Tracking · head-to-head
Aftership vs UPS
AfterShip's Tracking API aggregates delivery status from couriers worldwide behind a single as-api-key header, letting merchants create trackings, poll shipment checkpoints, and register webhooks instead of integrating each carrier separately. A free plan covers low-volume testing, with metered paid tiers billed as tracked-shipment volume grows.
UPS's REST APIs cover package tracking, rating, address validation, and label creation, authenticated via OAuth 2.0 client-credentials bearer tokens issued by the developer portal — the legacy Access Key scheme was retired for all UPS REST APIs in 2024. Calls carry no separate API fee: access is free for UPS account holders, who instead pay UPS directly for the shipments and services the calls represent.
| Aftership | UPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | API Key | OAuth |
| Pricing | freemium | free |
| Formats | JSON | JSON |
| CORS | yes | no |
| HTTPS | Yes | Yes |
Aftership supports CORS, while UPS doesn't — pick Aftership for direct browser calls.