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Logistics · head to head

Descartes Systems vs EasyPost

Descartes Systems logo

Descartes Systems

Logistics

Logistics network connecting carriers, brokers and shippers, with customs and routing on top

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
EasyPost logo

EasyPost

Logistics

Shipping API for labels, rate shopping and tracking across 100+ carriers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only EasyPost has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Descartes Systems descartes has grown by acquisition over many years, so overlapping products with different data models and interfaces sit under one brand, and you must pin down exactly which product is on the quote.; EasyPost enterprise shipping solutions (Forge, GlobalShip) and many analytics products require contacting sales
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Descartes Systems and EasyPost actually diverge.

Attributes where Descartes Systems and EasyPost differ
AttributeDescartes SystemsEasyPost
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Cloud, 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 Systems

  • Global Logistics Network
  • Customs and regulatory filing
  • Route planning and dispatch
  • Broker and forwarder systems
  • Denied party screening
  • Trade data intelligence
  • Ecommerce fulfilment

Only in EasyPost

Nothing recorded that Descartes Systems does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Descartes Systems

  • A customs broker needing to file declarations in multiple countries through one systemnot EasyPost
  • A retailer running a private delivery fleet that needs routing, dispatch and proof of delivery in one placenot EasyPost
  • A forwarder that wants carrier status messages arriving automatically instead of chasing them by emailnot EasyPost
  • An exporter needing denied party screening and classification applied to every order before it shipsnot EasyPost

EasyPost

  • Comparing carrier rates and purchasing discounted postage in one dashboardnot Descartes Systems
  • Tracking multi-carrier package deliveries without separate carrier portalsnot Descartes Systems
  • Automating shipping label creation and address verificationnot Descartes Systems
  • Consolidating and load planning shipments for efficient packingnot Descartes Systems

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Descartes Systems

  • Descartes has grown by acquisition over many years, so overlapping products with different data models and interfaces sit under one brand, and you must pin down exactly which product is on the quote.
  • Pricing is often transaction or document based, which means costs rise with business volume in a way seat-based software does not, and a peak season can produce a bill nobody modelled.
  • Connecting a trading partner who is not already on the Global Logistics Network is a project with its own cost, so the network advantage is real only for the partners already present.
  • Customs and compliance capability varies sharply by country, so a module that is mature in North America may be thin in the specific jurisdictions you actually file in.
  • Nothing is published on price and contracts typically carry volume commitments and multi-year terms, so an organisation whose volumes fall still pays the committed minimum.

EasyPost

  • Enterprise shipping solutions (Forge, GlobalShip) and many analytics products require contacting sales
  • Different product lines have different pricing models (freemium, subscription, usage-based)

Pricing, plan by plan

Descartes Systems

On request
  • Descartes network and applications$undefined/year
    • Frequently priced by transaction or document volume rather than per seat
    • Module and country scope priced separately
    • Annual subscription with volume commitments

EasyPost

Free
  • EasyPost Suite Free TierFree
    • Up to 3,000 labels with wallet carriers (postage excluded)
    • Access to EasyPost Suite shipping solutions
  • EasyPost Suite BYOCA (Bring Your Own Carrier Account)$20/month
    • $20/month subscription plus per-label fees
    • Use your own carrier accounts
  • Tracking API$0.01/per shipment
    • Basic tracking: $0.01-$0.03 per shipment
    • Advanced Tracking: $0.03 per shipment
  • Insurance & Protection API$null/usage-based
    • 1% of shipment value with $1.00 minimum charge per shipment

Which should you pick?

Choose Descartes Systems if

  • You need global logistics network.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, iOS, Android.
  • You also want customs and regulatory filing.
Descartes Systems review

Choose EasyPost if

  • You want to start without paying.
EasyPost review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes Systems or EasyPost better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes Systems starts at On request and EasyPost at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes Systems or EasyPost?
EasyPost has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Descartes Systems and Free for EasyPost.
Does Descartes Systems or EasyPost run on more platforms?
Descartes Systems runs on Web, Cloud, iOS, Android. EasyPost runs on Web.
Can I use EasyPost for free?
Yes. EasyPost has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Descartes Systems starts at On request.
What is Descartes Systems best used for?
Descartes Systems is most often used for a customs broker needing to file declarations in multiple countries through one system, a retailer running a private delivery fleet that needs routing, dispatch and proof of delivery in one place, a forwarder that wants carrier status messages arriving automatically instead of chasing them by email, an exporter needing denied party screening and classification applied to every order before it ships. Of those, a customs broker needing to file declarations in multiple countries through one system and a retailer running a private delivery fleet that needs routing, dispatch and proof of delivery in one place are not what EasyPost is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes Systems do that EasyPost cannot?
Descartes Systems covers Global Logistics Network, Customs and regulatory filing, Route planning and dispatch, Broker and forwarder systems.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Descartes Systems: Is Descartes one system or many?

Many. It is a portfolio built through acquisitions, connected by the Global Logistics Network. Establish which named product you are buying and how it integrates with the others.

EasyPost: Does EasyPost offer a free plan?

Yes, EasyPost Suite offers a free tier with up to 3,000 labels per month using wallet carriers (postage is not included in the free tier; customers pay carrier rates separately).

Source
Descartes Systems: How is it priced?

Usually by transaction or document volume rather than per user, with module and country scope quoted separately. Nothing is published.

EasyPost: What is EasyPost's tracking API cost?

EasyPost's Tracking API costs $0.01-$0.03 per shipment for basic tracking. Advanced Tracking costs $0.03 per shipment.

Source
Descartes Systems: What is the Global Logistics Network?

A shared connectivity network carrying EDI, carrier status messages, customs filings and shipment documents between trading partners, so each new partner does not require a bespoke integration.

EasyPost: How much does shipment insurance cost on EasyPost?

Shipment insurance costs 1% of the shipment value with a minimum charge of $1.00 per shipment.

Source
Descartes Systems: Does it replace an ERP or a WMS?

No. It sits alongside them, handling connectivity, customs, routing and trade compliance rather than finance or warehouse execution.

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