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Logistics · head to head

Descartes MacroPoint vs Terminal49

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
Terminal49 logo

Terminal49

Maritime

Container tracking for freight forwarders

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Terminal49 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  • Each has a real cost: Descartes MacroPoint pricing is per tracked load and unpublished, and rates fall steeply with volume, so a small broker pays a much higher unit price than a large one for identical service and has little negotiating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.; Terminal49 aPI access and webhooks start at the Essential plan
  • They diverge on capability: Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, Terminal49 covers Automated tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Descartes MacroPoint and Terminal49 actually diverge.

Attributes where Descartes MacroPoint and Terminal49 differ
AttributeDescartes MacroPointTerminal49
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Api
CategoryLogisticsMaritime
FoundedUnknown2019

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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

Only in Terminal49

  • Automated tracking
  • Terminal appointments
  • Demurrage alerts
  • TMS platforms
  • Carrier websites
  • Terminal systems
  • Web support
  • Api support

Both cover

  • Customer portals

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 Terminal49
  • A shipper wanting one tracking view across dozens of carriers rather than a portal per carriernot Terminal49
  • A 3PL measuring carrier performance on dwell and on-time arrival with data the carrier cannot disputenot Terminal49
  • An operation replacing check calls, where the labour saving alone justifies the per-load feenot Terminal49

Terminal49

  • Tracking ocean containers and shipments across carriers and terminalsnot Descartes MacroPoint
  • Feeding container milestones into an internal system over an APInot 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.

Terminal49

  • API access and webhooks start at the Essential plan
  • The free plan is limited to 3 users and 50 document credits
  • The Lite and Complete plans require an annual contract
  • No plan above the free tier publishes a price, so every paid tier requires contacting sales

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

Terminal49

Free
  • Pro$299/month
    • Unlimited tracking
    • Terminal data
    • API access

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 Terminal49 if

  • You need automated tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want terminal appointments.
Terminal49 review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes MacroPoint or Terminal49 better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes MacroPoint starts at On request and Terminal49 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes MacroPoint or Terminal49?
Terminal49 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Descartes MacroPoint and Free for Terminal49.
Does Descartes MacroPoint or Terminal49 run on more platforms?
Descartes MacroPoint runs on Web, iOS, Android. Terminal49 runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Terminal49 for free?
Yes. Terminal49 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 Terminal49 is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes MacroPoint do that Terminal49 cannot?
Descartes MacroPoint covers Carrier network, Multi-source tracking, Predictive ETA, Exception alerts. Terminal49 covers Automated tracking, Terminal appointments, Demurrage alerts, TMS platforms. Both handle Customer portals.

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.

Terminal49: Is there a free plan available?

Yes, Terminal49 offers a Free Forever plan with no commitment required. It includes up to 3 users, basic shipment tracking, and 50 document credits.

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.

Terminal49: What plans require payment?

Terminal49 offers four tiers: Free (free forever), Lite (annual contract), Essential (annual or pay-as-you-go), and Complete (annual contract). Lite, Essential, and Complete require direct contact with sales for pricing.

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.

Terminal49: What features are in the Essential plan?

Essential (Most Popular) includes unlimited users, full shipment & container dashboards, API access & webhooks, intermodal rail tracking, container assignments, and team collaboration features. It offers both annual contract and pay-as-you-go billing options.

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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