Softwr

Maritime · head to head

Freightos vs MDS Transmodal

Freightos logo

Freightos

Maritime

Digital freight marketplace and rates

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MDS Transmodal logo

MDS Transmodal

Maritime

Freight transport data and analysis

From
$600/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Freightos has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Freightos no pricing, fees or commissions are published anywhere on the pricing page; MDS Transmodal no pricing published on website, consulting-based engagement only
  • They diverge on capability: Freightos covers Instant quotes, MDS Transmodal covers Container trade data.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Freightos and MDS Transmodal actually diverge.

Attributes where Freightos and MDS Transmodal differ
AttributeFreightosMDS Transmodal
Starting priceFree$600/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb
Founded20121988

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maritime).

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 Freightos

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

Only in MDS Transmodal

  • Container trade data
  • Port statistics
  • Intermodal analysis
  • Custom research
  • Data exports
  • Custom reports

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Freightos

  • Comparing freight quotes from multiple forwarders in one placenot MDS Transmodal
  • Booking international freight online rather than by email quotenot MDS Transmodal

MDS Transmodal

  • Transport market feasibility studies and demand forecasting for new opportunitiesnot Freightos
  • Infrastructure planning and transport network capacity analysisnot Freightos
  • Due diligence and risk assessment for freight investment decisionsnot Freightos
  • Freight sector policy analysis and regulatory impact evaluationnot Freightos
  • Quantitative modeling across maritime, rail, road, and logisticsnot Freightos

Where each one falls short

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

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

MDS Transmodal

  • No pricing published on website, consulting-based engagement only
  • Requires direct contact and negotiation for each project engagement
  • Results and services dependent on consultant experience and proprietary databases
  • Not a self-service platform, requires human expertise and custom analysis

Pricing, plan by plan

Freightos

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

MDS Transmodal

$600/month
  • Data Access$1200/month
    • Container data
    • Port statistics
    • Trade flows

Which should you pick?

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

Choose MDS Transmodal if

  • You need container trade data.
  • You also want port statistics.
MDS Transmodal review

Questions people ask

Is Freightos or MDS Transmodal better?
Neither clearly leads. Freightos starts at Free and MDS Transmodal at $600/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Freightos or MDS Transmodal?
Freightos has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Freightos and $600/month for MDS Transmodal.
Does Freightos or MDS Transmodal run on more platforms?
Freightos runs on Web, Api. MDS Transmodal runs on Web.
Can I use Freightos for free?
Yes. Freightos has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MDS Transmodal starts at $600/month.
What is Freightos best used for?
Freightos is most often used for comparing freight quotes from multiple forwarders in one place, booking international freight online rather than by email quote. Of those, comparing freight quotes from multiple forwarders in one place and booking international freight online rather than by email quote are not what MDS Transmodal is typically brought in for.
What can Freightos do that MDS Transmodal cannot?
Freightos covers Instant quotes, Online booking, Shipment tracking, Rate comparison. MDS Transmodal covers Container trade data, Port statistics, Intermodal analysis, Custom research. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
MDS Transmodal: How much does MDS Transmodal cost?

MDS Transmodal does not publish pricing on its website. It is a consulting firm providing bespoke strategic advice. Pricing is quote-based and depends on project scope, duration, data requirements, and consultant time allocation. Contact them directly to discuss your specific transport economics needs.

Source
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
MDS Transmodal: Does MDS Transmodal offer a software platform or only consulting?

MDS Transmodal is primarily a transport economics consulting firm, not a software vendor. They provide strategic consulting, quantitative analysis, and modeling services. While they maintain proprietary databases and models, they do not offer a self-service software platform.

Source
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
MDS Transmodal: Does MDS Transmodal cover all transportation modes?

Yes. MDS Transmodal provides analysis and consulting across road, rail, air, and maritime freight sectors. Their expertise spans port connectivity, global shipping networks, trade corridor analysis, and multi-modal supply chain optimization for clients worldwide.

Source
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
Share

Related pages

More on Freightos

More on MDS Transmodal

Keep looking

Other head to heads