturday shipping then their services are the best one to choose from.