Softwr

Maritime · head to head

CargoSmart vs CargoWise

CargoSmart logo

CargoSmart

Maritime

Global shipment visibility and intelligence

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CargoWise logo

CargoWise

Logistics

Single-database freight forwarding and customs platform, repriced in December 2025 to per-transaction Value Packs

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CargoSmart has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CargoSmart no pricing published on website; CargoWise the December 2025 shift to per-transaction Value Packs repriced roughly 95 percent of the customer base, with early 2026 reports of twenty to fifty percent cost increases and large monthly rises at short notice.
  • They diverge on capability: CargoSmart covers Real-time tracking, CargoWise covers Single global database.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CargoSmart and CargoWise actually diverge.

Attributes where CargoSmart and CargoWise differ
AttributeCargoSmartCargoWise
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, ApiWeb, Windows, Cloud
CategoryMaritimeLogistics
Founded2000Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in CargoSmart

  • Real-time tracking
  • ETA predictions
  • Exception management
  • Carbon tracking
  • SAP TM
  • Oracle
  • Shipping lines
  • TMS

Only in CargoWise

  • Single global database
  • Customs compliance
  • Value Packs licensing
  • Forwarding operations
  • Warehouse management
  • Accounting
  • eDocs and messaging
  • Universal Data Interchange

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

CargoSmart

  • Logistics and cargo managementnot CargoWise
  • Shipping and supply chain coordinationnot CargoWise
  • Freight forwarding servicesnot CargoWise

CargoWise

  • A multinational forwarder wanting one shipment record across origin booking, customs clearance and destination deliverynot CargoSmart
  • A customs broker needing maintained regulatory content across many jurisdictions rather than building declarations in housenot CargoSmart
  • A 3PL consolidating forwarding, warehousing and financial accounting on one databasenot CargoSmart
  • Trading electronically with other CargoWise users through the shared data interchange rather than building point-to-point EDInot CargoSmart

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

CargoSmart

  • No pricing published on website
  • Pricing model not disclosed
  • Requires direct contact with sales
  • No free trial or freemium tier mentioned

CargoWise

  • The December 2025 shift to per-transaction Value Packs repriced roughly 95 percent of the customer base, with early 2026 reports of twenty to fifty percent cost increases and large monthly rises at short notice.
  • Pricing is now tied to transaction volume, so growth in the forwarding business raises the software bill proportionally, which inverts the economics of the old seat-based model for high-volume low-margin traffic.
  • WiseTech publishes no price list, so the only way to know what the new model costs your business is a written projection from an account representative.
  • Enterprise implementations are routinely cited in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars with professional services making up a large share, and organisations commonly underestimate that by a wide margin.
  • The system is deep and unforgiving to learn, so staff turnover carries a real productivity cost and trained CargoWise operators command a premium in the labour market.

Pricing, plan by plan

CargoSmart

Free
  • Professional$299/month
    • Unlimited tracking
    • ETA predictions
    • Analytics

CargoWise

On request
  • CargoWise Value Packs$undefined/month
    • Per-transaction automation fee replacing the seat and transaction licence model from December 2025
    • Unlimited users and more than two hundred modules bundled into the transaction fee
    • Standard CargoWise Cloud hosting costs removed from the model

Which should you pick?

Choose CargoSmart if

  • You need real-time tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want eta predictions.
CargoSmart review

Choose CargoWise if

  • You need single global database.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Cloud.
  • You also want customs compliance.
CargoWise review

Questions people ask

Is CargoSmart or CargoWise better?
Neither clearly leads. CargoSmart starts at Free and CargoWise at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CargoSmart or CargoWise?
CargoSmart has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CargoSmart and On request for CargoWise.
Does CargoSmart or CargoWise run on more platforms?
CargoSmart runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. CargoWise runs on Web, Windows, Cloud.
Can I use CargoSmart for free?
Yes. CargoSmart has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CargoWise starts at On request.
What is CargoSmart best used for?
CargoSmart is most often used for logistics and cargo management, shipping and supply chain coordination, freight forwarding services. Of those, logistics and cargo management and shipping and supply chain coordination are not what CargoWise is typically brought in for.
What can CargoSmart do that CargoWise cannot?
CargoSmart covers Real-time tracking, ETA predictions, Exception management, Carbon tracking. CargoWise covers Single global database, Customs compliance, Value Packs licensing, Forwarding operations.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CargoSmart: How much does CargoSmart cost?

CargoSmart does not publish pricing on its website. Pricing is customized based on specific requirements and must be obtained by contacting their sales team directly.

Source
CargoWise: What changed in December 2025?

WiseTech moved about 95 percent of CargoWise customers from seat and transaction licensing to Value Packs, a per-transaction fee bundling modules and unlimited users.

CargoSmart: Does CargoSmart offer a free trial?

CargoSmart's website does not mention a free trial or freemium tier. Pricing and trial availability must be discussed with their sales team.

Source
CargoWise: Are seat fees gone?

Under Value Packs, yes, along with standard CargoWise Cloud hosting charges. Cost is driven by transaction volume instead.

CargoWise: Does WiseTech publish prices?

No. Reported per-transaction figures come from forwarders and consultants, not from a vendor price list.

CargoWise: What does implementation cost?

Enterprise deployments are commonly reported in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, with professional services a large share of the total.

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