Home > Blog > Free vs Premium: Which Shipito Plan Fits You?

By George Matthews, Marketing Director

Last updated: October 27, 2026

Shipito Free costs nothing and works well if you shop from U.S. stores only now and then. Shipito Premium costs $10 a month or $60 a year. In return, you get 45 or more days of free storage, a tax-free Oregon address, lower fees on almost every service, and (on the annual plan) Member Rewards. If you ship several packages a month or combine orders, Premium usually pays for itself.

You discovered that you can still buy products from a U.S. brand that doesn't ship internationally. All you need is a package forwarding service like Shipito that gives you a U.S. address!

You start with a Free account, make your first online purchase, and receive your goodies. Then you want to do it again and again. Before you know it, you're wondering, "Am I missing out on a Premium account?"

Still undecided? Let us help you.

• How do Shipito Free and Premium compare?
• Is the Free account enough?
• When is a Premium membership worth it?
• How much free storage do you really need?
• How do Member Rewards work?
• How do you choose between a free and paid plan?
• Can you switch or upgrade later?
• FAQ
• So, which Shipito plan is right for you?

How do Shipito Free and Premium compare?

Shipito is a package forwarding company. You create an account, get a U.S. shipping address, and use it at checkout in U.S. online stores. When your package arrives at one of our warehouses, we forward it to your home in your country.

You can choose between two plans. Here is a side-by-side look at what each one gives you:

• Price: Free costs $0. Premium costs $10 per month or $60 per year (the annual plan is the best value). Membership fees only start after your first shipped package or Assisted Purchase.
• Package processing fee: $3.25 per package with Free, $2.25 per package with Premium.
• Consolidation fee: $5.50 per package with Free, $3.25 per package with Premium.
• Free storage: 7 days with Free. 45 days with Premium Monthly, and up to 60 days with Premium Annual.
• Tax-free Oregon warehouse: not included with Free (your address is in California). Included with Premium, and it becomes your default address.
• Member Rewards: not included with Free or Premium Monthly. Included with Premium Annual.
• Best for: Free fits occasional shoppers, one-off purchases, and people trying package forwarding for the first time. Premium fits frequent shoppers, people who combine several orders, and buyers of higher-value items.

Shipito Free vs Premium might look like a simple choice between paying nothing and paying for extras. But the better option really depends on how you shop. Check every fee on our pricing page.

Is the Free account enough?

For many shoppers, yes. You don't have to get Premium just because it exists. Shipito Free is a smart starting point if you want to buy one specific product from a U.S. store, shop internationally only now and then, or simply test how package forwarding works. It gets the job done without adding a subscription to your monthly budget.

Shipito Free isn't a weaker account. It has fewer perks and tighter limits, but you don't want to pay for features you won't use, right? For example, the package processing fee is $1 cheaper with Premium. That only adds up if you receive packages often.

The 7-day storage window can be enough for one or two purchases to arrive and ship out together. If you rarely buy from more than one store at a time and don't need our tax-free Oregon warehouse, Shipito Free could be your smartest choice.

When is a Premium membership worth it?

Premium becomes the better deal when package forwarding is part of your regular shopping routine.

Do you shop often enough for small fees to add up? Do you need more time for several orders to arrive before you ship them together? Maybe you buy higher-value products. Then Premium's benefits can easily be worth more than the membership fee.

Here are two simple examples:

• Sales tax: Say you order a $1,500 laptop and send it to our California warehouse. California's statewide sales tax rate is 7.25%, so the store charges at least $108.75 in tax (local taxes can add more). Oregon has no general sales tax, so sending the same laptop to our Oregon warehouse can save you that money.
• Processing fees: Say you receive 10 packages during a shopping spree. With Free, processing costs $32.50. With Premium, it costs $22.50. That's $10 saved, the same as one month of Premium Monthly.

Now do the math for a whole year. Premium Annual costs $60. If you combine your orders, you save $1 on processing and $2.25 on consolidation for each package, so about 19 consolidated packages a year cover the membership. Add longer storage, tax-free shopping, and lower prices on extras like customs declarations and photos, and Premium can be really worth it.

How much free storage do you really need?

Every Shipito account comes with free storage, which helps when you shop from several stores. But 7 days on a Free account is tight if you are waiting for many deliveries. Each store ships at its own speed. One package might arrive quickly, while another takes a week.

Premium gives you more breathing room, especially during big sales, holiday shopping, or those times when you keep finding one more thing to buy. You get 45 days of free storage with Premium Monthly and up to 60 days with Premium Annual, depending on your Member Rewards level.

Do you have to consolidate your packages? No, but you might want to. Consolidation means we combine your purchases into one box, so you pay for one international shipment instead of several. It also means fewer shipments to track.

Of course, waiting isn't always the right move. If you need an item quickly, or your free storage is about to end, it may be better to ship right away.

Keep these storage rules in mind:

• You can extend storage up to 4 times, for a total of 28 extra days. Extend before your free storage ends.
• After free storage ends, an expired package costs $7 plus $1 for each extra day.
• When you consolidate, the new box keeps the storage time of the oldest package in the group.

Read more in our packages FAQ.

How do Member Rewards work?

Shipito Member Rewards is a loyalty program for Premium Annual members. You earn points for things like shipping packages (1 point for a package over 5 lbs, 0.5 points for one under 5 lbs), placing Assisted Purchase orders, and referring friends. More points unlock higher levels and more benefits.

Here is an overview of the levels:

• Standard (all Premium Annual members): discounted service fees, tax-free shopping through our Oregon warehouse, and 45 days of free storage.
• Silver (10 points): everything in Standard, plus 1 free benefit you choose (a discount on processing, shipping, or special services).
• Gold (20 points): 2 free benefits, plus phone support.
• Platinum (30 points): 3 free benefits, 60 days of free storage, and White Glove service (a direct line to a care agent on the warehouse floor).
• Diamond (100 points): everything in Platinum, plus a 5% discount on all shipping.

Your level for the new year is based on the points you earned by December 31. During the year, you can move up a level, but you never move down. Points don't carry over into the next year, and you choose your free benefits each January.

How do you choose between a free and paid plan?

When you compare a free vs paid package forwarding account, don't look only at the price. Ask yourself these questions:

• How often do I shop from U.S. stores? If you order only a few times a year, go with Shipito Free. If you order almost every month, or several times during big sales, Premium is the better investment.
• How much are my purchases worth? The more you spend, the more the tax-free Oregon warehouse can save you. Still, compare the tax you would save with the membership fee and any other charges first.
• Will I combine several orders? If you usually buy from one store and ship right away, 7 days of storage is enough. If you shop at several stores and consolidate, the extra storage is worth a lot more.
• Am I shopping for myself or for a business? Personal shoppers may find Free perfect. If you sell online, look at Shipito for Business, which has plans built for sellers.

Can you switch or upgrade later?

Yes. Your Shipito plan isn't a one-way decision. When your shopping habits change, your account can change too.

Log in to your Shipito account, go to "My Account," then "My Membership," and click "Change Membership." Choose the plan you want and follow the steps on the screen. If you are on Premium Monthly, you can switch to the annual plan from the same page to join Member Rewards.

FAQ

Which Shipito plan is best?

It depends on how you shop. Shipito Free is best for one-off purchases, occasional shoppers, and people who want to try package forwarding without a membership fee. Shipito Premium is best for frequent shoppers, people who combine orders from several stores, and buyers of higher-value items who can benefit from the tax-free Oregon warehouse. You can start with Free and upgrade anytime.

How much does Shipito Premium cost?

Shipito Premium costs $10 per month or $60 per year. The annual plan is the best value and is the only plan that includes Member Rewards. Shipito does not charge membership fees until your first shipped package or Assisted Purchase, so you can sign up and get your U.S. address before you start paying.

Is Shipito Premium worth it?

It can be, especially if you ship often. Premium lowers the processing fee from $3.25 to $2.25 and the consolidation fee from $5.50 to $3.25 per package. It also adds 45 or more days of free storage, tax-free shopping through Oregon, and Member Rewards on the annual plan. If you ship only a few packages a year, Shipito Free is usually enough.

Why does the free storage period matter?

Free storage is the time you have to collect your orders before shipping. Seven days on a Free account can be enough for one purchase, but it gets tight when you wait for packages from several stores. Premium's 45 to 60 days give you time to consolidate everything into one box, which lowers your international shipping cost.

How do I switch membership plans?

Log in to your Shipito account and open "My Account." Go to "My Membership" and click "Change Membership." Then choose your new plan and follow the instructions on the screen. Premium Monthly members can also upgrade to the annual plan from the same page, which lets you start earning Member Rewards points.

So, which Shipito plan is right for you?

You're not choosing between a good service and a bad one. The winner in Shipito Free vs Premium depends on what you need from package forwarding. Shop now and then? Free is perfect. Shop often, combine orders, or buy big-ticket items? Premium will likely pay for itself.

Ready to shop until you drop? Compare every fee on our pricing page, estimate your costs with the shipping calculator, and sign up for your free U.S. address today.