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Logistics · head to head

Descartes MacroPoint vs EasyPost

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
EasyPost logo

EasyPost

Logistics

Shipping API for labels, rate shopping and tracking across 100+ carriers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only EasyPost 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  • Each has a real cost: Descartes MacroPoint pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating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.; EasyPost enterprise shipping solutions (Forge, GlobalShip) and many analytics products require contacting sales
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Descartes MacroPoint and EasyPost differ
AttributeDescartes MacroPointEasyPost
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteusage-based
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 EasyPost

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 EasyPost
  • A shipper wanting one tracking view across dozens of carriers rather than a portal per carriernot EasyPost
  • A 3PL measuring carrier performance on dwell and on-time arrival with data the carrier cannot disputenot EasyPost
  • An operation replacing check calls, where the labour saving alone justifies the per-load feenot EasyPost

EasyPost

  • Comparing carrier rates and purchasing discounted postage in one dashboardnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Tracking multi-carrier package deliveries without separate carrier portalsnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Automating shipping label creation and address verificationnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Consolidating and load planning shipments for efficient packingnot 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.

EasyPost

  • Enterprise shipping solutions (Forge, GlobalShip) and many analytics products require contacting sales
  • Different product lines have different pricing models (freemium, subscription, usage-based)

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

EasyPost

Free
  • EasyPost Suite Free TierFree
    • Up to 3,000 labels with wallet carriers (postage excluded)
    • Access to EasyPost Suite shipping solutions
  • EasyPost Suite BYOCA (Bring Your Own Carrier Account)$20/month
    • $20/month subscription plus per-label fees
    • Use your own carrier accounts
  • Tracking API$0.01/per shipment
    • Basic tracking: $0.01-$0.03 per shipment
    • Advanced Tracking: $0.03 per shipment
  • Insurance & Protection API$null/usage-based
    • 1% of shipment value with $1.00 minimum charge per shipment

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 EasyPost if

  • You want to start without paying.
EasyPost review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes MacroPoint or EasyPost better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and EasyPost at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes MacroPoint or EasyPost?
EasyPost has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Descartes MacroPoint and Free for EasyPost.
Does Descartes MacroPoint or EasyPost run on more platforms?
Descartes MacroPoint runs on Web, iOS, Android. EasyPost runs on Web.
Can I use EasyPost for free?
Yes. EasyPost 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 EasyPost is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes MacroPoint do that EasyPost 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.

EasyPost: Does EasyPost offer a free plan?

Yes, EasyPost Suite offers a free tier with up to 3,000 labels per month using wallet carriers (postage is not included in the free tier; customers pay carrier rates separately).

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.

EasyPost: What is EasyPost's tracking API cost?

EasyPost's Tracking API costs $0.01-$0.03 per shipment for basic tracking. Advanced Tracking costs $0.03 per shipment.

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.

EasyPost: How much does shipment insurance cost on EasyPost?

Shipment insurance costs 1% of the shipment value with a minimum charge of $1.00 per shipment.

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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