> ## Knowledge Base Index > Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.ship24.com/sitemap.xml > Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further. > Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash). # What Is Proof of Delivery (POD) and How to Get It ### Introduction Proof of Delivery, usually shortened to POD, is the evidence a courier records when a parcel is handed over. Ship24 can provide that evidence alongside your tracking data. POD is available as a paid add-on on selected plans. This article covers what you get, what it looks like, and how to switch it on. ### What Proof of Delivery means When a courier completes a delivery, it often captures something showing the parcel arrived. That might be the recipient signature, a photo of the parcel at the door, or a delivery receipt. Couriers make this evidence available in different ways, and many do not make it available at all. Ship24 collects it where it exists and returns it with your tracking data, so it sits in one place with everything else about the shipment. POD is mainly used to resolve disputes, handle chargebacks, answer claims that a parcel never arrived, and support claims against couriers. ### The formats POD can take There is no industry standard for POD, so the format depends on the courier. Ship24 returns whichever of these the courier provides: * **Signature as text.** The recipient name recorded as plain text, for example “Signed by John Doe”, with the date it was signed. * **Signature as an image.** A picture of the hand-written signature. * **Photo evidence.** A photo taken at the point of delivery, usually the parcel at the door or in a safe place. * **Document.** A delivery receipt, most often a PDF. || A courier normally provides one format, not several. Which format you receive depends on the courier, and is not something you can choose. See [which couriers support Proof of Delivery](https://help.ship24.com/en/article/which-couriers-support-proof-of-delivery-pod-co4cxy/) for the format each one provides. ### Which plans include POD POD is a paid add-on on top of your existing plan. It can be added to **Tracking API Pro** and **Tracking Solution Pro (All-in-one)**. It is not available on Tracking Solution Essential. The add-on price follows the shipment quota tier of your plan, so it adjusts automatically if you move up or down a tier. See [Ship24 pricing and plans](https://www.ship24.com/pricing) for the full breakdown. ###### Tracking Solution Pro (All-in-one) * 1,000 shipments per month: $9 per month * 2,000 shipments: $19 * 5,000 shipments: $29 * 10,000 shipments: $49 * 20,000 shipments: $99 * 50,000 shipments: $249 * 100,000 shipments: $399 * 250,000 shipments: $999 ###### Tracking API and Webhook Pro * 1,000 shipments per month: $9 per month * 5,000 shipments: $29 * 25,000 shipments: $99 * 50,000 shipments: $189 * 150,000 shipments: $449 * 400,000 shipments: $949 * 1,000,000 shipments: $1,999 ### How to request POD POD are automatically request for every shipment created once you have the add-on active. ||| POD is only available once the parcel has been delivered. ### How you receive POD After delivery, Ship24 continues checking for POD for a period, since couriers often publish it some time after the parcel arrives. You can receive it in the following ways. ###### By webhook POD arrives on its own webhook topic, separate from your tracking event updates. You set a dedicated Proof of Delivery webhook URL in your dashboard under Integrations, alongside your existing tracking updates URL. Text POD arrives in the payload directly. File POD arrives as a download link. ###### In the API response POD is returned on the tracker under the delivery information for that tracking number, with a type indicating the format and either the text or a download link. ###### In your Shipment Dashboard POD will also be viewable directly in the [Shipment Dashboard](https://help.ship24.com/en/article/how-to-add-shipments-to-your-shipment-dashboard-1nx8fp1/), in the shipment details, with a preview for images and receipts and a download option. This is in development and not yet available. ||| Download links for file POD are temporary and expire. Every link comes with its expiry date. Download and store your own copy of any POD you may need later, since disputes often surface months after delivery. ### Why POD is not always available Even with the add-on active and a supported courier, POD may not come back. The usual reasons: * The courier does not provide POD for that service or that delivery * The delivery was not signed for, so there is nothing to provide * The courier requires information Ship24 does not hold, such as a post code or the recipient name * The courier made it available too long after delivery Coverage also varies widely between couriers. See [which couriers support Proof of Delivery](https://help.ship24.com/en/article/which-couriers-support-proof-of-delivery-pod-co4cxy/) before relying on it for a particular lane. ### Next steps For field-level detail and example payloads, see the [Ship24 API documentation](https://docs.ship24.com/).