What is Shopify Carrier Calculated Shipping (CCS) and Why Do Apps Need It?

If you've started exploring advanced shipping solutions for your Shopify store, like Better Shipping, you've likely encountered a key requirement: Carrier Calculated Shipping (CCS), sometimes referred to as Real-Time Carrier Shipping.

This term can be confusing. Does it mean you have to show live rates from FedEx or UPS? Do you need it even if you only want to set up custom flat rates or per-product charges? Why is it required by so many third-party shipping apps?

Let's demystify Carrier Calculated Shipping so you understand what it is, why it's necessary, and how to ensure your store has it enabled.

What is Carrier Calculated Shipping (CCS)?

Think of CCS as Shopify's gateway for external shipping rate calculations. It's a feature built into the Shopify platform that allows third-party applications (like Better Shipping, or even direct carrier integrations) to dynamically calculate shipping rates and display them to your customers during checkout.

Without CCS enabled, your Shopify checkout can only display the rates you configure directly within Shopify's own shipping settings (basic flat rates, price-based rates, or weight-based rates).

Key Point: CCS is the mechanism that allows any app outside of Shopify's core settings to provide shipping rate options at checkout.

Why Do Apps Like Better Shipping Require CCS?

Advanced shipping apps like Better Shipping don't just use live carrier rates (in fact, Better Shipping doesn't connect to live carrier APIs like USPS/FedEx). Instead, they perform complex calculations based on the rules you define within the app (per-product rates, zip code restrictions, tiered pricing, conditional logic, etc.).

However, for the results of these custom calculations to actually appear as selectable options for your customer at checkout, Shopify requires the CCS feature to be active on your store's plan. CCS acts as the necessary bridge or API endpoint allowing Better Shipping (or any third-party calculator) to inject its calculated rates into the Shopify checkout process.

In simple terms: No CCS = No way for Better Shipping rates to show up at checkout.

Which Shopify Plans Include CCS? How Do I Get It?

This is where plan tiers become important:

• Shopify Basic Plan: CCS is not available on the Basic Shopify plan. Unfortunately, if you are on this plan, you cannot use apps like Better Shipping that require CCS.
• Shopify Plan: CCS is not included by default. However, you can add it in one of two ways:
  • Pay Annually: If you switch your Shopify plan subscription from monthly to annual billing, Shopify Support will typically add the CCS feature to your plan for free upon request.
  • Monthly Add-on: You can contact Shopify Support and ask to add CCS to your monthly Shopify plan for an additional fee (historically around $20/month, but check with Shopify for current pricing).
• Advanced Shopify Plan: CCS is included by default.
• Shopify Plus Plan: CCS is included by default.

How to Check/Request CCS:

The easiest way is to contact Shopify Support directly through your Shopify Admin dashboard. Ask them if Carrier Calculated Shipping is active on your account. If you're on the Shopify plan and it's not active, inquire about adding it either by switching to annual billing or as a monthly add-on.

Common Confusion: "But I Don't Want Live Carrier Rates!"

This is a frequent point of confusion. Many merchants think CCS is only for showing live, real-time quotes from carriers like UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc. While CCS enables that functionality, it's not its only purpose.

You need CCS enabled even if you only plan to use Better Shipping to set up:

• Custom flat rates based on complex rules
• Per-product or per-variant shipping charges
• Tiered shipping discounts
• Zip code restricted rates
• Any combination of rules calculated within the Better Shipping app.

Again, CCS is the required Shopify mechanism for any third-party app to display any calculated rate at checkout.

What Happens if CCS Isn't Enabled?

If you install and configure Better Shipping but don't have CCS active on your Shopify plan, the rates you set up in our app simply will not appear during checkout. Your customers will only see the default rates configured in your main Shopify shipping settings (or potentially a "no rates available" message if no default rates match).

The Key to Advanced Shipping Control

Think of Carrier Calculated Shipping as the key that unlocks the door to truly flexible and powerful shipping configurations on Shopify. While it might seem like an extra hoop to jump through, enabling CCS is the essential first step to leveraging advanced apps like Better Shipping to:

• Reduce cart abandonment caused by poor shipping options.
• Protect your profit margins with accurate rates.
• Offer sophisticated local delivery or regional pricing.
• Implement creative shipping promotions.

Before installing Better Shipping, confirm your Shopify plan includes or allows adding Carrier Calculated Shipping. Contact Shopify Support if you're unsure or need to enable it. Once CCS is active, you're ready to unlock advanced shipping control!

Ready to set up advanced rules? Install Better Shipping. (Free in test mode)