UPS, short for United Parcel Service, is a global leader in logistics and package delivery services. With a rich history dating back to 1907, UPS has grown into a powerhouse in the industry, serving millions of customers worldwide. In this article, we discuss the top UPS Competitors and Alternatives.
Known for its iconic brown delivery trucks and unparalleled reliability, UPS has become the go-to option for businesses and individuals seeking efficient, timely, and secure shipment solutions.
UPS distinguishes itself in the competitive logistics industry through its broad network across 220+ countries, underpinned by outstanding customer service. Its vast infrastructure enables delivery to remote locations and speedy local services while embracing customer satisfaction with its flexible delivery alternatives, state-of-the-art tracking systems, and reliable support services. UPS is a dominant force in the global package delivery sector with a solid brand reputation and devotion to client requirements.
- Product Type: Courier and local package delivery services, supply chain management solutions, and air cargo delivery services.
- Industry: Logistics and transportation.
- Founded Date: 1907.
- Founders: James E. Casey and Claude Ryan.
- Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
- Area Served: Worldwide.
- Current CEO: Carol B. Tomé.
Table of Contents
The top UPS competitors are
1. FedEx
- Product Type: Courier delivery services
- Industry: Logistics
- Founded Date: 1971
- Founders: Frederick W. Smith
- Headquarters: Memphis, Tennessee, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Frederick W. Smith
FedEx is a courier service giant based in the United States, operating internationally and known for its overnight shipping service and tracking system. It offers various services, including post-delivery, express mail, freight forwarding, third-party logistics, etc. Distinguishing itself with excellent customer service and an efficient delivery system, FedEx is a determinant competitor to UPS in the global market space.
2. DHL
- Product Type: Courier delivery services
- Industry: Logistics
- Founded Date: 1969
- Founders: Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, Robert Lynn
- Headquarters: Bonn, Germany
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: John Pearson
DHL is an international courier, express mail, and parcel service company. It is part of the German logistics company Deutsche Post DHL Group, one of the world’s leading logistics companies. DHL provides solutions for almost infinite logistics needs, offering international express mail services and operating worldwide, making it the biggest shipping company and a prominent competitor to UPS.
3. United States Postal Service (USPS)
- Product Type: Postal services
- Industry: Postal services
- Founded Date: July 1, 1971
- Founders: Benjamin Franklin
- Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
- Area Served: United States
- Current CEO: Louis DeJoy
United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent government agency that provides postal services in the United States. It operates a massive network, offering nationwide mail and package delivery services to residences and businesses. USPS is a competitive player in the logistics industry due to its affordability and accessibility.
4. TNT Express
- Product Type: Courier delivery services
- Industry: Logistics
- Founded Date: 1946
- Founders: Ken Thomas
- Headquarters: Hoofddorp, Netherlands
- Area Served: Worldwide
TNT Express is an international courier and express services company headquartered in the Netherlands. It offers door-to-door shipping to more than 200 countries, specializing in solutions for customers who must send express parcels, packages, or documents. As a significant player in European markets, TNT Express is a strong competitor to UPS.
5. XPO Logistics
- Product Type: Logistics and transportation services
- Industry: Logistics
- Founded Date: 1989
- Founders: Michael Welch
- Headquarters: Greenwich, Connecticut, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Bradley Jacobs
XPO Logistics is a top-tier global provider of transportation and logistics services. It offers customized solutions in less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping, freight brokerage, last-mile logistics, and more. With a vast network covering 30 countries, XPO Logistics is a formidable competitor to UPS.
6. Purolator
- Product Type: Courier delivery services
- Industry: Logistics
- Founded Date: 1960
- Founders: Canadian Pacific Railway
- Headquarters: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Area Served: Canada
- Current CEO: John Ferguson
Purolator is a leading express courier company based in Canada. It offers freight, parcel, and logistics services across Canada and internationally. It has built a reputation for reliability and quality of service, making it a significant player in the Canadian market and a viable competitor to UPS.
7. Amazon Logistics
- Product Type: Courier delivery services
- Industry: Logistics
- Founded Date: 2015
- Founders: Jeff Bezos
- Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Jeff Bezos
Amazon Logistics is a courier delivery arm of the e-commerce giant Amazon. It handles the delivery of goods purchased on the Amazon platform, utilizing advanced technology and leveraging Amazon’s extensive network to deliver goods quickly and reliably. With its customer-centric focus and rapidly growing operations, Amazon Logistics is a thriving competitor to UPS.
8. Deutsche Post
- Product Type: Postal services
- Industry: Postal services
- Founded Date: 1995
- Founders: German government
- Headquarters: Bonn, Germany
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Frank Appel
Deutsche Post is a German courier company and international express mail service. It’s the world’s largest logistics and shipping company, operating worldwide, and serves customers in more than 220 countries. Being an integral part of the global mail and logistics group Deutsche Post DHL, it remains a formidable competitor to UPS.
9. Blue Dart Express
- Product Type: Courier and logistics services
- Industry: Courier and logistics
- Founded Date: 1983
- Founders: Tushar Jani
- Headquarters: Mumbai, India
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Balfour Manuel
Blue Dart Express is a premier courier and integrated express package distribution company based in India. It offers secure and reliable delivery of consignments to over 220 countries globally. With a robust presence in South Asian markets, Blue Dart Express is a pivotal competitor to UPS.
10. General Logistics Systems (GLS)
- Product Type: Courier and logistics services
- Industry: Courier and logistics
- Founded Date: 1999
- Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Area Served: Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific
- Current CEO: Ivan Hofmann
General Logistics Systems (GLS) is a Dutch parcel and express service company providing high-quality delivery services across Europe. The company is committed to reliability and excellence and serves both B2B and B2C segments. Given its widespread European network, GLS poses substantial competitive pressure on UPS.
11. DPDgroup
- Product Type: Courier and logistics services
- Industry: Courier and logistics
- Founded Date: 1976
- Headquarters: Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
- Area Served: Europe, Asia, and Africa
- Current CEO: Boris Winkelmann
DPDgroup is a leading international parcel delivery network. Based in France, the company offers express mail delivery and logistics services, both domestically and internationally. It stands firm in the European market, thus making it a sturdy competitor against UPS.
12. C.H. Robinson
- Product Type: Transportation and logistics services
- Industry: Transportation and logistics
- Founded Date: 1905
- Founders: Charles Henry Robinson
- Headquarters: Eden Prairie, Minnesota, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Bob Biesterfeld
C.H. Robinson is a renowned Fortune 500 transportation and third-party logistics company in the United States. They provide a variety of freight transportation, logistics, and supply chain management services worldwide. Their strong network makes them a significant competitor to UPS.
13. Geodis
- Product Type: Transportation and logistics services
- Industry: Transportation and logistics
- Founded Date: 1904
- Headquarters: Levallois-Perret, France
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Marie-Christine Lombard
Geodis is a global supply chain operator based in France, making it one of the world’s leading freight forwarding companies. Their comprehensive services range from supply chain optimization to overland transport. This broad portfolio of services positions Geodis as a noteworthy competitor to UPS.
14. Kuehne + Nagel
- Product Type: Transportation and logistics services
- Industry: Transportation and logistics
- Founded Date: 1890
- Founders: August Kühne and Friedrich Nagel
- Headquarters: Schindellegi, Switzerland
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Detlef Trefzger
Kuehne + Nagel is a global transport and logistics company based in Switzerland. It provides sea and air freight, airfreight forwarding, contract logistics, and overland businesses focusing on high value-added segments such as IT-based integrated logistics solutions. With operations in over 100 countries, it proves to be a substantial competitor to UPS.
15. Royal Mail
- Product Type: Postal services
- Industry: Postal services
- Founded Date: 1516
- Founders: Henry VIII
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Area Served: United Kingdom
- Current CEO: Simon Thompson
Royal Mail is a postal service and courier company in the United Kingdom, operating domestically and internationally. As one of the oldest postal services in the world, it offers a range of mail, parcel, and digitization services, making it a firm competitor to UPS.
16. Aramex
- Product Type: Logistics and transportation services
- Industry: Logistics and transportation
- Founded Date: 1982
- Founders: Fadi Ghandour
- Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Bashar Obeid
Aramex is an international express, mail delivery, and logistics services company based in Dubai. They provide various solutions, including international and domestic express delivery, freight forwarding, logistics and inventory management, warehousing, records and information management, e-commerce solutions, and online shopping services, contributing to its competitive prowess against UPS.
17. CEVA Logistics
- Product Type: Logistics and transportation services
- Industry: Logistics and transportation
- Founded Date: 2007
- Headquarters: Marseille, France
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Mathieu Friedberg
CEVA Logistics is a global logistics and supply chain solutions company in both freight management and contract logistics with USD 7 billion in revenues. Their operational centers are located in Mumbai and Singapore, and have a significant presence worldwide. CEVA Logistics’ broad reach and comprehensive services make it a serious competitor to UPS.
18. China Post
- Product Type: Postal and courier services
- Industry: Postal and courier services
- Founded Date: 1949
- Headquarters: Beijing, China
- Area Served: China and worldwide
- Current CEO: Li Xiong
China Post is China’s state-owned postal service, delivering mail, parcels, and essential documents domestically and internationally. With a vast network across China’s vast expanse and beyond and a strong reputation for timely service in Asia, China Post is a considerable competitor of UPS in the region.
19. Japan Post
- Product Type: Postal and courier services
- Industry: Postal and courier services
- Founded Date: 1871
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
- Area Served: Japan and worldwide
- Current CEO: Hiroya Masuda
Japan Post is a Japanese multinational conglomerate that operates postal services and a banking system in Japan. They provide reliable international logistics and financial services, which makes them prime players among logistics providers in the market and competitors to UPS.
20. Canada Post
- Product Type: Postal and courier services
- Industry: Postal and courier services
- Founded Date: 1867
- Headquarters: Ottawa, Canada
- Area Served: Canada and worldwide
- Current CEO: Doug Ettinger
Canada Post is a crown corporation of the federal government that functions as the primary postal operator in Canada. They provide innovative physical and electronic delivery solutions, profiting individual customers and businesses nationwide. Given its dominance in the Canadian market, Canada Post presents apparent competition to UPS.
21. SF Express
- Product Type: Logistics and transportation services
- Industry: Logistics and transportation
- Founded Date: 1993
- Founders: Wang Wei
- Headquarters: Shenzhen, China
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Wang Wei
SF Express is a leading courier service company in China, recognized for its innovation in providing package delivery and logistic services. Offering domestic and international express delivery solutions, logistics, and supply chain management, SF Express stands as a strong contender against UPS, especially in the vast Chinese market.
22. YRC Worldwide
- Product Type: Logistics and transportation services
- Industry: Logistics and transportation
- Founded Date: 1924
- Founders: A.J. Harrell, C.H. Robinson, and others
- Headquarters: Overland Park, Kansas, United States
- Area Served: North America
- Current CEO: Darren Hawkins
YRC Worldwide is a holding company for several successful freight companies in the United States. Its primary businesses focus on shipping industrial, commercial, and retail goods throughout North America. Through its extensive service range, it is a notable competitor for UPS in this geographical segment.
23. DB Schenker
- Product Type: Logistics and transportation services
- Industry: Logistics and transportation
- Founded Date: 2002
- Headquarters: Essen, Germany
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Jochen Thewes
DB Schenker is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG that focuses on logistic services. The company, which operates worldwide, offers land, air, and ocean freight, contract logistics, and supply chain management services. Thanks to its global reach and varied services, DB Schenker is a growing competitor to UPS.
24. DTDC
- Product Type: Logistics and transportation services
- Industry: Logistics and transportation
- Founded Date: 1990
- Founders: Subhasish Chakraborty
- Headquarters: Bangalore, India
- Area Served: India and worldwide
- Current CEO: Abhishek Chakraborty
DTDC is an Indian delivery and logistics company providing domestic and international shipping services. It offers a range of services from courier and freight to warehousing solutions. With its dominant presence in South Asia, DTDC is a primary competitor to UPS.
25. TCI Express
- Product Type: Logistics and transportation services
- Industry: Logistics and transportation
- Founded Date: 2008
- Founders: D.P. Agarwal
- Headquarters: Gurugram, India
- Area Served: India
- Current CEO: Chander Agarwal
TCI Express is an Indian courier and delivery services company operating on a door-to-door pickup and delivery platform. It provides easy and quick parcel booking, loading, transit, and delivery services. Standing firm on Indian soil, TCI Express is a key competitor to UPS in the country.
26. Mainfreight
- Product Type: Logistics and transportation services
- Industry: Logistics and transportation
- Founded Date: 1978
- Founders: Bruce Plested
- Headquarters: Auckland, New Zealand
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Don Braid
Mainfreight is a global logistics and forwarding company headquartered in New Zealand. It offers managed warehousing and international and domestic freight forwarding. Given its comprehensive services and international reach, Mainfreight is a substantial competitor to UPS.
27. DSV Freight Forwarding
- Product Type: Logistics and transportation services
- Industry: Logistics and transportation
- Founded Date: 1976
- Founders: Leif Tullberg, Kurt Larsen, and Benny Andersen
- Headquarters: Hedehusene, Denmark
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Jens Bjørn Andersen
DSV Freight Forwarding is a Danish transport and logistics company offering transport services globally by road, air, sea, and train. Its vast range of comprehensive, efficient services makes it an imposing competitor against UPS in the marketplace.
28. PostNL
- Product Type: Postal and courier services
- Industry: Postal and courier services
- Founded Date: 2002
- Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands
- Area Served: Netherlands and worldwide
- Current CEO: Herna Verhagen
PostNL is the premier provider of postal and parcel services in the Netherlands, also operating in the rest of the world. They play a crucial role in delivering and shipping parcels in the Netherlands, forming a critical competition to UPS in the region.
29. Singapore Post
- Product Type: Postal and courier services
- Industry: Postal and courier services
- Founded Date: 1819
- Founders: Stamford Raffles
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Area Served: Singapore and worldwide
- Current CEO: Paul Coutts
Singapore Post (SingPost) is an associated company of Singtel and is Singapore’s designated Public Postal Licensee. It offers mail and logistics services, providing a crucial communications link across the city-state. Its local dominance in Singapore renders it a prominent challenger to UPS in that area.
30. Expeditors
- Product Type: Logistics and transportation services
- Industry: Logistics and transportation
- Founded Date: 1979
- Founders: Peter Rose
- Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Jeffrey Musser
Expeditors is a US-based global logistics and freight forwarding company providing a full range of services like cargo handling, supply chain optimization, and distribution. Their world-class logistics strategies and innovative solutions will make them a significant competitor to UPS.
These were all the competitors of UPS. If you know any other competitors, please do write in the comments below.
Liked this post? Check out the complete series on Competitors
