Best Courier Alternatives to DHL4 min read
Alternatives to DHL
Matteo Coassin

Alternative shipping services to DHL

DHL is one of the most famous companies in Europe and the world. Even though DHL offers short delivery times, it can be expensive for non-urgent shipments.

Read more in our guide on how to find cheaper alternative couriers to DHL.

What do you want to know?

What are the main alternatives to sending a parcel with DHL?

There are many couriers offering reasonable alternative solutions to DHL in Europe and internationally.

The main competitors of DHL on the international market are companies such as FedEx, GLS and UPS.

  • FedEx is one of the leading logistics companies in the world, representing the main competitor and alternative to DHL for express courier services.
  • UPS represents a valid alternative to DHL, especially in the US, offering many express and overnight shipping solutions.
  • The courier company GLS doesn’t have the global distribution as DHL but offers cheaper alternatives to DHL courier services for many European routes.
  • The DPD group covers many European countries and destinations and offers an alternative low-cost solution to DHL for sending parcels up to 30kg.
  • Hermes – Evri is a courier company operating in Europe that offers affordable services with many ParcelShops for collection or delivery.

There are many more couriers and logistics companies that you can choose as an alternative to DHL. That’s why our team prepared a series of comparisons to help you decide which company has the best offer for you.

Read our courier comparisons

Postal services: a cheaper alternative to DHL

A cheaper shipping alternative to DHL, especially for small and non-urgent shipments, is represented by postal services. Depending on the country, postal services may have different shipping solutions but usually offer more affordable services than couriers.

While postal services are a cheaper option for domestic shipments, they may not be a good alternative to DHL in case of urgent parcels or heavy boxes. Furthermore, postal services may not be available to every destination.

Note that the national postal service in Germany does not offer alternatives to DHL since Deutsche Post is part of the same group.

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What to consider when choosing alternatives to DHL shipping services?

When comparing alternative options to DHL to pick the best solution, you will need to consider different factors, such as speed, insurance or tracking. The best shipping service will be the one that includes more options at an affordable rate.

  • Tracking service: online tracking allows you to follow the shipment at any moment. This option may not be included in the service price.
  • Shipping insurance: not all couriers include insurance in the price, and you may need to pay an additional fee. Moreover, the limit of coverage can differ.
  • Door-to-door delivery: not all services include home collection and delivery. Some couriers offer parcel lockers as an alternative or may charge extra fees for the door-to-door service.
  • Delivery times: most of couriers offer express solutions, with shorter times than their standard deliveries, usually at higher costs. To avoid high rates, you may consider looking for couriers offering the shortest possible times for standard deliveries.

Below you can find some general information concerning DHL and its competitors.

alternatives to dhl

Find the best shipping solution with Eurosender

Our easy-to-use online tool compares instantly hundreds of offers from many couriers to find the best solution based on your specific requirements. In just a few clicks you can get the cheapest alternative to DHL, without leaving your couch or calling dozens of couriers. All you need to do is to insert the shipment dimensions and the route in our form and we will do all the comparisons for you.

Our platform is the fastest way to find the best and cheapest shipping alternative between DHL and other couriers.