WhereParcel vs AfterShip vs TrackingMore: Best Parcel Tracking API Compared (2026)
If you’re building an e-commerce platform, logistics dashboard, or any application that needs parcel tracking, choosing the right tracking API is one of the most impactful decisions you’ll make. The three leading options in 2026 are WhereParcel, AfterShip, and TrackingMore — each with distinct strengths, pricing models, and developer experiences.
In this guide, we break down how these services compare across every dimension that matters to developers and product teams.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | WhereParcel | AfterShip | TrackingMore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carriers Supported | 500+ (KR, JP, US, DE, CN) | 1,200+ | 1,300+ |
| Free Tier | 1,000 requests/month | 50 shipments/month | 100 requests/month |
| Pricing Model | Per request | Per shipment | Per request |
| Multi-language Support | EN, KO, JA | EN + limited others | EN, CN |
| API Playground | Yes (interactive) | No | No |
| REST API | Clean RESTful | REST + SDKs | REST |
| Authentication | API Key | API Key | API Key |
Feature Comparison in Detail
Carrier Coverage
AfterShip and TrackingMore lead in raw carrier count, both supporting over 1,000 carriers globally. However, raw numbers don’t tell the whole story. WhereParcel focuses on deep, reliable coverage for key markets — Korea, Japan, USA, Germany, and China — with real-time scraping infrastructure that ensures accurate results even when carriers don’t offer official APIs.
WhereParcel’s distributed worker architecture means that even carriers without public APIs are tracked reliably. Where competitors often rely on unstable third-party data sources, WhereParcel maintains its own scraping infrastructure with automatic IP rotation and fault isolation.
Pricing Comparison
Pricing is often the deciding factor, especially for startups and side projects. Here’s how the three services stack up:
WhereParcel
- Free Tier: 1,000 requests/month
- Paid Plans: Usage-based pricing starting at competitive per-request rates
- No credit card required for free tier
- Billing model: Per API request (simple and predictable)
AfterShip
- Free Tier: 50 shipments/month
- Essentials: Starting at $11/month for 100 shipments
- Pro and above: Significantly higher pricing with enterprise features
- Billing model: Per shipment (a single shipment can generate multiple API calls)
TrackingMore
- Free Tier: 100 requests/month
- Paid Plans: Starting at approximately $9/month for 2,000 requests
- Billing model: Per request
The difference is stark. WhereParcel’s free tier of 1,000 requests/month is 20x more generous than AfterShip’s 50 shipments and 10x more than TrackingMore’s 100 requests. For developers building prototypes, MVPs, or low-volume applications, WhereParcel’s free tier is often sufficient without ever needing to upgrade.
AfterShip’s per-shipment billing can also be confusing — tracking a single package multiple times counts as one shipment, but the 50-shipment limit is still restrictive for any real application.
Developer Experience
WhereParcel
WhereParcel was built by developers, for developers. The API follows clean RESTful conventions with consistent response formats across all carriers. Key developer experience highlights:
- Interactive API Playground — Test any carrier and tracking number directly in the browser without writing code
- Comprehensive documentation — Clear examples in multiple languages (cURL, JavaScript, Python, Go)
- Unified response format — Every carrier returns the same normalized JSON structure
- Generous rate limits — No artificial throttling on the free tier
- Multi-language docs — Full documentation available in English, Korean, and Japanese
AfterShip
AfterShip provides official SDKs in several languages (Node.js, Python, Ruby, PHP, Java), which can accelerate initial integration. However, the SDK abstraction layer adds complexity, and the API surface area is large because AfterShip is a full shipping platform — not just a tracking API. Developers who only need tracking often find themselves navigating a complex ecosystem of features they don’t use.
TrackingMore
TrackingMore offers basic REST API documentation. The docs are functional but lack the depth and interactive elements that modern developers expect. There is no API playground, and the examples are primarily limited to cURL and PHP. Error messages can be cryptic, and the response format varies slightly between carriers.
When to Choose Each Service
Choose WhereParcel if:
- You want a clean, developer-friendly REST API focused purely on parcel tracking
- You need a generous free tier (1,000 requests/month) for development or low-volume production
- You’re targeting Asian markets (Korea, Japan, China) where WhereParcel has exceptionally deep carrier coverage
- You want an interactive playground to test before integrating
Choose AfterShip if:
- You need a full shipping platform — not just tracking, but also shipping notifications, branded tracking pages, returns management, and shipping analytics
- You have enterprise-level requirements and budget for premium pricing
- You want official SDKs in multiple programming languages
- Tracking is just one part of a larger post-purchase experience you’re building
Choose TrackingMore if:
- You’re on a tight budget and need basic tracking functionality
- You need coverage for niche carriers that only larger aggregators support
- You don’t mind a less polished developer experience
Performance and Architecture
One area where WhereParcel stands out technically is its architecture. While AfterShip and TrackingMore use traditional centralized server architectures, WhereParcel employs a distributed worker system with automatic IP rotation. This means:
- Higher reliability — If one worker node has issues, others continue operating
- Better scraping accuracy — Automatic IP rotation prevents carrier blocking
- Scalable by design — Adding capacity is as simple as deploying another worker
For developers who care about the infrastructure behind their APIs, this architecture translates to more consistent uptime and fresher tracking data.
Conclusion
All three services solve the fundamental problem of multi-carrier parcel tracking, but they serve different audiences.
AfterShip is a comprehensive shipping platform best suited for enterprise teams that need the full post-purchase stack. TrackingMore is a budget-friendly option for simple use cases with basic requirements.
WhereParcel hits the sweet spot for developers who want a clean, well-documented tracking API without the bloat of a full shipping platform and without the limitations of a bare-bones service. With 1,000 free requests per month, an interactive API playground, and deep Asian carrier coverage, WhereParcel is the best choice for developers building modern tracking experiences in 2026.
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