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Logistics · head to head

Descartes Aljex vs ShipMonk

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Descartes Aljex

Logistics

Freight brokerage TMS with published plan pricing, from 699 dollars a month for five users

From
$699/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ShipMonk logo

ShipMonk

Logistics

Third-party logistics fulfillment for direct-to-consumer ecommerce brands

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Descartes Aljex customer EDI connections are metered by tier, with none on Essential, one on Professional and two on Enterprise, so a broker onboarding several EDI shippers pays above the published plan price.; ShipMonk no published pricing available; all costs require custom quote request based on order volume
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Descartes Aljex and ShipMonk actually diverge.

Attributes where Descartes Aljex and ShipMonk differ
AttributeDescartes AljexShipMonk
Starting price$699/monthOn request
Pricing modelPer month by planquote
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Descartes Aljex

  • Published plan pricing
  • Load entry and dispatch
  • Carrier vetting
  • Lane pricing
  • Tracking integrations
  • Brokerage accounting
  • Agent security
  • Customer EDI

Only in ShipMonk

Nothing recorded that Descartes Aljex does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Descartes Aljex

  • A five-person brokerage that needs to know its monthly software cost before committing rather than after a discovery callnot ShipMonk
  • An agent-based brokerage that must stop agents seeing each other customers and marginsnot ShipMonk
  • A growing broker moving off spreadsheets and email who wants load boards, tracking and carrier vetting already connectednot ShipMonk
  • A 3PL needing brokerage settlement and QuickBooks accounting without a separate finance integration projectnot ShipMonk

ShipMonk

  • Processing returns with customizable workflows and per-carton feesnot Descartes Aljex
  • Managing special projects like inventory counting and labelingnot Descartes Aljex
  • Adding gift messages for personalized unboxing experiencesnot Descartes Aljex
  • Wrapping delicate items with specialized packaging materialsnot Descartes Aljex
  • Fulfilling international orders across 200+ countriesnot Descartes Aljex

Where each one falls short

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

Descartes Aljex

  • Customer EDI connections are metered by tier, with none on Essential, one on Professional and two on Enterprise, so a broker onboarding several EDI shippers pays above the published plan price.
  • The one-time implementation fee is not published at any tier, so the advertised monthly price is not the first-year cost.
  • User counts are bundled per tier, which means growing from five to six users on Essential forces a jump to the 999 dollar Professional plan rather than adding one seat.
  • It is a domestic brokerage system with no forwarding or customs capability, so any international freight work requires a second platform.
  • Descartes is an acquisitive group with several overlapping transportation products, so Aljex customers depend on portfolio decisions about which brokerage product receives investment.

ShipMonk

  • No published pricing available; all costs require custom quote request based on order volume
  • Monthly minimum charge calculated by multiplying projected monthly order volume by first-item pick fee, then reduced by 20%

Pricing, plan by plan

Descartes Aljex

$699/month
  • Essential$699/month
    • Five users included
    • Unlimited shipments
    • MacroPoint, MyCarrierPortal, load boards, ProMiles, QuickBooks and DAT RateView
  • Professional$999/month
    • Fifteen users included
    • Unlimited shipments and carrier profiles
    • Ten hours of support and training
  • Enterprise$2375/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Fifteen hours of support and training
    • Ninety-day hypercare period

ShipMonk

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the ShipMonk review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Descartes Aljex if

  • You need published plan pricing.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want load entry and dispatch.
Descartes Aljex review

Choose ShipMonk if

Nothing in the data separates ShipMonk from Descartes Aljex on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

ShipMonk review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes Aljex or ShipMonk better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes Aljex starts at $699/month and ShipMonk at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes Aljex or ShipMonk?
Descartes Aljex starts at $699/month and ShipMonk at On request.
Does Descartes Aljex or ShipMonk run on more platforms?
Descartes Aljex runs on Web, iOS, Android. ShipMonk runs on Web.
What is Descartes Aljex best used for?
Descartes Aljex is most often used for a five-person brokerage that needs to know its monthly software cost before committing rather than after a discovery call, an agent-based brokerage that must stop agents seeing each other customers and margins, a growing broker moving off spreadsheets and email who wants load boards, tracking and carrier vetting already connected, a 3pl needing brokerage settlement and quickbooks accounting without a separate finance integration project. Of those, a five-person brokerage that needs to know its monthly software cost before committing rather than after a discovery call and an agent-based brokerage that must stop agents seeing each other customers and margins are not what ShipMonk is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes Aljex do that ShipMonk cannot?
Descartes Aljex covers Published plan pricing, Load entry and dispatch, Carrier vetting, Lane pricing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Descartes Aljex: What does it cost?

Essential is 699 USD a month for five users, Professional from 999 USD for fifteen, Enterprise from 2,375 USD for unlimited users, plus a one-time implementation fee.

ShipMonk: How much does ShipMonk cost?

ShipMonk uses quote-based custom pricing calculated from storage fees, fulfillment fees based on order volume, variable shipping rates, and special project charges. A monthly minimum applies based on projected monthly order volume.

Source
Descartes Aljex: Is it priced per user?

No. Users are bundled into each tier, so cost steps up between plans rather than per seat.

ShipMonk: What fees does ShipMonk charge?

ShipMonk charges fees for storage (based on size, sales, quantity), fulfillment (pick-and-pack, receiving, returns), shipping (based on weight, dimensions, destination), and special projects. Platform and onboarding fees are included in custom quotes.

Source
Descartes Aljex: Are EDI connections included?

One on Professional and two on Enterprise. Essential includes none, and additional connections cost extra.

ShipMonk: What additional services cost extra with ShipMonk?

ShipMonk charges separate fees for returns processing per carton, gift messaging with standard or custom cards, fragile wrapping based on product dimensions, lot control tracking per carton, and non-palletized container unloading based on container size.

Source
Descartes Aljex: Can it handle international freight?

No. It is a domestic brokerage TMS with no customs or forwarding functionality.

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