You possibly ended up on this article because you wanted to send out a delivery and could not pick between UPS vs USPS. It can mainly be because both services look similar when looked upon up from. However, do you know several aspects give one edge over the other? Want to know what these aspects are? We have them covered for you here.
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Part 1. UPS vs USPS: Which one is Better?
The first aspect one should consider when choosing between either UPS vs USPS is the type of package they want to deliver and how much the package weighs. Once they have assessed and weighed their package, it is time to look into the following two shipment services to decide which one is the better pick.
– USPS – For Smaller Packages (Less than 13 Pounds)
When delivering small packages, especially those less than 13 pounds, you don’t have to think much and instantly choose USPS. The service offers all shippers a combination of low rates and speedy services, which are in operation for six days straight every week for all businesses and residences. Hence, delivery by this mail carrier helps keep your costs low, especially when delivering smaller packages.
– UPS – Larger, Heavier Packages
Larger packages can be heavy, which is an aspect one should always be careful about when shipping packages and goods. When it comes down to choosing one carrier service to ship your heavier packages, UPS takes the lead. The primary reason is that UPS offers its users a margin of up to 150 lbs. in weight when delivering goods.
Compared to UPS, USPS also offers to ship heavy packages, but their weight limit is only 70 lbs or less. Hence, they also offer lower rates, which might intrigue some shippers. Remember that USPS doesn’t offer the fastest delivery for heavy packages, while UPS does, making it the better pick in this domain.
– Rates and Shipping Time
Both UPS and USPS have three different primary shipping options: ground, 3-day express, and overnight. The UPS vs USPS rates for each service also differ.
USPS ground shipping costs $6.99, and the package takes around 2-8 business days to get delivered. UPS, on the other hand, has a ground rate of $7.08, which is only slightly higher than the USPS rate, and it takes the service 1-5 business days for reliable ground delivery.
Both services offer Three-day express shipping, which delivers your packages in less than three days. The price margin for USPS starts at $3.59, and UPS’s cost is $8.82. However, with its price range, the weight of the package that can be delivered also differs between the two companies.
Overnight shipping is the last primary option, with UPS charging $13.00 for it, while USPS offers its users a price of around $24.90. However, UPS is more reliable than USPS when providing guaranteed overnight shipping.
Part 2. UPS Overview
USPS was built very early on compared to UPS, and while it was the premier carrier built for e-commerce packages, UPS eventually caught up in the race and became one of the fastest and best carrier services in recent years. When compared with any other service, UPS offers a mix of fast delivery, affordable rates, and reliable services.
The service is also a great option when it comes to sending heavy and large packages because of the 150 lbs. weight limit it offers. Moreover, UPS offers a bunch of amazing express services at affordable rates for e-commerce packages. The service also has an exceptional emergency delivery service known as UPS Express Critical, which provides premium service for emergency deliveries, and that too under 24 hours anywhere in the world. How cool is that, right?
Part 3. USPS Overview
USPS is a shipping carrier that is built for the people. The company was founded in 1775 and was mainly built on the promise to provide a universal service to all Americans at the most affordable rates.
The service is the only carrier in the United States that can touch every mailbox. Through this benefit and its exceptional working mechanisms, the service has built an excellent and unparalleled network to deliver mail to every household in America. The service also offers the same leverage and benefit of providing package delivery services at the lowest price possible compared to UPS or any other carrier service in the market.
Part 4. UPS vs USPS: Services and Rates
Many shippers are also concerned about comparing UPS vs USPS rates. Below, we have the shipping rates for an approximately 5-pound package for both services concluded below:
| Courier | Service | Delivery Lead Time | Cost |
| UPS | UPS Ground | 1-5 business days | $21.87 |
| UPS | UPS Next Day Air | 1 business day | $140.84 |
| USPS | USPS Priority Mail 2-Day | 2 business days | $22.80 |
| USPS | USPS Priority Mail Express | 1-2 business days | $78.60 |
Now that you know the basic rates of both carrier companies, it is time to examine their individual services more closely.
– UPS Services
Here are the services offered by UPS to all its shippers:
- UPS Express Critical – as the name suggests, this shipping option is best for urgent and critical deliveries. It is available 24/7 all year round.
- UPS Next Day Air—Famous for its next-day delivery, this service ensures that your packages are delivered on time the very next working day.
- UPS Ground – Basic and most economical delivery option. While most deliveries through this service happen within three working days, it is not the best option for time-constraint deliveries.
– USPS Services
Here are a few of the services that USPS offers to all its shippers:
- Priority Mail Express – the service offers quick delivery of packages overnight throughout the week.
- Priority Mail – delivers packages within 1-3 business days and offers flat rates for packages below 70 pounds.
- Media Mail—This service is a unique package that allows shippers to send any form of media, educational videos, or audio files. However, the service requests shippers follow some ethical codes and restrictions about the type of media they want to send out. The weight limit for this service is around 70 pounds, and it takes approximately 2-8 business days to get delivered.
- USPS Ground Advantage—This service offers faster and more affordable shipping for packages up to 70 lbs, which can be delivered within 2-5 days.
Part 5. Pros of UPS
When comparing UPS vs USPS, you need to give a deeper insight into the strengths of both companies. This aspect will help you choose the courier service that best fits you. A few pris of UPS are:
- UPS offers its regular or more frequent users volume discounts.
- The service is best known for its secure and quick deliveries.
- UPS, unlike many other services, offers same-day and quick next-day delivery services
- It is also well-known for its affordable rates for packages that weigh over 2 lbs.
- UPS provides guaranteed express shipping, which has an excellent reputation for being timely.
Part 6. Pros of USPS
USPS is an excellent shipment service with its own unique set of pros. A few of its exceptional pros are:
- USPS is the only operating courier service that delivers to mailboxes and P.O. boxes.
- The service provides shippers with free packing materials in post offices that can be delivered directly to shippers.
- Through their priority mail service, USPS offers flat-rate boxes.
- USPS is known for making quick and on-time deliveries, irrespective of the weather outside.
- This courier service is the most economical option for small packages, especially those that are under 13 lbs.
Part 7. Get the Best Shipping Rates with NextSmartShip
Now that you know about all the differences between UPS vs USPS, there is another shipping and e-commerce fulfillment company that you should know about.
NextSmartShip is a phenomenal company that enables and helps businesses grow smoothly by providing them with ease when it comes to shipment and packaging and helping them focus on other aspects of their business. From the moment your product is ready to be sold to the point where your customer receives it on their doorstep, NextSmartShip ensures to take care of it all.
The service is impeccable, and while it is relatively new to both UPS and USPS, it has definitely made a name for itself in the ecommerce shipment world. So, take a look at the website and learn about the amazing services it provides today. We assure you that with its amazing benefits and ease of working for its customers, you will not be left disappointed.
Conclusion
If you are searching for the differences between UPS vs USPS to decide which the best pick would be, then we hope this article was helpful for you in narrowing down your decision. If you want to try a new shipping service, we highly recommend that you try NextSmartShip.
