Softwr

Maritime · head to head

Flexport vs Shipwell

Flexport logo

Flexport

Maritime

Global freight forwarding and supply chain platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shipwell logo

Shipwell

Logistics

Cloud transportation management with a built-in carrier network, sold on freight volume not seats

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Flexport $5,000 monthly minimum fulfillment spend requirement excludes small and medium businesses; Shipwell pricing is not published and is set on freight volume, so the cost rises through a peak season regardless of how much anyone uses the software.
  • They diverge on capability: Flexport covers Freight forwarding, Shipwell covers Rate shopping.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Flexport and Shipwell actually diverge.

Attributes where Flexport and Shipwell differ
AttributeFlexportShipwell
Pricing modelusage-basedquote
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android, API
CategoryMaritimeLogistics
Founded2013Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), 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 Flexport

  • Freight forwarding
  • Supply chain visibility
  • Customs brokerage
  • Inventory management
  • NetSuite
  • SAP
  • QuickBooks
  • Shopify

Only in Shipwell

  • Rate shopping
  • Automated tendering
  • Real-time tracking
  • Freight audit and pay
  • Carrier network
  • Analytics

What people use each for

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

Flexport

  • International shippingnot Shipwell
  • Customs clearancenot Shipwell
  • Supply chain visibilitynot Shipwell
  • Freight managementnot Shipwell

Shipwell

  • A mid-market shipper running truckload tenders on spreadsheets and emailnot Flexport
  • A broker replacing a legacy operating system without building one in-housenot Flexport
  • A manufacturer that needs proof of delivery and exception alerts pushed into its ERPnot Flexport
  • A logistics team that wants freight audit to catch accessorial overbilling automaticallynot Flexport

Where each one falls short

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

Flexport

  • $5,000 monthly minimum fulfillment spend requirement excludes small and medium businesses
  • Inconsistent customer service with reports of slow quote responses that delayed orders by up to two months
  • Hidden fees and additional charges beyond quoted prices reported by multiple customers
  • Quote-only pricing model makes budgeting difficult compared to published rate cards from competitors

Shipwell

  • Pricing is not published and is set on freight volume, so the cost rises through a peak season regardless of how much anyone uses the software.
  • Shipwell operates a carrier network as well as the TMS, so the vendor running your tender is also a bidder in it, which weakens the neutrality a competitive sourcing process depends on.
  • Coverage is heavily North American, and international ocean, air and customs handling is thin compared with a forwarder-grade platform.
  • ERP and WMS integrations turn deployment into a project with its own cost and timeline rather than a configuration exercise.
  • The company is small relative to the enterprise TMS incumbents, which matters for a system that sits in the path of every shipment if support or roadmap continuity slips.

Pricing, plan by plan

Flexport

On request
  • StandardFree
    • Freight services
    • Basic visibility
    • Standard support
  • ProfessionalFree
    • Full visibility
    • Analytics
    • Priority support
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Custom solutions
    • API access
    • Dedicated team

Shipwell

On request
  • Shipwell TMS$undefined/year
    • Annual contract priced on freight volume
    • Rate shopping, tendering and tracking
    • Freight audit and payment

Which should you pick?

Choose Flexport if

  • You need freight forwarding.
  • You also want supply chain visibility.
Flexport review

Choose Shipwell if

  • You need rate shopping.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
  • You also want automated tendering.
Shipwell review

Questions people ask

Is Flexport or Shipwell better?
Neither clearly leads. Flexport starts at On request and Shipwell at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Flexport or Shipwell?
Flexport starts at On request and Shipwell at On request.
Does Flexport or Shipwell run on more platforms?
Flexport runs on Web. Shipwell runs on Web, iOS, Android, API.
What is Flexport best used for?
Flexport is most often used for international shipping, customs clearance, supply chain visibility, freight management. Of those, international shipping and customs clearance are not what Shipwell is typically brought in for.
What can Flexport do that Shipwell cannot?
Flexport covers Freight forwarding, Supply chain visibility, Customs brokerage, Inventory management. Shipwell covers Rate shopping, Automated tendering, Real-time tracking, Freight audit and pay.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Flexport: What is Flexport's minimum spend requirement?

As of January 2026, Flexport requires a $5,000 minimum monthly fulfillment spend, positioning the service toward mid-market and enterprise sellers.

Source
Shipwell: How much does Shipwell cost?

It is not published. Contracts are annual and priced on freight volume; third-party listings suggest entry engagements around $1,000 a month, which should be treated as indicative only.

Flexport: What shipping modes does Flexport support?

Flexport supports all modes of transport including air freight, ocean freight (FCL and LCL), truck, and rail. Services include ocean and air freight forwarding, customs brokerage, Amazon FBA prep, and omnichannel fulfillment.

Source
Shipwell: Does Shipwell broker freight as well as sell software?

Yes. It operates its own carrier network alongside the TMS, which speeds up sourcing but means the platform provider also competes for your loads.

Flexport: Does Flexport offer fulfillment services?

Yes. Flexport provides omnichannel fulfillment services for Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Shopify, plus Amazon FBA preparation at Flexport warehouses.

Source
Shipwell: Is it suitable for international freight?

It is built around North American truckload and LTL. International ocean and air handling is limited.

Flexport: How does Flexport pricing work?

Flexport uses quote-only pricing based on shipment lanes, volume commitments, and service tier. Pricing varies by route and service level, requiring direct consultation with sales for specific quotes.

Source
Shipwell: Is there a free trial?

No. Deployment involves configuration and integration work, so evaluation happens through a demo and a scoped implementation.

Share

Related pages

More on Flexport

More on Shipwell

Keep looking

Other head to heads