How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Published prices are rare in this category: Linbis lists Startup at $150 per month (1 user, free trial, no card) and Shipthis lists $89 per user per month on its own homepage, both with every module included.
- CargoWise moved to published per-transaction Value Pack pricing (version 26.10): export shipments from $8.35, import shipments from $13.30, formal import declarations $9.95, with no seat or cloud hosting fees for most customers.
- GoFreight, Descartes, Magaya, FreightPOP and Freightify publish no prices at all: every evaluation runs demo to custom quote, so budget certainty is the first thing to negotiate.
- The market splits into SMB self-serve (Linbis, Shipthis) and enterprise quote-based (CargoWise, Descartes, Magaya), with GoFreight and FreightPOP sitting in the middle.
- Implementation ranges from Shipthis's claimed 9-week go-live to multi-month enterprise rollouts, so timeline belongs in the quote, not after it.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 GoFreight | Small to mid-size ocean and air forwarders wanting AI-driven automation | See website | No (demo only) |
 Descartes | Large multi-branch forwarders needing enterprise TMS with customs filing | See website | See website |
 Magaya | US-focused forwarders wanting freight forwarding, WMS and accounting in one platform | See website | See website |
 CargoWise | Global forwarders needing the deepest compliance and module coverage | From $2.63/shipment (Value Pack list price) | No |
 FreightPOP | Shippers and forwarders whose priority is rate shopping across parcel, LTL and FTL | See website | No |
 Linbis | Small forwarders who want published pricing and a trial without a sales call | $150/month (Startup, 1 user) | Free trial (no credit card required) |
 Shipthis | Mid-market forwarders who want one flat per-user price for everything | $89/user/month | Free trial |
 Freightify | Forwarders whose quoting speed is the bottleneck | See website | See website |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best freight forwarder software
Freight forwarding software is sold like enterprise software because, mostly, it is enterprise software. Five of the eight tools on this list publish no prices, offer no trials, and begin every evaluation with a demo and a custom quote. That is not a conspiracy; a platform that files customs declarations in thirty countries cannot be priced like a scheduling app. But it does mean the buyer's job is different here: you are not comparing feature checklists, you are interrogating pricing models, implementation timelines, and what happens at renewal.
This list covers the real market for the best freight forwarder software in 2026, from the $150-per-month self-serve end to the platforms the world's largest forwarders run on. Where a vendor publishes a number, we use it; where it does not, we say so and tell you what to ask for instead.
#1
GoFreight
Best for: Small to mid-size ocean and air forwarders wanting AI-driven automation
Visit gofreight.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo (demo only)
GoFreight is the modern all-in-one for ocean and air forwarders. It covers quoting, booking, shipment management, documentation, tracking and analytics in one cloud system, and its AI layer reads incoming emails and documents to update shipment records without re-keying. For a forwarder whose team is split across countries, the single live dataset is the selling point: a back office in Vietnam and a sales team in the US work on the same records with no syncing.
The honest catch is the evaluation process. Everything is custom-quoted after a demo, and there is no trial to test the document extraction on your own paperwork before committing. GoFreight's own pricing guide explains the industry models honestly, but your specific number only arrives after the sales cycle. Ask for the implementation timeline and the per-user seat cost in writing before you fall in love with the demo.
What we like- AI-powered document capture (GoNexus Hub) extracts data from incoming paperwork automatically
- One cloud platform for quoting, shipments, invoicing, CRM and tracking with no local servers
- Strong presence across the US and Asia with real-time multi-office collaboration
Watch out for- No published pricing and no self-serve trial, so budgeting starts with a sales conversation
- Vendor-stated implementation runs 4 to 8 weeks for small to mid-market forwarders
#2
Descartes
Best for: Large multi-branch forwarders needing enterprise TMS with customs filing
Visit descartes.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Descartes is the incumbent enterprise pick. Its Forwarder Enterprise Systems handle multimodal freight forwarding at scale, with customs filings, compliance and accounting built around the shipment, and the Global Logistics Network gives its AI real operational data to work with. For a large forwarder already standardized on Descartes for other functions, the forwarder TMS slots into an ecosystem the team already knows.
The catch is fit. This is software for multi-branch operations with dedicated implementation resources, not for a five-person forwarder. Pricing is quoted per module, trials are not documented, and the public materials describe documentation and customs features generically. If you are the buyer at a large forwarder, Descartes belongs in the evaluation; if you are small, the tools below will get you live faster and cheaper.
What we like- Broker and Forwarder Enterprise Systems digitize shipment management, customs compliance and accounting together
- The Global Logistics Network connects shippers, carriers and forwarders on shared data
- Deep customs and regulatory compliance coverage
Watch out for- Quote-based pricing with an enterprise sales process, sized for operations with their own implementation teams
- Public pages describe capabilities in general terms, so confirm specifics like ISF and AMS filing by name
#3
Magaya
Best for: US-focused forwarders wanting freight forwarding, WMS and accounting in one platform
Visit magaya.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Magaya is the consolidation play for forwarders that also run warehouses. One system handles the shipment, the warehouse receipt, the customs filing and the invoice, with the Digital Freight Portal giving customers self-service quoting, booking and tracking. Its US customs strength is genuine: ACE-certified ABI filing with AMS and Entry Type 86 API support for low-value shipments.
The honest catch is the cost structure. Licenses are quoted per workstation or user, advanced modules are separately priced extensions, and reviewers consistently flag rising subscription costs and expensive customization. It is a premium investment that pays off when the warehouse-plus-freight consolidation replaces two or three other systems. Price it as a platform replacement, not as an add-on, and get the module list and hourly rates in writing.
What we like- Single Digital Freight Platform covering forwarding, WMS, customs compliance, rate management and accounting
- Magaya Customs Compliance is ACE-certified for US CBP filing including ISF, Entry Summary and AES
- 2,300-plus customers in 100-plus countries
Watch out for- Quoted per-user pricing with no public rate card, and add-on modules like CargoAI and tracking priced separately
- Customization and template work billed at hourly rates on top of the license
#4
CargoWise
Best for: Global forwarders needing the deepest compliance and module coverage
Visit cargowise.com
Starting priceFrom $2.63/shipment (Value Pack list price)
Free planNo
CargoWise did something unusual for this category in late 2025: it replaced seat licenses, module fees and hosting charges with published per-transaction Value Packs. Export shipments cost $12.75 (FCL) or $8.35 (LCL/air), import shipments $19.95 (FCL) or $13.30 (LCL/air), formal import declarations $9.95 and formal export declarations $3.28, all on a public price list. No user seat fees means you can onboard staff freely, and the fee can be passed through to customers as a disbursement.
The catch is scope. CargoWise is the operating system for global forwarders: 30 languages, 162 currencies, deep customs compliance everywhere. A forwarder with one office and two trade lanes gets the same 225 functions as a global giant, and pays per shipment for the privilege. For large multi-country operations it is the standard for a reason; for smaller forwarders, the per-shipment math needs to beat Linbis or Shipthis at your actual volume.
What we like- Published per-transaction Community Pricing (version 26.10) with no seat or cloud hosting fees for most customers
- 225-plus forwarding, customs, warehouse and land transport functions included
- Used by most of the world's largest forwarders with 193-country coverage
Watch out for- The 200-plus modules are built for large multi-country operators, so smaller forwarders pay for depth they never use
- Implementation is commonly measured in months, not weeks
#5
FreightPOP
Best for: Shippers and forwarders whose priority is rate shopping across parcel, LTL and FTL
Visit freightpop.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
FreightPOP has evolved into an AI supply chain platform that unifies order management, warehouse operations and transportation execution. Its strength is shipping execution: rate shopping pulls negotiated rates from a large carrier network, and one dashboard handles parcel, LTL, FTL, intermodal and international air and ocean. The integration ecosystem is the largest claimed here, which matters when the TMS has to talk to your ERP and WMS.
The honest catch is positioning. FreightPOP's typical customers are mid-market to enterprise shippers, and pricing is quote-based with no trial. It is a strong fit for a shipper comparing rates across modes and connecting deeply with existing systems; it is a weaker fit for a small forwarder looking for forwarding-native workflows like consolidation and customs filing. Confirm the forwarder-specific depth in the demo before assuming it covers your operation.
What we like- Unified platform covering transportation, warehouse and order management with an AI automation layer
- Real-time rate shopping across carriers with discounted marketplace rates
- 1,500-plus pre-built ERP, WMS and ecommerce integrations
Watch out for- Custom quote pricing with no published tiers and no free trial documented
- Positioned toward mid-market and enterprise shippers rather than small forwarders
#6
Linbis
Best for: Small forwarders who want published pricing and a trial without a sales call
Visit linbis.com
Starting price$150/month (Startup, 1 user)
Free planFree trial (no credit card required)
Linbis is the transparency pick in a secretive category. The pricing page lists real numbers with no demo required, the trial is free without a credit card, and the product is genuinely built for forwarders and NVOCCs: quoting, master and house consolidation, warehouse, documents and invoicing on one shipment record. The AI layer sorts the inbound inbox into classifications and proposes actions, but nothing sends or posts until a person approves it.
The catch is the ceiling. The Startup plan covers core forwarding well, but warehouse management, mass receiving and data migration sit on Premium at $299, and anything bigger goes custom. That is still honest tiering compared with the quote-only market. For a small forwarder that wants to evaluate software like software, with a trial and a price list, Linbis is the easiest yes on this list.
What we like- Pricing published openly: Startup $150 per month (1 user), Premium $299 (3 users), free trial with no card
- AI copilot reads inbound email, classifies it and drafts the next action for human approval
- 90-plus document templates with live shipment data and QuickBooks sync
Watch out for- Premium is needed for warehouse management and data migration assistance
- Enterprise tier is custom-quoted, so larger operations still face a sales process
#7
Shipthis
Best for: Mid-market forwarders who want one flat per-user price for everything
Visit shipthis.co
Starting price$89/user/month
Free planFree trial
Shipthis is the flat-rate disruptor. Every module, shipment operations, accounting, CRM, quoting, tariff management, warehouse and portals, costs $89 per user per month with no per-transaction fees and no surprise invoices when volume grows. The AI is architectural rather than bolted on: Magic Drop reads freight documents in seconds, Email Bridge turns inbox messages into workflow actions, and Smart Book matches vendor invoices automatically.
The honest catch is the headcount math. Flat per-user pricing is wonderful at 10 users and real money at 50, so model it against CargoWise's per-shipment fees at your volume before assuming it is cheaper. Shipthis also positions against legacy vendors with aggressive go-live claims, which is encouraging but worth validating with reference calls. For a mid-market forwarder that hates per-shipment metering, it is the cleanest pricing story here.
What we like- One flat price of $89 per user per month with every module included and no per-shipment fees
- AI-native document reading, email parsing and invoice matching built into the core
- Claimed 9-week go-live versus multi-month legacy implementations
Watch out for- Per-user pricing gets expensive as headcount grows (25 users is $2,225 per month)
- A newer vendor than the incumbents, so reference customers in your trade lanes are worth checking
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Freightify solves one problem extremely well: rates and quoting. It pulls spot and contract rates from dozens of carriers and airlines into one database, applies markup rules by office and customer tier, and produces quotes in seconds. For a forwarder where the sales team loses deals waiting on pricing, that speed is worth more than another module. The CargoWise integration means it can feed quotes into an existing execution platform rather than replacing it.
The catch is scope and pricing opacity. Freightify is a rate management and quoting platform, not a full forwarding suite, so evaluate whether you need it alongside your TMS or instead of a module within it. Pricing sits behind a demo with no published tiers, and its carrier breadth exceeds what most small forwarders need on day one. Confirm the price scales down to a smaller book before assuming it fits.
What we like- Centralizes rates from 30-plus ocean carriers and NVOCCs plus 90-plus airlines with automated margin rules
- Quotes generated in under 30 seconds with a claimed 92% cut in procurement processing time
- Integrates with CargoWise to hand quotes off to execution
Watch out for- No public pricing and no published trial, everything runs through a demo
- Narrower scope than full forwarding platforms, so confirm it covers your execution needs or pairs with your TMS
The demo-first reality: getting a number out of a quote-based market
Five of these eight tools will not give you a price without a sales call. That is normal here, but you can still buy well. First, force the pricing model into the open on the first call: per user, per shipment, per transaction, or per module, and what exactly triggers the next tier. Second, get implementation in writing: weeks for Linbis and Shipthis, months for CargoWise, Magaya and Descartes, with a named onboarding owner. Third, ask about renewal terms explicitly, because reviewers of the quote-based tools consistently report increases at renewal. Fourth, confirm which modules are included versus separately priced, especially customs filing, tracking, portals and AI features. A quote that lists the modules is a contract you can hold; a quote that says "platform" is a conversation you will have again next year.
Per user, per shipment, or per transaction: pick the model that matches your growth
The pricing model matters more than the starting number. Per-user pricing (Shipthis at $89, Linbis from $150) rewards shipment growth: double your volume with the same team and the bill does not move. Per-shipment and per-transaction pricing (CargoWise Value Packs) rewards team growth: onboard fifty new staff and the bill does not move, but every extra container costs you. Quote-based pricing (GoFreight, Descartes, Magaya, FreightPOP, Freightify) can be either, which is exactly why you must pin it down.
Run your projected year-end numbers through each model before you sign. A forwarder doing 500 shipments a month with 15 staff pays roughly $1,335 on Shipthis and around $4,000 to $10,000 on CargoWise's published forwarding fees, while a forwarder doing 100 shipments with 40 staff sees the comparison flip. There is no universally cheapest option, only the model that fits your ratio of people to shipments.
How we chose
We shortlisted candidates from the keywords buyers use: freight forwarder software, freight forwarding TMS and logistics software for forwarders. For each one we opened the vendor's own website, checked for published pricing on the vendor's pricing or community pricing page, and weighed forwarding depth, customs coverage, warehouse capabilities, pricing-model fit and company-size fit against public reviews on G2, Capterra and TrustRadius and practitioner discussion on Reddit and logistics forums. Where a vendor publishes no pricing we wrote "See website" instead of repeating third-party estimates. We did not claim hands-on testing of any platform.
Frequently asked questions
How much does freight forwarder software cost?
It ranges widely. Linbis publishes $150 per month for one user and Shipthis charges $89 per user per month, both with all modules included. CargoWise publishes per-transaction Value Pack pricing from $2.63 per shipment. GoFreight, Descartes, Magaya, FreightPOP and Freightify are quote-based, with third-party estimates running from hundreds to thousands per month depending on users and volume.
Is there any free freight forwarding software?
No full-featured free tier exists among the established tools. Linbis offers a free trial without a credit card, Shipthis offers a trial, and CargoWise's model includes no seat fees, which lowers the effective cost of adding staff. Expect to pay for any production system; the question is which pricing model, not whether there is one.
Which freight forwarder software is best for a small forwarder?
Linbis and Shipthis are the most accessible: published pricing, free trials, and go-live timelines measured in weeks. GoFreight also targets small to mid-size forwarders but requires a demo and custom quote. Avoid the enterprise platforms until your volume and headcount justify their implementation overhead.
Which is best for a large global forwarder?
CargoWise is the standard for large multi-country forwarders, with the deepest customs compliance and 200-plus modules, now on published per-transaction pricing. Descartes suits large forwarders already in its ecosystem, and Magaya fits large operations that combine forwarding with warehousing. All three involve substantial implementations, so plan accordingly.
Do these tools handle customs filing?
Yes, with different strengths. Magaya Customs Compliance is ACE-certified for US CBP filing. Descartes offers e-Customs modules for multiple countries. CargoWise includes formal import and export declarations in its Value Packs. GoFreight includes compliance filing tools for ocean and air. Confirm your specific countries and declaration types in the demo, since coverage varies.
Can I try freight forwarder software before buying?
Sometimes. Linbis offers a free trial with no credit card, and Shipthis offers a trial. The rest are demo-first: GoFreight, Descartes, Magaya, FreightPOP and Freightify evaluate through demos and custom quotes, and CargoWise sells through its sales team with published transaction prices. For demo-only tools, ask for a proof of concept on your own shipment data before signing.
Sources we checked (12)
- https://gofreight.com/
- https://gofreight.com/blog/transparent-freight-software-pricing
- https://www.descartes.com/
- https://magaya.com/
- https://cargowise.com/
- https://cargowise.com/lp/cargowise-value-pack/
- https://cargowise.com/cargowise-value-pack/cargowise-value-pack-community-pricing/
- https://freightpop.com/
- https://linbis.com/
- https://linbis.com/pricing
- https://shipthis.co/
- https://freightify.com/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.