USPS Shipping for Autoship Subscriptions on Shopify and WooCommerce 2026
Product Updates

USPS Web Tools API Retirement: What Autoship Merchants Need to Know

Updated: Wednesday January 21st 2026

TL;DR: USPS is retiring their Web Tools API on January 25, 2026. If you’re using USPS Web Tools for shipping rate calculations in Autoship, you need to migrate to our new USPS API integration by mid-January 2026. We’ve already built the solution – you just need to make the switch.

What’s Happening

If you’re an online store and using USPS for shipping orders, then you’ve probably been notified by USPS that they are retiring their old USPS Web Tools API platform and replacing it with the new USPS API. The hard deadline for all sellers and services to stop using Web Tools is January 25, 2026 – after that date, the Web Tools APIs will stop functioning.

USPS has asked all users to their new, modern API platform available through the USPS Developer Portal. This isn’t optional – it’s a mandatory platform migration that affects every business currently using USPS Web Tools.

How This Affects Autoship Merchants

If you’re using USPS Web Tools for shipping rate calculations in Autoship, this impacts you directly. After January 25, 2026, those rate calculations will stop working if you haven’t migrated to the new integration.

Good news: Autoship’s core subscription functionality – Scheduled Orders, billing cycles, customer management – is completely unaffected. This is purely about how we calculate USPS shipping rates for your subscription orders.

Also good news: Label generation APIs (if you’re using those through other platforms) already migrated in July 2024, so that’s handled. This announcement specifically focuses on rate calculation APIs.

What We’ve Built for You

We’ve already completed the integration work with the new USPS API platform. Our development team has built a fully functional replacement that:

  • Delivers the same reliable rate calculations you’re currently getting from Web Tools
  • Removes the Web Tools account requirement – the new integration uses modern USPS API authentication
  • Unlocks additional capabilities that weren’t available in the legacy Web Tools platform
  • Maintains backward compatibility with your existing Autoship configuration and workflows

The new integration is already live in QPilot and ready for merchant migration.

Migration Process: What You Need to Do

The migration is primarily backend configuration, and our Customer Success team is ready to handle this with you directly – often in just a few minutes on a screenshare.

Here’s the process:

  1. Contact our team
    • Email us at customers@qpilot.cloud with “USPS Migration” in subject line
    • OR click the chat button (bottom right of Autoship.cloud) and ask about USPS migration
  2. Schedule a quick screenshare – Our CS team will walk you through setting up the USPS API integration (takes just minutes)
  3. We’ll migrate your existing rates – Once the new USPS API integration is set up, we have an internal process that migrates your existing USPS rates to work with the new API. You can keep using the exact same rates you have now, or this is a great opportunity to review and update them.
  4. Verification before go-live – We’ll confirm everything looks good for both your existing subscribers and new orders as you complete the switch
  5. You’re live – No service interruption, no subscriber impact

Estimated time investment: The screenshare with our CS team typically takes just minutes to set up the USPS API integration. The rate migration happens on our end. Total hands-on time for you is minimal.

Timeline and Deadlines

Here’s what you need to know about timing:

  • NOW: Begin your migration if you’re using USPS Web Tools
  • January 20, 2026: Target completion date – gives you a 5-day buffer before the USPS deadline
  • January 25, 2026: Hard deadline – USPS Web Tools APIs stop functioning
  • After January 25: Any merchant still using Web Tools will experience shipping rate calculation failures

Why migrate now? Even though USPS’s deadline is January 25th, we need time to review your migration, answer questions, and address any edge cases. The earlier you migrate, the more protection you have against service disruption.

What’s Better in the New Integration

Beyond maintaining your current functionality, the new USPS API integration offers improvements:

  • More reliable uptime – Modern API infrastructure with better performance
  • Enhanced rate accuracy – Access to USPS’s latest rate calculation logic
  • Future-ready platform – Built on USPS’s actively maintained API infrastructure
  • Simplified authentication – No more Web Tools account management
  • Additional API capabilities – We can now tap into features that weren’t available in Web Tools

We’re already exploring how to leverage these new capabilities for future Autoship enhancements.

Support and Resources

Need help with migration?

  • Email our support team: customers@qpilot.cloud (use subject line “USPS Migration”)
  • Live chat: Click the chat button in the bottom right corner of Autoship.cloud and mention USPS migration
  • Screenshare support: Schedule a quick call with our CS team to walk through the setup together
  • Rate migration service: We’ll handle migrating your existing USPS rates to the new API, or help you configure new ones
  • Verification: Our team confirms everything works correctly before you go live

Want to understand USPS’s migration in detail?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happens if I don’t migrate by January 25th?

A: Your USPS shipping rate calculations will stop working. Subscription orders won’t be able to calculate accurate USPS rates, which could impact checkout and order processing.

Q: Will this cost me anything?

A: No additional fees from Autoship or QPilot for the new integration. USPS’s API pricing structure is equivalent to Web Tools.

Q: Will my subscribers notice any difference?

A: No – they’ll continue to see accurate USPS shipping rates at checkout. This is a behind-the-scenes platform migration.

Q: Do I need a new USPS account?

A: No, you don’t need a USPS Web Tools account with the new integration. Authentication is handled differently through the modern API.

Q: What if I’m not sure if I’m using USPS Web Tools?

A: Reach out to our support team at customers@qpilot.cloud – we can quickly check your configuration and let you know if you need to migrate.

Q: Can I wait until closer to January 25th?

A: We strongly recommend against it. Migrating early gives you time for our team to review, test, and address any issues before the hard deadline.

Q: What happens to my existing USPS rate configurations?

A: We have an internal process that migrates your existing USPS rates to work with the new API. Once you’ve set up the new USPS API integration (which our CS team can help you do in minutes), we’ll migrate your rates so everything continues working exactly as it does now. You can also take this opportunity to review and update your rates if you’d like.

Q: How long does the migration actually take?

A: It depends on your scenario:

If you’re migrating your existing USPS rates (keeping the same rate configuration you use now):

  • Your hands-on time: Just a few minutes on a screenshare with our CS team to enable the new integration and check a few settings
  • Our review time: ~3 days for our CS team to verify everything looks good with existing subscribers using the new USPS API rates
  • Total timeline: About 3-4 days from start to fully verified

If you’re setting up new USPS rates (changing your rate structure or starting fresh):

  • Time varies depending on your specific rate needs and configuration complexity
  • Good idea to get in touch with our CS team now so we can scope it out and plan accordingly

Either way, the earlier you start, the more buffer you have before the January 25th deadline.

Next Steps

If you’re using USPS Web Tools for shipping rate calculations in Autoship:

  1. Email us today at customers@qpilot.cloud with “USPS Migration” in the subject line (or click the chat button on Autoship.cloud)
  2. We’ll confirm your current setup and send you migration instructions
  3. Schedule a quick screenshare with our CS team to enable the new integration
  4. We’ll handle the rate migration and verify everything works correctly
  5. Test thoroughly before the January 25th deadline

We’ve built the solution, it’s ready to go, and we’re here to support your migration every step of the way.

Questions? Reach out to our team at customers@qpilot.cloud – we’re ready to help.