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Logistics · head to head

Shippabo vs Terminal49

Shippabo logo

Shippabo

Logistics

Freight forwarder with its own import management platform, priced on container volume

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Terminal49 logo

Terminal49

Maritime

Container tracking for freight forwarders

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Terminal49 has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Shippabo the software is priced on container volume under an annual service agreement, so the fee moves with freight rather than usage and a soft import season still carries a committed cost.; Terminal49 aPI access and webhooks start at the Essential plan
  • They diverge on capability: Shippabo covers Purchase order tracking, Terminal49 covers Automated tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Shippabo and Terminal49 actually diverge.

Attributes where Shippabo and Terminal49 differ
AttributeShippaboTerminal49
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Api
CategoryLogisticsMaritime
FoundedUnknown2019

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Shippabo

  • Purchase order tracking
  • Shipment visibility
  • Customs brokerage
  • Supplier collaboration
  • Landed cost
  • System integrations

Only in Terminal49

  • Automated tracking
  • Terminal appointments
  • Demurrage alerts
  • Customer portals
  • TMS platforms
  • Carrier websites
  • Terminal systems
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Shippabo

  • A mid-sized importer bringing containers from China that needs PO-level visibility without building it in-housenot Terminal49
  • A wholesaler that wants factories updating purchase order status directly instead of by emailnot Terminal49
  • A retailer needing landed cost per shipment to price goods before they arrivenot Terminal49
  • An importer consolidating forwarding, customs brokerage and tracking with one providernot Terminal49

Terminal49

  • Tracking ocean containers and shipments across carriers and terminalsnot Shippabo
  • Feeding container milestones into an internal system over an APInot Shippabo

Where each one falls short

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

Shippabo

  • The software is priced on container volume under an annual service agreement, so the fee moves with freight rather than usage and a soft import season still carries a committed cost.
  • Platform and forwarding are bought together, which makes tendering freight to a cheaper carrier expensive because you risk losing the visibility layer your team uses.
  • As a small forwarder it has less network depth and weaker space allocation than the global incumbents, which bites hardest in a tight ocean market when capacity is rationed to large accounts.
  • Nothing is published about price, so importers cannot benchmark the software fee against independent visibility vendors without a sales process.
  • Coverage is concentrated on the trans-Pacific import lane, so companies with significant intra-Europe, Latin American or export flows need a second provider anyway.

Terminal49

  • API access and webhooks start at the Essential plan
  • The free plan is limited to 3 users and 50 document credits
  • The Lite and Complete plans require an annual contract
  • No plan above the free tier publishes a price, so every paid tier requires contacting sales

Pricing, plan by plan

Shippabo

On request
  • Shippabo Platform$undefined/year
    • Annual software service agreement
    • Priced on container volume and partner count
    • Purchase order and container visibility

Terminal49

Free
  • Pro$299/month
    • Unlimited tracking
    • Terminal data
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose Shippabo if

  • You need purchase order tracking.
  • You also want shipment visibility.
Shippabo review

Choose Terminal49 if

  • You need automated tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want terminal appointments.
Terminal49 review

Questions people ask

Is Shippabo or Terminal49 better?
Neither clearly leads. Shippabo starts at On request and Terminal49 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Shippabo or Terminal49?
Terminal49 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Shippabo and Free for Terminal49.
Does Shippabo or Terminal49 run on more platforms?
Shippabo runs on Web. Terminal49 runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Terminal49 for free?
Yes. Terminal49 has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Shippabo starts at On request.
What is Shippabo best used for?
Shippabo is most often used for a mid-sized importer bringing containers from china that needs po-level visibility without building it in-house, a wholesaler that wants factories updating purchase order status directly instead of by email, a retailer needing landed cost per shipment to price goods before they arrive, an importer consolidating forwarding, customs brokerage and tracking with one provider. Of those, a mid-sized importer bringing containers from china that needs po-level visibility without building it in-house and a wholesaler that wants factories updating purchase order status directly instead of by email are not what Terminal49 is typically brought in for.
What can Shippabo do that Terminal49 cannot?
Shippabo covers Purchase order tracking, Shipment visibility, Customs brokerage, Supplier collaboration. Terminal49 covers Automated tracking, Terminal appointments, Demurrage alerts, Customer portals.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Shippabo: Is Shippabo still trading?

Yes. The platform and freight services are active, operated by Galleon Technology with United States and China operations.

Terminal49: Is there a free plan available?

Yes, Terminal49 offers a Free Forever plan with no commitment required. It includes up to 3 users, basic shipment tracking, and 50 document credits.

Source
Shippabo: Can I buy the software without using Shippabo as my forwarder?

The visibility product is sold as an annual agreement priced on container volume and partners, so it is structured around the freight relationship rather than as a standalone subscription.

Terminal49: What plans require payment?

Terminal49 offers four tiers: Free (free forever), Lite (annual contract), Essential (annual or pay-as-you-go), and Complete (annual contract). Lite, Essential, and Complete require direct contact with sales for pricing.

Source
Shippabo: How is it priced?

On container volume and partner count under an annual software service agreement. No figures are published.

Terminal49: What features are in the Essential plan?

Essential (Most Popular) includes unlimited users, full shipment & container dashboards, API access & webhooks, intermodal rail tracking, container assignments, and team collaboration features. It offers both annual contract and pay-as-you-go billing options.

Source
Shippabo: Is it a neutral multi-carrier platform?

No. It is a forwarder's own platform, so it will not give you a genuinely carrier-agnostic view of freight you tender elsewhere.

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