Is China direct dead after de minimis?

No, but it is now a low-volume and non-US lane. For a US customer it pays duty on the retail value of every parcel plus a clearance fee. Below about ten US orders a day that is still cheaper than a warehouse. Above it, bulk to a US warehouse usually wins. For every other country, direct from China remains the practical option.

Why not just pick a US 3PL?

You can, and for a US-only brand with steady volume it is the right call. The gaps are the China side: getting cartons from the factory to the US, clearing customs, pre-orders that need to ship before bulk stock lands, and every non-US order. A US-only 3PL leaves all of that with you.

What does hybrid cost compared to these?

We do not publish a rate card because carton sizes, weight and destinations change the answer. Brands that move to us from a US 3PL typically save 30 to 50 percent on average, immediately, mostly on the China-to-US leg and the duty base. The quote form gives you a routing suggestion as you move the slider, and a person replies with per-order pricing within 2 business days.

Can I use Portless or ShipBob together with you?

Yes. Some brands keep a US network 3PL for domestic volume and use our Dongguan warehouse for pre-orders and international orders. We connect to the same Shopify store.

Fulfillment · Comparison · Updated 2026-09-22

Portless vs ShipBob vs a hybrid China and US 3PL

Short answer: Portless is the China-direct specialist and wins at scale with a global mix. ShipBob is the US network and wins for US-heavy brands that can commit to minimums. Shopify Fulfillment Network is now for large merchants only. A hybrid Dongguan plus Los Angeles model wins for small and mid-size brands made in China that sell both at home and abroad.

We are one of the four. We have tried to be fair to the other three, and we name where they are the better choice.

Provider	Model	Fits	Watch for
PortlessBest at scale, global mix	China direct. Fulfills from Shenzhen, ships every order to the customer by air.	Brands at roughly 1,000 or more orders a month with light, non-restricted products, selling to many countries, that do not want to pre-position stock.	Every US parcel now pays duty on the retail value plus a clearance fee. At steady US volume that premium is the largest line on the invoice. No US stock means no domestic ground option.
ShipBobMid to large, US-heavy	US and international warehouse network. You ship inventory in; they fulfill domestically.	Established brands with predictable US volume that can commit to a contract and monthly minimums, and that want many warehouse locations.	Published all-in cost for light products runs about $7 to $12 per order, with minimums and 6 to 12 month terms. Your China freight and customs are your problem. No China-side lane for pre-orders or the rest of the world.
Shopify Fulfillment NetworkLarge only	Shopify's US fulfillment service, operated by Flexport.	Larger Shopify merchants who want fulfillment inside the Shopify admin and can clear the minimum.	The monthly minimum rose to $5,000 in 2026, up from $500. For most small and mid-size brands it is no longer on the table.
Alan King Group (hybrid)Small to mid, any mix	Dongguan warehouse ships direct worldwide; Los Angeles holds US stock. One Shopify connection routes each order to the cheaper side.	Brands whose product is made in China, from first drop up to a few hundred orders a day, that sell into the US and abroad and want one partner from the factory dock to the customer.	We are smaller than the three above and we say so. Two warehouses, not thirty. If you need a network of US locations for two-day ground everywhere, ShipBob is the better fit.

The one question that decides it

How many US orders a day, and what share of your orders is the US? Under about ten a day, China direct is cheapest and Portless or a Dongguan lane both work. Above that with a US-heavy mix, you want US stock, and the question becomes whether you also need a China side for pre-orders and international. If yes, hybrid. If no, ShipBob.

Questions

Is China direct dead after de minimis?: No, but it is now a low-volume and non-US lane. For a US customer it pays duty on the retail value of every parcel plus a clearance fee. Below about ten US orders a day that is still cheaper than a warehouse. Above it, bulk to a US warehouse usually wins. For every other country, direct from China remains the practical option.
Why not just pick a US 3PL?: You can, and for a US-only brand with steady volume it is the right call. The gaps are the China side: getting cartons from the factory to the US, clearing customs, pre-orders that need to ship before bulk stock lands, and every non-US order. A US-only 3PL leaves all of that with you.
What does hybrid cost compared to these?: We do not publish a rate card because carton sizes, weight and destinations change the answer. Brands that move to us from a US 3PL typically save 30 to 50 percent on average, immediately, mostly on the China-to-US leg and the duty base. The quote form gives you a routing suggestion as you move the slider, and a person replies with per-order pricing within 2 business days.
Can I use Portless or ShipBob together with you?: Yes. Some brands keep a US network 3PL for domestic volume and use our Dongguan warehouse for pre-orders and international orders. We connect to the same Shopify store.

See where you land

Move the daily-orders slider and the destination split. The routing suggestion updates live. A person replies with per-order pricing within 2 business days.

Get a routing plan and quote →

Sources

Third-party pricing and terms are as published on the dates cited and change without notice. Portless, ShipBob and Shopify are trademarks of their owners; this page is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.