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Maritime · head to head

CargoSmart vs Descartes MacroPoint

CargoSmart logo

CargoSmart

Maritime

Global shipment visibility and intelligence

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Descartes MacroPoint logo

Descartes MacroPoint

Logistics

Freight visibility network that tracks loads across carriers using ELD, telematics and driver mobile data

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Each has a real cost: CargoSmart no pricing published on website; Descartes MacroPoint pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating leverage.
  • They diverge on capability: CargoSmart covers Real-time tracking, Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CargoSmart and Descartes MacroPoint actually diverge.

Attributes where CargoSmart and Descartes MacroPoint differ
AttributeCargoSmartDescartes MacroPoint
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, ApiWeb, iOS, Android
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 Descartes MacroPoint

  • Carrier network
  • Multi-source tracking
  • Predictive ETA
  • Exception alerts
  • Multimodal
  • Capacity matching
  • API and TMS integration
  • Customer portals

What people use each for

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

CargoSmart

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

Descartes MacroPoint

  • A freight broker whose largest customer has made tracking compliance a contract conditionnot CargoSmart
  • A shipper wanting one tracking view across dozens of carriers rather than a portal per carriernot CargoSmart
  • A 3PL measuring carrier performance on dwell and on-time arrival with data the carrier cannot disputenot CargoSmart
  • An operation replacing check calls, where the labour saving alone justifies the per-load feenot 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

Descartes MacroPoint

  • Pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating leverage.
  • Tracking depends on carrier consent, so coverage on any given lane is a percentage rather than a guarantee, and the carriers most likely to be untracked are the small ones causing the exceptions you care about.
  • Driver mobile tracking as the fallback depends on drivers accepting location sharing, and refusal rates mean visibility gaps that appear as service failures to your customer.
  • Ocean and air visibility is materially less mature than domestic North American truckload, so a global shipper ends up running a second platform for international freight.
  • MacroPoint is one product inside a large acquisitive software group, so roadmap attention and support responsiveness are set by Descartes portfolio priorities rather than by visibility customers.

Pricing, plan by plan

CargoSmart

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

Descartes MacroPoint

On request
  • Descartes MacroPoint$undefined/year
    • Priced per tracked load with rates varying by mode and volume
    • Per-load rates fall substantially at high volume, so small shippers pay more per load
    • Annual subscription with minimum commitments

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 Descartes MacroPoint if

  • You need carrier network.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want multi-source tracking.
Descartes MacroPoint review

Questions people ask

Is CargoSmart or Descartes MacroPoint better?
Neither clearly leads. CargoSmart starts at Free and Descartes MacroPoint at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CargoSmart or Descartes MacroPoint?
CargoSmart has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CargoSmart and On request for Descartes MacroPoint.
Does CargoSmart or Descartes MacroPoint run on more platforms?
CargoSmart runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. Descartes MacroPoint runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use CargoSmart for free?
Yes. CargoSmart has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Descartes MacroPoint 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 Descartes MacroPoint is typically brought in for.
What can CargoSmart do that Descartes MacroPoint cannot?
CargoSmart covers Real-time tracking, ETA predictions, Exception management, Carbon tracking. Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, Multi-source tracking, Predictive ETA, Exception alerts.

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
Descartes MacroPoint: How is MacroPoint priced?

Per tracked load, varying by mode and volume, quoted per customer. Nothing is published as a list price.

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
Descartes MacroPoint: What happens when a carrier has no telematics?

A driver mobile app is used as a fallback, which depends on the driver agreeing to share location.

Descartes MacroPoint: Is it only North American trucking?

No, it covers ocean, rail, LTL and parcel too, but truckload in North America is where coverage is strongest.

Descartes MacroPoint: Who owns it?

Descartes Systems Group, which acquired MacroPoint in 2017 and retains it as a named product.

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