Connecting ShipStation

Last reviewed: 2026-10-10

What this is

How to connect your ShipStation account so CanShip can quote and buy labels from the carriers on it. You copy an API key from ShipStation and paste it into CanShip.

ShipStation has no test mode in CanShip. Every label bought through this connection is a real label, paid from your ShipStation account.

Before you start

• You need a ShipStation account with at least one carrier on it.
• You need a CanShip login that can open Settings > Carriers.

1. Get the API key in ShipStation

In ShipStation, go to Settings > API Settings and copy the V2 API key.

2. Connect it in CanShip

1. In CanShip, go to Settings > Carriers.
2. On the ShipStation card, click Set Up. The Configure ShipStation form opens.
3. Paste the key into API Key.
4. Leave Carrier IDs blank to quote every carrier on the ShipStation account. To quote only some, enter their ShipStation carrier ids, separated by commas. They start with "se-".
5. Under Shipper Address, pick a warehouse in Use address from to copy its address into the fields. You can still edit them. This address is only a fallback. Rates and labels ship from the order's own warehouse.
6. Fill in what is left. Shipper Name, Shipper Phone, Address Line 1, Shipper City, Shipper State/Province, Shipper Postal Code and Shipper Country Code are required.
7. Shipper Company is the sender company printed on the label. Canada Post through ShipStation needs one. If you leave it blank, CanShip uses the Shipper Name.
8. Under Which clients can ship with this carrier?, choose All clients, None for now, or pick individual clients.
9. Click Save.

ShipStation rates now appear when you rate a parcel for an assigned client.

What can go wrong

• Save stays greyed out. The line beside it says what is missing.
• A carrier on your ShipStation account is not quoted. Check Carrier IDs under Edit. If the field has a list, only those carriers are quoted.
• A client gets no ShipStation rates. Check the client is assigned to ShipStation on the card, under Assigned Clients.
• The key was replaced in ShipStation. Click Edit, use Replace beside the key, paste the new one and save.

See also: Connecting a carrier.