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Logistics · head to head

Descartes MacroPoint vs ShipEngine

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
ShipEngine logo

ShipEngine

Logistics

Shipping API for labels, carrier rates and address validation across 200+ carriers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ShipEngine 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  • Each has a real cost: Descartes MacroPoint pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating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.; ShipEngine free plan limited to sandbox access, not production use
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Descartes MacroPoint and ShipEngine differ
AttributeDescartes MacroPointShipEngine
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb

Identical on both: 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 ShipEngine

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

ShipEngine

  • Comparing rates across 100+ carriers for optimal pricingnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Creating shipping labels and managing manifests at scalenot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Validating addresses to reduce failed deliveriesnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Consolidating orders from multiple ecommerce channelsnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Tracking parcels with webhook notifications for automationnot 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.

ShipEngine

  • Free plan limited to sandbox access, not production use
  • Enterprise plan requires custom pricing for high-volume users with 25,000+ monthly shipments

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

ShipEngine

Free
  • FreeFree
    • sandbox access
    • discounted carrier rates
    • analytics
  • Advanced$75/month
    • carrier account management
    • address validation
    • PUDO location search
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • minimum 25,000+ shipments monthly
    • custom billing
    • higher rate limits

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 ShipEngine if

  • You want to start without paying.
ShipEngine review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes MacroPoint or ShipEngine better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and ShipEngine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes MacroPoint or ShipEngine?
ShipEngine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Descartes MacroPoint and Free for ShipEngine.
Does Descartes MacroPoint or ShipEngine run on more platforms?
Descartes MacroPoint runs on Web, iOS, Android. ShipEngine runs on Web.
Can I use ShipEngine for free?
Yes. ShipEngine 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 ShipEngine is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes MacroPoint do that ShipEngine 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.

ShipEngine: How much does ShipEngine cost?

ShipEngine offers a free plan, an Advanced plan starting at $75/month, and Enterprise with custom pricing. Advanced plan includes label tier pricing from $0.075 to $0.060 per label depending on volume.

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.

ShipEngine: What does ShipEngine's free plan include?

ShipEngine's free plan includes sandbox access for testing, discounted carrier rates, analytics, label creation, rate comparison tools, tracking capabilities, and webhook support.

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.

ShipEngine: How does ShipEngine charge for label overages?

ShipEngine's Advanced plan includes monthly label allowances from 1,000 to 10,000 labels. Overages beyond the monthly tier are charged at $0.075 per label (1,000 tier), $0.065 (5,000 tier), or $0.060 (10,000 tier).

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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