Have you ever needed to send something to a distant location? Such as a gift for your grandma, right? Or products for your business? That is when the courier companies come in handy. In short, they are nothing but the delivery superheroes of packages across the globe. They just buzz around this country to ensure that your things are where they are supposed to be.
Now, choosing the Best Courier Companies In India is much like choosing that perfect ice cream flavor: Therefore, one can choose from a wide variety of options. But not to worry, we’re there to have you make your pick. India can be summed up as one huge playing area and these indian courier companies are some of the clever ‘runners’ in a game of ‘it’ ensuring that parcels reach from city to city as swiftly and securely as possible. Cool, right?
Well, we have tried our sleuthing for you and are happy to present the 15 best courier companies in India. These are the champions of this game, and most of the time they are renowned for their speed in the delivery. They are probably the all-star team of package delivery.
What To Look While Choosing A Courier Service?
- Where you’re shipping: While some courier services in India are best locally, others are great statewide, nationwide, or worldwide. You will want to select one that can deliver your destination reliably.
- Speed: This may range from delivery on the same day to several days or weeks. If you need to get something somewhere fast, you are going to want to use a service that provides faster delivery options. In most cases, faster means more expensive.
- Package size and weight: Available courier services depend on the size and weight of the package. Some are better suitable for smaller packages, while others can carry large or heavy items. Size and weight are both big factors that will change the price.
- How much money do you want to spend? The prices of courier services may differ dramatically. If your budget is minimal, you’ll probably have to opt for a slower or more basic service. If the prices aren’t too much of an issue with you, you can splurge into the faster or more premium services.
- If you need extra things: Sometimes, a courier company offers some extra things, which may come in handy:
- Cash on delivery: Payment when sending and upon shipment delivery to the customer.
- Return of pick-up: In case the item is to be returned, the courier undertakes to collect it from the addressee.
- Package tracking: The service in which one can follow just where one’s package is at the point of delivery.
Insurance: Services responsible for sending something costly might also provide insurance.
Suggested Read: How to Start a Startup in India
List of Top 15 Courier Companies in India
1. Blue Dart Express
Blue Dart Express is one of the oldest and leading courier companies in India for domestic, and it has strong pillars of reliability and speed. This company has been in the business for over thirty years and has a strong network of over 36000 locations in India and it has service reach to over 220 countries in the world.
The strengths of Blue Dart are also the timely deliveries and the prices that are more or less standard in this line of business. They do have a price finder tool on their website for the shipping cost which depends on the weight of the package; quite easy to use. To that extent, that kind of transparency has assisted in cementing their popularity with individual and business customers.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
- They have a network of over 36,000 centers in India to which they make their deliveries.
- They also deliver in over 220 countries in the world.
- They are very popular for the timely delivery of packages.
- Their charges are based on the weight of your parcel
- You can get a price quote established over their website
- They are also very much aware of the policies concerning shipment
Company Details:
- Founded In: 1983
- Founder: Ketan L. Dalal
- Headquarters: Mumbai, India
- Website:www.bluedart.com
2. DTDC Courier Service
DTDC is an acronym for Desk to Desk Courier and it is a courier company that is based in Bangalore, India and it is one of the largest courier firms. The firm was incorporated as a private limited company in the year 1990. Since then, DTDC has grown very fast in the subsequent years and has become one of the largest logistic firms operating PAN India.
It has associate members located in more than 12500 PIN codes all over India and 240 countries in the world. The company functions on the basis of a network that has more than 11,000 franchise points; it means that DTDC can offer the last-mile connectivity regardless of the type of landscape.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
- It began at Bangalore in 1990
- Over 11 000 sites worldwide
- Delivering across 240 countries
- Alone, they represent more than 12,000 areas in India.
- They have adequate technology to track the packages.
- It is also worth informing the customer on the website where the package is.
Company Details:
- Founded In: 1990
- Founder: Subhasish Chakraborty
- Headquarters: Bangalore, India
- Website:www.dtdc.in
3. Delhivery
Delhivery was founded in 2011 and is fast emerging as one of the finest logistics and supply chain solution providers in India. In a dominant presence of almost more than a decade, it has established itself as one of the differentiators and important players in the Indian e-commerce and logistics field that shines with innovation and technology solutions.
Its core competencies lie in providing an integrated set of logistics solutions for both B2B and B2C markets. Delhivery has services available to each segment of the supply chain express parcel delivery, LTL and FTL freight, reverse logistics, cross-border services, fulfillment services, and technology services.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
- They deliver not in India alone but also to other countries
- They hold big storage centers of 85 in number
- They have more than 3,000 delivery locations
- Its prices are affordable and vary by weight
- It has effective return and cash-on-delivery policies
- It provides the services of same-day and next-day delivery
Company Details:
- Founded In: 2011
- Founder: Sahil Barua, Suraj Saharan, and others
- Headquarters: Gurgaon, India
- Website:www.delhivery.com
4. IndiaPost
IndiaPost, more formally known as the Department of Posts, represents India’s national postal service and is deeply entrenched with a rich history dating back more than two hundred years. Established in 1854 has formed the backbone of communication and parcel delivery in India, joining even the most far-flung corners of the country together.
By itself, IndiaPost is one of the largest postal networks globally. It has phenomenal reach in India with more than 155,000 post offices working across the country and a strong presence in the rural parts of the country that most courier services are unable to break into. This forms an excellent network that makes IndiaPost relevant in the logistics scene in India.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
- People trust it for sending documents and items of importance.
- They have a very huge network within India
- They now offer special services for online shopping businesses
- They have facilities to handle big and small shipments
- They offer storage and distribution services
- You can trace your package in real-time
Company Details:
- Founded In: 1854
- Founder: Government of India
- Headquarters: Delhi, India
- Website:www.indiapost.gov.in
5. DHL Shipping Service
DHL is the logistics wing of Deutsche Post DHL Group and globally one of the leading companies in its industry, with a strong presence in India. Branded in yellow and red, DHL came to India in 1979 and built quite a prominent position in the shipping and logistics sector.
DHL offers domestic and international shipping services, covering all the requirements for the services in India. Their service portfolio includes express delivery, freight transportation, supply chain solutions, and e-commerce logistics. The global network across more than 220 countries and territories builds trust for international shipment handling.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
- They operate in more than 220 countries
- They deliver to more than 26,000 areas in India
- They handle every kind of shipment, from small parcels to large trucks
- They have storage facilities and offer distribution
- They work hard on being “green” and reducing wastage
Company Details:
- Founded In: 1969
- Founder: Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, and Robert Lynn
- Headquarters: Bonn, Germany
- Website:www.dhl.com
Suggested Read: Best Dropshipping Products for 2024
6. UPS Parcel Service
United Parcel Service is a company that operates one of the largest shipping and logistic business groups worldwide, established in the year 1907. Headquartered in the United States, UPS forms a major presence in India, providing all forms of domestic and international shipping mechanisms.
UPS came to India in the year 1985 and has since grown to be a reliable player in the logistics space in India. All UPS operations in India form part of the UPS Asia Pacific network. Thereby, customers from any part of India manage to connect seamlessly to global markets.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
- They have been in business for more than 100 years;
- They offer domestic and International Shipping
- Well-trained and experienced staff.
- They are well-versed with the international trade practices
- They strive to satisfy the customers through good service
Company Details:
- Founded In: 1907
- Founder: James E. Casey
- Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Website:www.ups.com
7. Gati
Gati Limited first flagged its operations in 1989 and is one of India’s early forerunners of Express Distribution and Supply Chain Solutions. Grew up from its origination roots at Hyderabad, Gati, today stands astound as one of the top-notch Indian Logistics Companies due to its extensive network and diversified portfolio of services.
Gati has the strong point that it has a very wide reach in the Indian market. The company services over 19,800 pin codes in India, reaching approximately 99% of the country’s districts. This vast network enables Gati to extend effective last-mile delivery to even the remotest and least accessible areas.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
- They were established in 1989
- They effect order delivery in the shortest period possible
- They have a number of options for online stores
- All cash on delivery is welcome
- They can pick up consignments from the warehouse
Company Details:
- Founded In: 1989
- Founder: Mahendra Agarwal
- Headquarters: Mumbai, India
- Website:www.gati.com
8. Xpressbees
Established in the year 2015, Xpressbees is a relatively new entrant into the listed courier companies In India, but within this short period, it has expanded aggressively to emerge more so as a significant player in the e-commerce logistics space. Conceived as the logistics arm of FirstCry, a premier ecommerce portal for baby and children’s products, the company transformed itself into an independent entity serving a varied customer base.
Xpressbees’ capability and focus on technology-driven operations remain the key strengths of the company. The company has built in-house technology solutions powering various logistics services—all the way from managing warehouses up to the last mile of delivery. This focus has contributed to the efficiency and reliability of its operations.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
- Coverage of 8,500 pin codes across India
- Super quick and economical delivery
- Same day, next day delivery
- They can gather the return merchandise
- Most e-tailers use them as vendors
Company Details:
- Founded In: 2015
- Founder: Supam Maheshwari and Abhishek Deshpande
- Headquarters: Pune, India
- Website:www.xpressbees.com
9. FedEx
FedEx is an abbreviation of Federal Express. It is one of the largest logistics courier companies internationally and operating from as early as 1997. In this case, therefore, FedEx is in a position to enable Indians to access its international expertise and well over global network.
In India, FedEx provides all the services needed for the national and international shipping of goods. Among the various services extended by them, express delivery, freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and supply chain solutions are important. At this point, FedEx most certainly takes an advantage over the other companies by all standards in all terms when it comes to international shipments out of India, since it is connected to more than 220 countries and territories in the world by its international network.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
- They make shipping easy, especially for online businesses.
- They can ship a variety of items, including heavy and fragile items
- Fast shipping options are available
- Cash-on-delivery services are handled
- They’ll get products delivered to the customers quickly enough
Company Details:
- Founded In: 1971
- Founder: Frederick W. Smith
- Headquarters: Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Website:www.fedex.com
10. Aramex
Itprovides the best courier service in India for international. At Aramex, we make shipping very easy. Aramex provides several services to businesses and individual customers in India, such as express delivery services, both domestic and international; freight forwarding; logistics and supply chain solutions; and e-commerce express services.
With its global network covering more than 65 countries, the company ensures that businesses will not have difficulty handling international trade by providing streamlining cross-border logistics solutions to be the preferred choice.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
- It offers door-to-door delivery.
- They provide same-day delivery services.
- They make returns so easy by providing pickup at the user’s convenience.
- You can book their services online.
- They offer real-time shipment tracking updates.
Company Details:
- Founded In: 1982
- Founder: Fadi Ghandour
- Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Website:www.aramex.com
11. Safexpress Shipping Service
Safexpress was established in 1997 and, over time, has become one of the largest logistics and supply chain companies in India. From its headquarters in New Delhi, Safexpress has created a brand of dependable and effective delivery services across the country. Network coverage remains one of the critical strengths of Safexpress. The company has its strong presence in over 28,000 pin codes across the country, even in remote and inaccessible areas.
This widespread coverage is captured through the back of a fleet strength of over 10,000 vehicles and several strategically placed en-route logistics parks to ensure unmatched connectivity along the length and breadth of the country.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
- They are more than two decades old.
- They deliver to over 28,000 locations in India
- Their trucks are fitted with special devices to track packages
- They secure the best and fastest routes for delivery
- They ensure they have proof of delivered packages
- They have become a favorite for online enterprises
Company Details:
- Founded In: 1997
- Founder: Dilip Modi
- Headquarters: Delhi, India
- Website:www.safexpress.com
12. Ekart Logistics
Ekart Logistics is the logistics arm of Flipkart. They started off in 2009 and have, since then, emerged as a serious player in the Indian logistic landscape for e-commerce. It was created in the beginning only to look after the delivery needs of Flipkart.
One of the greatest strengths of Ekart lies in its deep understanding of e-commerce logistics. With a growth story mirrored closely by Flipkart, one of India’s largest e-retail platforms, Ekart cultivated specialized capabilities to handle the challenges of online retail logistics. This includes handling huge orders, peak sale periods, and returns and exchanges.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
- They started operations in 2009
- Passionate about their customer service levels
- Use state-of-the-art technology
- They can offer many other services apart from the delivery alone.
- They can do product demonstrations and returns.
Company Details:
- Founded In: 2009
- Founder: Flipkart (Ekart is a logistics arm of Flipkart)
- Headquarters: Bangalore, India
- Website:www.ekartlogistics.com
13. Shadowfax
Incorporated in 2015, Shadowfax is currently among India’s biggest last-mile delivery and logistics companies. This Bangalore-based company has been ingenious right from its incorporation in finding a solution in the area of hyperlocal deliveries and in its effort at local delivery partner empowerment.
Perhaps the most important strength concerning Shadowfax has to do with crowdsourced delivery; they are able to build a network of more than 100,000 delivery partners across the length and breadth of the country, which enables flexibility and scalability in the model. This model makes it easier to handle fluctuations in demand, especially during peak shopping seasons or promotional events.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
- They specialize in handling returns;
- They do next-day delivery between cities;
- They facilitate same-day delivery within cities.
- They verify the product quality right at your gate
- They excel at ensuring each delivery of good form
Company Details:
- Founded In: 2015
- Founder: Abhishek Bansal and Raghunandan G
- Headquarters: Bangalore, India
- Website:www.shadowfax.in
14. The Professional Couriers
Established in 1987, The Professional Couriers stands as one of the founding and leading courier companies in India. It is headquartered in Mumbai, and thanks to its provision of quality and timely delivery of parcels over the years, it has earned it quite a reputable name in the scene.
The major strength of The Professional Couriers seems to be the vast geographical network coverage. It encompasses more than 40,000 urban and rural locations within India’s environs. This is then substantiated by the network of more than 1,500 offices and a huge fleet of vehicles to complete their nationwide delivery services.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
- They have over 1,000 locations in the country
- They are trusted by leading corporations and government departments
- They employ more than 20,000 employees
- They are reputed for serving a host of customer types—from schools to banks
Company Details:
- Founded In: 1987
- Founder: K. S. J. K. K. K. S. Rajan
- Headquarters: Chennai, India
- Website:www.theprofessionalcouriers.com
15. Ecom Express
Ecom Express was formed in 2012 and has risen extremely rapidly, only within a few years, to become a stalwart in the growing e-commerce logistics space of the country. Headquartered in Gurugram, this company has earned recognition for its mainstream vision of offering customized logistics solutions to the fast-growing online retail industry in India.
Among the strengths of Ecom Express is that it has an extensive area it covers in India. More than 27,000 pin codes are covered—both urban and uneasily accessible areas. This makes this wide coverage very handy for the e-commerce industry that wants to extend its market visibility into non-metros, Tier 2, 3, and 4 towns.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
- They deliver to over 27,000 places in India
- They handle valuable stuff like jewelry pretty well
- It provides additional protection for packages.
- It offers express delivery.
- It verifies the returned items at the customer’s doorstep.
- It delivers within three days.
Company Details:
- Founded In: 2012
- Founder: K. Satyanand and others
- Headquarters: Gurgaon, India
- Website: www.ecomexpress.in
Suggested Read: Top 12 Mattress Startups In India
Conclusion
Listed above are 15 of the best courier services in India. All of them have some special features, so you can select which one will work for you based on your needs and priorities. From sending small parcels to a friend to large consignments in an online business, there will be one or other courier service to help you out. Remember to compare prices and services to find the best option for your specific shipping needs.
FAQs
Q1. How to select the best courier service in India?
Consider the destination to which it is being delivered, the required speed, size and weight of the package, budget, and special services required. These will help you choose the right courier service for your requirements.
Q2. Which courier company has maximum coverage in India?
The maximum reach is by IndiaPost. With over 155,000 post offices, it covers the length and breadth of India. They even cover the remotest parts of the country where other courier services do not have operations.
Q3. Are there any e-commerce-based courier services?
Yes, companies specialize in e-commerce deliveries. Their names are Delhivery, Xpressbees, and Ekart Logistics. They provide services like cash-on-delivery to the online business and easy return facilities.
Q4. Which courier service is best to send goods that are to be sent out of India?
DHL, Fedex, and UPS all work well for any international shipment. They own big global networks and are experienced with the hassle of international trade regulations.
Q5. Which courier provides same-day delivery in India?
Numerous companies like Blue Dart, Delhivery, and Shadowfax are into same-day delivery business. However, this service is normally restricted to intra-city deliveries.
