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Logistics · head to head

McLeod Software vs ShipHero

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
ShipHero logo

ShipHero

Logistics

Warehouse management for e-commerce

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.; ShipHero pricing details not disclosed on public website; requires contacting sales
  • They diverge on capability: McLeod Software covers LoadMaster, ShipHero covers Warehouse management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where McLeod Software and ShipHero differ
AttributeMcLeod SoftwareShipHero
Pricing modelquoteUnknown
PlatformsWindows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb
FoundedUnknown2013

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 ShipHero

  • Warehouse management
  • Pick/pack/ship
  • Inventory tracking
  • Automation rules
  • 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 ShipHero
  • A brokerage that needs carrier payables, factoring interfaces and settlement controls rather than a load board with invoicingnot ShipHero
  • A carrier required by large shippers to exchange EDI tenders, status messages and invoices in specific formatsnot ShipHero
  • A company running both assets and a brokerage that wants each side on the vendor system built for itnot ShipHero

ShipHero

  • Multi-carrier shipping with live rate shopping (UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL)not McLeod Software
  • Warehouse management with picking, packing, and returns automationnot McLeod Software
  • Labour management and workforce performance trackingnot McLeod Software
  • Integration with major e-commerce platforms (Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, TikTok Shop)not 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.

ShipHero

  • Pricing details not disclosed on public website; requires contacting sales
  • No published technical system requirements or browser compatibility specifications
  • Custom quote model requires enterprise sales engagement for pricing transparency

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

ShipHero

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the ShipHero 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 ShipHero if

  • You need warehouse management.
  • You also want pick/pack/ship.
ShipHero review

Questions people ask

Is McLeod Software or ShipHero better?
Neither clearly leads. McLeod Software starts at On request and ShipHero at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, McLeod Software or ShipHero?
McLeod Software starts at On request and ShipHero at On request.
Does McLeod Software or ShipHero run on more platforms?
McLeod Software runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android. ShipHero runs on Web.
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 ShipHero is typically brought in for.
What can McLeod Software do that ShipHero cannot?
McLeod Software covers LoadMaster, PowerBroker, Driver pay and settlements, EDI and integration. ShipHero covers Warehouse management, Pick/pack/ship, Inventory tracking, Automation rules.

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.

ShipHero: What is ShipHero's pricing model?

ShipHero does not publish pricing on its homepage. The company uses a direct sales model, directing customers to book a demo or contact their sales team at [email protected] to discuss pricing.

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.

ShipHero: Is ShipHero expensive?

ShipHero states that the solution to warehouse inefficiency is not as expensive as you might think, suggesting competitive pricing. However, specific costs require contacting sales.

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.

ShipHero: Can I try ShipHero before committing?

The site does not mention a free trial. To evaluate ShipHero, customers must schedule a demo with the sales team.

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.

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