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Logistics · head to head

Descartes MacroPoint vs project44

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
project44 logo

project44

Maritime

Leading supply chain visibility platform

From
$2500/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  • Each has a real cost: Descartes MacroPoint pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating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.; project44 no pricing published; requires demo and direct sales contact to discuss costs
  • They diverge on capability: Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, project44 covers Real-time tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Descartes MacroPoint and project44 actually diverge.

Attributes where Descartes MacroPoint and project44 differ
AttributeDescartes MacroPointproject44
Starting priceOn request$2500/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Api
CategoryLogisticsMaritime
FoundedUnknown2014

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 project44

  • Real-time tracking
  • AI ETAs
  • Exception management
  • Carrier performance
  • SAP TM
  • Oracle
  • Blue Yonder
  • Descartes

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 project44
  • A shipper wanting one tracking view across dozens of carriers rather than a portal per carriernot project44
  • A 3PL measuring carrier performance on dwell and on-time arrival with data the carrier cannot disputenot project44
  • An operation replacing check calls, where the labour saving alone justifies the per-load feenot project44

project44

  • Shipment visibility and trackingnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Supply chain visibility platformnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Logistics monitoringnot 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.

project44

  • No pricing published; requires demo and direct sales contact to discuss costs

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

project44

$2500/month
  • Intelligence$6000/month
    • AI-powered ETAs
    • Exception management
    • Analytics

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 project44 if

  • You need real-time tracking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want ai etas.
project44 review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes MacroPoint or project44 better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and project44 at $2500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes MacroPoint or project44?
Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and project44 at $2500/month.
Does Descartes MacroPoint or project44 run on more platforms?
Descartes MacroPoint runs on Web, iOS, Android. project44 runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
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 project44 is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes MacroPoint do that project44 cannot?
Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, Multi-source tracking, Predictive ETA, Exception alerts. project44 covers Real-time tracking, AI ETAs, Exception management, Carrier performance.

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.

project44: How much does project44 cost?

project44 does not display pricing on its website. Prospective customers must contact the company or request a demo to receive pricing information and discuss specific business needs.

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.

project44: How can I request a project44 demo?

Visit the project44 website and select 'Get a demo' or 'Contact Us' to arrange a demonstration and pricing discussion with the sales team.

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.

Descartes MacroPoint: Who owns it?

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

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