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Logistics · head to head

Descartes MacroPoint vs Locate2u

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
Locate2u logo

Locate2u

Logistics

One platform fee for route optimization, fleet visibility and proof of delivery

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Descartes MacroPoint pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating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.; Locate2u pricing quoted in AUD, not USD, requiring currency conversion for US customers
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Descartes MacroPoint and Locate2u actually diverge.

Attributes where Descartes MacroPoint and Locate2u differ
AttributeDescartes MacroPointLocate2u
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), 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 Locate2u

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 Locate2u
  • A shipper wanting one tracking view across dozens of carriers rather than a portal per carriernot Locate2u
  • A 3PL measuring carrier performance on dwell and on-time arrival with data the carrier cannot disputenot Locate2u
  • An operation replacing check calls, where the labour saving alone justifies the per-load feenot Locate2u

Locate2u

  • Planning optimized multi-stop routes in secondsnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Real-time GPS fleet visibility and trackingnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Proof of delivery via signature and photo capturenot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Branded customer tracking and automated 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.

Locate2u

  • Pricing quoted in AUD, not USD, requiring currency conversion for US customers
  • Starting price is AUD 1,100/month (approximately USD 730), significantly higher than many competitors

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

Locate2u

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Locate2u review.

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 Locate2u if

Nothing in the data separates Locate2u from Descartes MacroPoint on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Locate2u review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes MacroPoint or Locate2u better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and Locate2u at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes MacroPoint or Locate2u?
Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and Locate2u at On request.
Does Descartes MacroPoint or Locate2u run on more platforms?
Descartes MacroPoint runs on Web, iOS, Android. Locate2u runs on Web.
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 Locate2u is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes MacroPoint do that Locate2u 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.

Locate2u: How much does Locate2u cost?

Locate2u's Platform plan starts at AUD 1,100/month (approximately USD 730) and scales with functionality. The Enterprise plan requires a custom quote. Optional modules for AI Agents, White Label, and API/Integrations are priced 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.

Locate2u: Does Locate2u offer a free trial?

Yes, Locate2u offers a free trial period with no credit card required and full feature access to evaluate the platform before committing to a paid plan.

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.

Locate2u: Are there additional costs for Locate2u add-ons?

Yes, optional modules are priced separately including AI Agents for dispatch and customer service, White Label custom branding, and API/Integrations for REST API and webhooks. All modules can be added to either Platform or Enterprise plans.

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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