Best Couriers in 2026 as reviewed by Australian consumers

Courier services vs postal services
Services offered by courier companies
Courier price comparison chart
Qualities to look for in your courier

Man transporting boxes in van

Courier services vs postal services

A courier service is a private company which offers shipping services for parcels and important documents. These companies can specialise in same-day shipping or impress you with a wide network of affordable international shipping services.

What is the postal service? They are common to every country and are government-run and funded. Australia’s government-funded postal service is called Australia Post. They typically don’t offer as many or as prompt of service as couriers do, but in turn, they are more affordable.

Australia Post offers very limited services with added weight, item, time and location restrictions. What you’re paying for with a courier service is peace of mind and ample flexibility.

Services offered by courier companies

Here are just some of the things that courier companies offer compared to the postal service:

Convenient delivery times

There are many courier services that can deliver goods within specific time frames should you require it, with many offering same-day deliveries and after-hours services (such as after business hours or on Sundays). Parcel2Courier and North Coast Freight Service are courier services that offer same-day delivery within the limits of a state.

Unlike the postal service, couriers can guarantee delivery, not just on a particular day, but during a precise time slot, making it a popular and convenient option.

Interstate and international shipping

If you need your parcels delivered a bit further out, fret not as courier services can provide interstate and international shipping at competitive prices. These services may also include customs charges as well as insurance coverage.

Tracking

A common feature included in many services is the ability to see and track your parcels in real-time. Alternatively, you might receive mobile and e-mail notifications in instances where the parcel has been picked up, is en route, 1-2 hours away and another alert after it has been delivered. This makes sure you are not left in the dark about where your parcel is. This service also allows the receiver of the packages to know when the package is arriving so they can organise their day accordingly.

Security

Many couriers automatically require a signature from the receiver of the parcel which ensures your package reaches the right person in the right place. The postal service also offers this service at an additional cost.

In addition, many couriers insure your expensive parcels for up to a certain amount for free, and can offer more extensive cover for even more pricey packages. Some may contain an excess fee, so you'll have to cover a portion out of pocket if you make a claim on their insurance. Australia Post offers free insurance for the first $100 in value of your parcel and lets you purchase each subsequent $100 of cover up to $5000 for $2.50.

Customer service

As opposed to the postal service, a private courier company’s main drawing point is its reliability and responsive customer service. Of course, this varies between companies, so make sure you read reviews of customers who have had to contact the courier when something has gone wrong or there has been an issue with their delivery.

Easy pick-up

Do you have heavy boxes to ship and no way to transport them to the local post office during business hours? With a courier service, there’s no complicated paperwork or queues, and they can pick it up straight from your house at a time that’s convenient for you.

Pet transport

A service definitely not offered by the postal service is pet transportation. Pet couriers do offer this service, however, letting you move pets and livestock from one place to another if you move homes or need your animal(s) transported to you from far away.

Is a courier necessary for me?

Ultimately, if you're sending a postcard, letter or package that isn't time-sensitive, then the postal service will do the job just fine. Couriers tend to be more useful for those with more time-sensitive needs, those looking to send something internationally, and those who want the extra features and security and flexibility benefits if they feel like the postal service cannot provide what they need.

Courier price comparison chart

Based on the notion that you wish you transport a 10kg 50x50x50 cm box from Sydney to Melbourne, these are the current prices and times you’d be looking at. All days are business days.

Courier	Price	Time
Australia Post	$58.35	4-6 days
Zoom 2u	$193	2 days
Couriers Please	$66.42	2 days
SmartSend	$46.72	1-2 days
Sendle (for small businesses)	$20.70	2-7 business days

Qualities to look for in your courier

If you’re going to pay more for a courier service, then you should keep an eye out for these particular qualities when reading reviews for different courier companies:

Reliability

Of utmost importance is reliability. Have people reported that their packages arrived damaged, late or never arrived at all? If so, that’s not a great indicator of a reliable courier. Many packages contain important items and need to arrive at specific times, such as for birthdays or anniversaries and you want to know you can trust what your courier is offering.

Limitations

Even though courier services offer a wider range of services than postal, they still have their limitations. Many have weight and size restrictions as well as prohibited items - make sure you find a courier service that aligns with your shipping needs.

Delivery timeliness

One of the main purposes of a courier is that they can deliver items at a very precise time or with speed, so if they are not delivering on this front, it’s best to go with a different company.

Value for money

Take time to do some research and see what prices other courier companies are offering to transport the same items and evaluate if it offers good value for money in comparison.

Pick up and drop off options

Some couriers offer at-home pick-ups and drop-offs, with seamless door-to-door delivery. Otherwise, for a more cost-friendly option, couriers can also deliver between post offices or postal lockers.

Problem resolution

In the case that anything goes wrong, how has this courier service handled it in the past? Take a look at how they treat disgruntled customers and if they offer compensation for any mistakes they have made.

Booking process

One of the best things about using a courier service is that you get to skip the queues and forms at a post office. A courier service with an easy to use and simple booking system can save you time and hassle in the long run.

Tracking & updates

The best part of using a courier service, as opposed to the postal service, is that it can come with a very transparent tracking system that lets you know exactly where your items are at all times. They also offer mobile updates which will notify you when the package is being dispatched and delivered for ultimate peace of mind.

Transparency

Look for a company that states its costs up front instead of surprising you with hidden fees later - finding a company that is transparent with its costs and delivery processes is a big plus.

Customer feedback

How you can find out all this information is by reading up on valuable reviews from other customers to see how they rated this particular courier service. You can read reviews on our website on the best courier postal services in Australia today.

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