Honest comparison
Ish7anli vs the kinds of shipping companies in the market
We won't name anyone and we won't compare prices. We compare company types: classic business forwarders, new companies that opened as the market reopened, and global couriers — what each is genuinely good at, and where each stops.
Service comparison table
Services only — no price claims.
| Service | Ish7anli | Classic freight forwarder | New shipping company (post-2024) | Global express courier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy-for-Me (we buy on your behalf)You send a link or a supplier name — we pay the seller and ship it to Syria. | Yes | No | Limited | No |
| Foreign cards, PayPal & foreign bank accountsPaying a US or European seller from Syria is the hard part. We already hold the cards, the PayPal accounts and the bank accounts. | Yes | No | Limited | No |
| Buy from any store, factory or supplierAmazon and eBay, but also brand websites, wholesalers, factories and manufacturers — not just marketplaces. | Yes | Limited | Limited | No |
| Built for online shoppers (B2C)One parcel, one person, a price before you order, and a follow-up you can read on your phone. | Yes | No | Limited | Limited |
| Business freight & bulk cargoPallets, containers, LCL/FCL sea freight and air cargo for companies. | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited |
| Multiple origin countriesUSA, Europe, UK, UAE, Turkey and China — not one lane only. | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Door-to-door delivery inside SyriaDelivered to your address, not left at a depot for you to collect. | Yes | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Commercial paperwork done properlyCommercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, HS codes — prepared the way customs and the supplier both expect. | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Limited |
| Incoterms & trade languageEXW, FOB, CIF, DDP — we tell you which one protects you before you sign anything. | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Limited |
| Consolidation of many ordersSeveral sellers, one shipment, one freight cost, one customs entry. | Yes | Limited | Limited | No |
| Tracking & written follow-upAn account, a tracking page and a WhatsApp thread — not a phone call you have to chase. | Yes | Limited | Not stated | Yes |
| Years of experience in the Syrian marketIsh7anli has been serving Syrians since 2018/2019 — through the hardest years, not just since the market reopened. | Yes | Yes | No | Limited |
| Backed by an established groupIsh7anli (2019) is part of iShip (2014), founded by a family trading & forwarding business active since 1985, with the founder in the industry since 1999. | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Yes |
| Support that speaks your languageSyrian Arabic on WhatsApp with a real person, plus English and French when you deal with suppliers. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited |
Compiled from market observation, last reviewed 2026-08-02. Every company differs and offers change — always check a company's current terms before you commit.
The company types in the market
Classic freight forwarder
The established forwarders — strong on containers and China lanes, built for companies moving volume.
Where this type is good
- • Real strength in bulk freight, containers and China routes.
- • Established customs relationships for commercial imports.
- • Good rates once your volume is big enough.
Where it stops
- • Not built for one person buying one item online.
- • Usually cannot pay a foreign seller on your behalf.
- • No free warehouse address for your own online orders.
New shipping company (post-2024)
The many small and medium companies that opened as Syria reopened to the world.
Where this type is good
- • Hungry, flexible, and often fast to answer.
- • Some have good single-lane rates, especially from Turkey or China.
Where it stops
- • Little or no track record — hard to verify before you pay.
- • Trade paperwork and Incoterms knowledge is often thin.
- • Rarely hold foreign payment instruments of their own.
Global express courier
The international door-to-door couriers and their forwarding products.
Where this type is good
- • Fast, well-tracked express service where they operate.
- • Global brand recognition and network.
Where it stops
- • Express only — no cheap economy or sea option.
- • They move your box; they don't buy for you or advise on trade.
- • Coverage and service into Syria is limited and changes often.