In the merciless arena of e-commerce, the supply chain is both your greatest strength and your Achilles heel. Every parcel shipped is a promise, and there will be over 160 billion of them in 2024, with over 200 billion expected in 2025 (according to Pitney Bowes, 2023). And when that promise is broken by loss, theft or breakage, how you handle that dispute defines your brand. After a quarter-century of dissecting digital ecosystems, let me be blunt: treating shipping insurance as a mere "cost" is a rookie mistake. It's a strategic investment in your company's resilience and your customers' trust.
You're here because you've outgrown basic carrier insurance. You're looking for a professional solution: in fact, companies using automated insurance solutions see a 40% reduction in claims thanks to better traceability and proactive shipment management. The market is dominated by three major players, each with a distinct philosophy: Shipsurancethe flexible veteran ; Route.comthe customer experience specialist; and Claisy, the European challenger focused on automation and maximum coverage.
It's not just a comparison. It's a decision-making guide to help you choose not just a supplier, but a partner aligned with your growth strategy: so with the automation of claims processes, you know you can reduce dispute processing times by 50% and meet the requirements of marketplaces.
Decision Criteria: Beyond Price
To evaluate these solutions, we need to analyze five performance drivers:
- Actual Coverage: Limits indemnity and types of property covered
- The business model: pricing, transparency and cost predictability
- Operational Efficiency: Simplicity and speed in the claims process
- Technological integration: ability to automate within your stack (CMS, OMS, WMS)
- Target Market: Alignment with your geographical area and business model
Comparative summary: Actors at a glance
Sources : Shipsurance FAQ, Route Policy Summary 2025, TryChad Shipping Insurance AnalysisClaisy 2025 data
In-depth Solution Analysis
1. Shipsurance: The Flexible Choice for American Professionals
Shipsurance is a historic player with 20 years' experience in parcel insurance. Positioned as an independent broker, Shipsurance promises savings of up to 90% compared with conventional carrier insurance.
Highlights :
- Established reputation: 20 years on the US market, underwritten by "A" rated insurer
- Competitive rates for volume: As your shipments grow, so do your rates.
- Reasonable lead time: ~7 days for reimbursement (vs. 60-90 days for carriers)
- Discretion: Packages not marked "insured" → fewer targeted thefts
- Multiple integrations: ShipStation, ShipEngine, eBay, Endicia, FedEx Manager
Points to watch :
- Significant exclusions: Currencies, perishables, jewelry, precious stones systematically excluded
- Restricted electronics: Mobiles, tablets, laptops subject to strict conditions and heavy documentation
- US/Canada market only: unsuitable for European e-tailers
- Technical integration: API requires development resources if platforms are not supported
- Platform dependency: via ShipStation, you are subject to their conditions and Limits ($10k)
2. Route.com: The Customer Experience Specialist (C.E.S.)
Route has revolutionized the market since 2018 with a radically different approach: insurance visible to the end customer, offered as an option at checkout with immersive visual tracking of the "Uber for parcels" type.
💡 ROUTE PARTICULARITY: The customer becomes a "Route user" after purchase, creating a network effect. If he buys from another Route merchant, his info is pre-filled, increasing the insurance conversion rate.
Highlights :
- Outstanding customer experience: immersive visual tracking, elegant mobile app
- Extreme speed: claims resolved in 1-3 business days, sometimes in seconds
- One-click reorder: customer can recommend instantly (= additional sales for you)
- Zero upfront merchant costs: the customer pays
- Native Shopify integration: 15-minute installation time
- Carbon neutral: Carbon credits purchased for each shipment
Points to watch :
- Loss of control over customer relations: Route handles disputes, not you
- Premium rates: 1-2% vs. 0.75-0.99% for competitors
- Fatal electronicLimit : $2,500 = dealbreaker for tech/montres
- Abrupt cancellations: Many merchants report immediate offboarding without notice (see Shopify reviews)
- Non-compete 24 months: Some contracts include a clause preventing you from switching to a competitor even after the contract has expired.
- US-centric market: less adapted to European carriers/regulations
- Fraud complexity: B2C model facilitates false customer complaints (up to 10% according to studies)
3. Claisy: The Strategic Weapon for European E-commerce
Claisy has positioned itself to fill the gaps in the European market with a philosophy ofdeep integration and universal coverage. Unlike Shipsurance (US) and Route (US-centric), Claisy is designed natively for e-commerce, not just Europe.
Claisy has positioned itself to fill the gaps in the European market with a philosophy ofdeep integration and universal coverage. Unlike Shipsurance (US) and Route (US-centric), Claisy is designed natively for European e-commerce.
Transparent Pricing Architecture
- Single rate: 0.75% of declared value
- No minimum collection (vs. $10 Shipsurance via platforms)
- No deductible
- Total predictability: No variable rates depending on merchandise/season
Comparative example package 1.500€:
- Shipsurance (1.2% average): €18
- Road (1.5% average): €22.50
- Claisy: €11.25 (37-50% savings)
Exceptional Coverage
✅ CLEAR UNIVERSAL COVERAGECap: €100,000 per parcel (vs. $10k Shipsurance, $2.5k Route electronic)Products covered WITHOUT restriction:- Jewellery (excluded Shipsurance/Route)- Luxury watches of all values (limited to $2,500 Route)- High-tech with no specific Limit (vs. $2,500 Route)- Works of art and antiques- Second-hand products (vs. FPA only Route)- Virtually all legal goods
Advanced automation
Claisy's technological DNA is reflected in native connectors for :
- e-commerce CMS: Shopify, PrestaShop, Magento, WooCommerce
- OMS/WMS: Order/Warehouse Management System Integration
- Multi-carrier: Works with ALL carriers (Colissimo, Chronopost, DHL, UPS, FedEx, etc.).
- 100% automation: Auto underwriting according to defined business rules
See our automated parcel insurance guide to understand the operational benefits.
Redoubtable efficiency
- Délai remboursement : 48h (72h pour <95% dossiers)
- Single declaration: Same process regardless of Carrier
- Total discretion: Invisible to Carrier = fewer targeted flights
- Unified dashboard: All carriers, all disputes, one interface
Points of Vigilance Claisy
- Focus B2B: Solution designed for professionals (VSEs/SMEs/ETIs), less relevant for occasional individuals
The Strategic Verdict: Which Insurer for Which Need?
The choice depends on your business model and strategic priorities.
- Choose Route.com if... you're a DTC brand based primarily in the U.S., your top priority is to deliver a "slick" post-purchase experience to your customers, and you're ready to delegate this part of the customer relationship
- Choose Shipsurance if... you are a very large North American logistics player with a development team capable of integrating a solution via API and negotiating tailor-made contracts for massive volumes of standard goods.
- Choose Claisy if... you are an e-tailer or a company (VSE, SME, ETI) based in Europe, you ship goods of varying value (including luxury and high-tech), and your priorities are cost control, process automation, high coverage Limits and ultra-fast claims management that puts you back in control.
In conclusion, while Shipsurance and Route.com are robust, proven solutions in their home markets, Claisy stands out as the most comprehensive and integrated answer for European professionals looking to turn their shipping insurance into a real competitive advantage. Your insurance is not a cost line, it's the guardian of your reputation. Choose it with the same rigor with which you choose your products.
Conclusion: Insurance as a competitive advantage
Choosing a parcel insurance solution is more than just comparing percentages. It's a strategic decision that has a direct impact on :
- Your profitability: Savings of 30-50% possible depending on solution
- Your cash flow: Difference between 48 hours and 90 days = critical cash flow
- Your reputation: Rapid dispute management = satisfied customers
- Your scalability: ability to grow without operational bottlenecks
💡 DECISION SYNTHESIS
Shipsurance remains a robust and proven solution for US/Canada players shipping standard products in large volumes. Its 20-year reputation and competitive rates (for large volumes) make it a safe choice for the traditional North American market.
Route a révolutionné l'expérience client post-achat avec son app immersive et son modèle B2C innovant. C'est le choix idéal pour les marques DTC US prioritisant l'expérience utilisateur, tant que vos produits restent dans les plafonds acceptables (textile, cosmétique, accessoires <2.500$).
Claisy is the most comprehensive solution for European professionals looking to turn their insurance into a competitive advantage. With its optimal rate (0.75%), high Limits (€100k), universal coverage (luxury, high-tech) and express reimbursement (48h), Claisy eliminates the compromises of traditional solutions.
To go further
Deepen your understanding of parcel insurance with our expert guides:
- Complete package insurance comparison 2025: analysis of all market solutions
- Automated parcel insurance: understanding the operational benefits
- High-value insurance guide: jewelry, watches, art, premium equipment
- Atlas assurance Ad Valorem: complete encyclopedia
- DHL insurance deciphered: detailed analysis Carrier alternative
- Complete UPS guide: rates, Limits, limitations
- ShipStation Insurance Analysis: Shipsurance vs ParcelGuard in detail
Article updated in October 2025 with official Shipsurance data, Route Policy Summary 2025, and independent market analyses.