When it comes to global shipping, customers expect deliveries to be fast, affordable, and reliable no matter where they live.
Whether you’re a small retailer exploring international expansion or a large enterprise fulfilling thousands of orders per week, choosing the cheapest carriers for international shipping can make a big difference to your bottom line.
However, with so many options and variables to consider, it isn’t always easy to determine which carriers offer the best value.
Instead of asking “which is the cheapest international carrier?”, the more relevant question is often “how can I secure the cheapest carrier rates?”
The reality is, carrier rates can often vary in price throughout the year based on demand, offers, and market fluctuations.
Having multi-carrier integration software like Scurri Connect can empower retailers to avail of the best carrier rates at any given time.
Why choosing the right international carrier matters
In today’s world, international shipping isn’t just about getting a parcel from A to B. Customers expect speedy delivery, cheap costs, and accurate updates – and if you can’t offer these, they’ll take their business elsewhere.
Shipping cost is one of the top reasons for cart abandonment. If shipping charges are higher than customers expect, many simply won’t complete checkout.
Delivery speed directly impacts trust and loyalty. Customers are becoming less and less patient, and slow international delivery can damage long-term relationships.
Carrier reliability impacts your brand reputation. Even if the courier is at fault, customers will blame the retailer for late deliveries, lost packages, or lack of tracking updates.
Optimising your international carrier selection can help to avoid these issues, improving customer satisfaction while also making your business more profitable.
What are the best and cheapest carriers for international shipping?
There is no single ‘best’ or ‘cheapest’ carrier, as this will vary depending on the type of parcel and the destination. However, there are several carriers known for competitive rates, strong international networks, and high service standards.
All of the carriers within Scurri’s network have their own strengths – and retailers who succeed are the retailers who use our software to connect to multiple carriers.
The question of “best” is always relative to your business needs, and the cheapest carrier will vary depending on market conditions and rates.
How do carriers vary from one another?
We’ve established that there’s no “best” carrier or “cheapest” carrier, as the factors that influence how suitable or cost-effective a carrier may be can vary and can be different at different times.
However, that’s not to say that all carriers are the same. There are certainly different services available from different carriers, which is why Scurri connects to so many, giving retailers a world of choice at their fingertips.
While a more detailed selection of carriers is visible on our carrier page, here’s a selection of carriers and their differences.
The below carriers are just a few of the carriers that we connect to and we don’t suggest that they are more or less suitable than any of our carriers. We always recommend that retailers explore our full suite of carriers before deciding which carriers to add to your network.
DHL
DHL remains one of the most popular global carriers thanks to its extensive international reach and impressive delivery speeds. While not always the absolute cheapest option, DHL offers great value for money, particularly for:
- • Small parcels
- • Cross-border European deliveries
- • Shipments that require fast customs processing
UPS
UPS provides a reliable international service at competitive rates, especially when shipping larger parcels and heavier goods. UPS is also well-known for:
• Fast delivery to North America
• Flexible express shipping options
• High parcel handling standards
HIVED
HIVED is a zero-emission delivery carrier, currently operating in the Greater London Area, known for:
• Emission-free output
• Use of only electric vehicles and bikes
• Same-Day, Next-Day and Two-Day delivery services
FedEx
FedEx is one of the most popular choices for US-based businesses shipping to Europe or Asia. While the cost of shipping can sometimes be higher compared to other carriers, FedEx is a reliable carrier that offers:
- • Fast delivery
- • Advanced order tracking
- • Competitive pricing for business accounts
Royal Mail
For UK-based retailers, Royal Mail is often one of the cheapest carriers for international shipping, especially for smaller, lightweight parcels being sent to other European countries. Some of the benefits of shipping internationally with Royal Mail include:
- • Affordable tracked and untracked international services
- • Huge postal coverage worldwide
- • Lower rates for small packages
Palletways
Known as one of Europe’s most popular pallet carriers. Their services include:
- • Domestic (UK) pallet shipping
- • International pallet shipping
- • Ships pallets to 25 countries with continued expansion
More carriers
Scurri integrates with an increasing network of internatinoal carriers, enabling Scurri to offer 1,500+ carrier services and 97% carrier coverage. From Colissimo to Paack to Seur and more, you can find out more about our selection of carriers here.
How does carrier diversification help you find the cheapest carrier?
Many retailers use mutli-carrier integration software like Scurri Connect to gain access to multiple carriers. This enables retailers to gain access to a pool of carriers and avail of the cheapest rates on any given day. Furthermore, cost savings can be made by the avoidance of risk. For example, if one carrier is unable to fulfil orders due to unforseen events, our software will automatically select another of your preferred carriers based on your pre-set rules. Therefore, if you’re searching for the cheapest carrier, it’s worth noting that the cheapest carrier is the one that gets selected through a smart multi-carrier integration approach.
Select the cheapest international carrier automatically with Scurri Connect
Automated carrier selection
Scurri Connect enables retailers to set pre-dtermined selection criteria, which automatically selects the most suitable carrier option based on:
- • Price
- • Destination
- • Delivery speed
- • Reliability
This allows retailers to consistently control costs while still meeting customer delivery expectations.
Save money
By removing manual decision-making and comparing real-time options, Scurri Connect enables retailers to:
- • Prevent overspending on higher-cost services
- • Reduce delays
- • Improve delivery efficiency
Scale internationally with ease
Whether you’re shipping to a neighbouring country or a far-away continent, Scurri Connect allows you to:
- • Use different carriers for different destinations
• Add new carriers with no fuss
• Manage increased volume as your business grows
Fast, accurate labels
Scurri Connect enables you to generate carrier-approved labels instantly, helping you avoid customs mistakes, delivery delays, and costly reshipments.
- Track and measure performance
• On-time delivery performance
• Carrier issues
• Cost trends
You can use this data to refine and optimise your shipping strategies, ensuring low costs for you and maximum satisfaction for your customers.
Deliver smarter, cheaper international shipping with Scurri
Whether you’re shipping to a neighbouring country or a far-away continent, Scurri Connect allows you to:
- • Use different carriers for different destinations
• Add new carriers with no fuss
• Manage increased volume as your business grows
Ready to reduce costs and improve the international customer delivery experience?
Book a consultation with our team today.