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Logistics · head to head

McLeod Software vs Shippo

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
Shippo logo

Shippo

Logistics

Shipping software for comparing rates and printing discounted labels

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Shippo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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.; Shippo premier tier requires contacting sales for custom pricing
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where McLeod Software and Shippo differ
AttributeMcLeod SoftwareShippo
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb

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 McLeod Software

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

Only in Shippo

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

Shippo

  • Comparing rates within seconds across 40+ carriersnot McLeod Software
  • Generating return labels to streamline returns processnot McLeod Software
  • Handling international shipping with customs forms generationnot McLeod Software
  • Creating and printing bulk labels via CSV importnot McLeod Software
  • Tracking shipments with automated customer notificationsnot 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.

Shippo

  • Premier tier requires contacting sales for custom pricing
  • Address validation charges vary by tier ($0.09 Starter, $0.08 Pro, $0.06 Premier per non-US lookup)

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

Shippo

Free
  • StarterFree
    • up to 30 labels per month
    • 1 user login
    • connect own carrier account at $0.05/label
  • Pro$17/month
    • scales from 1-10,000 labels per month
    • up to 5 user logins
    • free carrier account connections
  • Premier$null/custom
    • unlimited shipments
    • 15+ user logins
    • dedicated account manager

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 Shippo if

  • You want to start without paying.
Shippo review

Questions people ask

Is McLeod Software or Shippo better?
Neither clearly leads. McLeod Software starts at On request and Shippo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, McLeod Software or Shippo?
Shippo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for McLeod Software and Free for Shippo.
Does McLeod Software or Shippo run on more platforms?
McLeod Software runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android. Shippo runs on Web.
Can I use Shippo for free?
Yes. Shippo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. McLeod Software starts at On request.
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 Shippo is typically brought in for.
What can McLeod Software do that Shippo 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.

Shippo: How much does Shippo cost?

Shippo's Starter free plan includes 30 labels per month. Pro is $17/month or $205/year with a 10% discount. Premier plan requires contacting sales for custom 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.

Shippo: What is included in Shippo's free Starter plan?

Shippo Starter free tier includes up to 30 labels per month, 1 user login, and the ability to connect your own carrier account with a charge of $0.05 per label.

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.

Shippo: What additional costs does Shippo charge beyond the subscription?

Beyond subscription fees, Shippo charges for postage (carrier rates with Shippo discounts), optional insurance, address validation ($0.09 for Starter, $0.08 for Pro, $0.06 for Premier per non-US lookup), and label overages at $0.08 per label beyond 10,000/month on Pro tier.

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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