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ShipStation is an aggregator rather than a carrier. Connecting it exposes all the carriers already configured in your ShipStation account through a single integration — useful when you ship with several carriers and would rather manage them in one place.

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Getting credentials

In ShipStation, go to Account Settings → API Settings and generate an API Key and API Secret.

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Setting up the rate

1

Add a rate to your zone

In your rule, click Add rate on the zone you want.
2

Set the calculation parameter to ShipStation

Choose ShipStation under the live carrier options.
3

Enter your API Key and API Secret

Both are required before you can fetch carriers.
4

Fetch your carriers

Use the fetch action to pull the list of carriers connected to your ShipStation account. ShipMagic queries ShipStation directly, so the list reflects your live configuration.
5

Select which carriers to offer

Tick the carriers whose rates should appear at checkout. Leave the rest unticked.
6

Configure packaging

Set Packaging box distribution and define your boxes. See the packing algorithm.
If the carrier list comes back empty, the credentials are usually wrong or the API key lacks permission. Confirm the key works in ShipStation before troubleshooting further.

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Choosing carriers deliberately

Because ShipStation can return rates from many carriers at once, an unfiltered setup can put a long list of options in front of the customer — several of which may be near-identical in price.
Too many shipping options measurably hurts conversion. Select the two or three carriers you actually want to offer rather than everything your account supports.
If you do want breadth, consider a customization to hide the noisier options, or use rate blending to show only the cheapest.

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ShipStation vs. a direct integration

If you ship with one carrier that ShipMagic supports directly — USPS, FedEx, Australia Post, Shiprocket, Stallion Express, Direct Freight Express — the direct integration is usually the better choice. Fewer moving parts, and one less service that can be slow or down. ShipStation earns its place when you use several carriers, or a carrier ShipMagic doesn’t integrate with directly.

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Testing

  1. Add products with accurate weights and dimensions
  2. Check out to a real address, using a fresh one each time
  3. Confirm the carriers appearing are the ones you selected, and no others

Packing algorithm

How items are distributed into parcels before quoting.

Rate blending

Show only the cheapest of several returned rates.

Actions

Hide or rename the options that come back.

Multiple rates showing

When checkout shows more options than you expected.