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Logistics · head to head

ShipEngine vs Uber Freight

ShipEngine logo

ShipEngine

Logistics

Shipping API for labels, carrier rates and address validation across 200+ carriers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Uber Freight logo

Uber Freight

Logistics

Managed transportation and brokerage built on the Transplace business Uber bought for about 2.25 billion dollars

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ShipEngine has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ShipEngine free plan limited to sandbox access, not production use; Uber Freight managed transportation puts the carrier relationships, the rate history and the operating knowledge inside the provider, so bringing the function back in house later means rebuilding all three from a standing start.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ShipEngine and Uber Freight actually diverge.

Attributes where ShipEngine and Uber Freight differ
AttributeShipEngineUber Freight
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android, API

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 ShipEngine

Nothing recorded that Uber Freight does not also cover.

Only in Uber Freight

  • Managed transportation
  • Network TMS
  • Instant spot pricing
  • Powerloop trailer pool
  • Carrier app
  • Shipper analytics

What people use each for

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

ShipEngine

  • Comparing rates across 100+ carriers for optimal pricingnot Uber Freight
  • Creating shipping labels and managing manifests at scalenot Uber Freight
  • Validating addresses to reduce failed deliveriesnot Uber Freight
  • Consolidating orders from multiple ecommerce channelsnot Uber Freight
  • Tracking parcels with webhook notifications for automationnot Uber Freight

Uber Freight

  • A large shipper that wants to outsource the transportation department rather than licence a TMS and staff itnot ShipEngine
  • A shipper needing spot truckload capacity priced instantly without running a bidnot ShipEngine
  • A manufacturer trying to cut detention cost at plants by moving to drop and hook trailer poolsnot ShipEngine
  • A shipper consolidating a fragmented regional carrier base under one operating team and one set of reportsnot ShipEngine

Where each one falls short

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

ShipEngine

  • Free plan limited to sandbox access, not production use
  • Enterprise plan requires custom pricing for high-volume users with 25,000+ monthly shipments

Uber Freight

  • Managed transportation puts the carrier relationships, the rate history and the operating knowledge inside the provider, so bringing the function back in house later means rebuilding all three from a standing start.
  • The business is an assembly of Uber brokerage and Transplace managed services, and shippers report that the technology a managed customer uses is not the same product a spot customer sees, which complicates any evaluation based on demonstrations.
  • Uber Freight has cut staff during freight downturns, and a managed customer feels that directly because service quality depends on the size and tenure of the assigned operating team.
  • Instant pricing is a Uber Freight capacity commitment rather than a market index, so a shipper using it as a benchmark is measuring one provider appetite rather than the spot market.
  • Depth outside North American truckload is uneven, and shippers with substantial ocean, air or European road freight generally keep separate providers and separate systems.

Pricing, plan by plan

ShipEngine

Free
  • FreeFree
    • sandbox access
    • discounted carrier rates
    • analytics
  • Advanced$75/month
    • carrier account management
    • address validation
    • PUDO location search
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • minimum 25,000+ shipments monthly
    • custom billing
    • higher rate limits

Uber Freight

On request
  • Managed Transportation$undefined/year
    • Outsourced transportation operations
    • Network TMS access
    • Dedicated operating team and reporting
  • Brokerage$undefined/year
    • Spot and contract truckload capacity
    • Instant priced quotes
    • Tracking and document handling

Which should you pick?

Choose ShipEngine if

  • You want to start without paying.
ShipEngine review

Choose Uber Freight if

  • You need managed transportation.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
  • You also want network tms.
Uber Freight review

Questions people ask

Is ShipEngine or Uber Freight better?
Neither clearly leads. ShipEngine starts at Free and Uber Freight at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ShipEngine or Uber Freight?
ShipEngine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ShipEngine and On request for Uber Freight.
Does ShipEngine or Uber Freight run on more platforms?
ShipEngine runs on Web. Uber Freight runs on Web, iOS, Android, API.
Can I use ShipEngine for free?
Yes. ShipEngine has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Uber Freight starts at On request.
What is ShipEngine best used for?
ShipEngine is most often used for comparing rates across 100+ carriers for optimal pricing, creating shipping labels and managing manifests at scale, validating addresses to reduce failed deliveries, consolidating orders from multiple ecommerce channels. Of those, comparing rates across 100+ carriers for optimal pricing and creating shipping labels and managing manifests at scale are not what Uber Freight is typically brought in for.
What can ShipEngine do that Uber Freight cannot?
Uber Freight covers Managed transportation, Network TMS, Instant spot pricing, Powerloop trailer pool.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ShipEngine: How much does ShipEngine cost?

ShipEngine offers a free plan, an Advanced plan starting at $75/month, and Enterprise with custom pricing. Advanced plan includes label tier pricing from $0.075 to $0.060 per label depending on volume.

Source
Uber Freight: Is Uber Freight just the app?

No. Managed transportation, which came from the Transplace acquisition, is the larger part of the business for enterprise shippers.

ShipEngine: What does ShipEngine's free plan include?

ShipEngine's free plan includes sandbox access for testing, discounted carrier rates, analytics, label creation, rate comparison tools, tracking capabilities, and webhook support.

Source
Uber Freight: What did Uber pay for Transplace?

The 2022 deal was valued at approximately 2.25 billion dollars in cash and stock.

ShipEngine: How does ShipEngine charge for label overages?

ShipEngine's Advanced plan includes monthly label allowances from 1,000 to 10,000 labels. Overages beyond the monthly tier are charged at $0.075 per label (1,000 tier), $0.065 (5,000 tier), or $0.060 (10,000 tier).

Source
Uber Freight: Is Uber Freight profitable and stable?

It is a division of Uber Technologies and took a 550 million dollar outside investment in 2023 led by Greenbriar Equity Group, which had sold Transplace to it the year before.

Uber Freight: Can I licence the TMS on its own?

The platform is sold as part of a managed or brokerage relationship rather than as standalone licensed software.

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