If you run a Shopify store, you have probably used Shipsurance without realizing it. Shipsurance is the US-based insurance broker behind Shopify Shipping's default insurance, with typical pricing around $0.90 per $100 of declared value, an online claims process, and coverage limits in the $5,000–$10,000 range. For a young store, it is a reasonable default.
The trouble starts as you grow. A single provider means a single rate table, a single claims experience, and a single set of exclusions. When you start shipping higher-value or specialty items, filing more claims, or simply paying more than you should on low-value parcels, it is worth looking at the alternatives — and at whether you should be locked to one provider at all.
Shipsurance alternatives compared
| Provider | Pricing | Max coverage | High-value items | API | Multi-provider routing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shipsurance | ~$0.90 per $100 | $5,000–$10,000 | Limited | ✓ | ✕ |
| EasyPost | 1% flat of value | $5,000 ($15,000 custom) | ✕ jewelry excluded | ✓ | ✕ |
| InsureShield | ~0.5–0.8% pay-as-you-go | High, configurable | Some specialty excluded | ✓ | ✕ |
| U-PIC | Tiered | High | ✓ strong | ✓ REST | ✕ |
| Via Insurrl | Carrier liability first, then cheapest provider | Routed to fit the value | ✓ routed | ✓ one API | ✓ |
EasyPost
EasyPost is a strong alternative if you want insurance bundled with a broad multi-carrier shipping platform. Pricing is a flat 1% of declared value, coverage runs to $5,000 (up to $15,000 by arrangement), and claims are reviewed within 48 hours with payout in 10 business days. The catch is that EasyPost excludes jewelry, coins, personal goods, and gifts, and the flat rate can overcharge low-value parcels.
InsureShield (UPS Capital)
InsureShield is the volume play. Its pay-as-you-go pricing of roughly 0.5–0.8% typically beats Shipsurance's per-$100 rate at scale, it is multi-carrier despite the UPS branding, and it reports around 97% of claims paid within 5 days. It also offers Direct and Channel Partner APIs for custom integrations. Onboarding is heavier than a Shopify default, but the economics improve as you grow.
U-PIC
U-PIC is the specialist's choice. It offers a REST API with bearer token auth, handles high-value and specialty items better than the generalist providers, and uses tiered pricing. If your catalog skews toward expensive or unusual goods that other insurers exclude, U-PIC is often the provider that will actually write the policy.
The smarter alternative: don't pick one
Every provider above is the right answer for some shipments and the wrong answer for others. Shipsurance is fine for mid-value parcels, EasyPost is convenient if you already use it, InsureShield wins on price at volume, and U-PIC covers the items the others reject. Committing your whole store to a single one means overpaying on some parcels and lacking coverage on others.
Insurrl is a multi-provider parcel insurance API — "EasyPost for insurance." Instead of replacing Shipsurance, EasyPost, InsureShield, or U-PIC, it routes between them through one integration, and it checks carrier built-in liability first before reaching for any paid policy.
Insurrl's take: USPS, UPS, and FedEx already include roughly $50–100 of liability per parcel. On a low-value order, that free coverage is often enough — paying $0.90 per $100 on top of it is money you did not need to spend. Insurrl uses carrier liability first and falls back to private insurance (Shipsurance, EasyPost, InsureShield, U-PIC) only when the declared value calls for it. One API, the cheapest valid policy per parcel, no single-provider lock-in.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shipsurance the same as Shopify Shipping insurance?
Effectively, yes. Shipsurance is the US-based broker behind Shopify Shipping's default insurance. When you buy that coverage at the Shopify label step, Shipsurance is the underlying provider — which also means you inherit its limits, exclusions, and claims process.
Why would I switch away from the Shopify default?
Common reasons: coverage limits that cap out at $5,000–$10,000, exclusions on high-value or specialty items, and the cost of paying a per-$100 rate on parcels that carrier liability already covers for free. A multi-provider approach addresses all three.
Which alternative is best for high-value items?
U-PIC tends to handle high-value and specialty items best, while EasyPost excludes jewelry and similar categories outright. Rather than memorizing each provider's exclusion list, routing each parcel to a provider that actually covers it removes the guesswork.
Can I keep Shipsurance and add others?
Yes. You do not have to rip anything out. Insurrl can route to Shipsurance when it is the best fit and to other providers when they are — all through a single API, with carrier liability used first to keep low-value parcels cheap.
Outgrowing the Shopify default does not mean replacing it with another single provider. See how Insurrl routes every parcel across Shipsurance, EasyPost, InsureShield, U-PIC, and carrier liability through one API — and book a call with us if you are a D2C brand shipping 5,000+ parcels a month or a platform.