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Logistics · head to head

Descartes MacroPoint vs Onfleet

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
Onfleet logo

Onfleet

Logistics

Last-mile delivery management with route optimization and driver dispatch

From
$619/month
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  • Each has a real cost: Descartes MacroPoint pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating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.; Onfleet sMS/voice telephony billed separately based on usage and country rates
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Descartes MacroPoint and Onfleet differ
AttributeDescartes MacroPointOnfleet
Starting priceOn request$619/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb

Identical on both: 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 Onfleet

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

Onfleet

  • Optimizing delivery routes to increase driver capacity and efficiencynot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Tracking deliveries in real-time with accurate customer ETAsnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Capturing proof of delivery with photos and signature verificationnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Coordinating deliveries across healthcare, food, and specialty sectorsnot 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.

Onfleet

  • SMS/voice telephony billed separately based on usage and country rates
  • No annual discount offered; monthly billing 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

Onfleet

$619/month
  • LAUNCH$619/month
    • Up to 2,500 tasks/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Basic route optimization
  • SCALE$1349/month
    • Up to 5,000 tasks/month
    • Everything in LAUNCH plus:
    • Barcode scanning
  • ENTERPRISE$3099/month
    • 10,000+ tasks/month
    • Everything in SCALE plus:
    • Multi-region support
  • Courier Suite Add-on$299/month
    • Customizable service and rates
    • Client portals
    • Automated order intake

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 Onfleet if

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

Onfleet review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes MacroPoint or Onfleet better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and Onfleet at $619/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes MacroPoint or Onfleet?
Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and Onfleet at $619/month.
Does Descartes MacroPoint or Onfleet run on more platforms?
Descartes MacroPoint runs on Web, iOS, Android. Onfleet 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 Onfleet is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes MacroPoint do that Onfleet 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.

Onfleet: How much does Onfleet cost?

Onfleet pricing starts at $619/month for the LAUNCH plan (up to 2,500 tasks), $1,349/month for SCALE (up to 5,000 tasks), and $3,099/month for ENTERPRISE (10,000+ tasks). All plans include unlimited users.

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.

Onfleet: What tasks are included in each Onfleet plan?

LAUNCH includes up to 2,500 tasks/month, SCALE includes up to 5,000 tasks/month, and ENTERPRISE includes 10,000+ tasks/month. Tasks are counted as deliveries or pickups.

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.

Onfleet: Does Onfleet charge for SMS and voice?

Yes, SMS and voice telephony are billed separately on a usage basis, with rates varying by country. Charges are applied monthly to your invoice.

Source
Descartes MacroPoint: Who owns it?

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

Onfleet: Does Onfleet offer a free trial?

Onfleet offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required until you select a plan.

Source
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