Shiply
Shiply is a UK-founded two-sided online marketplace that connects individuals and businesses needing bulky-item, vehicle, or fragile-goods delivery with transport providers running spare-capacity routes, using a reverse auction model to offer up to 75% off standard courier rates across 10+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Shiply does
Shiply is a UK-based two-sided online marketplace, founded in 2008 and registered in England and Wales (Shiply Ltd. and Shiply Worldwide Ltd., company number 06536861), that connects individuals and businesses needing bulky-item delivery with transport providers who have spare vehicle capacity on existing routes. The core platform operates as a reverse auction: customers complete a single listing form and receive competing quotes from rated couriers, with Shiply's fee (~10-15%) added to the customer's total payment. Technology components include a two-sided marketplace with structured listing forms, a feedback and rating system (Trustpilot 4.8/5), eBay item-import automation, a deposit payment and refund mechanism, optional featured listings, and a public API for high-volume business customers.
The company serves three primary segments: individual consumers moving furniture, vehicles, fragile goods, or making house moves; eBay buyers and sellers arranging collection-only item delivery; and UK limited companies using Shiply Business for SLA-backed, end-to-end-tracked logistics with API integration. On the supply side, 102,334+ rated couriers (over 150,000+ on the service provider page) access the platform free of charge, paying only a commission on jobs won. Shiply monetizes exclusively via transaction-based take rates — no subscription fees, no sign-up costs for providers — and operates localized consumer portals across at least 10 countries (UK, US, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, India). Distribution relies on extensive SEO (65+ city-level pages per category), earned media across UK and international press, and the official eBay compatible-application integration.
Shiply firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shiply
- Legal name
- Shiply Ltd.
- Website
- https://shiply.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Shiply is a UK-founded two-sided online marketplace that connects individuals and businesses needing bulky-item, vehicle, or fragile-goods delivery with transport providers running spare-capacity routes, using a reverse auction model to offer up to 75% off standard courier rates across 10+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shiply industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Transport and Logistics Marketplace
- NAICS
- Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851), Support Activities for Transportation (488)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dedicated Lanes & Mini-Bid / RFP Marketplace Platforms (TLAEAJAG)
Keywords
Where Shiply is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Shiply business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Marketplace Commission (Consumer): Shiply earns a fee when a transport provider wins work on the consumer marketplace. The fee (approximately 10-15%) is added on top of the transport provider's quoted amount and is paid by the customer as part of the total booking price. No sign-up or subscription fees for transport providers.
- Shiply Business Platform Fees: Business accounts are billed via invoices raised at the point of booking, settled via bank transfer before collection can take place. Volume-based pricing for business API access with OTD SLA commitments and tracking included.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Consumer Marketplace - Free to Post |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Transport Provider - Commission-Based |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | Shiply Business - Account-Based |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Featured Delivery Listing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Shiply product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shiply runs a two-sided online marketplace that matches individuals and businesses who need bulky, fragile, vehicle, or specialty items delivered with a network of more than 100,000 rated transport providers who have spare capacity on existing routes. Transport providers compete in a reverse auction to offer prices up to 75% below standard courier rates, and Shiply earns a commission of approximately 10-15% on each completed booking. The company also offers a dedicated B2B platform (Shiply Business) with end-to-end tracking, OTD SLA commitments, timeslot choices, and an API for high-volume shippers.
Product overview
Shiply operates a two-sided marketplace platform connecting customers who need items delivered with a network of rated transport providers. The core product is the Shiply consumer platform, complemented by Shiply Business for enterprise logistics needs. The platform encompasses specialized delivery services including Furniture Delivery, Motorcycle Transport, Car Transport, Man and Van, eBay Delivery (with automatic item import), Fragile Goods Transport, Boat Transport, and Removals. Transport providers use the platform to fill spare capacity on existing routes, enabling customers to save up to 75% off standard rates through a reverse auction model.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Shiply Consumer Marketplace Two-sided reverse auction marketplace connecting individuals and small businesses needing item delivery with more than 100,000 rated transport providers who have spare capacity on existing routes; quotes arrive by email within minutes with savings of up to 75% versus standard courier rates.
- Shiply Business
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 75% cheaper than standard delivery rates
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Shiply
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Shiply technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature5 records
Shiply partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- eBaycoreOfficial eBay compatible application partner. Shiply enables eBay buyers and sellers to arrange delivery directly from eBay listings. Users copy/paste the eBay item number and Shiply auto-imports item details, collection postcode, and photos. This is a key GTM channel for customer acquisition from eBay's massive marketplace.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Shiply competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- uShip: US-based shipping marketplace connecting customers with carriers for large, bulky, and specialty items (vehicles, furniture, equipment). Operates a reverse-auction / bidding model nearly identical to Shiply's, making it the most direct global comparable.
- GoShare: US-based marketplace connecting customers needing large-item delivery, moving help, and last-mile logistics with truck drivers and couriers. Closely mirrors Shiply's bulky-goods and 'man-with-a-van' category focus.
- Dolly: On-demand marketplace for large-item delivery, furniture moving, and hauling in US cities. Competes in the same bulky-goods delivery niche with a similar crowdsourced driver model.
- AnyVan: UK and Europe-focused transport marketplace for home moves, large items, and vehicle transport using a similar reverse-bid model. Head-to-head UK competitor on the consumer side of Shiply's offering.
- Roadie: US crowdsourced delivery marketplace (acquired by UPS) leveraging spare vehicle capacity for same-day and large-item delivery. Highly comparable 'spare capacity' economic model and last-mile positioning.
Others
- Delivery Hero: Global food and grocery delivery platform. While not directly competing in bulky-goods delivery, it is an adjacent marketplace operator with similar consumer and merchant-side network dynamics that influence the broader delivery-market landscape Shiply operates in.
Emerging players
- CitizenShipper: US marketplace for animal transport and large/specialty item shipping using a bidding model. Overlaps with Shiply's niche/fragile goods transport services but with a stronger animal-transport specialisation.
Broad incumbents
- Freightos: Digital freight marketplace primarily for international ocean and air freight booking. Adjacent marketplace operator in freight, with overlapping technology (instant quoting, marketplace bidding) and B2B API-first positioning similar to Shiply Business.
- Uber Freight: Digital freight network from Uber spanning trucking brokerage and managed transportation. While more focused on commercial freight than Shiply's consumer bulky-goods focus, it competes in the broader digital freight marketplace category with far deeper capital and tech resources.
Regional players
- Palletways: European palletised freight distribution network connecting hauliers across 20+ countries. Comparable as a multi-country freight network connecting independent carriers, though focused on palletised B2B freight rather than Shiply's consumer bulky-goods niche.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Shiply social profiles
Digital presenceShiply financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shiply leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Shiply funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shiply M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shiply
What does Shiply do?
Shiply runs a two-sided online marketplace that matches individuals and businesses who need bulky, fragile, vehicle, or specialty items delivered with a network of more than 100,000 rated transport providers who have spare capacity on existing routes. Transport providers compete in a reverse auction to offer prices up to 75% below standard courier rates, and Shiply earns a commission of approximately 10-15% on each completed booking. The company also offers a dedicated B2B platform (Shiply Business) with end-to-end tracking, OTD SLA commitments, timeslot choices, and an API for high-volume shippers.
Is Shiply a public or private company?
Shiply is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Shiply founded?
Shiply was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Shiply based?
Shiply is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Shiply make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Marketplace Commission (Consumer) is the primary driver. The others are shiply Business Platform Fees.
Who are Shiply's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are uShip, GoShare, Dolly, AnyVan and Roadie. Delivery Hero is listed as an others. CitizenShipper is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Freightos and Uber Freight. Palletways is listed as a regional player.
Does Shiply have an API?
Yes. Shiply offers a public API that allows high-volume business customers to get quotes and place bookings programmatically. The API is mentioned in the context of the Shiply Business platform where businesses can access instant quotes, fully online booking, tracking, and powerful APIs as standard features.
What industry is Shiply in?
Shiply's product category is Transport and Logistics Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAEAJAG, Dedicated Lanes & Mini-Bid / RFP Marketplace Platforms. Its NAICS code is 488510 and its SIC code is 4731.