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Logistics · head to head

Descartes MacroPoint vs Freightos

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
Freightos logo

Freightos

Maritime

Digital freight marketplace and rates

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Freightos 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  • Each has a real cost: Descartes MacroPoint pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating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.; Freightos no pricing, fees or commissions are published anywhere on the pricing page
  • They diverge on capability: Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, Freightos covers Instant quotes.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Descartes MacroPoint and Freightos differ
AttributeDescartes MacroPointFreightos
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Api
CategoryLogisticsMaritime
FoundedUnknown2012

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Freightos

  • Instant quotes
  • Online booking
  • Shipment tracking
  • Rate comparison
  • ERP systems
  • E-commerce platforms
  • TMS
  • Web support

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

Freightos

  • Comparing freight quotes from multiple forwarders in one placenot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Booking international freight online rather than by email quotenot 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.

Freightos

  • No pricing, fees or commissions are published anywhere on the pricing page
  • Rates and costs are only visible after signing up to the platform

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

Freightos

Free
  • Enterprise$500/month
    • Bulk pricing
    • API access
    • Custom integrations

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 Freightos if

  • You need instant quotes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want online booking.
Freightos review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes MacroPoint or Freightos better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and Freightos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes MacroPoint or Freightos?
Freightos has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Descartes MacroPoint and Free for Freightos.
Does Descartes MacroPoint or Freightos run on more platforms?
Descartes MacroPoint runs on Web, iOS, Android. Freightos runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Freightos for free?
Yes. Freightos 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 Freightos is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes MacroPoint do that Freightos cannot?
Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, Multi-source tracking, Predictive ETA, Exception alerts. Freightos covers Instant quotes, Online booking, Shipment tracking, Rate comparison.

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.

Freightos: Does Freightos charge shippers a subscription fee or booking commission?

Freightos does not charge shippers directly. Instead, Freightos takes a small percentage from freight providers (carriers), though the exact percentage is not published on their site.

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.

Freightos: How does Freightos generate revenue if shippers do not pay subscription fees?

Freightos operates as a marketplace taking a percentage commission from freight providers on each transaction, not from the end-user shippers.

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.

Freightos: Is there a cost to create an account and get freight quotes on Freightos?

No. Freightos users can instantly compare and get quotes for free. Shippers only pay freight providers directly for selected shipments, with Freightos taking its commission from providers.

Source
Descartes MacroPoint: Who owns it?

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

Freightos: What enterprise solutions does Freightos offer beyond the marketplace?

Freightos offers enterprise solutions that are fully modular, allowing customers to start with one solution and expand as needed. Specific pricing and features are available by requesting a demo.

Source
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