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Logistics · head to head

Descartes MacroPoint vs Detrack

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
Detrack logo

Detrack

Logistics

Delivery management billed per driver with proof of delivery and route tracking

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Detrack has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Descartes MacroPoint pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating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.; Detrack pricing is per driver, not per user account
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Descartes MacroPoint and Detrack differ
AttributeDescartes MacroPointDetrack
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
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 MacroPoint

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

Only in Detrack

Nothing recorded that Descartes MacroPoint does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Descartes MacroPoint

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

Detrack

  • Last-mile delivery trackingnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Field service dispatchnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Customer delivery notificationsnot Descartes MacroPoint

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Detrack

  • Pricing is per driver, not per user account
  • No published free tier; 14-day free trial only

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Detrack

Free
  • Pro$29/month
    • Per driver pricing
    • Proof of delivery
    • Driver tracking
  • Advanced$39/month
    • Per driver pricing
    • All Pro features
    • Route optimization

Which should you pick?

Choose Descartes MacroPoint if

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

Choose Detrack if

  • You want to start without paying.
Detrack review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes MacroPoint or Detrack better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and Detrack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes MacroPoint or Detrack?
Detrack has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Descartes MacroPoint and Free for Detrack.
Does Descartes MacroPoint or Detrack run on more platforms?
Descartes MacroPoint runs on Web, iOS, Android. Detrack runs on Web.
Can I use Detrack for free?
Yes. Detrack has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request.
What is Descartes MacroPoint best used for?
Descartes MacroPoint is most often used for a freight broker whose largest customer has made tracking compliance a contract condition, a shipper wanting one tracking view across dozens of carriers rather than a portal per carrier, a 3pl measuring carrier performance on dwell and on-time arrival with data the carrier cannot dispute, an operation replacing check calls, where the labour saving alone justifies the per-load fee. Of those, a freight broker whose largest customer has made tracking compliance a contract condition and a shipper wanting one tracking view across dozens of carriers rather than a portal per carrier are not what Detrack is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes MacroPoint do that Detrack cannot?
Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, Multi-source tracking, Predictive ETA, Exception alerts.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Descartes MacroPoint: How is MacroPoint priced?

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

Detrack: How much does Detrack cost?

Detrack charges $29/driver/month for Pro and $39/driver/month for Advanced, with 10% annual discounts and a 14-day free trial available.

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.

Detrack: Does Detrack charge per office user?

No, Detrack charges only per driver. Office staff including dispatchers, admins, and managers are unlimited and free.

Source
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.

Detrack: What are Detrack's key pricing differences between Pro and Advanced?

Pro at $29/driver/month includes proof of delivery and tracking. Advanced at $39/driver/month adds route optimization, vehicle safety checks, and advanced analytics.

Source
Descartes MacroPoint: Who owns it?

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

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