Australia Post and StarTrack run on the same Australia Post network, but they suit different parcels: AusPost wins on small, light DTC parcels, PO box delivery, regional reach and international, while StarTrack is the stronger pick for bulky, heavy and B2B freight into metro and business addresses. Most stores end up using both and choosing per order.
Here's the part that confuses people first: StarTrack is owned by Australia Post. They're not really rivals, they're two product ranges off one platform. You can hold accounts for both, sometimes lodge through related channels, and see them sitting side by side in the same software. The question isn't "who's better" in the abstract. It's "which one fits this parcel, to this address, today".
The short version
Reach for Australia Post when:
- The parcel is small and light (think apparel, cosmetics, small homewares).
- You're shipping to PO boxes, parcel lockers, or regional and remote addresses.
- You need letters, large letters, or anything that should land in a residential mailbox.
- You ship internationally and need customs handling.
Reach for StarTrack when:
- The parcel is bulky or heavy (furniture, cartons, multi-piece consignments).
- You're delivering to businesses or metro addresses where someone can sign.
- You want signature on delivery and proof of delivery as the default.
- It's domestic only — StarTrack doesn't do international.
Service levels and speed
Australia Post's everyday parcel products are Parcel Post (standard) and Express Post (next-business-day within the Express network). You buy them through MyPost Business for low volume or eParcel once you're shipping enough to want contract rates and bulk manifesting.
StarTrack's range leans toward Premium (faster, signature-normed) and road express (cost-effective for heavier freight where a day or two extra is fine). Because it's built around business delivery, StarTrack handles oversized and palletised freight more comfortably than the standard parcel stream does.
Speed depends as much on the lane as the brand. Express Post into a capital city is quick; the same label to a remote postcode isn't. Always check the specific origin-to-destination estimate rather than trusting the product name.
Tracking, signature and authority to leave
Both give you tracking, and because StarTrack data flows into the Australia Post tracking ecosystem, your customers usually get a familiar experience either way. The behavioural difference is at the doorstep.
AusPost parcels commonly default to authority to leave for residential delivery (safe-drop), with signature as an add-on — good for getting first-time delivery success at homes where nobody's in. StarTrack, being B2B-leaning, more often treats signature and proof of delivery as the norm, which is what you want for high-value or contested deliveries. Confirm the exact default and add-on rules for your account — they vary by product and contract.
Side by side
| Australia Post | StarTrack | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small light DTC parcels, residential, PO boxes, regional | Bulky/heavy parcels, B2B, metro, signature freight |
| Parcel sweet spot | Letters through to medium parcels | Larger and heavier parcels, cartons, freight |
| Speed options | Parcel Post (standard), Express Post (priority/overnight in network) | Premium (faster, signature) and road express (economy) |
| Signature / ATL | ATL common for residential, signature optional | Signature + POD often the default |
| International | Yes, with CN22/CN23 customs | Domestic only |
| Account model | MyPost Business or eParcel (your own account) | Your own StarTrack account / contract |
You generally bring your own account
For real volume you'll hold your own accounts and your own negotiated rates — an eParcel/MyPost Business account on the AusPost side and a StarTrack account for the freight side. Reputable shipping software doesn't resell postage on top; it plugs into the account you already have and prints against your contract. So the rate you see is your rate, not a markup.
If you're weighing this up as part of a bigger platform decision, our guide to the best fulfilment platforms in Australia covers how the carrier question fits the broader stack.
Most stores use both
This isn't really an either/or. A homewares store might send a single candle via Parcel Post, a dinner set via Express Post, and a coffee table via StarTrack — all in the same morning. The smart move is to decide per order, on price and speed, at pack time rather than locking every parcel into one carrier by habit.
That's where live rate quoting earns its keep. Software that quotes both carriers live at the bench lets the packer see AusPost and StarTrack options together and pick the cheapest one that meets the promised delivery date, instead of guessing. If trimming the postage bill is the goal, it pairs well with the basics in reduce shipping costs on Shopify in Australia.
The takeaway
AusPost and StarTrack aren't competitors to choose between once and forget. Light, residential, regional and international parcels lean AusPost; heavy, bulky, metro and B2B freight leans StarTrack. Hold an account with each, and let the parcel decide. The only real mistake is sending everything one way because that's how the account got set up on day one.