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Logistics · head to head

Descartes Systems vs Locate2u

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
Locate2u logo

Locate2u

Logistics

One platform fee for route optimization, fleet visibility and proof of delivery

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; Locate2u pricing quoted in AUD, not USD, requiring currency conversion for US customers
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Descartes Systems and Locate2u actually diverge.

Attributes where Descartes Systems and Locate2u differ
AttributeDescartes SystemsLocate2u
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, Cloud, iOS, AndroidWeb

Identical on both: starting price (On request), 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 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 Locate2u

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 Locate2u
  • A retailer running a private delivery fleet that needs routing, dispatch and proof of delivery in one placenot Locate2u
  • A forwarder that wants carrier status messages arriving automatically instead of chasing them by emailnot Locate2u
  • An exporter needing denied party screening and classification applied to every order before it shipsnot Locate2u

Locate2u

  • Planning optimized multi-stop routes in secondsnot Descartes Systems
  • Real-time GPS fleet visibility and trackingnot Descartes Systems
  • Proof of delivery via signature and photo capturenot Descartes Systems
  • Branded customer tracking and automated notificationsnot 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.

Locate2u

  • Pricing quoted in AUD, not USD, requiring currency conversion for US customers
  • Starting price is AUD 1,100/month (approximately USD 730), significantly higher than many competitors

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

Locate2u

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Locate2u review.

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 Locate2u if

Nothing in the data separates Locate2u from Descartes Systems on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Locate2u review

Questions people ask

Is Descartes Systems or Locate2u better?
Neither clearly leads. Descartes Systems starts at On request and Locate2u at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Descartes Systems or Locate2u?
Descartes Systems starts at On request and Locate2u at On request.
Does Descartes Systems or Locate2u run on more platforms?
Descartes Systems runs on Web, Cloud, iOS, Android. Locate2u runs on Web.
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 Locate2u is typically brought in for.
What can Descartes Systems do that Locate2u 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.

Locate2u: How much does Locate2u cost?

Locate2u's Platform plan starts at AUD 1,100/month (approximately USD 730) and scales with functionality. The Enterprise plan requires a custom quote. Optional modules for AI Agents, White Label, and API/Integrations are priced 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.

Locate2u: Does Locate2u offer a free trial?

Yes, Locate2u offers a free trial period with no credit card required and full feature access to evaluate the platform before committing to a paid plan.

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.

Locate2u: Are there additional costs for Locate2u add-ons?

Yes, optional modules are priced separately including AI Agents for dispatch and customer service, White Label custom branding, and API/Integrations for REST API and webhooks. All modules can be added to either Platform or Enterprise plans.

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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