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Logistics · head to head

Descartes MacroPoint vs ShipMonk

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
ShipMonk logo

ShipMonk

Logistics

Third-party logistics fulfillment for direct-to-consumer ecommerce brands

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  • Each has a real cost: Descartes MacroPoint pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating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

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Descartes MacroPoint and ShipMonk differ
AttributeDescartes MacroPointShipMonk
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), 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 ShipMonk

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

ShipMonk

  • Processing returns with customizable workflows and per-carton feesnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Managing special projects like inventory counting and labelingnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Adding gift messages for personalized unboxing experiencesnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Wrapping delicate items with specialized packaging materialsnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Fulfilling international orders across 200+ countriesnot 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.

ShipMonk

  • No published pricing available; all costs require custom quote request based on order volume
  • Monthly minimum charge calculated by multiplying projected monthly order volume by first-item pick fee, then reduced by 20%

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

ShipMonk

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the ShipMonk 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 ShipMonk if

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

ShipMonk review

Questions people ask

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

ShipMonk: How much does ShipMonk cost?

ShipMonk uses quote-based custom pricing calculated from storage fees, fulfillment fees based on order volume, variable shipping rates, and special project charges. A monthly minimum applies based on projected monthly order 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.

ShipMonk: What fees does ShipMonk charge?

ShipMonk charges fees for storage (based on size, sales, quantity), fulfillment (pick-and-pack, receiving, returns), shipping (based on weight, dimensions, destination), and special projects. Platform and onboarding fees are included in custom quotes.

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.

ShipMonk: What additional services cost extra with ShipMonk?

ShipMonk charges separate fees for returns processing per carton, gift messaging with standard or custom cards, fragile wrapping based on product dimensions, lot control tracking per carton, and non-palletized container unloading based on container size.

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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