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Logistics · head to head

Descartes MacroPoint vs ShipBob

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
ShipBob logo

ShipBob

Logistics

E-commerce fulfillment and logistics platform

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  • Each has a real cost: Descartes MacroPoint pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating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.; ShipBob no published pricing available; all costs require custom quote request
  • They diverge on capability: Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, ShipBob covers Fulfillment services.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Descartes MacroPoint and ShipBob differ
AttributeDescartes MacroPointShipBob
Pricing modelquoteUnknown
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, API
FoundedUnknown2014

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 ShipBob

  • Fulfillment services
  • Inventory management
  • Distributed warehousing
  • 2-day shipping
  • Shopify
  • Amazon
  • WooCommerce
  • BigCommerce

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

ShipBob

  • E-commerce order fulfillment and logisticsnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Multi-location inventory managementnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • 2-day shipping across continental United Statesnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Global shipping to 250+ destinationsnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • B2B and marketplace order fulfillmentnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Branded packaging and unboxing experiencesnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Returns managementnot 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.

ShipBob

  • No published pricing available; all costs require custom quote request
  • No free tier or free trial available

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

ShipBob

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the ShipBob 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 ShipBob if

  • You need fulfillment services.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want inventory management.
ShipBob review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes MacroPoint or ShipBob better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and ShipBob at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes MacroPoint or ShipBob?
Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and ShipBob at On request.
Does Descartes MacroPoint or ShipBob run on more platforms?
Descartes MacroPoint runs on Web, iOS, Android. ShipBob runs on Web, 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 ShipBob is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes MacroPoint do that ShipBob cannot?
Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, Multi-source tracking, Predictive ETA, Exception alerts. ShipBob covers Fulfillment services, Inventory management, Distributed warehousing, 2-day shipping.

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.

ShipBob: How much does ShipBob cost?

ShipBob uses quote-based pricing reflective of total fulfillment costs including inventory receiving, warehousing, picking, packing, and shipping. Specific pricing requires submitting a custom quote form with business details.

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.

ShipBob: Is ShipBob software free?

Yes, ShipBob's software is completely free for all customers, as well as connecting all turnkey integrations. Customers only pay for fulfillment services and shipping costs.

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.

ShipBob: What additional services can incur fees with ShipBob?

Additional fees apply for specialized services including kitting, B2B/wholesale orders, EDI compliance, returns processing, custom packaging storage, branded boxes, and any services beyond standard fulfillment.

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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