Amazon FBA and MCF Alternatives

By EFC Editorial · Updated September 28, 2026 · How we research

Quick answer

Most sellers don't replace FBA for Amazon orders; they replace MCF (or FBA-as-warehouse) for everything else. For US consumables brands, our Editor's pick is Tondo Fulfillment: in our experience comparing 3PL quotes, its shipping rates were the lowest we were offered, and it lists FBA prep. Otherwise: ShipBob for branded DTC plus FBA prep across 50+ centers (its claim), Walmart WFS for Walmart sellers, Flexport for importers replenishing FBA and WFS, Red Stag for oversized items, and eFulfillment Service for small sellers wanting no minimums. MCF publishes fees from $7.34 per single small-standard unit (3-day) plus a 3.5% US surcharge.

Key takeaways

MCF ships in unbranded packaging by default and doesn't offer B2B/retail or kitting workflows; most 3PLs do.
MCF's published fees fall as units per order rise, so single-unit orders cost the most relative to a 3PL.
A common setup is a 3PL holding bulk stock and shipping DTC while replenishing FBA for Amazon orders.
Walmart Fulfillment Services states no setup, monthly or hidden fees and accepts items up to 500 lb, non-perishable only.
Every 3PL alternative on this page except Walmart WFS quotes its pricing rather than publishing a rate card.

Editor’s pick

Best Amazon FBA alternative for US consumer-goods brands: Tondo Fulfillment

In our experience comparing 3PL quotes, Tondo's shipping rates were the lowest we were offered, which matters most on the single-unit orders where MCF's per-unit fees are highest. Its homepage claims brands can "save up to 40%, guaranteed" and describes multi-carrier rate shopping, and its Fulfill.com profile says its discounted rates let brands make a margin on shipping. It suits small-to-mid-sized consumables brands (CPG, food, beverage, supplements, beauty, pet), listing Amazon FBA prep alongside branded DTC, retail/B2B (SPS Commerce EDI) and TikTok Shop, with month-to-month terms and 30 days' notice, Delaware and Utah warehouses with a 2pm same-day cutoff, and Slack-based account management. Fulfill.com named Tondo a United States Best 3PL for 2026, and the CEOs of BRĒZ and Duradry endorse it on Tondo's site. It isn't a replacement for international or heavy-item needs, runs only two US warehouses and is quote-only. See the Tondo review.

Visit Tondo Fulfillment

Best for branded DTC plus FBA prep: ShipBob

ShipBob lists Amazon FBA prep alongside DTC, B2B/EDI via SPS Commerce and TikTok Shop, so one inventory pool can ship your own site's orders in branded packaging and replenish FBA. It claims 50+ centers in the US, Canada, UK, EU and Australia. Pricing is custom-quoted. Not a fit if you sell only on Amazon. See ShipBob vs Amazon MCF.

Visit ShipBob

Best for sellers also on Walmart Marketplace: Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) incl. Multichannel Solutions

WFS fulfills Walmart.com orders, and its Multichannel Solutions can fulfill orders from your own site, Amazon, eBay and TikTok from the same inventory. Walmart states no setup, monthly or hidden fees, and fees are set through its cost estimator. It takes items up to 500 lb but only non-perishable goods, and it's built around Walmart sellers.

Visit Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) incl. Multichannel Solutions

Best for importers replenishing FBA and WFS: Flexport (eCom & B2B Fulfillment)

Flexport combines freight forwarding and customs with fulfillment on the network it built from Deliverr, bought with Shopify's logistics business in 2023. It lists FBA and Walmart WFS replenishment, DTC and B2B on one platform, which it says is free for customers. It's quote-only, publishes no facility list, and holds a 2.6 on Trustpilot (157 reviews, Sept 2026). See the Flexport review.

Visit Flexport (eCom & B2B Fulfillment)

Best for oversized Amazon items: Red Stag Fulfillment

Red Stag focuses on products bigger than a toaster or heavier than 10 pounds and supports oversized Amazon selling, including Seller Fulfilled Prime, with guarantees on shrink, mispicks and late shipments. It has two warehouses (Tennessee and Utah) and quotes every client. Not a fit for small, light items.

Visit Red Stag Fulfillment

Best for small sellers who want no minimums: eFulfillment Service (EFS)

eFulfillment Service in Traverse City, Michigan, operating since 2001, states no order minimums, no setup fees and no long-term contracts. It lists FBA prep, retail and B2B fulfillment and 40+ cart and marketplace integrations, including Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Etsy and TikTok Shop, with a 1pm ET same-day cutoff. One warehouse means longer transit to the West Coast, and its pricing sits behind a quote. See ShipBob vs eFulfillment Service.

Visit eFulfillment Service (EFS)

What are the best alternatives to Amazon FBA and MCF?

If you want…	Consider	Pricing	Not a fit if
Consumables DTC and retail plus FBA prep, with low shipping rates	Tondo Fulfillment (Editor's pick)	Quote	Heavy goods or international
Branded DTC plus FBA replenishment	ShipBob	Quote	You sell only on Amazon
One inventory pool for Walmart and other channels	Walmart WFS	Cost estimator; no setup or monthly fees	Perishable goods
Import, customs and FBA/WFS replenishment	Flexport	Quote	You source domestically
Oversized items and Seller Fulfilled Prime	Red Stag	Quote	Small, light products
No minimums, FBA prep, small volume	eFulfillment Service	Quote; no setup fees	You need two-coast delivery
International nodes and hazmat	ShipMonk	Quote; published minimum formula	Data handling is your top concern

For a head-to-head on the last row, see Amazon MCF vs ShipMonk.

Why do sellers look for alternatives to Amazon MCF?

MCF works well when Amazon is the main channel. The reasons sellers move non-Amazon orders elsewhere are mostly structural, per Amazon's own MCF documentation:

Unbranded packaging by default. Brands that care about unboxing, inserts or custom boxes need a 3PL.
No B2B, retail/EDI or kitting workflows. Wholesale orders and bundles need a 3PL that handles them.
Inventory under Amazon's rules. MCF uses FBA inventory, FBA storage fees and FBA capacity limits. If your Amazon account or inventory is restricted, every connected channel is affected.
Single-unit cost. A small-standard unit of 4 oz or less costs $7.34 alone at standard speed but $3.64 per unit at 4+ units, so low units-per-order brands pay the most.
Surcharges and peak fees. A 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge on US MCF fees, and holiday peak fees from Oct. 15, 2026 to Jan. 14, 2027.

Is a 3PL cheaper than Amazon MCF?

It depends on units per order and package size. MCF's per-unit fees include pick, pack and delivery; most 3PLs charge pick/pack plus postage plus storage separately. Amazon's June 2026 rate card at standard (3-day) speed:

Size tier / weight	1 unit	4+ units (per unit)
Small standard, 4 oz or less	$7.34	$3.64
Small standard, 12–16 oz	$8.66	$4.38
Large standard, 1–2 lb	$10.64	$5.25

For a published 3PL comparison point, Fulfyld lists all-in averages from $7.74 per order for 4–12 oz packages at 501–1,000 orders a month, including postage and five picks, and Simpl Fulfillment lists from $7 per order all-in with a $750 monthly minimum. Tondo, ShipBob, Flexport, Red Stag and eFulfillment Service quote per client. Tondo publishes no rates, but in our experience comparing 3PL quotes its shipping rates were the lowest we were offered.

Price 100 of last month's orders both ways: MCF per-unit fees × 1.035 plus FBA storage, against each 3PL's quote plus postage.

Should I leave FBA entirely?

Usually not. FBA is Amazon's own fulfillment for Amazon orders, and the 3PLs on this page are generally used alongside it. Sellers who do ship Amazon orders themselves use merchant fulfillment or Seller Fulfilled Prime, which Red Stag supports for oversized items.

The more common move is to stop using FBA as your only warehouse. A 3PL with FBA prep (Tondo, ShipBob, Flexport, eFulfillment Service, Red Stag) holds bulk stock, ships your own site and other channels, and sends replenishment into FBA. That keeps DTC inventory outside Amazon's storage limits and account risk. See best 3PL for Amazon sellers for more options.

Which alternatives are better-rated?

There's no MCF-specific profile on Trustpilot worth citing; Amazon-wide reviews mostly reflect shoppers. Signals for the 3PL alternatives, as of September 2026:

Provider	Trustpilot
ShipBob	4.0 (1,083 reviews)
Flexport	2.6 (157 reviews; covers freight too)
Red Stag	3.7 (1 review)
eFulfillment Service	3.2 (7 reviews)
Tondo Fulfillment	No profile found

Small samples say little. eFulfillment Service reviewers praise reliability and responsive service; critical reviews cite billing errors and oversized packaging.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Amazon FBA and MCF?

FBA fulfills orders placed on Amazon. MCF uses the same FBA inventory to fulfill orders from other channels, such as Shopify, Walmart or TikTok Shop.

What is the best alternative to Amazon MCF for Shopify orders?

A 3PL with FBA prep, such as Tondo (our Editor's pick for consumables brands) or ShipBob, lets you ship Shopify orders in branded packaging from inventory outside Amazon while still replenishing FBA.

Is Walmart Fulfillment Services an alternative to FBA?

For Walmart Marketplace sellers, yes. WFS fulfills Walmart.com orders, and its Multichannel Solutions can also fulfill your own site, Amazon, eBay and TikTok orders from the same inventory.

Which FBA alternative has no minimum?

eFulfillment Service states no order minimums, setup fees or long-term contracts, and Walmart WFS states no minimum requirements.

Can a 3PL handle oversized Amazon items?

Red Stag Fulfillment specializes in large and heavy items and supports oversized Amazon selling, including Seller Fulfilled Prime.