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Logistics · head to head

McLeod Software vs ShipMonk

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
ShipMonk logo

ShipMonk

Logistics

Third-party logistics fulfillment for direct-to-consumer ecommerce brands

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.; ShipMonk no published pricing available; all costs require custom quote request based on order volume
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where McLeod Software and ShipMonk differ
AttributeMcLeod SoftwareShipMonk
PlatformsWindows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), 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 ShipMonk

Nothing recorded that McLeod Software does not also cover.

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

ShipMonk

  • Processing returns with customizable workflows and per-carton feesnot McLeod Software
  • Managing special projects like inventory counting and labelingnot McLeod Software
  • Adding gift messages for personalized unboxing experiencesnot McLeod Software
  • Wrapping delicate items with specialized packaging materialsnot McLeod Software
  • Fulfilling international orders across 200+ countriesnot 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.

ShipMonk

  • No published pricing available; all costs require custom quote request based on order volume
  • Monthly minimum charge calculated by multiplying projected monthly order volume by first-item pick fee, then reduced by 20%

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

ShipMonk

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the ShipMonk 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 ShipMonk if

Nothing in the data separates ShipMonk from McLeod Software on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

ShipMonk review

Questions people ask

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

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.

ShipMonk: How much does ShipMonk cost?

ShipMonk uses quote-based custom pricing calculated from storage fees, fulfillment fees based on order volume, variable shipping rates, and special project charges. A monthly minimum applies based on projected monthly order volume.

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.

ShipMonk: What fees does ShipMonk charge?

ShipMonk charges fees for storage (based on size, sales, quantity), fulfillment (pick-and-pack, receiving, returns), shipping (based on weight, dimensions, destination), and special projects. Platform and onboarding fees are included in custom quotes.

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.

ShipMonk: What additional services cost extra with ShipMonk?

ShipMonk charges separate fees for returns processing per carton, gift messaging with standard or custom cards, fragile wrapping based on product dimensions, lot control tracking per carton, and non-palletized container unloading based on container size.

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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