Softwr

Logistics · head to head

Descartes Systems vs Easyship

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
Easyship logo

Easyship

Logistics

Multi-carrier shipping software for e-commerce and business

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Easyship 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.; Easyship exact paid plan prices and shipment volume caps are not clearly published on the main pricing page, requiring users to dig through support articles.
  • They diverge on capability: Descartes Systems covers Global Logistics Network, Easyship covers Discounted shipping rates.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Descartes Systems and Easyship differ
AttributeDescartes SystemsEasyship
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Cloud, iOS, Androidweb, api
FoundedUnknown2014

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 Easyship

  • Discounted shipping rates
  • Multi-carrier rate comparison
  • Shipping automation rules
  • Tax and duty calculation
  • Live checkout rates
  • Branded tracking
  • Platform integrations
  • 3PL fulfillment network

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

Easyship

  • Comparing shipping rates across multiple couriersnot Descartes Systems
  • Automating international customs and duty calculationnot Descartes Systems
  • Displaying live shipping rates at online store checkoutnot Descartes Systems
  • Batch printing shipping labels for high order volumesnot Descartes Systems
  • Outsourcing fulfillment to a global 3PL warehouse networknot 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.

Easyship

  • Exact paid plan prices and shipment volume caps are not clearly published on the main pricing page, requiring users to dig through support articles.
  • Discounted courier rates depend on Easyship's negotiated carrier relationships, which vary by region and may not beat a merchant's own carrier account rates.
  • Advanced features like tax/duty display at checkout and multi-box shipping are gated behind higher-tier paid plans.
  • 24/7 phone support is only available on the Premier plan and above, leaving lower-tier users with limited support channels.

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

Easyship

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Discounted shipping rates
    • Intelligent courier selection
    • Import tax and duty calculation
  • Plus$29/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Shipping rates at checkout
    • Link your own courier account
  • Premier$69/month
    • Everything in Plus
    • Display tax and duty at checkout
    • Pre-generated return labels
  • Scale$99/month
    • Higher shipment volumes
    • Advanced automation
    • Priority support

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 Easyship if

  • You need discounted shipping rates.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want multi-carrier rate comparison.
Easyship review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes Systems or Easyship better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes Systems starts at On request and Easyship at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes Systems or Easyship?
Easyship has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Descartes Systems and Free for Easyship.
Does Descartes Systems or Easyship run on more platforms?
Descartes Systems runs on Web, Cloud, iOS, Android. Easyship runs on web, api.
Can I use Easyship for free?
Yes. Easyship 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 Easyship is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes Systems do that Easyship cannot?
Descartes Systems covers Global Logistics Network, Customs and regulatory filing, Route planning and dispatch, Broker and forwarder systems. Easyship covers Discounted shipping rates, Multi-carrier rate comparison, Shipping automation rules, Tax and duty calculation.

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.

Easyship: What does Easyship cost?

Easyship has a Free plan, plus paid Plus and Premier plans with a 14-day free trial (annual billing gives 20% off), and a custom-priced Enterprise plan for high-volume shippers.

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.

Easyship: Is there a free plan?

Yes, the Free plan is free forever with no credit card required, and includes discounted shipping rates, intelligent courier selection, import tax and duty calculation, and smart box selection.

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.

Easyship: What extra features come with Plus and Premier?

Plus adds shipping rates at checkout, linking your own courier accounts, auto-sync orders, and live chat support. Premier adds tax and duty display at checkout, pre-generated return labels, multi-box shipping, and 24/7 phone support.

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.

Easyship: What does the Enterprise plan offer?

Enterprise is custom-priced for businesses shipping 5,000+ orders a month, and includes access to a global 3PL fulfillment network and personalized onboarding.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Descartes Systems

More on Easyship

Keep looking

Other head to heads