Shopify's built-in Australia Post link vs a shipping app
Short answer
Start with Shopify's built-in link if you post a small number of parcels and only need to buy labels and get tracking on orders. It's free. Consider an app when you want to merge orders, map products to packaging, offer return labels, or buy, print and fulfil a whole batch in one step.
Australian Shopify stores can now buy Australia Post labels without installing an app. Shopify added the connection in August 2025, and on 9 February 2026 it announced that merchants on its Grow and Basic plans in Australia can link an Australia Post account at no extra cost.
We make a shipping app, so we have a stake in this question. Here is what each option covers, including where the built-in link may be the better choice.
What the built-in link does
According to Shopify’s announcement, once you link MyPost Business you can:
- Buy domestic and international Australia Post labels from the Shopify admin
- Use your existing MyPost Business rates
- Have tracking numbers added to orders automatically
You link it with a token generated in MyPost Business. Our connection guide has the steps.
Shopify’s announcements and its Australia Post page don’t mention bulk label buying, Australia Post rates at checkout or return labels. Its general shipping label help does describe buying labels in bulk, but doesn’t confirm that for Australia Post accounts, and it says return labels need a location in the United States or Canada. None of this proves what your store can do, so check inside your own Shopify admin before you decide. Shopify’s plans and features also change.
Side by side
| What you need | Built-in link | All In One Australia Post Ship |
|---|---|---|
| Buy labels at your MyPost Business rates | Yes | Yes |
| Tracking added to Shopify orders | Yes | Yes |
| App cost | None | Free plan, then paid plans |
| Labels for several orders at once | General help describes bulk buying; not confirmed for Australia Post accounts | Yes |
| Merge orders onto one label | Not mentioned by Shopify | Advanced and Premium |
| Packaging chosen by product | Not mentioned by Shopify | Advanced and Premium |
| Return labels | Not mentioned by Shopify | Advanced and Premium |
| Live Australia Post rates at checkout | Not mentioned by Shopify | Premium, on eligible Shopify plans |
| A6, A4 and four-per-sheet printing | Not mentioned by Shopify | Yes |
The built-in column reflects Shopify’s announcements, Australia Post page and help documentation, checked on 9 November 2026.
When the built-in link is enough
- You post a handful of parcels a week
- Each order goes in its own parcel
- You’re happy to set the package and service order by order
- You don’t want another app in your store
When an app earns its place
- You want one step for a whole batch. The app buys the postage, prints every label and fulfils the orders together, with each order’s packaging and service on one screen.
- Customers order twice in a day. Merging them saves a whole label’s postage.
- Your products ship in different packaging. Mapping each product to a box or satchel means less picking from a dropdown.
- You need return labels in the parcel. The app can print them straight after each shipping label.
- You want control at checkout. Handling fees, free-shipping thresholds and custom service names need rate rules.
If you’re unsure, try the built-in link first. If you find yourself clicking through orders one at a time, compare the apps available.
Common questions
Is the built-in Australia Post link free?
Shopify's announcement says connecting the account comes at no additional cost. You still pay Australia Post for postage.
Can I use the built-in link and an app together?
They connect to MyPost Business separately. To avoid paying for two labels on the same order, pick one place to create labels for each order.
Will an app get me cheaper postage?
Not by itself. Our app uses your own MyPost Business rates, the same account pricing you get elsewhere. Savings come from features such as merging two orders into one parcel.