Shiply Review (2025): A Courier’s Perspective — Is Shiply Any Good?

Quick summary: Shiply can still feel like a race to the bottom on price, but used smartly, it’s a handy way to fill in dead miles and top up your diary. Don’t rely on it as your main source of work; treat it as a lead-generation tool and route-filler.

What Is Shiply and How Does It Work for Couriers?

Shiply is a delivery marketplace where customers post jobs (furniture, bikes, motorbikes, house moves, odd bulky items) and transport providers bid to do the work. Customers pay Shiply a booking fee in addition to the courier’s price; couriers are paid directly by the customer upon collection/delivery. Think of Shiply as a middleman: it connects you with customers but doesn’t take responsibility if something goes wrong.

My Background & Why I Came Back to Shiply

Shiply was launched in 2008, and I began using it in 2009, when I started my courier business. In the early days, courier vetting was minimal, and the platform had a mixed reputation. It often felt like a race to the bottom on price, and there were more than a few unscrupulous drivers using the site.

Even back then, clear communication sometimes beat the lowest quote.

I left the courier game in 2016 and returned in 2025 to launch Auction Delivery. I started using Shiply again to maximise my earning potential when on the road.

Signing Up in 2025: What Shiply Asks For

The sign-up is straightforward but stricter than the early days:

• Proof of Goods in Transit and Hire & Reward insurance
• Public liability insurance (recommended but not essential for Shiply)
• Vehicle details
• A recent DBS certificate
• Proof of right to work in the UK
• Basic business info

There’s a two-way feedback system: customers can rate couriers (positive/neutral/negative) and couriers can rate customers — unusual these days but welcome.

Getting Work on Shiply: The Reality

Expect a slow start (especially with no feedback)

My old account had lapsed, so I started from zero. In a marketplace packed with established providers, getting that first job took weeks.

Bidding is competitive — and time-consuming

I’ve placed hundreds of quotes and only landed a handful of jobs. Many customers are just testing the water, collecting prices from multiple places.

The lowest quote doesn’t always win

A short, personal message often beats generic sales messages. I keep it simple:

“Hi, I can collect and deliver on [date]. If that works, happy to help. Cheers.”

Top tip: If you’re local to the customer who is booking the job, mention this in your message, as some people would rather work with a local business than one from outside of the area.

Search & filters: what works

Best use-case: when you’ve already got a long run (e.g., Exeter → Manchester) and want jobs back or extras en route.

• You can filter by collection/delivery location and radius.

• The “search along a route” feature didn’t match well for me; filtering by origin and destination was more accurate.

What Vehicle Can I Use for Shiply?

Technically, you can use almost any vehicle for Shiply — including a car, as long as you have the correct insurance in place (usually Hire & Reward and Goods in Transit). However, the reality is that most Shiply jobs involve bulky or heavy items, so a standard car usually isn’t practical unless you’re doing very small local jobs.

For most couriers, a van is essential. At minimum, you’ll want something like a short wheelbase van (Transit-size) to comfortably handle furniture, motorbikes, or other large items.

I’ve been using a Peugeot Expert, which is great for smaller jobs like single motorcycle deliveries or lightweight furniture. But for bigger jobs — or when you’re stacking multiple collections and deliveries — you’ll need something larger, like:

• Mercedes Sprinter LWB
• Iveco Daily LWB
• Luton vans with tail lifts (very popular due to their high volume capacity)

These larger vans give you the flexibility to take on more profitable loads, especially if you plan on working full-time or running multi-drop routes.

Real Jobs I’ve Completed via Shiply

• Local moped delivery — I quoted £75; the customer paid Shiply about £30 booking fee on top. Straightforward job: ~30 miles to collect, 40 miles to drop. Paid cash on delivery and received positive feedback.
• Classic motorbike — Enjoyable, but not hugely profitable on its own (about £100 for ~7 hours’ driving). Worth it when combined with other work.

Takeaway: Used for backloads or when you have space on your van, Shiply can work. As a stand-alone source for full-time earnings, it’s unrealistic.

Pros & Cons of Using Shiply as a Courier

Pros

• Extra work on quiet days; good for backloads and filling dead miles
• Free to bid (your price is what you receive; customer pays Shiply’s fee)
• Two-way feedback helps vet awkward customers
• Simple quoting and quick messaging
• Once a job is completed, you can exchange details with a customer for future work and bypass Shiply

Cons

• Route search results can be inconsistent
• Race-to-the-bottom pricing is still common
• Low hit rate: you can place 10–20+ quotes and hear nothing
• Shiply’s booking fee makes your quote look less competitive vs direct bookings
• Time sink if you rely on it rather than use it tactically

Is Shiply Worth It for Couriers in 2025?

Short answer: Yes — as a secondary channel.
Use Shiply to top up income and stack runs around your own bookings (mine come via Auction Delivery and direct enquiries). Don’t expect miracles if you’re new with no feedback; it takes time to build momentum.

Practical Tips to Win Shiply Jobs

1. Quote fair, not desperate. Set a minimum price that covers fuel, time, and risk. If it doesn’t hit your minimum, don’t bid.
2. Write human messages. Skip the canned sales pitches. Confirm when you can collect/deliver and how you’ll handle the item. Mention where you are based (if relevant).
3. Stack intelligently. Use origin/destination filters to chain jobs on existing routes.
4. Collect reviews fast. Over-deliver on the first few jobs to build positive feedback.
5. Push direct bookings. Include a business card and encourage customers to book you directly next time (cheaper for them, better margin for you).
6. Track true profit. A job that “looks fine” can vanish after fuel, time lost to loading, stairs, parking, and traffic.
7. Avoid time-wasters. If a customer won’t confirm basic details like the size of the item, move on.

Turn Shiply Jobs Into Google Reviews

One simple but powerful trick I’ve used is to ask Shiply customers to leave a Google review after a successful job. I let them know I’ve recently launched my delivery business and that reviews help build trust and visibility.

So far, I’ve completed three jobs through Shiply and politely asked each customer for feedback — and all three left me a positive review on Google.

It’s a great way to turn one-off Shiply bookings into lasting credibility, especially when you’re just starting a courier business and trying to stand out locally. Most customers are happy to help if you’ve provided a good service.

💡 Tip: Make it easy by sending a direct link to your Google review form after delivery.

Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Use Shiply

• Good for: Sole traders and small delivery companies who want extra drops on existing runs or are building an early reputation.
• Not great for: Anyone seeking a scalable, reliable, full-time income from one platform. Treat it as part-time/extra cash, not your whole business.

Verdict: My Score

6.5/10 — “Useful but limited.”
Shiply is a useful way to get additional jobs, but don’t solely rely on it for work, as it can be frustrating to place dozens of quotes only to be met with silence.

FAQs: Shiply for Couriers

Is Shiply any good for couriers?
Yes, for backloads and fillers. No, if you expect steady, premium-rate work.

Does Shiply take a cut of my price?
The customer pays Shiply’s booking fee. You set your price and are paid directly by the customer.

How do I get my first Shiply job with no feedback?
Bid on smaller local items, write clear personal messages, and deliver fast to earn early positives.

Is the lowest quote always the winner?
No. Communication and reliability matter — many customers will pay a bit more if they feel confident.

What insurance do I need?
At minimum: £10,000 Goods in Transit and Hire & Reward, plus vehicle docs. A DBS check is often requested.