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Logistics · head to head

Descartes Systems vs Freightos

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
Freightos logo

Freightos

Maritime

Digital freight marketplace and rates

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Freightos 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.; Freightos no pricing, fees or commissions are published anywhere on the pricing page
  • They diverge on capability: Descartes Systems covers Global Logistics Network, Freightos covers Instant quotes.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Descartes Systems and Freightos differ
AttributeDescartes SystemsFreightos
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Cloud, iOS, AndroidWeb, Api
CategoryLogisticsMaritime
FoundedUnknown2012

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 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 Freightos

  • Instant quotes
  • Online booking
  • Shipment tracking
  • Rate comparison
  • ERP systems
  • E-commerce platforms
  • TMS
  • Web support

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

Freightos

  • Comparing freight quotes from multiple forwarders in one placenot Descartes Systems
  • Booking international freight online rather than by email quotenot 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.

Freightos

  • No pricing, fees or commissions are published anywhere on the pricing page
  • Rates and costs are only visible after signing up to the platform

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

Freightos

Free
  • Enterprise$500/month
    • Bulk pricing
    • API access
    • Custom integrations

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 Freightos if

  • You need instant quotes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want online booking.
Freightos review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes Systems or Freightos better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes Systems starts at On request and Freightos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes Systems or Freightos?
Freightos has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Descartes Systems and Free for Freightos.
Does Descartes Systems or Freightos run on more platforms?
Descartes Systems runs on Web, Cloud, iOS, Android. Freightos runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Freightos for free?
Yes. Freightos 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 Freightos is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes Systems do that Freightos cannot?
Descartes Systems covers Global Logistics Network, Customs and regulatory filing, Route planning and dispatch, Broker and forwarder systems. Freightos covers Instant quotes, Online booking, Shipment tracking, Rate comparison.

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.

Freightos: Does Freightos charge shippers a subscription fee or booking commission?

Freightos does not charge shippers directly. Instead, Freightos takes a small percentage from freight providers (carriers), though the exact percentage is not published on their site.

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.

Freightos: How does Freightos generate revenue if shippers do not pay subscription fees?

Freightos operates as a marketplace taking a percentage commission from freight providers on each transaction, not from the end-user shippers.

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.

Freightos: Is there a cost to create an account and get freight quotes on Freightos?

No. Freightos users can instantly compare and get quotes for free. Shippers only pay freight providers directly for selected shipments, with Freightos taking its commission from providers.

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.

Freightos: What enterprise solutions does Freightos offer beyond the marketplace?

Freightos offers enterprise solutions that are fully modular, allowing customers to start with one solution and expand as needed. Specific pricing and features are available by requesting a demo.

Source
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