The news has hit the Australian eCommerce community hard: Sendle has abruptly halted operations following the administration of its parent company, Fast Group. For thousands of small business owners using WooCommerce, this creates an immediate crisis: orders are coming in, but the shipping method is broken.
If you are seeing errors at your checkout or cannot book a pickup, you need to act immediately.
At Kinski & Bourke, we are helping clients migrate their shipping stacks urgenttly. This guide outlines the best Sendle alternatives for Australian businesses and the technical steps to swap your shipping plugin without losing sales.
Step 1: Immediate Damage Control
Before researching new couriers, you must stop customers from selecting a broken shipping method at checkout.
- Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
- Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping.
- Click on your Shipping Zones (e.g., “Australia”).
- Toggle the “Sendle” method to OFF.
- Ensure “Flat Rate” or “Free Shipping” is enabled so customers can still complete purchases while you fix the backend.
The Best Alternatives to Sendle for WooCommerce
Sendle was popular because it was cheap, simple, and offered a good plugin. Here are the top contenders to replace it.
1. Australia Post (MyPost Business)
Best for: Most small to medium businesses.
This is the most stable and immediate alternative. Unlike the enterprise “eParcel” system, MyPost Business is free to sign up, requires no volume contracts, and offers savings based on how much you send.
- WooCommerce Integration: Official plugin support.
- Pros: Reliability, massive drop off network (any Post Office or red street box), and carbon neutral delivery options.
- Cons: Rates can be slightly higher than Sendle for very short distances.
2. Shippit
Best for: Stores that want smart automation.
Shippit is a shipping aggregator software, not a courier itself. It connects your WooCommerce store to multiple carriers (including CouriersPlease, Aramex, and AusPost) and automatically selects the cheapest or fastest option for each order.
- WooCommerce Integration: Robust plugin with label printing.
- Pros: One dashboard for multiple couriers; excellent tracking notifications for customers.
- Cons: There is a monthly SaaS subscription fee on top of shipping costs.
3. Transdirect
Best for: The closest “Sendle like” experience.
Transdirect operates similarly to Sendle’s booking model. They aggregate rates from carriers like TNT, CouriersPlease, and Aramex. Their “Members” area allows for quick quoting and booking without heavy contracts.
- WooCommerce Integration: Available via their shipping calculator plugin.
- Pros: incredibly competitive rates for bulky items.
- Cons: pickup reliability depends on the specific carrier they assign to your route.
4. Aramex (formerly Fastway)
Best for: Metro to metro delivery on a budget.
Many of Sendle’s parcels were actually carried by Aramex drivers. You can cut out the middleman and go direct. They operate on a franchise model, so service quality varies depending on your local driver, but they remain one of the most affordable options in Australia.
Technical Migration: How to Switch Plugins
Switching shipping providers is more complex than just installing a new plugin. It involves data mapping.
If you switch to Australia Post, you will need to:
- Register for a MyPost Business account to get your API Token.
- Install the WooCommerce Australia Post Shipping plugin.
- Configure box packing logic (algorithms determine which box size is sent based on product dimensions).
- Regenerate your checkout cache to ensure new rates appear.
If you switch to Shippit, you need to sync your product inventory to ensure weights are accurate, as aggregators are very strict on weight discrepancies and will charge surcharges for errors.
Need help switching today?
We understand that shipping is the lifeblood of your eCommerce store. You cannot afford downtime.
If you are uncomfortable modifying API keys or configuring shipping zones, contact Kinski & Bourke immediately. We can disable your Sendle integration and configure Australia Post or Shippit for you to ensure your orders keep flowing.
Header Photo by Karola G