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Royal Mail vs FedEx: A Comparison

If you manage an e-commerce business than you know the importance of choosing the proper mail courier.

Choosing the correct courier is not just a search for the right supplier. It’s about identifying a serious ally that will help you deliver the best value and service to your customers.

The right courier will satisfy your customers with the best quality, speed, and cost effective services.

Royal Mail vs FedEx

Here at ShippyPro, we want to help you in your search for that perfect carrier.

Today we will be analyzing Royal Mail vs FedEx’s National US services, National UK services, European, and international services.

Royal Mail is based in The United Kingdom, playing a key role in the UK market. Fedex is based in the US and both have a large presence in the global shipping market.

In this article, we will see what services are offered by the two companies for the national, European and international market.

Royal Mail vs FedEx

 Royal Mail vs FedEx: National US Shipments 

Royal Mail does not provide services in the United States, so we will just take a look at FedEx first.

Royal Mail FedEx  
Service Delivery Time Cost
FedEx First Overnight Next business day by 8:00am
FedEx First Priority Overnight Next business day by 10:00am
FedEx Standard Overnight Next business day by 3:00pm
FedEx 2Day Second business day between 4:30 pm and 7:00 pm
FedEx Express Saver Third business day delivery by 4:30 pm
FedEx Ground By end of 1-5 business days
FedEx 1Day Freight Next business day by 10:30am
FedEx 2Day Freight Second business day by 12:00 pm
FedEx 3Day Freight Third business day by 3:00 pm

FedEx’s US domestic services can separated into four categories.

Next day delivery, second day delivery, third day delivery and economy delivery.

FedEx First Overnight guarantees delivery the next business day by 8:00 am Monday through Friday.

FedEx First Priority Overnight guarantees delivery the next business day by 10:00 am Monday through Saturday.

FedEx Standard Overnight guarantees delivery the next business day by 3:00 pm Monday through Friday.

FedEx 2Day guarantees delivery in two business days between 4:30 pm and 7:00 pm Monday through Saturday.

FedEx Express Saver guarantees delivery in three business days by 4:30 pm.

FedEx 1Day Freight guarantees delivery the next business day by 10:30 pm Monday through Friday.

FedEx 2Day Freight guarantees delivery in two business-days by 12:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

FedEx 3Day Freight guarantees delivery in three business-days by 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

FedEx Ground guarantees delivery in 1-5 business-days by the end of the day Monday – Friday.

Royal Mail Vs FedEx

Royal Mail vs FedEx: National UK Services 

Below is a table that compares Royal Mail and FedEx domestic services within the UK.

Royal Mail FedEx
Service Delivery Time Cost Service Delivery Time Cost
Same Day Delivery By end of same business day FedEx Next Day By end of next business day
Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed Guaranteed next business day by 9:00 am FedEx Next Day by Noon By 12:00 pm next business day
Royal Mail Signed for 1st Class Aim to deliver by end of next business day FedEx Next Day by 10:00am By 10:00 am next business day
Royal Mail Signed for 2nd Class Aim to deliver by end of 2-3 business days FedEx Next Day by 9:00am By 9:00 am next business day
1st Class Mail Aim to deliver by end of next business day FedEx Economy By end of the day in 1-3 business days
2nd Class Mail Aim to deliver by the end of 2-3 business days

Royal Mail offers cost effective options for same day, next business day, and 2-3 business day delivery. These services also differ on potential compensation coverage based on your needs. The other key difference to note is some services offer guaranteed delivery while others cannot promise the parcel will arrive on time, but the success rates are high.

Same Day Delivery guarantees delivery by the end of the day on the same day the delivery order was placed. A special £10,000 compensation coverage option is available for those who need it. Due to the expedited nature of this service it does cost more than their other options.

Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed offers guaranteed delivery the next business day by 9:00 am. Royal Mail is so confident they can fulfill their guarantee that if the package does not arrive on time, they delivery is 100% free. A special £10,000 compensation coverage is also offered.

Royal Mail Signed for 1st Class aims to complete the delivery by the end of the next business day. While this is not a guarantee, the success rate of these deliveries is extremely high. There is an option to add up to £50 of compensation coverage as well.

The Royal Mail Signed for 2nd Class option aims to deliver the parcel by the end of 2-3 business days for a cost effective price. It is worth noting this 2-3 day delivery is only a goal and is not guaranteed, however it does enjoy a high success rate. The optional £50 of compensation coverage is also available.

Royal Mail’s 1st Class Mail serviceaims to complete the delivery by the end of the next possible business day. The success rate of this goal is also very high. Again the difference in compensation coverage is noticed. The potential coverage in this service is only up to £20 instead of the £50 option offered by its similarly priced services.

The 2nd Class Mail service aims to deliver the parcel by the end of 2-3 business days. While not a guarantee it is the most economic option if leniency in delivery time is allowable. Again the compensation is only £20 instead of £50.

FedEx offers a range of times for their next business day delivery services. They also offer an economic option.

The next day delivery options are by 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, or by the end of the day Monday through Friday.

FedEx Economy offers delivery by the end of 1-3 business days Monday through Friday.

 

Royal Mail vs FedEx: Europe

Royal Mail does not have Europe specific services, but their European and international delivery times differ slightly. The table below compares the Royal Mail’s European aspect to FedEx’s European service.

Royal Mail FedEx
Services Delivery Time Cost Services Delivery Time Cost
International Tracked and Signed Aim for end of 3-5 business days Europe First The morning after the withdrawal
International Tracked Aim for end of 3-5 business days Europe Economy By end of day in 2-5 business days
International Signed Aim for end of 3-5 business days International Priority By end of day in 1-2 business days
International Standard Aim for end of 3-5 business days International Economy By end of day in 4 business days
International Economy Aim for end of 10-15 business days

Royal Mail’s international services are also offered in Europe with the reduction of delivery times. These services can be broken down into two economic options and three slightly more costly options based on the delivery needs.

International Tracked aims to complete the delivery by the end of 3-5 business days. This service also provides end to end tracking of the parcel, giving you peace of mind from start to finish.

International Signed aims to hand you the parcel by the end of 3-5 business days as well. The difference with this service is it requires a signature upon the arrival of the package. This is perfect for sensitive parcels that are too important to be left out sitting on the porch.

International Tracked and Signed brings the best of both worlds to the table. Offering end to end tracking on top of the required signature upon arrival. With the same delivery time of 3-5 days this option is very popular and is the most expensive of Royal Mail’s European/international options.

International Standard is the first of the two economic European options. With a goal of delivery in 3-5 business days and no required signature or tracking system, it is a happy middle ground between cost effective and expensive additional services.

International Economy is the most bare bones European service Royal Mail offers. Completion of the package is expected between 10-15 business days with none of the frills of the other services.

FedEX for Europe with the Europe First service ensures a rapid delivery the morning after the collection of the goods. The timeliness of the service does result in a increased price.

Europe Economy, on the other hand, represents the basic shipping service on European territory with delivery within 2-5 working days. These delivery times are more cost-effective.

Royal Mail vs FedEx: International 

The table below lists the international shipping services provided by Royal Mail and FedEx.

Royal Mail FedEx
Services Delivery Time Cost Services Delivery Time Cost
International Tracked and Signed Aim for end of 5-7 business days International Priority By end of 1-2 business days
International Tracked Aim for end of 5-7 business days International Economy By end of 4 business days
International Signed Aim for end of 5-7 business days Ground By end of day in Canada and US
International Standard Aim for end of 5-7 business days Same Day By end of business day in the US
International Economy Aim for end of 6-12 weeks Europe First By 12:00 pm the next business day from withdrawal
Europe Economy By end of 2-5 business days

Royal Mail’s International services are the same as their European services so this section will look very similar to their European services with adjusted longer delivery times, with both economic and more pricey options. 

International Tracked aims to complete the delivery by the end of 5-7 business days. This service also provides end to end tracking of the parcel, giving you peace of mind from start to finish.

International Signed aims to hand you the parcel by the end of 5-7 business days as well. The difference with this service is it requires a signature upon the arrival of the package. This is perfect for sensitive parcels that are too important to be left out sitting on the porch.

International Tracked and Signed brings the best of both worlds to the table. Offering end to end tracking on top of the required signature upon arrival. With the same delivery time of 5-7 days this option is very popular and is the most expensive of Royal Mail’s European/international options.

International Standard is the first of the two economic European options. With a goal of delivery in 5-7 business days and no required signature or tracking system, it is a happy middle ground between cost effective and expensive additional services.

International Economy is the most bare bones European service Royal Mail offers. Completion of the package is expected between 6-12 weeks with none of the frills of the other services.

The International Priority service represents the fastest option for FedEx international shipments. Depending on the destination FedExis able to deliver the goods the next morning in Europe, in a single business day in the US and Canada, and in 2 working days for Latin America.

The same service can be purchased for less cost if you are willing to extend the time of delivery. The International Economy offer follows that one but arrives at your destination in 4 working days.

The FedEx Same Day service,thanks to the widespread distribution network in the US, allows the company to complete shipments on the same day the goods are picked up.

The Ground service is an economic service designed for shipments throughout North America.

Royal Mail Vs FedEx

Royal Mail vs FedEx: Additional Services for E-commerce 

Royal Mail offers a very unique Articles for the Blind option. This additional service will specially ship books, printed materials, letters, relief maps, audio and electronic media, equipment such as magnifiers and mobility aids up t 7 kg all made to aid visually impaired people. They come delivered at a First Class International rate and are very reasonably priced for a service that can spare no expense.

HM Forces Mail offers special discounted prices for delivering mail to The British Forces Post Office. With guaranteed Special Delivery, First Class Signed For, and Royal Mail 1st Class it is the perfect option for staying connected with the men and women serving their country. They deserve the best mails services and this additional service provides that to them.

FedEX is also very attentive to the industrial sector and offers a wide range of support services to improve customer loyalty and satisfaction.

FedEx Office offers other services to businesses including: printing, digital printing, computer rental and internet access.

FedEx has a deposit service at authorized outlets, called Pick up and Drop-off.

Through this service, FedEx customers can receive and send packages from selected stores, manage withdrawals and purchase supplies to be received at the designated point of sale.

Royal Mail vs FedEx

Royal Mail vs FedEx: Reviews and Considerations!

We at ShippyPro operate in the e-commerce sector, especially in the field of online shipments. We are in daily contact with many domestic and international couriers. 

Evaluating all the work of a courier is not an easy task.

The one perfect courier does not exist, however, there are certain couriers that are more suited for the needs of your business. 

In this article we have introduced the main services of both Royal Mail and FedEx, used heavily at a national and international level.

We want to help you choose the ideal logistics partner for your needs, but there are other considerations we need to look at. 

To do this, we will show you the only metric of transparent judgment we have; the reviews of customers who use Royal Mail and FedEx daily to ship domestically and around the globe.

Below are the total reviews of the two couriers formed on the basis of daily feedback from customers.

FedEx vs Royal Mail

Royal Mail vs FedEx: Who do we choose to ship?

At this point you understand how difficult it is to determine which courier is better than another.

It is well known that some carriers work better in some areas than others.

Now, considering that your goal is to provide the best customer service, there is nothing better than trying to enter into a contract with not one, but multiple couriers.

This way you will be able to offer excellent service in every area and every category of product.

Don’t limit yourself to a single shipping service provider

Instead, look to choose different couriers, each for a specific scope, significantly reducing asset management costs.

In fact, each freight forwarder charges very different tariffs in relation to the weight, size, and destination of the goods.

Compare and choose the best carriers for any type of shipping you make!

Comparing all these carriers is a time-consuming process, but there are services for managing the various shippers that can help.

The best way to manage this important decision is to choose a software that automatically compares the prices of different vendors and / or allows you to set shipping rules, saving you time and money.

Sign up for ShippyPro   →

ShippyPro Team

ShippyPro is the complete shipping software for online and offline retail. With Label Creator, Track & Trace, Easy Return and Analytics features, our software simplifies your shipping operations. ShippyPro integrates with over 160 couriers and 80 sales channels, making it compatible with a wide range of products and use cases.