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Logistics · head to head

CargoWise vs Shippo

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
Shippo logo

Shippo

Logistics

Shipping software for comparing rates and printing discounted labels

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Shippo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Shippo premier tier requires contacting sales for custom pricing
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CargoWise and Shippo actually diverge.

Attributes where CargoWise and Shippo differ
AttributeCargoWiseShippo
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Windows, CloudWeb

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

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 CargoWise

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

Only in Shippo

Nothing recorded that CargoWise does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

CargoWise

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

Shippo

  • Comparing rates within seconds across 40+ carriersnot CargoWise
  • Generating return labels to streamline returns processnot CargoWise
  • Handling international shipping with customs forms generationnot CargoWise
  • Creating and printing bulk labels via CSV importnot CargoWise
  • Tracking shipments with automated customer notificationsnot CargoWise

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Shippo

  • Premier tier requires contacting sales for custom pricing
  • Address validation charges vary by tier ($0.09 Starter, $0.08 Pro, $0.06 Premier per non-US lookup)

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Shippo

Free
  • StarterFree
    • up to 30 labels per month
    • 1 user login
    • connect own carrier account at $0.05/label
  • Pro$17/month
    • scales from 1-10,000 labels per month
    • up to 5 user logins
    • free carrier account connections
  • Premier$null/custom
    • unlimited shipments
    • 15+ user logins
    • dedicated account manager

Which should you pick?

Choose CargoWise if

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

Choose Shippo if

  • You want to start without paying.
Shippo review

Questions people ask

Is CargoWise or Shippo better?
Neither clearly leads. CargoWise starts at On request and Shippo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CargoWise or Shippo?
Shippo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for CargoWise and Free for Shippo.
Does CargoWise or Shippo run on more platforms?
CargoWise runs on Web, Windows, Cloud. Shippo runs on Web.
Can I use Shippo for free?
Yes. Shippo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CargoWise starts at On request.
What is CargoWise best used for?
CargoWise is most often used for a multinational forwarder wanting one shipment record across origin booking, customs clearance and destination delivery, a customs broker needing maintained regulatory content across many jurisdictions rather than building declarations in house, a 3pl consolidating forwarding, warehousing and financial accounting on one database, trading electronically with other cargowise users through the shared data interchange rather than building point-to-point edi. Of those, a multinational forwarder wanting one shipment record across origin booking, customs clearance and destination delivery and a customs broker needing maintained regulatory content across many jurisdictions rather than building declarations in house are not what Shippo is typically brought in for.
What can CargoWise do that Shippo cannot?
CargoWise covers Single global database, Customs compliance, Value Packs licensing, Forwarding operations.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Shippo: How much does Shippo cost?

Shippo's Starter free plan includes 30 labels per month. Pro is $17/month or $205/year with a 10% discount. Premier plan requires contacting sales for custom pricing.

Source
CargoWise: Are seat fees gone?

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

Shippo: What is included in Shippo's free Starter plan?

Shippo Starter free tier includes up to 30 labels per month, 1 user login, and the ability to connect your own carrier account with a charge of $0.05 per label.

Source
CargoWise: Does WiseTech publish prices?

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

Shippo: What additional costs does Shippo charge beyond the subscription?

Beyond subscription fees, Shippo charges for postage (carrier rates with Shippo discounts), optional insurance, address validation ($0.09 for Starter, $0.08 for Pro, $0.06 for Premier per non-US lookup), and label overages at $0.08 per label beyond 10,000/month on Pro tier.

Source
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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