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Logistics · head to head

Descartes MacroPoint vs Shippo

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
Shippo logo

Shippo

Logistics

Shipping software for comparing rates and printing discounted labels

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Shippo 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  • Each has a real cost: Descartes MacroPoint pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating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.; Shippo premier tier requires contacting sales for custom pricing
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Descartes MacroPoint and Shippo differ
AttributeDescartes MacroPointShippo
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 Shippo

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

Shippo

  • Comparing rates within seconds across 40+ carriersnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Generating return labels to streamline returns processnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Handling international shipping with customs forms generationnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Creating and printing bulk labels via CSV importnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Tracking shipments with automated customer notificationsnot 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.

Shippo

  • Premier tier requires contacting sales for custom pricing
  • Address validation charges vary by tier ($0.09 Starter, $0.08 Pro, $0.06 Premier per non-US lookup)

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

Shippo

Free
  • StarterFree
    • up to 30 labels per month
    • 1 user login
    • connect own carrier account at $0.05/label
  • Pro$17/month
    • scales from 1-10,000 labels per month
    • up to 5 user logins
    • free carrier account connections
  • Premier$null/custom
    • unlimited shipments
    • 15+ user logins
    • dedicated account manager

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 Shippo if

  • You want to start without paying.
Shippo review

Questions people ask

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

Shippo: How much does Shippo cost?

Shippo's Starter free plan includes 30 labels per month. Pro is $17/month or $205/year with a 10% discount. Premier plan requires contacting sales for custom 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.

Shippo: What is included in Shippo's free Starter plan?

Shippo Starter free tier includes up to 30 labels per month, 1 user login, and the ability to connect your own carrier account with a charge of $0.05 per label.

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.

Shippo: What additional costs does Shippo charge beyond the subscription?

Beyond subscription fees, Shippo charges for postage (carrier rates with Shippo discounts), optional insurance, address validation ($0.09 for Starter, $0.08 for Pro, $0.06 for Premier per non-US lookup), and label overages at $0.08 per label beyond 10,000/month on Pro 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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