Comparing DHL vs GLS. What courier should you choose?
Compare DHL and GLS shipping rates and discover the main differences between GLS and DHL shipping services and delivery times. Before you decide which company to choose, make sure to check how much would it cost you to ship with Eurosender instead and have the goods delivered by either DHL or GLS or another one of our trusted logistics partners.
What are you looking for?
Compare GLS and DHL shipping rates – Which one is cheaper?
DHL and GLS shipping services vary a lot according to the country of origin of the shipment. The reason for this is that they operate under regional offices, which may have local partnerships for performing collection and deliveries in certain areas. For instance, GLS does not perform deliveries in the UK themselves; they do so through collaboration with Parcelforce. DHL, on the other hand, has a partnership with An Post for shipping in Ireland.
Check our tables below to compare DHL and GLS shipping rates for different European routes. On average, GLS is cheaper than DHL for local or regional transport services, but DHL may be more advantageous for international routes or express deliveries.
To make sure you compare not only these two companies but also other options of couriers, get a quote on our platform.
PRICE COMPARISON
DHL vs GLS for domestic shipping in Germany
Compare DHL and GLS shipping rates for sending a 30 kg package from Berlin to Munich:
| Shipping service | Price | Delivery time |
|---|---|---|
| DHL Standard Shipping | € 16.08 | 1-2 business days |
| DHL ExpressEasy | € 43.87 | 1 business day |
| GLS Send@Home | € 18.70 | 1 business day |
| GLS Send@ParcelShop | € 18.70 | 1 business day |
| Eurosender Standard Delivery | € 6.91 | 3 business days |
DHL vs GLS international shipping from Germany to Slovenia
Compare DHL and GLS shipping rates for sending a 30 kg package internationally:
| Shipping service | Price | Delivery time |
|---|---|---|
| DHL Standard Shipping | € 43.86 | Up to 5 business days |
| DHL ExpressEasy | € 300.72 | 1 business day |
| GLS Send@Home | € 30.00 | 3 business days |
| Eurosender Standard Service | € 30.99 | 2 business days |
GLS vs DHL: Which one is better for freight transport?
Even though both courier companies provide shipping solutions dedicated to freight, DHL has a more comprehensive network in this matter, offering the possibility of road, sea, air or rail freight services. To take advantage of their expertise in the field, most large enterprises prefer choosing this provider when shipping freight.
Nonetheless, it is worth mentioning that GLS has its own freight transport network throughout Europe and some states of the USA, which is currently in rapid expansion.
With both carriers, GLS and DHL, you must submit all the details online and wait until they send you a quote. But why wait if you can discover the price of transporting cargo right away? Get an immediate quote for shipping pallets or even for a shared or full truck transport.
SPEED OF DELIVERY
GLS vs DHL: Which one is faster?
According to a study performed in Germany, shipping with GLS is usually faster than DHL. On the test, GLS had a 93% rate of on-time deliveries while DHL fell behind achieving the estimated delivery time in only 76% of the cases.
However, for shipments that are time-sensitive or urgent, DHL is probably the preferred courier as they provide worldwide deliveries in 24-72h through their Express Service.
To determine which one is faster for the service your desire, check the comparison between DHL and GLS estimated delivery times on our tables above.
DHL vs GLS shipping insurance options
Both courier companies offer various shipping insurance options that depend on the service chosen, the type of parcel and the country of origin. Understand some of the differences between DHL and GLS shipping insurance:
- DHL shipping insurance covers the actual value of your parcel in case of damage or loss. DHL offers insurance of up to €500 for standard shipments and additional insurance options for other services.
- According to GLS liability policy in Germany, they are liable for up to €750 per parcel, but also offer extra transit insurance during the ordering process.
PROS AND CONS
GLS vs DHL – Which one is better?
To help you decide which one is the best fit for your business, GLS or DHL, we have gathered some of the advantages of each on the table below. At Eurosender, we partner with DHL, GLS, and various other couriers to combine their capabilities and make sure you can benefit from the best logistics solutions available.
| Feature | DHL | GLS | Eurosender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express solutions | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real-time tracking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free door-to-door delivery | For some services | For some services | ✓ |
| Service dedicated to envelopes | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| Free address correction | X | X | ✓ |
| Free signature upon delivery | ✓ | For some services | ✓ |
| Instant online quotes | Depends on the route | Depends on the route | ✓ |
| Delivery to sanctioned countries | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| Freight solutions | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
GLS vs DHL: Solutions for e-commerce
Both logistics companies DHL and GLS offer various solutions for e-commerce and businesses. Apart from comparing DHL and GLS shipping rates, companies are usually interested in additional solutions to simplify their logistics processes.
- DHL offers for e-commerce a diversified range of shipping services, serving everything from an envelope to freight. Businesses can choose to use their API for integration for optimising their daily operations and benefit from transport services dedicated to specific industries such as Fashion, Medical, and Food & Beverage.
- GLS also offers freight transport services, apart from the regular and express parcel delivery. Their network covers almost all European countries and several American states. E-commerce owners can opt to integrate the GLS ordering system to their website using their proprietary API.
OUR BENEFITS
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Vast network of couriers, without binding contracts
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FINAL RECAP
DHL vs GLS Comparison Summary: Which one is better after all?
On one side, we have the German-based courier company DHL, one of the world’s leaders in the logistics sector. Through its impressive network, DHL provides shipping solutions to more than 220 countries and regions around the world. On the other side, we have the Dutch-based courier company GLS, one of the main players on parcel delivery in Europe and continuously expanding to take on other markets such as in the US and Canada.
To determine whether DHL or GLS is a better fit for your company, you should take into consideration your niche and the transport services you most often require. Companies that have global operations and continuously require a variety of services such as customs brokerage or warehousing may choose to collaborate with DHL. However, businesses and online stores that have their operations mainly based in Europe could prefer GLS for their accessible prices and fast delivery services.
But why choose one single courier company if you have the option of using multiple providers based on the price/quality they offer for each route? At Eurosender, we work with numerous couriers, including DHL and GLS, to match you with the best fit for each shipping request. Get a quote online or sign up for additional discounts and benefits.
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