The short answer
There is no single best MacroPoint alternative, because it depends on how your loads are tracked. Trucker Tools fits broker teams that want driver app check-ins on covered loads. project44 and FourKites fit large networks on annual agreements. ShipmentVisibility fits small and mid-sized brokers, 3PLs and shippers that follow truckload together with LTL, parcel, ocean and air, on public plans from $49 a month.
MacroPoint, now part of Descartes, is built around truckload visibility for brokers, shippers and carriers. That is a different job from following an LTL pallet, a parcel or a container, and many desks end up paying for one tool while still opening carrier sites for the rest.
Where teams outgrow a truckload-only tracker
Three situations send brokers and shippers looking. The first is volume that does not justify a sales-led contract. The second is a mixed book, where the same customer ships truckload, LTL pallets and the occasional import container, and the desk needs one list. The third is price clarity: a quote that depends on loads, users and onboarding is hard to compare with anything else.
None of this makes MacroPoint a bad product. For a broker whose carriers all run the driver app, load-level location pings are exactly the point. If that is your whole business, stay and negotiate. The alternatives below matter when your freight is broader than one mode or your budget is monthly.
MacroPoint alternatives compared
| Tool | Modes covered | Pricing model | API access | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacroPoint (Descartes) | Truckload | Quote through sales, confirm terms | Confirm with Descartes | Brokers and shippers whose carriers share driver location |
| Trucker Tools | Truckload, broker tooling | Quote or plan, confirm with vendor | Confirm with vendor | Brokers that want driver app check-ins and carrier sourcing |
| project44 | Enterprise multi-mode | Quote-based, annual agreement | Yes, enterprise | Large networks with complex integrations |
| FourKites | Enterprise multi-mode | Quote-based, enterprise | Yes, enterprise | Large shippers with a procurement process |
| ShipmentVisibility | Parcel, LTL, FTL, ocean and air | Public flat plans from $49 a month | REST API and webhooks from Pro | Brokers, 3PLs and shippers who track several modes in one list |
Vendor details change, so confirm current coverage, pricing and contract terms on each vendor's site before you decide. Where this table says confirm, we did not find a public figure we could verify. For the enterprise end of the market, our project44 alternatives and FourKites alternatives articles cover the trade-offs for smaller shippers.
MacroPoint alternatives by workflow
Stay with MacroPoint for load-level location on truckload
If the product you sell to shippers is a live map of a covered load, driver-level location is worth paying for. Ask Descartes for a written quote with per-load and per-user terms, and the minimum term.
Trucker Tools for a broker workflow around the driver app
Choose a driver-app tool when check-ins and carrier sourcing are the center of your day. It is aimed at brokers, so a shipper with its own carriers may find the fit narrower.
project44 and FourKites for enterprise networks
Choose these when procurement wants an annual agreement and integrations with many systems. Both are quote-based and take planning to onboard.
ShipmentVisibility for a mixed book and a monthly budget
Choose ShipmentVisibility when one coordinator follows truckload, LTL pallets, parcel and the occasional container for the same customers. Everything lands in one exception-first list, with alerts, predicted ETA on Growth and higher, and branded tracking pages so your customers check status themselves. Brokers and 3PLs can read how the freight tracking software for 3PLs and freight brokers page handles client sub-accounts, and LTL vs FTL tracking explains why truckload status is only as live as the source a carrier reports.
Be clear about the limit. ShipmentVisibility tracks freight and does not rate, book or tender loads, and truckload detail depends on what the carrier or telematics source reports. If you must show driver-level pings on every load, test that with your own carriers first. The demo above checks number formats before you create an account.
How the pricing models differ
Sales-led tools price on loads, users and integrations, and you learn the number after a call. That works when volume is large and predictable. A flat plan is easier to budget when you know roughly how many shipments you add a month.
ShipmentVisibility Starter costs $49 a month or $24 a month billed yearly, with 100 parcel, LTL, FTL and air shipments plus 10 ocean containers. Growth costs $149 a month or $74 billed yearly, with 750 shipments, 40 containers, predicted ETA and branded tracking pages. Pro costs $499 a month or $249 billed yearly, with 4,000 shipments, 120 containers, REST API, webhooks and client sub-accounts. Enterprise costs $1,499 a month or $749 billed yearly, with 15,000 shipments. See shipment tracking software pricing for the full table.
A fair comparison needs three numbers from your own business: loads and shipments a month, how many people need a login, and whether you need an API into your TMS. Price each option on those, not on a headline.
Once tracking cuts the status calls, the next cost is usually chasing the invoices behind those loads, and a tool for chasing unpaid freight invoices handles that part of the broker workflow.
FAQ
What are the best MacroPoint alternatives?
The best MacroPoint alternative depends on how you track loads. Trucker Tools suits broker teams that want driver app check-ins, project44 and FourKites suit enterprise networks, and ShipmentVisibility suits brokers and 3PLs that follow LTL, parcel, ocean and air alongside truckload on public monthly plans.
How much does MacroPoint cost?
Descartes sells MacroPoint through sales, and we could not verify a public price list. Ask for a written quote that states per-load, per-user and onboarding terms, plus the contract length. Compare it with a flat plan only after you know your loads a month.
Is there a MacroPoint alternative with public pricing?
Yes. ShipmentVisibility publishes four plans at $49, $149, $499 and $1,499 a month, or about half that per month billed yearly, with a fixed monthly shipment allowance and no contract. It tracks shipments across carriers, so confirm it covers how your truckload carriers report status.
Does MacroPoint track LTL, parcel or ocean freight?
MacroPoint is known for truckload visibility. If your desk also follows LTL PRO numbers, parcel and ocean containers, confirm that coverage with Descartes. ShipmentVisibility tracks parcel, LTL, FTL, ocean containers and air waybills in one list.
Can I switch tracking tools without losing my open loads?
Yes. Export your open load and reference numbers to a spreadsheet and upload them as a CSV to ShipmentVisibility, then review the detected carriers. Keep your old tool until loads already in transit are delivered, because past events stay where they were recorded.