UPS Protected Delivery vs FedEx Authenticated Delivery
Key Takeaways
- UPS Protected Delivery starts Nov 16, 2026. The driver releases the package only after the recipient gives a PIN. UPS lists it at $10.70 per shipment.
- FedEx Authenticated Delivery (launched Sep 16, 2026) releases the package only to someone who shows a QR code. Supply Chain Dive reported a $20 per package fee, on select expedited services only.
- Both are built for one thing: making sure the right person gets the box. Both still need that person at the door. UPS says it tries 3 times, then returns the package to the sender. FedEx says up to 3 reattempts, then back to the shipper.
- For comparison, signature options at list rates: UPS Adult Signature $9.35 ($10.25 from Dec 21), FedEx Adult Signature $10.00 ($10.60 from Jan 4).
- Package theft hasn't gone away: Security.org estimates 47.7 million Americans had a package stolen in the past year, about $7.7 billion in goods (survey Sep 22–24, 2026).
- In Perry Ellis order data, 0.85% of home deliveries had to be replaced vs 0.08% of packages sent to pickup locations: 90% fewer.
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Why carriers are adding secure delivery now
High-value orders have two weak points: the doorstep and the handoff. A $1,500 handbag left on a porch can be stolen. A package handed to "whoever answers the door" can end up with the wrong person, or with someone using a stolen identity.
Both FedEx and UPS answered this fall with a new kind of delivery option. Instead of a signature that anyone at the address can give, the package is tied to a secret only the intended recipient has:
Both FedEx and UPS answered this fall with a new kind of delivery option. Instead of a signature that anyone at the address can give, the package is tied to a secret only the intended recipient has:
- FedEx Authenticated Delivery, announced Sep 16, 2026: a unique QR code.
- UPS Protected Delivery, announced Oct 7, 2026 and available from Nov 16, 2026: a unique PIN.
How UPS Protected Delivery works
From UPS's Protected Delivery page and its rates page:
- Start date: "Effective November 16, 2026, UPS will begin to offer UPS Protected Delivery."
- Price: $10.70 per shipment at UPS list rates. D'Arrigo Consulting, citing UPS's 2027 preview, lists the same $10.70 after the Dec 21 rate change.
- How it works: the shipper selects it at label creation and gives the recipient's email. UPS creates a unique PIN and sends it by email and text when the shipment is created, the day before delivery and on delivery day. It's also visible in UPS My Choice and tracking for authorized users.
- At the door: the recipient gives the PIN to the driver before the package is released. A UPS My Choice account isn't required.
- If nobody gives the PIN: UPS reattempts the next business day, for three attempts in total. After the third attempt, the package goes back to the sender.
- Where: the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada and select markets in Europe and Asia Pacific, for eligible shipments. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that it can be added to UPS shipping options including Ground and Next Day Air.
How FedEx Authenticated Delivery works
From the FedEx newsroom announcement and FedEx's signature services page:
- How it works: the recipient gets a unique QR code and delivery instructions through FedEx notifications. At the door, they show the code, and the driver scans and validates it before handing over the package. No physical signature is required.
- Services: select eligible FedEx expedited services, for residential and commercial shipments in the U.S. and Canada. Supply Chain Dive (Oct 2, 2026) listed First Overnight, Priority Overnight, Standard Overnight, 2Day, 2Day A.M. and Express Saver, at $20 per package. FedEx Ground and Home Delivery aren't on that list.
- Restrictions: it can't be combined with FedEx signature services, and it isn't eligible for Hold at Location, Redirect to Hold, address corrections or counter pickup. The QR code must be shown to the driver; it can't be left for them.
- If nobody is home: delivery can be reattempted up to three times. If it still can't be completed, the shipment goes back to the shipper. Vacation holds are allowed.
Signatures, PIN, QR code or pickup: side by side
| Adult Signature | Direct / Signature Required | UPS Protected Delivery | FedEx Authenticated Delivery | Pickup location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who can receive it | Anyone 21+ with photo ID at the address | Someone at the address | Whoever has the PIN | Whoever has the QR code | The named customer, with photo ID at the counter |
| Proves it's the intended person | No (proves age) | No | Yes (PIN) | Yes (QR code) | Yes (ID matched to the package) |
| Someone must be home | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| If nobody's home | Reattempt or alternative options | FedEx: reattempt or hold at a nearby FedEx location | Next business day, 3 attempts, then returned | Up to 3 reattempts, then returned | Customer collects when it suits them, within the hold period |
| Redirect to a pickup point | Often possible | FedEx: yes; UPS: often possible | Not stated by UPS | Not allowed | Already at one |
| Services | Most | Most | Eligible UPS services | Select FedEx expedited only | Ground and Express |
| List fee (2026) | UPS $9.35 / FedEx $10.00 | UPS $7.70 / FedEx $7.60 | $10.70 per shipment | $20 per package (reported) | No signature fee; may have a location fee depending on your contract |
Sources: UPS and FedEx pages listed below. UPS signature amounts from D'Arrigo Consulting citing the UPS 2026 Rate and Service Guide. FedEx Authenticated Delivery fee as reported by Supply Chain Dive. All figures are list rates; contracts vary.
What these add-ons cost in 2026 and 2027
All four signature and security options are per-package add-ons on top of the base rate and fuel. At list rates:
| Add-on | UPS 2026 → Dec 21, 2026 | FedEx 2026 → Jan 4, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Indirect Signature Required | – | $7.60 → $8.05 |
| Signature Required / Direct Signature | $7.70 → $8.40 | $7.60 → $8.15 |
| Adult Signature Required | $9.35 → $10.25 | $10.00 → $10.60 |
| UPS Protected Delivery (PIN) | $10.70 → $10.70 | – |
| FedEx Authenticated Delivery (QR) | – | $20.00 (2027 not published) |
FedEx signature amounts: FedEx "2027 surcharge and fee changes" (fedex.com). UPS amounts: D'Arrigo Consulting (updated Nov 11, 2026), citing UPS's 2026 Rate and Service Guide and UPS's 2027 preview. FedEx Authenticated Delivery: Supply Chain Dive, Oct 2, 2026.
These fees are standard industry practice: they cover a driver who waits at the door, verifies a person and sometimes comes back the next day. Two cost points matter more than the add-on itself:
These fees are standard industry practice: they cover a driver who waits at the door, verifies a person and sometimes comes back the next day. Two cost points matter more than the add-on itself:
- The service it requires. FedEx Authenticated Delivery is only on expedited services, so it comes with an express base rate. UPS Protected Delivery can be added to Ground, according to AJC's report, which makes it the cheaper of the two for orders that don't need to arrive fast.
- The cost of a failed delivery. After three failed attempts, both PIN and QR shipments go back to you. You pay to ship it again, and in December, the customer may not get the gift in time.
The weak spot: someone has to be home
PIN and QR delivery are better at the handoff than a signature. They don't change the fact that the recipient has to be at the door when the driver arrives.
That's a real limit for the customers who buy high-value goods online:
That's a real limit for the customers who buy high-value goods online:
- People work. A weekday delivery window often means nobody's home. In Security.org's survey, 43% of people already try to schedule deliveries for when they're home.
- Holiday travel. Late December is when people leave town, and when replacements are hardest to get there in time.
- Gifts. The recipient may not know a package is coming, or may not see the PIN email.
- Three attempts, then a return. UPS reattempts on the next business day, so a Monday first attempt means the third is on Wednesday. Miss all three, and the package starts its trip back to your warehouse.
Where pickup locations fit
A pickup location solves the "nobody's home" problem by changing where the handoff happens. The package goes to a FedEx or UPS location (a pharmacy, grocery store, shipping center) and waits behind the counter until the customer comes in.
Pickup isn't fraud-proof. People have shown up at pickup counters with fake IDs, as we described in the Shopify Protect article. ID checks raise the bar; they don't replace fraud screening at checkout.
- ID at the counter. FedEx asks for a government-issued photo ID at Hold at Location. UPS Access Points check photo ID against the name or address on the package.
- No doorstep exposure. The box never sits on a porch or in a lobby.
- The customer picks the time, within the hold period, including evenings and weekends where the location is open.
- No residential surcharge. Pickup locations are commercial addresses, so the residential surcharge ($6.50 at UPS and $6.45 at FedEx for Ground in 2026, at list rates) doesn't apply. Shipping to a pickup point can carry its own fee depending on your contract, so compare your own rates.
Pickup isn't fraud-proof. People have shown up at pickup counters with fake IDs, as we described in the Shopify Protect article. ID checks raise the bar; they don't replace fraud screening at checkout.
Wine and other age-restricted orders
Wine needs an adult signature, and the new PIN and QR options don't replace it. FedEx says Authenticated Delivery can't be combined with its signature services, so it isn't an option for wine shipments. UPS hasn't said on its Protected Delivery page whether the PIN can be combined with Adult Signature Required.
For wineries, the practical choices are still adult-signature home delivery or pickup at a location that accepts alcohol, where the recipient shows ID at the counter. About 20,000 FedEx and UPS locations in the U.S. accept wine. Our adult signature guide covers the rules and what failed deliveries cost a winery.
For wineries, the practical choices are still adult-signature home delivery or pickup at a location that accepts alcohol, where the recipient shows ID at the counter. About 20,000 FedEx and UPS locations in the U.S. accept wine. Our adult signature guide covers the rules and what failed deliveries cost a winery.
Which option for which order
| Order | Good fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| High-value, customer reliably home (or ships to an office) | UPS Protected Delivery or FedEx Authenticated Delivery | Strongest proof that the intended person got it |
| High-value, needs to arrive fast | FedEx Authenticated Delivery | Built for expedited services |
| High-value, customer often out | Pickup location | ID at the counter, no missed attempts |
| Repeat high-value customer you trust | Pickup at checkout, Direct Signature, or no add-on | Lower cost, fewer failed attempts |
| Wine and spirits | Adult Signature, or pickup at an alcohol-accepting location | Required by law; ID at the counter |
| Medium-value, theft-prone ZIP | Pickup location | Avoids the doorstep without a per-package security fee |
A simple rule: if the risk is the wrong person getting the package, PIN or QR delivery is the best tool. If the risk is nobody being there, pickup is. For the highest-value orders, offer both and let the customer choose.
How to set this up before peak
- Pick a value threshold for security options, based on your own claims and chargeback history.
- Check your label software (ShipStation or other) supports the new UPS and FedEx options before you promise them.
- Tell the customer what's coming. A line in the order confirmation helps the PIN or QR email not get missed.
- Offer pickup next to home delivery for high-value orders, for customers who won't be home.
- Plan for returns to sender after three failed attempts: reship, refund, or offer pickup.
- Ship secure deliveries earlier in December than standard orders.
Via.Delivery's solution
Via.Delivery adds 36,000+ FedEx and UPS pickup locations to your checkout, so high-value shoppers who won't be home can choose a counter instead of the doorstep. For wineries, about 20,000 of those locations accept alcohol.
Via.Delivery covers three points where a customer can switch to pickup:
Selling high-value goods this holiday season? Book a demo.
Via.Delivery covers three points where a customer can switch to pickup:
- Pickup at Checkout: pickup locations next to your other shipping options. You can limit pickup by customer, ZIP code or product.
- Pickup Redirect: before the order ships, the customer gets an offer to send it to a nearby location.
- Missed Delivery Redirect: after a failed home delivery, the customer can send the package to a pickup location instead of waiting for another attempt.
Selling high-value goods this holiday season? Book a demo.
FAQ
What is UPS Protected Delivery?
A UPS add-on, available from Nov 16, 2026, that releases a package only after the recipient gives the driver a unique PIN. UPS sends the PIN by email and text. It costs $10.70 per shipment at UPS list rates.
What is FedEx Authenticated Delivery?
A FedEx add-on launched Sep 16, 2026 for select expedited services. The recipient gets a unique QR code, and the driver scans it before releasing the package. No signature is needed. Supply Chain Dive reported the fee as $20 per package.
What happens if the recipient isn't home?
For UPS Protected Delivery, UPS tries again the next business day, for three attempts in total, then returns the package to the sender. For FedEx Authenticated Delivery, FedEx makes up to three reattempts, then returns it to the shipper. Vacation holds are allowed.
Can a Protected or Authenticated package go to a pickup location?
FedEx says Authenticated Delivery isn't eligible for Hold at Location, Redirect to Hold or counter pickup. UPS's Protected Delivery page doesn't say either way, so check with UPS. If the customer won't be home, shipping directly to a pickup location is the simpler option.
Can I use PIN or QR delivery for wine?
Not with FedEx: Authenticated Delivery can't be combined with FedEx signature services, and wine needs an adult signature. UPS hasn't published whether Protected Delivery can be combined with Adult Signature Required. Pickup at an alcohol-accepting location, with ID at the counter, is the alternative.
Is a signature or a PIN better for high-value packages?
A PIN or QR code proves the intended recipient got the package. A signature only proves that someone at the address took it (and, for Adult Signature, that they're 21+). Both require someone at the door, which is where pickup locations help.
Sources
- UPS Protected Delivery — UPS
- Shipping Zones and Rates — UPS (Protected Delivery start date and $10.70 rate)
- UPS Scales Seasonal Workforce, Eyes Ninth Consecutive Peak Season of Industry-Leading On-Time Performance — UPS, Oct 7, 2026
- UPS rolls out new shipping option for high-value or sensitive deliveries — Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Oct 7, 2026
- Signature-Required Deliveries — UPS
- UPS Surcharges 2026: Full List of Fees and 2027 Rates — D'Arrigo Consulting, updated Nov 11, 2026
- FedEx Launches FedEx Authenticated Delivery for Added Security on High-Value and Sensitive Shipments — FedEx, Sep 16, 2026
- FedEx rolls out added security option for select deliveries — Supply Chain Dive, Oct 2, 2026
- Delivery Options and Signature Services — FedEx
- 2027 surcharge and fee changes — FedEx
- 2026 Package Theft Report and Statistics — Security.org (survey of 3,494 U.S. adults, Sep 22–24, 2026; updated Oct 28, 2026)
- Case Study: Perry Ellis & BOPA Integration — Via.Delivery
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