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Logistics · head to head

Descartes MacroPoint vs ShipStation

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
ShipStation logo

ShipStation

Logistics

Multichannel order fulfillment software

From
$14.99/month
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  • Each has a real cost: Descartes MacroPoint pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating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.; ShipStation pricing is banded by monthly shipment volume, so the headline rate covers only the lowest 50 shipment band
  • They diverge on capability: Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, ShipStation covers Multichannel order management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Descartes MacroPoint and ShipStation differ
AttributeDescartes MacroPointShipStation
Starting priceOn request$14.99/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: 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 ShipStation

  • Multichannel order management
  • Batch label printing
  • Shipping automation
  • International shipping
  • Return management
  • Customer communication
  • Carrier integration
  • Real-time tracking

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

ShipStation

  • Printing shipping labels across multiple carriersnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Importing orders from marketplaces and stores for fulfilmentnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Automating shipping rules and batch label creationnot 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.

ShipStation

  • Pricing is banded by monthly shipment volume, so the headline rate covers only the lowest 50 shipment band
  • The Starter plan includes 3 users and does not allow buying additional users
  • Bringing your own carrier accounts and unlimited automations require the Standard plan
  • Purchase orders, scan to receive, forecasting and pick to tote require the Premium plan at $349.99 per month
  • Custom analytics and dedicated implementation are Premium only
  • The advertised 20% saving requires annual billing

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

ShipStation

$14.99/month
  • Starter$14.99/month
    • 3 users
    • basic automations
    • return labels
  • Standard$29.99/month
    • 10 users
    • unlimited automations
    • API access
  • Premium$349.99/month
    • 15 users
    • advanced inventory management
    • warehouse management

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 ShipStation if

  • You need multichannel order management.
  • You also want batch label printing.
ShipStation review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes MacroPoint or ShipStation better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and ShipStation at $14.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes MacroPoint or ShipStation?
Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and ShipStation at $14.99/month.
Does Descartes MacroPoint or ShipStation run on more platforms?
Descartes MacroPoint runs on Web, iOS, Android. ShipStation 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 ShipStation is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes MacroPoint do that ShipStation cannot?
Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, Multi-source tracking, Predictive ETA, Exception alerts. ShipStation covers Multichannel order management, Batch label printing, Shipping automation, International 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.

ShipStation: How much does ShipStation cost?

ShipStation's Starter plan begins at $14.99/month, Standard at $29.99/month, and Premium at $349.99/month. All plans offer 20% savings with annual billing and include a 30-day free trial.

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.

ShipStation: Does ShipStation offer a free trial?

Yes, ShipStation includes a 30-day free trial requiring no credit card for all three pricing tiers.

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.

ShipStation: How does ShipStation pricing vary by shipment volume?

ShipStation pricing is volume-based within each tier, scaling from 50 shipments/month up to 100,000+ shipments/month, with higher volumes commanding proportionally higher monthly fees.

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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