Ecommerce Fulfillment Centers

ShipBob vs Amazon MCF

By EFC Editorial · Updated · How we research

Quick answer

Pick Amazon MCF if Amazon is your main channel and you want Shopify, Walmart or TikTok Shop orders shipped from the same FBA inventory at published per-unit fees ($7.34 for a single small-standard unit at 3-day speed, plus a 3.5% surcharge). Pick ShipBob if your own site is the main channel and you want branded packaging, B2B/EDI, kitting, international nodes, or inventory outside Amazon's rules. Many brands use both: ShipBob for DTC and FBA prep, and FBA for Amazon orders.

Key takeaways

  • MCF fees are published per unit by size, weight, speed and units per order; ShipBob quotes each customer.
  • MCF ships in unbranded packaging by default; ShipBob offers custom branded packaging as an add-on.
  • MCF uses FBA inventory and FBA storage fees; ShipBob stores inventory in its own network.
  • ShipBob supports B2B/EDI and kitting; MCF doesn't offer those workflows.
  • ShipBob can prep and send inventory into FBA, so the two can work together.

ShipBob at a glance

HeadquartersChicago, IL
WarehousesChicago metro (Aurora, Bolingbrook, Elwood, St. Charles, Yorkville), IL · Kenosha / Twin Lakes, WI · Dayton / Budd Lake / Jackson / Trenton, NJ · Bethlehem / Wind Gap / Levittown / Reading, PA · Atlanta metro (Duluth, Buford, Fairburn, Conyers), GA · Chattanooga, TN · Dallas-Fort Worth metro, TX · Inland Empire / Carson / Rancho Dominguez, CA · Reno / Las Vegas, NV · Phoenix, AZ · Toronto area / Vancouver, Canada · Manchester / Birmingham / Kettering / Oxford, United Kingdom · Netherlands · Spain · Sydney / Melbourne, Australia
SpecialtiesDTC, B2B / wholesale, Retail EDI, Amazon FBA prep, TikTok Shop, International, Kitting, Returns
Integrationsshopify, amazon, bigcommerce, TikTok Shop, netsuite, sps commerce, klaviyo, gorgias, aftership, loop returns
Order minimumNot stated on pricing page
Published pricingQuote only
ContractNot published

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

Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) at a glance

HeadquartersNot published
WarehousesNot published
SpecialtiesDTC, TikTok Shop, Returns
Integrationsshopify, woocommerce, bigcommerce, amazon, walmart, TikTok Shop, etsy, ebay, temu, shein
Order minimumNo minimum stated; requires Amazon seller account and FBA-stored inventory
Published pricingPick & 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
ContractNo long-term contract stated

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

Is ShipBob or Amazon MCF better for my brand?

ShipBob Amazon MCF
Model Independent 3PL Amazon fulfills non-Amazon orders from FBA stock
Inventory ShipBob's 50+ centers (claim) Amazon's FBA network
Pricing Custom quote Published per-unit fees + calculator
Surcharges Not published 3.5% US fuel/logistics; holiday peak fees Oct. 15, 2026–Jan. 14, 2027
Storage ShipBob storage fees FBA storage fees
Packaging Standard included; branded as add-on Unbranded by default
B2B / EDI Yes No
Kitting Yes (extra) No
Channels Shopify, Amazon, BigCommerce, TikTok Shop and more Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Walmart, TikTok Shop, Etsy, eBay, Temu, Shein
Minimum / contract Not stated No minimum; no long-term contract stated

Verdict: MCF when Amazon is the center of gravity; ShipBob when your brand's own channels are.

Where does ShipBob win?

  • Brand experience: custom boxes, mailers and inserts; MCF is unbranded by default.
  • B2B and retail: wholesale and EDI orders via SPS Commerce.
  • Kitting and bundles as a service.
  • Inventory independence: your DTC stock isn't subject to FBA storage limits or account issues.
  • International sites in Canada, the UK, EU and Australia with local fulfillment rather than cross-border shipping.
  • FBA prep: ShipBob can replenish FBA, so you can keep bulk stock outside Amazon.

Where does Amazon MCF win?

  • Published, predictable pricing with fees that include delivery.
  • Multi-unit discounts: a 4–8 oz small-standard item falls from $7.51 alone to $3.72 per unit at 4+ units (standard speed).
  • One inventory pool if you already sell mostly on Amazon.
  • No minimum and no long-term contract stated.
  • Discounts for eligible sellers: up to 15% off MCF fees through Preferred Pricing, and up to $1 in FBA credits per MCF unit shipped, per Amazon.

How do ShipBob and Amazon MCF pricing differ?

MCF is all-in per unit (pick, pack and delivery). Standard speed, single-unit examples from Amazon's June 2026 rate card: $7.34 (small standard, 4 oz or less), $8.66 (small standard, 12–16 oz), $10.64 (large standard, 1–2 lb). Expedited starts at $10.70. Add 3.5% and FBA storage.

ShipBob charges pick/pack/ship per order plus receiving, storage and implementation, with shipping negotiated across UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL and regional carriers. To compare, price 100 real orders from last month both ways: MCF per-unit fees × 1.035, plus FBA storage, versus ShipBob's quote. Units per order often decides it.

Frequently asked questions

Is ShipBob better than Fulfillment by Amazon?

They solve different problems. FBA is the best way to fulfill Amazon orders for most sellers; ShipBob is built for your own site, retail and international orders, and can feed FBA.

Is ShipBob owned by Amazon?

No. ShipBob is a privately held Chicago company; its 2021 Series E was led by Bain Capital Ventures.

Can I use ShipBob and FBA together?

Yes. ShipBob lists Amazon FBA prep, so it can store bulk inventory and replenish FBA while shipping your DTC orders.

Does Amazon MCF charge a surcharge?

Yes. Amazon applies a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge to US MCF fulfillment fees, and peak fees from Oct. 15, 2026 to Jan. 14, 2027.

Sources