Softwr

Maritime · head to head

CargoSmart vs Shipwell

CargoSmart logo

CargoSmart

Maritime

Global shipment visibility and intelligence

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shipwell logo

Shipwell

Logistics

Cloud transportation management with a built-in carrier network, sold on freight volume not seats

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; Shipwell pricing is not published and is set on freight volume, so the cost rises through a peak season regardless of how much anyone uses the software.
  • They diverge on capability: CargoSmart covers ETA predictions, Shipwell covers Rate shopping.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CargoSmart and Shipwell actually diverge.

Attributes where CargoSmart and Shipwell differ
AttributeCargoSmartShipwell
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
CategoryMaritimeLogistics
Founded2000Unknown

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android, Api), 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

  • ETA predictions
  • Exception management
  • Carbon tracking
  • SAP TM
  • Oracle
  • Shipping lines
  • TMS
  • Web support

Only in Shipwell

  • Rate shopping
  • Automated tendering
  • Freight audit and pay
  • Carrier network
  • Analytics

Both cover

  • Real-time tracking

What people use each for

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

CargoSmart

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

Shipwell

  • A mid-market shipper running truckload tenders on spreadsheets and emailnot CargoSmart
  • A broker replacing a legacy operating system without building one in-housenot CargoSmart
  • A manufacturer that needs proof of delivery and exception alerts pushed into its ERPnot CargoSmart
  • A logistics team that wants freight audit to catch accessorial overbilling automaticallynot 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

Shipwell

  • Pricing is not published and is set on freight volume, so the cost rises through a peak season regardless of how much anyone uses the software.
  • Shipwell operates a carrier network as well as the TMS, so the vendor running your tender is also a bidder in it, which weakens the neutrality a competitive sourcing process depends on.
  • Coverage is heavily North American, and international ocean, air and customs handling is thin compared with a forwarder-grade platform.
  • ERP and WMS integrations turn deployment into a project with its own cost and timeline rather than a configuration exercise.
  • The company is small relative to the enterprise TMS incumbents, which matters for a system that sits in the path of every shipment if support or roadmap continuity slips.

Pricing, plan by plan

CargoSmart

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

Shipwell

On request
  • Shipwell TMS$undefined/year
    • Annual contract priced on freight volume
    • Rate shopping, tendering and tracking
    • Freight audit and payment

Which should you pick?

Choose CargoSmart if

  • You need eta predictions.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want exception management.
CargoSmart review

Choose Shipwell if

  • You need rate shopping.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
  • You also want automated tendering.
Shipwell review

Questions people ask

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

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
Shipwell: How much does Shipwell cost?

It is not published. Contracts are annual and priced on freight volume; third-party listings suggest entry engagements around $1,000 a month, which should be treated as indicative only.

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
Shipwell: Does Shipwell broker freight as well as sell software?

Yes. It operates its own carrier network alongside the TMS, which speeds up sourcing but means the platform provider also competes for your loads.

Shipwell: Is it suitable for international freight?

It is built around North American truckload and LTL. International ocean and air handling is limited.

Shipwell: Is there a free trial?

No. Deployment involves configuration and integration work, so evaluation happens through a demo and a scoped implementation.

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