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Logistics · head to head

Descartes MacroPoint vs Easyship

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
Easyship logo

Easyship

Logistics

Multi-carrier shipping software for e-commerce and business

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Easyship 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  • Each has a real cost: Descartes MacroPoint pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating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.; Easyship exact paid plan prices and shipment volume caps are not clearly published on the main pricing page, requiring users to dig through support articles.
  • They diverge on capability: Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, Easyship covers Discounted shipping rates.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Descartes MacroPoint and Easyship differ
AttributeDescartes MacroPointEasyship
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Androidweb, api
FoundedUnknown2014

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 Easyship

  • Discounted shipping rates
  • Multi-carrier rate comparison
  • Shipping automation rules
  • Tax and duty calculation
  • Live checkout rates
  • Branded tracking
  • Platform integrations
  • 3PL fulfillment network

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

Easyship

  • Comparing shipping rates across multiple couriersnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Automating international customs and duty calculationnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Displaying live shipping rates at online store checkoutnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Batch printing shipping labels for high order volumesnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Outsourcing fulfillment to a global 3PL warehouse networknot 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.

Easyship

  • Exact paid plan prices and shipment volume caps are not clearly published on the main pricing page, requiring users to dig through support articles.
  • Discounted courier rates depend on Easyship's negotiated carrier relationships, which vary by region and may not beat a merchant's own carrier account rates.
  • Advanced features like tax/duty display at checkout and multi-box shipping are gated behind higher-tier paid plans.
  • 24/7 phone support is only available on the Premier plan and above, leaving lower-tier users with limited support channels.

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

Easyship

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Discounted shipping rates
    • Intelligent courier selection
    • Import tax and duty calculation
  • Plus$29/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Shipping rates at checkout
    • Link your own courier account
  • Premier$69/month
    • Everything in Plus
    • Display tax and duty at checkout
    • Pre-generated return labels
  • Scale$99/month
    • Higher shipment volumes
    • Advanced automation
    • Priority support

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 Easyship if

  • You need discounted shipping rates.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want multi-carrier rate comparison.
Easyship review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes MacroPoint or Easyship better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and Easyship at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes MacroPoint or Easyship?
Easyship has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Descartes MacroPoint and Free for Easyship.
Does Descartes MacroPoint or Easyship run on more platforms?
Descartes MacroPoint runs on Web, iOS, Android. Easyship runs on web, api.
Can I use Easyship for free?
Yes. Easyship 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 Easyship is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes MacroPoint do that Easyship cannot?
Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, Multi-source tracking, Predictive ETA, Exception alerts. Easyship covers Discounted shipping rates, Multi-carrier rate comparison, Shipping automation rules, Tax and duty calculation.

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.

Easyship: What does Easyship cost?

Easyship has a Free plan, plus paid Plus and Premier plans with a 14-day free trial (annual billing gives 20% off), and a custom-priced Enterprise plan for high-volume shippers.

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.

Easyship: Is there a free plan?

Yes, the Free plan is free forever with no credit card required, and includes discounted shipping rates, intelligent courier selection, import tax and duty calculation, and smart box selection.

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.

Easyship: What extra features come with Plus and Premier?

Plus adds shipping rates at checkout, linking your own courier accounts, auto-sync orders, and live chat support. Premier adds tax and duty display at checkout, pre-generated return labels, multi-box shipping, and 24/7 phone support.

Source
Descartes MacroPoint: Who owns it?

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

Easyship: What does the Enterprise plan offer?

Enterprise is custom-priced for businesses shipping 5,000+ orders a month, and includes access to a global 3PL fulfillment network and personalized onboarding.

Source
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