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Logistics · head to head

Kuebix vs ShipEngine

Kuebix logo

Kuebix

Logistics

Shipper TMS known for its free tier, acquired by Trimble in 2020 and now sold inside the Trimble portfolio

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ShipEngine logo

ShipEngine

Logistics

Shipping API for labels, carrier rates and address validation across 200+ carriers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ShipEngine has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Kuebix the free tier that made the product well known was the reason most buyers looked at it, and after the Trimble acquisition the entry level commercial terms are no longer what the widely circulated reviews describe, so any research older than the acquisition is misleading.; ShipEngine free plan limited to sandbox access, not production use
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kuebix and ShipEngine actually diverge.

Attributes where Kuebix and ShipEngine differ
AttributeKuebixShipEngine
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb

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 Kuebix

  • Rate shopping
  • Booking and tendering
  • Shipment tracking
  • Freight audit support
  • Community capacity
  • Reporting

Only in ShipEngine

Nothing recorded that Kuebix does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Kuebix

  • A small shipper with negotiated LTL rates that currently compares carriers in a spreadsheetnot ShipEngine
  • A distributor wanting to check carrier invoices against quoted rates without buying a freight audit servicenot ShipEngine
  • A shipper already invested in Trimble transportation technology and wanting the shipper side from the same vendornot ShipEngine
  • A logistics team needing basic lane and carrier spend reporting without an enterprise TMS implementationnot ShipEngine

ShipEngine

  • Comparing rates across 100+ carriers for optimal pricingnot Kuebix
  • Creating shipping labels and managing manifests at scalenot Kuebix
  • Validating addresses to reduce failed deliveriesnot Kuebix
  • Consolidating orders from multiple ecommerce channelsnot Kuebix
  • Tracking parcels with webhook notifications for automationnot Kuebix

Where each one falls short

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

Kuebix

  • The free tier that made the product well known was the reason most buyers looked at it, and after the Trimble acquisition the entry level commercial terms are no longer what the widely circulated reviews describe, so any research older than the acquisition is misleading.
  • Ownership by Trimble means the roadmap is set against a portfolio strategy centred on carrier and fleet technology, and shipper side investment competes internally with products that sell to a different customer.
  • It is a rating and booking tool rather than a full transportation management system, so shippers with multi leg, international or complex allocation requirements outgrow it quickly.
  • Rate accuracy depends on the shipper loading and maintaining its own carrier contracts, and stale rate tables produce confident quotes that the carrier invoice then contradicts.
  • Support and account management now run through a large diversified vendor, and small shippers on entry level arrangements report less direct access than they had with the original company.

ShipEngine

  • Free plan limited to sandbox access, not production use
  • Enterprise plan requires custom pricing for high-volume users with 25,000+ monthly shipments

Pricing, plan by plan

Kuebix

On request
  • Kuebix (Trimble Transportation)$undefined/year
    • Shipper rating, booking and tracking
    • Carrier rate management
    • Reporting and freight audit support

ShipEngine

Free
  • FreeFree
    • sandbox access
    • discounted carrier rates
    • analytics
  • Advanced$75/month
    • carrier account management
    • address validation
    • PUDO location search
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • minimum 25,000+ shipments monthly
    • custom billing
    • higher rate limits

Which should you pick?

Choose Kuebix if

  • You need rate shopping.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want booking and tendering.
Kuebix review

Choose ShipEngine if

  • You want to start without paying.
ShipEngine review

Questions people ask

Is Kuebix or ShipEngine better?
Neither clearly leads. Kuebix starts at On request and ShipEngine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kuebix or ShipEngine?
ShipEngine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Kuebix and Free for ShipEngine.
Does Kuebix or ShipEngine run on more platforms?
Kuebix runs on Web, API. ShipEngine runs on Web.
Can I use ShipEngine for free?
Yes. ShipEngine has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kuebix starts at On request.
What is Kuebix best used for?
Kuebix is most often used for a small shipper with negotiated ltl rates that currently compares carriers in a spreadsheet, a distributor wanting to check carrier invoices against quoted rates without buying a freight audit service, a shipper already invested in trimble transportation technology and wanting the shipper side from the same vendor, a logistics team needing basic lane and carrier spend reporting without an enterprise tms implementation. Of those, a small shipper with negotiated ltl rates that currently compares carriers in a spreadsheet and a distributor wanting to check carrier invoices against quoted rates without buying a freight audit service are not what ShipEngine is typically brought in for.
What can Kuebix do that ShipEngine cannot?
Kuebix covers Rate shopping, Booking and tendering, Shipment tracking, Freight audit support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kuebix: Is Kuebix still free?

Do not assume so. The free community tier was central to the original company and the terms changed after Trimble acquired the business in 2020. Confirm current availability with Trimble.

ShipEngine: How much does ShipEngine cost?

ShipEngine offers a free plan, an Advanced plan starting at $75/month, and Enterprise with custom pricing. Advanced plan includes label tier pricing from $0.075 to $0.060 per label depending on volume.

Source
Kuebix: Who owns Kuebix?

Trimble Inc., which acquired it in 2020.

ShipEngine: What does ShipEngine's free plan include?

ShipEngine's free plan includes sandbox access for testing, discounted carrier rates, analytics, label creation, rate comparison tools, tracking capabilities, and webhook support.

Source
Kuebix: Is it a full TMS?

It is strongest at LTL rate shopping, booking and tracking. Complex multimodal planning is not its territory.

ShipEngine: How does ShipEngine charge for label overages?

ShipEngine's Advanced plan includes monthly label allowances from 1,000 to 10,000 labels. Overages beyond the monthly tier are charged at $0.075 per label (1,000 tier), $0.065 (5,000 tier), or $0.060 (10,000 tier).

Source
Kuebix: Does it work with my own carrier contracts?

Yes, that is the core use case, but you are responsible for keeping the rate tables current.

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