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Logistics · head to head

McLeod Software vs ShipStation

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
ShipStation logo

ShipStation

Logistics

Multichannel order fulfillment software

From
$14.99/month
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.; ShipStation pricing is banded by monthly shipment volume, so the headline rate covers only the lowest 50 shipment band
  • They diverge on capability: McLeod Software covers LoadMaster, ShipStation covers Multichannel order management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where McLeod Software and ShipStation differ
AttributeMcLeod SoftwareShipStation
Starting priceOn request$14.99/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Web, iOS, AndroidWeb
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: 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 ShipStation

  • Multichannel order management
  • Batch label printing
  • Shipping automation
  • International shipping
  • Return management
  • Customer communication
  • Carrier integration
  • Real-time tracking

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

ShipStation

  • Printing shipping labels across multiple carriersnot McLeod Software
  • Importing orders from marketplaces and stores for fulfilmentnot McLeod Software
  • Automating shipping rules and batch label creationnot 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.

ShipStation

  • Pricing is banded by monthly shipment volume, so the headline rate covers only the lowest 50 shipment band
  • The Starter plan includes 3 users and does not allow buying additional users
  • Bringing your own carrier accounts and unlimited automations require the Standard plan
  • Purchase orders, scan to receive, forecasting and pick to tote require the Premium plan at $349.99 per month
  • Custom analytics and dedicated implementation are Premium only
  • The advertised 20% saving requires annual billing

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

ShipStation

$14.99/month
  • Starter$14.99/month
    • 3 users
    • basic automations
    • return labels
  • Standard$29.99/month
    • 10 users
    • unlimited automations
    • API access
  • Premium$349.99/month
    • 15 users
    • advanced inventory management
    • warehouse management

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 ShipStation if

  • You need multichannel order management.
  • You also want batch label printing.
ShipStation review

Questions people ask

Is McLeod Software or ShipStation better?
Neither clearly leads. McLeod Software starts at On request and ShipStation at $14.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, McLeod Software or ShipStation?
McLeod Software starts at On request and ShipStation at $14.99/month.
Does McLeod Software or ShipStation run on more platforms?
McLeod Software runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android. ShipStation 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 ShipStation is typically brought in for.
What can McLeod Software do that ShipStation cannot?
McLeod Software covers LoadMaster, PowerBroker, Driver pay and settlements, EDI and integration. ShipStation covers Multichannel order management, Batch label printing, Shipping automation, International 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.

ShipStation: How much does ShipStation cost?

ShipStation's Starter plan begins at $14.99/month, Standard at $29.99/month, and Premium at $349.99/month. All plans offer 20% savings with annual billing and include a 30-day free trial.

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.

ShipStation: Does ShipStation offer a free trial?

Yes, ShipStation includes a 30-day free trial requiring no credit card for all three pricing tiers.

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.

ShipStation: How does ShipStation pricing vary by shipment volume?

ShipStation pricing is volume-based within each tier, scaling from 50 shipments/month up to 100,000+ shipments/month, with higher volumes commanding proportionally higher monthly fees.

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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