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Logistics · head to head

Descartes Aljex vs Shippo

D

Descartes Aljex

Logistics

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

From
$699/month
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: 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.; 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 Descartes Aljex and Shippo actually diverge.

Attributes where Descartes Aljex and Shippo differ
AttributeDescartes AljexShippo
Starting price$699/monthFree
Pricing modelPer month by planfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb

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 Descartes Aljex

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

Only in Shippo

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 Shippo
  • An agent-based brokerage that must stop agents seeing each other customers and marginsnot Shippo
  • A growing broker moving off spreadsheets and email who wants load boards, tracking and carrier vetting already connectednot Shippo
  • A 3PL needing brokerage settlement and QuickBooks accounting without a separate finance integration projectnot Shippo

Shippo

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

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

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

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 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 Shippo if

  • You want to start without paying.
Shippo review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes Aljex or Shippo better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes Aljex starts at $699/month and Shippo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes Aljex or Shippo?
Shippo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $699/month for Descartes Aljex and Free for Shippo.
Does Descartes Aljex or Shippo run on more platforms?
Descartes Aljex runs on Web, iOS, Android. Shippo runs on Web.
Can I use Shippo for free?
Yes. Shippo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Descartes Aljex starts at $699/month.
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 Shippo is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes Aljex do that Shippo 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.

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
Descartes Aljex: Is it priced per user?

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

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
Descartes Aljex: Are EDI connections included?

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

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
Descartes Aljex: Can it handle international freight?

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

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