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.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 project44 | Shippers needing multimodal visibility across carriers | See website (custom quote) | No |
 FourKites | Large shippers wanting an intelligent control tower | See website (custom quote) | No |
 Oracle Transportation Management | Global enterprises already running Oracle | See website (custom quote) | No |
 Infios | Shippers and 3PLs wanting a flexible multimodal TMS | See website (custom quote) | No |
 CargoWise | Freight forwarders running global operations | See website (custom quote) | No |
 Magaya Supply Chain | Small and mid-size forwarders, 3PLs and NVOCCs | See website (custom quote) | No |
 FreightPOP | Mid-market shippers wanting TMS without the enterprise project | See website (custom quote) | No |
 Alpega TMS | European shippers and transport buyers | See website (custom quote) | No |
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Key takeaways
- Visibility and TMS solve different problems: project44 and FourKites track freight in transit, while Oracle, Infios and FreightPOP plan, tender and settle it.
- Freight forwarders should shortlist CargoWise and Magaya; shipper-focused TMS tools do not fit forwarder workflows.
- Mid-market shippers get the best value from FreightPOP, which is built for simpler deployments than the enterprise suites.
- Every tool here is quote-priced. Budget six figures annually for the enterprise platforms and get implementation costs in writing.
The best freight software
Picture a Tuesday in peak season: a container is stuck at a port, a truckload is running late, and a customer wants to know where their order is. Your team is in three spreadsheets and a group chat. Freight software exists to replace that chaos with one system that plans shipments, books carriers, tracks freight and settles invoices. These eight platforms cover the real market, from visibility networks to full transportation management systems.
#1
project44
Best for: Shippers needing multimodal visibility across carriers
Visit project44.com
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo
project44 is the visibility layer many large shippers bolt onto their existing systems. It connects to carriers, telematics devices and port data to show where freight actually is, with predictive ETAs and alerts when shipments go off plan. The Movement platform framing reflects where the product has gone: less a tracking screen, more a decision feed for exceptions.
Be clear about what you are buying. project44 does not tender loads, rate freight or audit invoices; it watches freight someone else booked. Pair it with a TMS or forwarder, or evaluate FourKites for a similar scope. Pricing is enterprise and quote-based, so bring your shipment volumes to the first call.
What we like- Large carrier network feeding real-time tracking data
- Predictive ETAs and exception alerts
- Strong API for embedding visibility into customer experiences
Watch out for- Visibility only, not a full TMS
- Enterprise pricing with annual contracts
- Value depends on your carriers being on the network
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo
FourKites competes head-to-head with project44 and pitches one step further: an intelligent control tower that models your network as a digital twin and applies AI to exceptions. The practical pitch is fewer "where is my shipment" tickets and earlier warning on delays. Its customer base skews toward big manufacturers and CPG companies with complex inbound and outbound flows.
The commitment is real. Carrier onboarding takes work, the sales process is long, and the price assumes enterprise budgets. Mid-market shippers should look at lighter options first. If you run a global supply chain and live in exceptions, FourKites belongs on the shortlist next to project44.
What we like- Real-time network across modes with digital-twin modeling
- AI-assisted exception management
- Strong in CPG and manufacturing verticals
Watch out for- Enterprise deals with long sales cycles
- Implementation needs carrier onboarding effort
- Smaller shippers will find it oversized
#3
Oracle Transportation Management
Best for: Global enterprises already running Oracle
Visit oracle.com
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo
Oracle Transportation Management is the heavyweight TMS for companies that already live in Oracle's world. It covers the full lifecycle, order management, planning, tendering, execution, visibility, freight audit and settlement, across all modes including ocean and air. For a Fortune 500 shipper with Oracle ERP, the integration argument is decisive.
Everything else is the enterprise software bargain: long implementations, consultant-heavy rollouts and pricing that only makes sense at scale. If you are not already an Oracle shop, Infios or Blue Yonder deserve a look for similar depth with less lock-in. OTM is a platform decision, not a tool purchase.
What we like- Deep planning, tendering and settlement in one enterprise suite
- Natural fit with Oracle ERP and warehouse systems
- Handles complex global trade scenarios
Watch out for- Implementation projects run months and need consultants
- Licensing and services costs are high
- Overkill outside large enterprises
#4
Infios
Best for: Shippers and 3PLs wanting a flexible multimodal TMS
Visit infios.com
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo
Infios is the new name for the TMS formerly known as MercuryGate, after its acquisition by Korber's supply chain software business, which rebranded as Infios. The product itself is a proven multimodal TMS used by shippers, 3PLs, forwarders and brokers, with rating, booking, tracking and settlement across every major mode. Configurability is the selling point: it adapts to unusual workflows instead of forcing standard ones.
That flexibility cuts both ways. Initial setup is a project, and you will want experienced implementers. The rebrand means older reviews and references say MercuryGate, so ask vendors and peers about both names. For operations that span modes and need the system to bend, it is one of the strongest options here.
What we like- Native support for parcel, LTL, truckload, air, ocean, rail and intermodal on one platform
- Highly configurable workflows
- Strong 3PL and broker functionality
Watch out for- The MercuryGate rebrand still confuses the market
- Flexibility means complex initial configuration
- Enterprise-grade pricing
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo
CargoWise, from WiseTech Global, is the operating system of the freight forwarding world. It handles the forwarder-specific work that shipper TMS tools skip: multi-leg forwarding, customs brokerage, bonded warehousing, and the document chains that come with cross-border freight. Its global community means partners and agents often run the same system, which smooths collaboration.
Shippers should not evaluate it; it is not built for you. Forwarders should know the commitment: it is a deep product with deep training needs, and costs scale with the modules and transactions you run. For a forwarder standardizing global operations, though, nothing else matches its footprint.
What we like- Deep forwarder workflows: forwarding, customs, warehousing and tracking in one system
- Huge global user community
- Continuous development from WiseTech
Watch out for- Built for forwarders, not shippers
- Complex product with a real learning curve
- Pricing scales with usage and modules
#6
Magaya Supply Chain
Best for: Small and mid-size forwarders, 3PLs and NVOCCs
Visit magaya.com
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo
Magaya is the forwarder platform for companies that find CargoWise oversized. It covers forwarding, warehousing, customs compliance and accounting in one system aimed at small and mid-size forwarders, 3PLs and NVOCCs. Onboarding is faster and the commercial model is friendlier than the enterprise alternatives.
The tradeoff is ceiling. Very large forwarders with complex global trade needs will outgrow it, and the partner ecosystem is smaller. But for a growing forwarder that needs real operational software without a two-year implementation, Magaya is the pragmatic pick.
What we like- Forwarder-focused without CargoWise's complexity
- Includes warehousing and customs
- More approachable pricing and onboarding
Watch out for- Smaller ecosystem than CargoWise
- Advanced global trade features are thinner
- Best fit is SMB, not enterprise forwarders
#7
FreightPOP
Best for: Mid-market shippers wanting TMS without the enterprise project
Visit freightpop.com
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo
FreightPOP targets the shipper that needs a TMS but not a transformation program. It handles rating, booking, tracking and reporting across parcel, LTL and truckload with a cleaner implementation path than Oracle or Infios. Mid-market manufacturers and distributors are the core audience: companies with real freight spend but no army of logistics IT staff.
It will not match the enterprise suites on complex international scenarios or deep trade compliance. And pricing is still quote-based, so get the full picture including onboarding. For domestic-focused shippers stepping up from spreadsheets and carrier portals, it is the right weight class.
What we like- Simpler deployment than enterprise TMS
- Parcel, LTL and FTL in one rating and booking flow
- Good integrations with ERP and WMS systems
Watch out for- Less depth for complex global trade
- Smaller carrier network effects than the giants
- Quote-only pricing
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo
Alpega, built from a roll-up of European transport software including tendering specialist TenderEasy, is the TMS most US buyers have never heard of and many European shippers swear by. It handles the particular complexity of European road freight, cabotage rules, multi-country tendering, and a fragmented carrier base, alongside standard TMS planning, execution and settlement.
Outside Europe the ecosystem thins out, and US-based teams will find fewer peers and integrators. But for a shipper with heavy European freight, especially one running tenders across many carriers and countries, Alpega deserves a slot next to the global names.
What we like- Strong European carrier network and tendering heritage
- Modular TMS covering planning through settlement
- Good fit for EU road freight complexity
Watch out for- Weaker presence outside Europe
- Brand recognition lags US competitors
- Enterprise sales process
How we chose
We started with the searches logistics buyers use: best freight software, TMS software comparison and freight visibility platform. For each candidate we checked the vendor's own site for current positioning and pricing approach, read analyst and review-site coverage, and compared scope, modes covered and company-size fit. Where pricing is quote-only, which is nearly everywhere in this category, we wrote "See website" rather than repeating estimates.
These are different products that vendors market similarly. A TMS (Oracle, Infios, FreightPOP, Alpega) plans freight: it rates, tenders, books and settles. A visibility platform (project44, FourKites) watches freight in transit: location, ETAs, exceptions. Many shippers need both, connected by API.
The buying mistake is purchasing visibility when the problem is planning, or vice versa. If your team spends its day booking loads and chasing invoices, you need a TMS. If bookings are fine but nobody knows where anything is, you need visibility. Freight forwarders are a third case: CargoWise and Magaya cover forwarder-specific workflows that neither shipper category handles well.
Frequently asked questions
How much does freight software cost?
Nearly every platform here is quote-priced. Expect mid-market TMS deals in the tens of thousands per year and enterprise TMS or visibility contracts in the six figures, plus implementation services. Get onboarding, training and support costs in the written quote, not just the license.
What is the difference between a TMS and a freight forwarder platform?
A TMS serves shippers managing their own freight. Forwarder platforms like CargoWise and Magaya serve intermediaries, with customs, multi-leg forwarding and agent collaboration workflows. Using a shipper TMS as a forwarder, or vice versa, leads to workarounds from day one.
Do I need a visibility platform if I have a TMS?
Often yes. Most TMS tools track milestones their carriers report, which is coarse. Visibility platforms fuse carrier, telematics and port data for live positions and predictive ETAs. Many shippers run both, with the visibility feed inside the TMS.
How long does a TMS implementation take?
Mid-market deployments run a few months; enterprise TMS projects run six to twelve months with phased rollouts. Carrier onboarding and ERP integration are the usual long poles. Ask for a reference customer of your size and mode mix before signing.
What happened to MercuryGate?
MercuryGate was acquired by Korber's supply chain software business, which rebranded as Infios. The TMS product continues under the Infios name. Older reviews, contracts and integrations may still say MercuryGate.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://project44.com
- https://fourkites.com
- https://oracle.com
- https://infios.com
- https://wisetechglobal.com
- https://magaya.com
- https://freightpop.com
- https://alpegagroup.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.