Softwr

Logistics · head to head

McLeod Software vs ShipBob

McLeod Software logo

McLeod Software

Logistics

The long standing transportation management system for North American asset carriers and brokerages

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ShipBob logo

ShipBob

Logistics

E-commerce fulfillment and logistics platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: McLeod Software it is a Microsoft SQL Server application that most customers still run on their own servers, so the total cost includes hardware, database administration and a disaster recovery plan that the vendor does not provide.; ShipBob no published pricing available; all costs require custom quote request
  • They diverge on capability: McLeod Software covers LoadMaster, ShipBob covers Fulfillment services.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which McLeod Software and ShipBob actually diverge.

Attributes where McLeod Software and ShipBob differ
AttributeMcLeod SoftwareShipBob
Pricing modelquoteUnknown
PlatformsWindows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb, API
FoundedUnknown2014

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 McLeod Software

  • LoadMaster
  • PowerBroker
  • Driver pay and settlements
  • EDI and integration
  • Document Power imaging
  • Business intelligence

Only in ShipBob

  • Fulfillment services
  • Inventory management
  • Distributed warehousing
  • 2-day shipping
  • Shopify
  • Amazon
  • WooCommerce
  • BigCommerce

What people use each for

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

McLeod Software

  • A truckload carrier above one hundred trucks whose driver pay rules break every simpler system it has triednot ShipBob
  • A brokerage that needs carrier payables, factoring interfaces and settlement controls rather than a load board with invoicingnot ShipBob
  • A carrier required by large shippers to exchange EDI tenders, status messages and invoices in specific formatsnot ShipBob
  • A company running both assets and a brokerage that wants each side on the vendor system built for itnot ShipBob

ShipBob

  • E-commerce order fulfillment and logisticsnot McLeod Software
  • Multi-location inventory managementnot McLeod Software
  • 2-day shipping across continental United Statesnot McLeod Software
  • Global shipping to 250+ destinationsnot McLeod Software
  • B2B and marketplace order fulfillmentnot McLeod Software
  • Branded packaging and unboxing experiencesnot McLeod Software
  • Returns managementnot McLeod Software

Where each one falls short

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

McLeod Software

  • It is a Microsoft SQL Server application that most customers still run on their own servers, so the total cost includes hardware, database administration and a disaster recovery plan that the vendor does not provide.
  • Version upgrades are projects rather than background events, and carriers routinely run releases that are a year or more old because upgrading requires testing every customisation and integration.
  • Licensing is per seat with modules priced separately, so a carrier with part time weekend dispatchers or occasional finance users pays full seats for people who log in a few hours a week.
  • The interface is dense and built for trained operators, and onboarding a new dispatcher takes weeks rather than days, which is expensive in a role with high turnover.
  • Pricing is never published and implementations commonly run six months or more with vendor or partner services, so the first year cost is a multiple of the annual licence and difficult to estimate before a sales process.

ShipBob

  • No published pricing available; all costs require custom quote request
  • No free tier or free trial available

Pricing, plan by plan

McLeod Software

On request
  • LoadMaster$undefined/year
    • Asset carrier transportation management
    • Driver pay and settlements
    • Dispatch and equipment management
  • PowerBroker$undefined/year
    • Brokerage operations
    • Carrier procurement and payables
    • Customer billing

ShipBob

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the ShipBob review.

Which should you pick?

Choose McLeod Software if

  • You need loadmaster.
  • You work on Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want powerbroker.
McLeod Software review

Choose ShipBob if

  • You need fulfillment services.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want inventory management.
ShipBob review

Questions people ask

Is McLeod Software or ShipBob better?
Neither clearly leads. McLeod Software starts at On request and ShipBob at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, McLeod Software or ShipBob?
McLeod Software starts at On request and ShipBob at On request.
Does McLeod Software or ShipBob run on more platforms?
McLeod Software runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android. ShipBob runs on Web, API.
What is McLeod Software best used for?
McLeod Software is most often used for a truckload carrier above one hundred trucks whose driver pay rules break every simpler system it has tried, a brokerage that needs carrier payables, factoring interfaces and settlement controls rather than a load board with invoicing, a carrier required by large shippers to exchange edi tenders, status messages and invoices in specific formats, a company running both assets and a brokerage that wants each side on the vendor system built for it. Of those, a truckload carrier above one hundred trucks whose driver pay rules break every simpler system it has tried and a brokerage that needs carrier payables, factoring interfaces and settlement controls rather than a load board with invoicing are not what ShipBob is typically brought in for.
What can McLeod Software do that ShipBob cannot?
McLeod Software covers LoadMaster, PowerBroker, Driver pay and settlements, EDI and integration. ShipBob covers Fulfillment services, Inventory management, Distributed warehousing, 2-day shipping.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

McLeod Software: Is McLeod available as a hosted service?

Yes, McLeod offers hosting, but a large part of the installed base still runs on premises and budgets accordingly.

ShipBob: How much does ShipBob cost?

ShipBob uses quote-based pricing reflective of total fulfillment costs including inventory receiving, warehousing, picking, packing, and shipping. Specific pricing requires submitting a custom quote form with business details.

Source
McLeod Software: Can a fifty truck carrier use it?

It will run, but the licence and implementation economics rarely make sense below roughly one hundred trucks.

ShipBob: Is ShipBob software free?

Yes, ShipBob's software is completely free for all customers, as well as connecting all turnkey integrations. Customers only pay for fulfillment services and shipping costs.

Source
McLeod Software: Who owns McLeod Software?

It has remained privately held and independent since it was founded in 1985, which is unusual in this market.

ShipBob: What additional services can incur fees with ShipBob?

Additional fees apply for specialized services including kitting, B2B/wholesale orders, EDI compliance, returns processing, custom packaging storage, branded boxes, and any services beyond standard fulfillment.

Source
McLeod Software: How long is a typical implementation?

Plan for six months or more once data migration, EDI setup and settlement rule configuration are included.

Share

Related pages

More on McLeod Software

More on ShipBob

Keep looking

Other head to heads