Captain Shipping Protection vs Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)for Shopify (2026)
Captain Shipping Protection and Skio Subscriptions (YC S20) are both Shopify apps in the 'Upsell and cross-sell' category, but they serve drastically different purposes. Captain Shipping Protection focuses on revenue generation through shipping protection offerings, allowing merchants to keep fees and customize policies, essentially turning package protection into a profitable upsell. It aims to reduce loss, damage, and theft risks while increasing conversion rates by providing package assurance at checkout. The target audience is merchants looking to monetize shipping protection and mitigate shipping-related issues, particularly those who want control over the protection policies and pricing. Skio Subscriptions (YC S20), on the other hand, is a subscription management platform designed to improve customer lifetime value and reduce churn. It offers a suite of features such as a no-code customer portal, build-a-box functionality, and automated journeys to enhance the subscription experience. It targets merchants who rely heavily on subscription models and are seeking to optimize their subscription offerings, reduce support tickets, and improve customer retention. Skio emphasizes ease of use and aims to replace 'fine' subscription platforms with a superior alternative focused on driving growth. While both apps technically fall under the 'Upsell and cross-sell' category, they do so in entirely different contexts. Captain Shipping Protection *upsells* protection while Skio focuses on *cross-selling* or upselling related products within the subscription framework.
At a Glance
Captain Shipping Protection
222 reviews
Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)
219 reviews
Detailed Overview
Captain Shipping Protection
Shipping protection that boosts revenue. Order protection reduces damage, loss, theft risks.
Key Features
- Offer shipping protection widget at checkout or via app blocks
- Keep all the shipping protection fees, and add profits when claims are low
- Route insurance order protection fee back to you & increase your conversion rate
- Customize the price and style of insurance you want. Multi-language supported
- The app won't add any codes to your store theme - user friendly
Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)
The subscription platform top brands graduate to.
Key Features
- No-code customer portal - Beautiful UX that cuts support tickets in half
- Build-a-Box - Let subscribers customize bundles (static/dynamic/sectioned)
- Multi-step cancel flows - Turn cancellations into pauses, swaps, and saves
- Automated journeys - Welcome flows, win-backs, and upsells on autopilot
- Seamless migration - We move your subscribers without losing data or sleep
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 4.9/5 | 5/5 |
Rating Captain Shipping Protection4.9/5 Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)5/5 | ||
| Reviews | 222 | 219 |
Reviews Captain Shipping Protection222 Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)219 | ||
| Primary Function | Shipping protection as a revenue generator | Subscription management platform |
Primary Function Captain Shipping ProtectionShipping protection as a revenue generator Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)Subscription management platform | ||
| Target Merchant | Merchants seeking to monetize shipping protection and reduce shipping losses | Merchants relying on subscription models aiming for higher LTV and reduced churn |
Target Merchant Captain Shipping ProtectionMerchants seeking to monetize shipping protection and reduce shipping losses Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)Merchants relying on subscription models aiming for higher LTV and reduced churn | ||
| Key Feature Differentiation | Customizable shipping protection policies and pricing; Keeps protection fees. | No-code customer portal, Build-a-Box functionality, Automated journeys |
Key Feature Differentiation Captain Shipping ProtectionCustomizable shipping protection policies and pricing; Keeps protection fees. Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)No-code customer portal, Build-a-Box functionality, Automated journeys | ||
| Value Proposition | Increase order profits, reduce shipping-related risks, and boost conversion rates | Improve customer retention, reduce support tickets, and drive subscription growth |
Value Proposition Captain Shipping ProtectionIncrease order profits, reduce shipping-related risks, and boost conversion rates Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)Improve customer retention, reduce support tickets, and drive subscription growth | ||
| Ease of Use Claim | App won't add any codes to your store theme - user friendly | No-code customer portal |
Ease of Use Claim Captain Shipping ProtectionApp won't add any codes to your store theme - user friendly Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)No-code customer portal | ||
| Focus | One-time purchase protection | Recurring subscription management |
Focus Captain Shipping ProtectionOne-time purchase protection Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)Recurring subscription management | ||
Our Verdict
The choice between Captain Shipping Protection and Skio Subscriptions depends entirely on your business model. If your primary concern is mitigating shipping-related risks and generating revenue through shipping protection, Captain Shipping Protection is the clear choice. It offers a customizable and potentially profitable solution.
However, if your business relies heavily on subscriptions and you're looking to optimize the subscriber experience, reduce churn, and increase customer lifetime value, Skio Subscriptions is the superior option. Skio offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to streamline subscription management and improve customer retention. The 'Upsell and Cross-sell' category overlap is superficial; these apps address fundamentally different business needs.
Common Questions
Does Captain Shipping Protection replace traditional shipping insurance?
Captain Shipping Protection allows you to offer a similar service but does NOT underwrite insurance plans. You keep the fees and manage claims based on your own policies. It's a way to monetize package protection, not a replacement for traditional insurance if that is what you are looking for.
Can Skio Subscriptions handle different subscription frequencies?
While not explicitly stated in the description, subscription platforms like Skio typically support a wide range of subscription frequencies, from weekly to monthly to annual, and even custom intervals. You would need to confirm the specific options directly with Skio.
Are both apps easy to install and set up?
Captain Shipping Protection claims to be user-friendly and not add any codes to your theme, suggesting an easy installation. Skio boasts a 'Seamless migration' suggesting ease of set-up, particularly for merchants switching from another platform. However, setting up complex subscription features might still require some effort.
What kind of customer support is offered by each app?
The descriptions don't explicitly detail customer support options. However, Skio mentions 'Beautiful UX that cuts support tickets in half,' which implies a focus on self-service and a user-friendly interface. You should check each app's website for specifics on support channels.
How do Captain Shipping Protection's multilingual capabilities work?
The description mentions 'Multi-language supported,' suggesting the app can display the shipping protection widget and policies in different languages based on the customer's location or browser settings. You'd need to verify the supported languages and the level of translation offered.
Get More From Your Shopify Store
Run audits for SEO, CRO, PageSpeed, and AI visibility. Get a clear report and actionable fixes.
Try Fix My Store