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Logistics · head to head

Descartes MacroPoint vs ShipHero

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
ShipHero logo

ShipHero

Logistics

Warehouse management for e-commerce

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  • Each has a real cost: Descartes MacroPoint pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating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.; ShipHero pricing details not disclosed on public website; requires contacting sales
  • They diverge on capability: Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, ShipHero covers Warehouse management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Descartes MacroPoint and ShipHero differ
AttributeDescartes MacroPointShipHero
Pricing modelquoteUnknown
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
FoundedUnknown2013

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 ShipHero

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

ShipHero

  • Multi-carrier shipping with live rate shopping (UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL)not Descartes MacroPoint
  • Warehouse management with picking, packing, and returns automationnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Labour management and workforce performance trackingnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Integration with major e-commerce platforms (Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, TikTok Shop)not 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.

ShipHero

  • Pricing details not disclosed on public website; requires contacting sales
  • No published technical system requirements or browser compatibility specifications
  • Custom quote model requires enterprise sales engagement for pricing transparency

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

ShipHero

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the ShipHero 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 ShipHero if

  • You need warehouse management.
  • You also want pick/pack/ship.
ShipHero review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes MacroPoint or ShipHero better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and ShipHero at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes MacroPoint or ShipHero?
Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and ShipHero at On request.
Does Descartes MacroPoint or ShipHero run on more platforms?
Descartes MacroPoint runs on Web, iOS, Android. ShipHero 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 ShipHero is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes MacroPoint do that ShipHero cannot?
Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, Multi-source tracking, Predictive ETA, Exception alerts. ShipHero covers Warehouse management, Pick/pack/ship, Inventory tracking, Automation rules.

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.

ShipHero: What is ShipHero's pricing model?

ShipHero does not publish pricing on its homepage. The company uses a direct sales model, directing customers to book a demo or contact their sales team at [email protected] to discuss pricing.

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.

ShipHero: Is ShipHero expensive?

ShipHero states that the solution to warehouse inefficiency is not as expensive as you might think, suggesting competitive pricing. However, specific costs require contacting sales.

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.

ShipHero: Can I try ShipHero before committing?

The site does not mention a free trial. To evaluate ShipHero, customers must schedule a demo with the sales team.

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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