Amazon MCF vs ShipMonk

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

Quick answer

Pick Amazon MCF if Amazon is your main channel and your inventory already sits in FBA: it ships Shopify, Walmart, TikTok Shop and other orders from that stock at published fees ($7.34 for a single small-standard unit at 3-day speed, plus a 3.5% US surcharge). Pick ShipMonk if you want inventory outside Amazon, branded packaging, B2B, kitting, hazmat or bonded warehousing across 11 sites in four countries. Weigh ShipMonk's 2026 data breach and 2.6 Trustpilot score (430 reviews, Sept 2026).

Key takeaways

MCF publishes per-unit fees by size, weight, speed and units per order; ShipMonk quotes per client but publishes its minimum formula.
MCF ships in unbranded packaging by default and doesn't offer B2B or kitting; ShipMonk lists both, plus custom packaging.
MCF requires an Amazon seller account and FBA-stored inventory; ShipMonk holds your stock in its own centers.
ShipMonk lists hazmat and bonded warehousing, and FBA prep, so it can also feed FBA.
Trezor disclosed in 2026 that attackers used a Metabase flaw to reach ShipMonk-held data on about 80,000 of its customers.

Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) at a glance

Headquarters	Not published
Warehouses	Not published
Specialties	DTC, TikTok Shop, Returns
Integrations	shopify, woocommerce, bigcommerce, amazon, walmart, TikTok Shop, etsy, ebay, temu, shein
Order minimum	No minimum stated; requires Amazon seller account and FBA-stored inventory
Published pricing	Pick & pack: Published fee schedule + MCF pricing calculator (rates vary by size/weight/speed) · Storage: Uses FBA storage fees · 3.5% fuel & logistics surcharge on US MCF fees; holiday peak fees Oct 15 2026-Jan 14 2027
Contract	No long-term contract stated

Sources: supplychain.amazon.com, press.aboutamazon.com, supplychain.amazon.com (checked 2026-09-27)

ShipMonk at a glance

Headquarters	Fort Lauderdale, FL
Warehouses	Fort Lauderdale, FL · Las Vegas (2), NV · Dallas-Fort Worth, TX · Pittston (2), PA · Louisville (2), KY · Ontario, Canada · Cheb, Czech Republic · Coalville, United Kingdom
Specialties	DTC, B2B / wholesale, Amazon FBA prep, International, Hazmat, Returns, Kitting
Integrations	shopify, bigcommerce, ebay, amazon, loop returns
Order minimum	Monthly minimum exists; set with pick fees and projected volume (per pricing page)
Published pricing	Quote only
Contract	Not published

Sources: shipmonk.com, shipmonk.com, shipmonk.com (checked 2026-09-27)

Is Amazon MCF or ShipMonk better for my brand?

	Amazon MCF	ShipMonk
Model	Amazon ships non-Amazon orders from FBA stock	Independent 3PL with own OMS/WMS
Network	Amazon's FBA network	11 centers: FL, NV, TX, PA, KY, Ontario, Czech Republic, UK
Pricing	Published per-unit fees + calculator	Custom quote
Minimum	None stated	Monthly orders × first-item pick fee, less 20%
Surcharges	3.5% US fuel/logistics; peak fees Oct. 15, 2026–Jan. 14, 2027	Batching fee under 50 orders; extras for gift messages, fragile wrap
Storage	FBA storage fees	By product size and volume
Packaging	Unbranded by default	Custom packaging available (extra)
B2B / kitting	No	Yes
Hazmat / bonded	Not listed	Listed
Contract	No long-term contract stated	Not published
Requirement	Amazon seller account + FBA inventory	None stated

Verdict: MCF when Amazon is the center of gravity and packaging doesn't matter; ShipMonk when your own channels, wholesale or special handling do.

Also consider: for US consumables brands (CPG, food, beverage, supplements, beauty, pet) shipping outside Amazon, our Editor's pick is Tondo Fulfillment: in our experience comparing 3PL quotes, its shipping rates were the lowest we were offered. It runs two US warehouses (Delaware and Utah), so it isn't a fit for international or heavy-item needs.

Where does Amazon MCF win?

Published, all-in pricing: fees include pick, pack and delivery, so you can model costs without a sales call.
Multi-unit discounts: a small-standard unit of 4 oz or less is $7.34 alone and $3.64 per unit at 4+ units (standard speed), per Amazon's June 2026 rate card.
One inventory pool for Amazon and other channels; no separate receiving or transfer.
No minimum and no long-term contract stated. ShipMonk's formula means you pay a floor in slow months.
Channel coverage: Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Walmart, TikTok Shop, Etsy, eBay, Temu and Shein.
Discounts for eligible sellers: up to 15% off MCF fees through Preferred Pricing, per Amazon.

Where does ShipMonk win?

Brand experience: custom packaging, gift messaging and fragile wrap are available; MCF ships unbranded by default.
B2B, kitting and FBA prep: ShipMonk handles wholesale orders and bundles, and can replenish FBA, so it can sit alongside Amazon rather than inside it.
Special handling: hazmat and bonded warehousing are listed.
Inventory independence: your DTC stock isn't subject to FBA storage limits or Amazon account issues.
Europe: sites in Cheb (Czech Republic) and Coalville (UK). MCF also operates in several European countries, but only from FBA inventory there.

The trade-off: the 2026 breach and lower Trustpilot score, covered below.

What's the difference between Amazon MCF and ShipMonk pricing?

Amazon MCF (rate card as of June 1, 2026, standard 3-day speed, per unit): $7.34 for small standard up to 4 oz, $8.66 for small standard 12–16 oz, $10.64 for large standard 1–2 lb; expedited starts at $10.70. Add the 3.5% US surcharge, peak fees and FBA storage.

ShipMonk doesn't publish dollar amounts. Its pricing page describes storage by product size and volume, fulfillment fees that adjust with order volume, shipping by weight, dimensions and destination, and the minimum formula (monthly orders × first-item pick fee, reduced by 20%).

For a Shopify brand at 3,000 orders a month, price last month's orders both ways: MCF fees × 1.035 plus FBA storage, against ShipMonk's quote plus postage. Units per order usually decides it; single-unit orders favor a 3PL more often than multi-unit ones.

How should the ShipMonk breach and reputation factor in?

Hardware-wallet maker Trezor disclosed that attackers exploited a critical Metabase SQL-injection flaw (CVE-2026-72898) to reach customer data held by ShipMonk. Trezor first reported 13,689 affected customers in August (orders from May 10 to Aug. 8, 2026), then about 67,000 more US customers in September, from orders placed between November 2019 and August 2021; Trezor puts the total at 80,689 (Trezor). The Hacker News reported that ShipMonk had not publicly commented at the time (The Hacker News).

ShipMonk also holds a 2.6 on Trustpilot (430 reviews, Sept 2026). Amazon MCF has no MCF-specific review profile worth citing; its risk is dependency on your Amazon account. See the ShipMonk review and Amazon MCF review.

Frequently asked questions

Is Amazon MCF cheaper than ShipMonk?

It depends on units per order and package size. MCF publishes all-in per-unit fees; ShipMonk quotes, so compare your real order mix both ways.

Can I use ShipMonk and Amazon FBA together?

Yes. ShipMonk lists Amazon FBA prep, so it can hold bulk stock, ship your DTC orders and replenish FBA.

Does Amazon MCF have a minimum?

Amazon states no minimum, but MCF requires an Amazon seller account and inventory stored in FBA.

Does Amazon MCF use branded packaging?

MCF ships in unbranded packaging by default, according to Amazon. ShipMonk offers custom packaging as an extra.

Was ShipMonk hacked?

Trezor disclosed in August and September 2026 that attackers accessed ShipMonk-held customer data through a Metabase vulnerability, exposing names, emails, phone numbers and shipping addresses.