How to Set Up Shipping on Shopify for Czech Republic and Slovakia: Complete Guide 2026

Running an e-commerce store on Shopify and selling to the Czech Republic or Slovakia? You have probably discovered that Shopify is a fantastic platform, but its shipping features are designed primarily for the American market. USPS, UPS, and FedEx work great there, but your customers want Packeta, PPL, DPD, GLS, and Balikovna. They want to pick up their package at a pickup point near their workplace. And roughly one-third of them still want to pay cash on delivery.

This guide covers everything you need to know about setting up shipping for the Czech and Slovak markets on Shopify. From choosing the right carriers, through pickup points in checkout, to label printing and configuring cash on delivery.

Why Shopify Shipping Does Not Work Out of the Box for Czech Republic and Slovakia

Shopify is the most popular e-commerce platform in the world, and for good reason. But its shipping infrastructure was built for markets where customers expect home delivery through a handful of large carriers. Central European e-commerce works differently.

What Shopify lacks natively:

No integration with Czech carriers. Shopify has no built-in connection to PPL, GLS, Packeta, Czech Post, or Balikovna. You can set up flat or weight-based shipping rates, but without a third-party app you cannot generate labels, create shipments, or send tracking numbers.

Pickup points are not a standard feature. In the Czech Republic, over 60% of online orders are delivered to pickup points, parcel lockers, or partner stores. The Shopify checkout does not natively support pickup point selection in the shipping step. On standard plans, customers select their pickup point after completing the order (on the thank you page), or in the cart using specialized apps. The exception is Shopify Plus, which allows embedding a pickup point map directly in checkout, as well as the Grow plan with annual billing or Advanced with Carrier API, which we will discuss below.

Cash on delivery requires proper setup. COD is not a native payment method in Shopify. You need to set it up using an app, but the right one handles it elegantly without editing orders and without additional fees per order.

Label printing is manual. Without an app, you would have to export orders from Shopify, import them into each carrier's portal (Packeta client zone, myDPD, MyGLS, etc.), create shipments there, and then manually enter tracking numbers back into Shopify. With 20+ orders per day, this becomes unsustainable.

Carriers Your Czech and Slovak Customers Expect

Before you start choosing a solution, it helps to know which carriers are essential for your market.

Packeta (Zasilkovna)

The dominant force in Czech and Slovak e-commerce delivery. Packeta operates an enormous network of pickup points (Z-BOXes, partner stores, own branches) across the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and 30+ European countries. Most Czech customers consider Packeta a given. If your store does not offer it, you are losing orders.

Key features: Pickup point delivery, home delivery (Packeta Home), international shipping across the EU, competitive pricing for smaller packages, COD support.

Balikovna (Czech Post)

The Czech Post pickup point network is growing rapidly. With post offices, parcel lockers, and partner locations across the country, it serves as an important complement to Packeta, especially in smaller towns where Packeta coverage might be thinner.

Key features: Leverages the Czech Post network, good rural coverage, competitive pricing, COD support.

PPL

One of the largest parcel carriers in the Czech Republic. PPL offers home delivery (PPL Parcel CZ Private) as well as a growing network of ParcelShops and ParcelBoxes. Many B2C stores use PPL for heavier or larger shipments that do not fit Packeta's limits.

Key features: Home delivery, over 6,000 pickup points, suitable for heavier packages, COD support.

DPD

Strong presence in both Czech Republic and Slovakia with a network of DPD Pickup shops and ParcelShops. Merchants often choose DPD for international shipping within Europe, as the DPD network covers the entire continent.

Key features: Home delivery, pickup points, strong international shipping (DPD Classic, DPD Express), COD support.

GLS

Popular especially in Slovakia and Hungary. GLS ParcelShops offer pickup point delivery and GLS pricing is competitive for standard package sizes. A solid choice as a secondary carrier.

Key features: Home delivery, ParcelShop pickup points, good CZ-SK-HU coverage, COD support.

Which Carriers Should You Offer?

For a Czech Shopify store, the minimum required lineup is:

1. Packeta for pickup points (essential, most customers expect it) 2. One courier for home delivery such as PPL, DPD, or GLS 3. Balikovna as an alternative pickup option

For a Slovak store, similar logic applies. Packeta covers SK natively, and you should add DPD or GLS alongside it.

For international shipping (CZ to SK, CZ to EU), DPD or GLS offer the smoothest experience. Packeta handles international shipments excellently as well.

How to Connect Carriers to Shopify

You have two main paths:

Option 1: Multi-carrier App (Recommended)

The most efficient approach is a single app that connects multiple carriers at once. Instead of installing separate apps for Packeta, DPD, PPL, and GLS, you manage everything from one place.

ShipDock connects directly to carriers like Packeta, DPD, GLS, PPL, Balikovna, and others via API. Right in the Shopify admin, you can:

Display a pickup point map on checkout, thank you, or order status pages
Create shipments and generate labels with one click
Print labels individually or in bulk (PDF, A6 thermal format)
Automatically send tracking numbers to customers
Fulfill orders directly from the Shopify orders page

This approach eliminates the need to log into separate carrier portals. You do everything directly from Shopify.

Option 2: Separate Apps for Individual Carriers

Each carrier has some solution in the Shopify App Store, either official or third-party. The downside is managing multiple apps, each with its own settings, billing, and interface.

Setting Up Pickup Points in Shopify Checkout

This is the most critical piece of the puzzle for Czech and Slovak stores. Here is how pickup points work on Shopify:

Standard Shopify Plans (Basic, Shopify)

On basic plans, you cannot add custom UI elements directly into checkout during the shipping selection step. The typical process is:

1. Customer selects shipping labeled "Packeta Pickup Points" (or similar) 2. After completing the order, a pickup point map appears on the thank you page 3. Customer selects their preferred pickup point 4. If the customer forgets, a reminder email is automatically sent with a selection link

This is not ideal UX. Customers are used to selecting their pickup point *before* payment on platforms like Shoptet or WooCommerce. However, it works reliably and conversion rates remain strong once customers get used to the process.

Alternative: Cart selection. Some apps allow adding pickup point selection to the cart (before checkout). This requires disabling accelerated payment buttons (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay) because they skip the cart. It is a tradeoff.

Shopify Grow (Annual Billing) and Advanced: Pickup Points via Carrier API

The Grow plan with annual billing and Advanced (and higher) plans offer access to the Carrier API. This opens an interesting alternative: instead of a map, customers see the nearest pickup points directly in checkout during the shipping selection step, listed as individual shipping methods.

How it works:

1. Customer enters their shipping address in checkout 2. Based on the address, the 5 nearest pickup points automatically load (e.g., "Packeta Z-BOX Andel", "Packeta Tesco Smichov", etc.) 3. Customer selects one as their shipping method 4. When the customer changes their address, the list automatically updates to show locations nearest to the new address

The advantage is clear. The customer selects their pickup point directly in checkout without needing Shopify Plus. Instead of an interactive map, they see a clear list of the nearest points. For many merchants, this is the ideal compromise between cost (no Plus required) and user experience (selection before payment).

ShipDock supports this feature. You just need an active Carrier API subscription or the Grow plan with annual billing.

Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus stores can use Checkout Extensibility to embed a pickup point widget directly in checkout. This provides the best UX. Customers see an interactive map exactly where they expect it. If you are on Plus and selling in CZ/SK, this is definitely the way to go.

What Does Pickup Point Selection Look Like?

With ShipDock, customers see an interactive map (via Google Maps) or a list where they can:

Search by address or current location
Browse nearby pickup points
View opening hours and location details
Select their preferred point with one click

The selected pickup point is saved to the order and used when generating the label. No manual data entry required.

Label Printing: Streamlining Your Daily Workflow

Once orders start coming in, you need an efficient way to create shipments and print labels. A typical workflow with ShipDock looks like this:

Step 1: Orders arrive in Shopify. A customer places an order and selects a shipping method (e.g., "Packeta Pickup Points" or "DPD Home Delivery").

Step 2: Create shipments. In the Shopify admin, select the orders you want to ship. With one click (or automatically), shipments are created via the carrier's API. Each order gets a tracking number.

Step 3: Print labels. Download and print labels, individually or in bulk. Labels come in standard formats: A6 (for thermal printers like Zebra or Brother) or A4 PDF (for regular printers, 4 labels per page).

Step 4: Fulfill orders. The app marks orders as fulfilled in Shopify and sends customers notification emails with tracking links.

Tip: If you print more than 10-15 labels per day, invest in a thermal label printer. The Zebra GK420d or Brother QL-1110NWB will save you significant time compared to cutting A4 sheets.

Cash on Delivery on Shopify: Simple and Without External Apps

Cash on delivery (COD) remains one of the most popular payment methods in the Czech Republic, used by approximately one-quarter to one-third of customers. You need to set it up properly on Shopify, but with ShipDock you do not need any additional paid app.

How It Works in ShipDock

The principle is simple and elegant:

1. Duplicate your existing shipping methods. For each shipping option where you want to offer COD, create a copy. For example, next to "PPL" add "PPL (Cash on Delivery)".

2. Include the COD fee in the shipping price. If regular PPL shipping costs 99 CZK, "PPL (Cash on Delivery)" shipping could cost 129 CZK. The customer sees the clear price including the COD surcharge directly in checkout.

3. Set a keyword in ShipDock. In the COD settings in the app, enter a keyword (e.g., "Cash on Delivery" or "COD") that appears in the names of shipping methods with COD.

4. The app handles the rest. When a customer selects shipping with the keyword in its name, only the COD payment option appears in checkout. For other shipping methods, COD is hidden.

Advantages Over External Solutions

No order editing means the order is not modified after completion (unlike some other apps that add COD retroactively)
Speed because you only need to duplicate shipping methods once and set the keyword
Low cost since you pay a flat fee for the app, not per COD order
Automatic rounding so the app rounds the COD amount automatically and you do not have to deal with small change

COD is then automatically transferred to the label and into the carrier's system. The entire process, from order through shipment creation to delivery with payment, is fully automated.

Shipping from Czech Republic to Slovakia (and the Rest of the EU)

International shipping between CZ and SK is extremely common. Many Czech stores serve both markets. Here is how to set it up:

CZ to SK Shipping

For Czech-Slovak shipments, most carriers offer standard service:

Packeta: Supports pickup points in Slovakia natively. Same app, same workflow, just Slovak pickup points are displayed.
DPD: DPD Classic International covers CZ to SK with 1-2 day delivery.
GLS: Standard international service to Slovakia.
PPL: International service available but less common for SK.

CZ to EU Shipping

For broader European shipping, the best options are:

DPD or GLS for standard parcel delivery across Europe
Packeta for pickup point delivery in 30+ countries
Czech Post for economical international shipping

Tip: Set up separate shipping zones in Shopify for Czech Republic, Slovakia, and "Rest of EU." This allows you to offer different carriers and different prices for each region.

Practical Setup Checklist

Step by step, here is how to prepare your Czech or Slovak Shopify store for shipping:

1. Choose your carriers Minimum: Packeta plus one courier (PPL, DPD, or GLS). Add Balikovna if you want broader pickup point coverage.

2. Sign contracts with carriers Register in each carrier's business portal. You will receive API credentials or customer numbers needed for integration.

3. Install a shipping app Set up ShipDock and connect your carrier accounts.

4. Configure shipping zones and rates in Shopify Go to Settings, then Shipping and Delivery. Create shipping zones for CZ, SK, and optionally EU. Add rates matching your carrier services (e.g., "Packeta Pickup Points: 69 CZK", "DPD Home Delivery: 99 CZK"). For COD, duplicate each shipping method with an added fee.

5. Enable pickup points Configure the app to display the pickup point map on the appropriate page: thank you page for basic plans, checkout for Plus, or via Carrier API for Grow (annual) and Advanced plans.

6. Set up COD In ShipDock, enable the COD fee feature and set the keyword for identifying COD shipping methods.

7. Test the entire process Place a test order, select a pickup point, generate a label, and verify that the tracking number appears in Shopify.

8. Configure email notifications Ensure customers receive confirmation emails with tracking links. Set up reminder emails for customers who forget to select a pickup point.

Common Problems and How to Solve Them

"Customers do not see pickup points in checkout." On standard Shopify plans, pickup points appear on the thank you page, not directly in the checkout shipping selection step. Make sure the app is configured correctly and checkout blocks are added. For display directly in checkout, you need Shopify Plus, or you can use Carrier API on Grow (annual) and Advanced plans. In that case, pickup points appear as a list of nearest locations in the shipping selection step.

"Tracking numbers are not syncing to Shopify." Check that the app has fulfillment permissions. In the app settings, verify that automatic fulfillment is enabled for the relevant carriers.

"Labels are printing in the wrong format." Most Czech carriers use A6 label format (100 x 150 mm). Check your printer settings and the label format in the shipping app. For thermal printers, select ZPL or direct PDF output.

"The COD amount does not match the total order price." Make sure you have the correct keyword set in ShipDock for identifying COD shipping methods. The app handles amount rounding automatically.

"Customers complain they cannot find their pickup point." Ensure the app regularly syncs pickup point data from carrier APIs. Locations open and close, so outdated data means a customer might select a location that no longer exists. ShipDock syncs data daily.

Conclusion

Setting up shipping on Shopify for the Czech and Slovak markets requires some effort upfront, but once everything is configured, it runs smoothly. The key ingredients are: the right carrier mix (Packeta plus a courier), a multi-carrier app like ShipDock that handles labels, pickup points, and COD from one place, and proper shipping zone configuration in Shopify.

If you are migrating from Shoptet or another Czech platform, the good news is that Shopify's shipping capabilities have improved significantly. With the right app, you get the same or better shipping workflow, plus you benefit from Shopify's superior storefront, marketing tools, and international scalability.

Want to set up shipping for your Czech or Slovak Shopify store? Install ShipDock and connect your carriers in minutes. We support Packeta, DPD, GLS, PPL, Balikovna, and more, all from one app.

Shopify Shipping Czech Republic & Slovakia: Carriers, Pickup Points & COD (2026)