Shopify Fulfillment Network (SFN) is a managed service that stores and ships your Shopify orders using Shopify's warehouse partners. It is simple to set up and integrates natively with the Shopify admin.
Independent 3PLs offer more flexibility — you can run Amazon FBA, Walmart WFS, and Shopify fulfillment from the same inventory pool, which SFN does not support natively.
Cost comparison depends on your average order size, SKU count, and required speed. SFN has competitive rates for standard Shopify direct-to-consumer orders. Independent 3PLs often win on cost for multi-channel operations.
For brands with significant FBA volume alongside Shopify, an independent 3PL that handles both is usually the more efficient choice — one inbound shipment, one prep workflow, multiple dispatch channels.