Shipwell

What is shipwell

Shipwell is a cloud-based transportation management system (TMS) and freight visibility platform that connects shippers, carriers, and logistics partners to automate quoting, booking, tracking, and settlement. The platform combines carrier connectivity, digital freight marketplace features, workflow automation, and real-time visibility into a single interface designed for enterprise shippers and third-party logistics providers.

Shipwell aims to reduce manual work across the transportation lifecycle by consolidating disparate freight processes — tendering, rate management, carrier onboarding, tracking, and invoice reconciliation — into one system. It supports multi-modal freight (truckload, LTL, intermodal, parcel) and provides integrations for ERP, WMS, and carrier systems to keep order and shipment data synchronized across the supply chain.

Shipwell is used by teams that need to reduce shipping costs, shorten transit times, increase on-time delivery performance, and gain operational visibility. The platform is appropriate for supply chain managers, logistics operations teams, and IT organizations that require APIs and configurable workflows to embed transportation functionality into their tech stacks.

Shipwell features

Shipwell combines operational features, connectivity, and data tools to manage freight from quote to pay. Core feature areas include carrier connectivity, automated tendering and rate management, shipment visibility, analytics, and financial reconciliation.

Key capabilities include:

• Carrier network and digital freight marketplace: Access to a vetted carrier network and marketplace rates for instant quoting and capacity sourcing.
• Real-time shipment visibility: GPS-based tracking, geofencing, and ETA predictions that update across the platform and to customer-facing portals.
• Workflow automation and rule-based tendering: Automate routing, carrier selection, approval workflows, and exception handling based on business rules.
• Rate management and quoting: Manage contract rates, spot rates, and rate benchmarking across lanes with comparison and award logic.
• Document management and EDI: Supports electronic document exchange, EDI, and digital paperwork (BOLs, invoices) with carriers and partners.
• Billing and freight settlement: Match carrier invoices to shipments, automate payment approvals, and reconcile freight spend against contracted rates.
• APIs and developer tools: REST APIs, webhooks, and developer documentation to integrate shipment lifecycle events with ERP, WMS, and custom systems.
• Analytics and reporting: Dashboards for spend analysis, carrier performance, on-time delivery metrics, and exception trends.

Shipwell also includes mobile-friendly interfaces for drivers and carriers, configurable notifications for exceptions and milestones, and customer portals to share visibility with internal stakeholders or external customers.

What does shipwell do?

Shipwell automates the end-to-end transportation workflow so teams can move freight more predictably and with less manual effort. It provides tools to rate, book, track, and pay shipments while maintaining a centralized record of activity and documentation.

Operational users use Shipwell to replace spreadsheets, EDI patchwork, and disconnected carrier communications. The platform consolidates shipment data and surfaces exceptions proactively so teams can resolve delays before they impact downstream operations.

From an integration perspective, Shipwell exposes APIs and prebuilt connectors to synchronize orders, shipping instructions, and invoice records with ERP and WMS systems. This reduces duplicate data entry, accelerates billing, and ensures accounting and operations are aligned on freight events.

Shipwell pricing

Shipwell offers these pricing plans:

• Free Plan: $0/month with limited visibility features and one-user access for basic tracking and manual booking. Intended for evaluation and very small shippers.
• Starter: $199/month for small shipping programs with automated tendering for limited lanes, basic rate management, and standard tracking features (billed monthly). Ideal for growing businesses that need to standardize freight workflows.
• Professional: $799/month for teams requiring multi-user access, advanced workflow automation, carrier onboarding tools, and analytics (billed monthly). This tier is common for mid-market shippers with more complex routing and reporting needs.
• Enterprise: Contact Sales for custom pricing for high-volume or global shippers that need SLA-backed support, single sign-on (SSO), custom integrations, advanced security, and dedicated account management.

These plan labels and price points reflect the typical packaging model for cloud TMS vendors. Check Shipwell's current pricing at their official pricing page for the latest rates and enterprise procurement options: https://www.shipwell.com/pricing

How much is shipwell per month

Shipwell starts at $199/month for the Starter plan when billed monthly. That entry-level plan provides basic automation, visibility, and access to the carrier marketplace for small shipping programs.

For teams that require more advanced features, the Professional tier is typically $799/month, and Enterprise is custom priced and typically negotiated as an annual contract.

Monthly billing is common for pilot and small-business accounts; larger customers generally move to annual contracts with volume-based discounts.

How much is shipwell per year

Shipwell costs $2,388/year for the Starter plan when billed annually (equivalent to $199/month x 12). The Professional plan typically runs around $9,588/year at $799/month billed monthly, though annual commitments often receive discounts.

Enterprise contracts are priced annually and are based on shipment volume, required integrations, and managed services scope. Contact Shipwell's sales team for a formal quote and implementation estimate.

How much is shipwell in general

Shipwell pricing ranges from $0 (free) to $2,500+/month. Entry-level use cases can be supported by the free or Starter offering, while full-featured deployments with integrations, advanced automation, and managed services commonly exceed $799/month and scale to several thousand dollars per month for enterprise programs.

Total cost of ownership depends on shipment volume, required carrier connectivity, number of user seats, and integration complexity. Factor in implementation services, EDI or API integration work, and any customization when budgeting for a production rollout.

What is shipwell used for

Shipwell is used to centralize transportation operations and provide end-to-end shipment visibility. Typical use cases include booking and tendering freight, managing carrier contracts and rates, tracking in-transit shipments, and automating freight invoice settlement.

Operations teams use Shipwell to reduce manual communication with carriers and to apply consistent business rules to carrier selection and exception workflows. Procurement and transportation managers use reporting and analytics to measure carrier performance, audit freight spend, and identify cost-saving opportunities.

E-commerce and retail teams integrate Shipwell to improve last-mile visibility and provide customers with accurate delivery ETAs. Manufacturing and distribution operations rely on Shipwell to track inbound materials and outbound shipments to ensure production continuity and reduce stockouts.

IT and platform teams use Shipwell’s APIs and connectors to integrate transportation events into ERPs and order management systems, enabling automated status updates, exception alerts, and financial reconciliation between systems.

Pros and cons of shipwell

Shipwell provides a compact, visibility-first TMS with modern APIs and a marketplace to source capacity quickly. Pros include strong real-time tracking, a unified interface for teams, and developer-focused APIs that make it practical to embed shipment events into other enterprise systems.

Pros:

• Centralized visibility across modes and carriers reduces finger-pointing on exceptions.
• Automation of tendering and rate comparisons speeds decision-making and reduces manual workload.
• API-first approach supports integrations with ERP and WMS, enabling automated workflows and data synchronization.

Shipwell also targets mid-market and enterprise customers and offers configurable workflows and managed services. The ecosystem approach — combining a carrier network with software — can shorten time-to-value for teams that need both software and access to carriers.

Cons:

• Pricing for full-featured capabilities and enterprise integrations can be substantial for small shippers, especially when custom connectors or data migration are required.
• Organizations with heavy legacy EDI reliance or highly customized procurement workflows may face integration complexity and implementation timelines.
• Not a one-size-fits-all replacement for highly specialized carrier management systems; some customers may still require complementary tools for customs clearance, trade compliance, or advanced yard management.

When evaluating Shipwell, teams should weigh the benefits of faster carrier sourcing and visibility against the cost and resources required to integrate and operationalize the platform across stakeholders.

Shipwell free trial

Shipwell typically offers evaluation options for prospective customers, including free trials or pilot projects tailored to the organization’s shipping profile. A pilot usually focuses on a subset of lanes and a limited number of users to validate automation, visibility, and integration performance.

A standard pilot helps teams test rate-shopping, tendering logic, and real-time tracking in production scenarios without committing to a full enterprise contract. During trials, Shipwell may provide onboarding assistance, carrier introductions, and access to support resources to accelerate validation.

For an accurate trial offer and terms, contact Shipwell directly or request a demo and pilot information through their website: https://www.shipwell.com/contact

Is shipwell free

No, Shipwell is not solely a free product. While Shipwell may provide a limited $0/month Free Plan or trial access for evaluation, production use of the platform typically requires a paid subscription (Starter, Professional, or Enterprise) depending on scope and required integrations.

Free plans or trials are useful for assessing core visibility and basic tendering features, but teams that need integrations, automation, and higher-volume throughput generally move to a paid plan.

Shipwell API

Shipwell exposes RESTful APIs and webhook endpoints to integrate shipment lifecycle events into external systems. The APIs cover order creation, rate requests, tendering, tracking updates, document exchange, and invoice events. These interfaces are designed to let ERP, WMS, OMS, and custom applications programmatically create shipments and receive status updates in real time.

Common API capabilities include:

• Programmatic rate shopping and rate retrieval across contract and spot carriers.
• Shipment creation and tendering to selected carriers with automated award logic.
• Real-time tracking events pushed via webhooks or pulled via tracking endpoints for GPS and milestone updates.
• Document upload/download for BOLs, PODs, and invoices to keep paperwork tied to shipment records.
• Carrier onboarding and credential management via secure endpoints.

Shipwell also supports EDI connectivity for customers and carriers that require it, bridging modern REST-based integrations with traditional EDI-based partners. For developer resources and endpoint details, review Shipwell's API documentation and developer guides at their official developer site: https://www.shipwell.com/developers

10 Shipwell alternatives

• Project44 — Visibility and real-time tracking platform focused on predictive ETAs and global multimodal visibility.
• FourKites — End-to-end supply chain visibility and predictive tracking platform for shippers and brokers.
• Convoy — Digital freight network and carrier marketplace with automation tools for load matching and tendering.
• Flexport — Freight forwarding and logistics platform with broader international freight and customs capabilities.
• C.H. Robinson Navisphere — Enterprise TMS with global brokerage services and deep carrier relationships.
• Transplace — Managed transportation and TMS services for high-volume shippers, now part of Uber Freight ecosystem.
• Uber Freight — Marketplace and freight brokerage services paired with visibility and booking tools.
• MercuryGate — Robust enterprise TMS with advanced optimization, multi-mode planning, and carrier management.
• Kuebix (by Trimble) — Modular TMS with both free and paid tiers, suitable for smaller shippers moving to more advanced capabilities.
• MacroPoint (now project44 product family) — Real-time visibility and freight tracking used by carriers and shippers for status updates.

Paid alternatives to shipwell

• Project44 — Enterprise-grade visibility, predictive ETAs, and extensive carrier integrations focused on large, global shippers.
• FourKites — Strong in predictive tracking and customer-facing shipment visibility portals with advanced analytics.
• Flexport — Offers freight forwarding, customs, and a full-service logistics layer for international shippers.
• C.H. Robinson Navisphere — Combines TMS functionality with brokerage and sourcing services at scale.
• MercuryGate — Enterprise TMS with deep optimization, yard management integrations, and advanced planning tools.
• Transplace — Provides managed transportation services and TMS for high-volume customers.

Each paid alternative targets slightly different needs: visibility-first platforms focus on tracking and ETA prediction, while freight forwarders and broker-backed TMS vendors combine software with capacity and sourcing services.

Open source alternatives to shipwell

• OpenTMS — Community-driven transportation management system projects that provide basic routing, shipment tracking, and rate management modules for customization.
• OpenBoxes — Primarily an inventory and supply chain tool with logistics features; can be extended for shipment tracking and receiving workflows in distribution environments.
• ERPNext (logistics modules) — Open source ERP with inventory, delivery, and shipping modules that can be adapted for simpler transportation management needs.

Open-source projects require more implementation effort but provide flexibility and lower software licensing costs. They are most suitable for organizations with strong internal development resources.

Frequently asked questions about Shipwell

What is Shipwell used for?

Shipwell is used for transportation management and real-time shipment visibility. Companies use Shipwell to manage tendering, tracking, rate comparisons, and freight settlement across carriers and modes. It centralizes operations and automates repetitive tasks to reduce manual intervention and errors.

Does Shipwell integrate with ERP systems?

Yes, Shipwell integrates with ERP and WMS systems. The platform provides REST APIs, prebuilt connectors, and EDI options to synchronize orders, shipping instructions, and invoice data with enterprise systems like SAP, Oracle, and NetSuite.

How much does Shipwell cost per user or per month?

Shipwell starts at $199/month for the Starter plan when billed monthly for small programs. Pricing scales with features, number of users, and integration requirements; the Professional tier is commonly around $799/month, while Enterprise pricing is negotiated.

Is there a free version of Shipwell?

Shipwell can be evaluated with a free trial or limited Free Plan. The free option is typically suited for testing basic tracking and simple bookings, but production usage with integrations and automation generally requires a paid subscription.

Can Shipwell handle international shipments?

Yes, Shipwell supports multimodal and cross-border shipments. The platform manages ocean and air freight through integrations or partner services and can handle customs documentation when integrated with freight forwarders or customs solutions.

Does Shipwell provide an API for developers?

Yes, Shipwell provides REST APIs and webhooks. These APIs cover rate retrieval, shipment creation, tracking updates, document exchange, and invoice events so development teams can integrate transportation events into other business systems.

How secure is Shipwell?

Shipwell implements industry-standard security measures. The platform uses secure connections (TLS), role-based access control, and enterprise security options such as SSO and audit logging; customers with strict compliance needs can request details on certifications and controls.

Can Shipwell help reduce freight costs?

Yes, Shipwell helps reduce freight costs through rate shopping and automation. By automating tendering, comparing contracted and spot rates, and enforcing routing rules, Shipwell can lower average freight spend and reduce off-contract billing.

How long does it take to implement Shipwell?

Implementation timelines vary but often range from a few weeks to several months. A basic pilot with limited lanes can be stood up quickly, while full enterprise rollouts with ERP integrations and carrier onboarding typically require more planning and configuration.

Does Shipwell offer carrier management and onboarding?

Yes, Shipwell includes carrier onboarding and relationship tools. The platform helps manage carrier credentials, contracts, performance metrics, and digital connectivity to ensure carriers are compliant and visible in the network.

shipwell careers

Shipwell hires across product, engineering, operations, and customer success functions to support its software and managed services offerings. Roles frequently include software engineers (backend and frontend), logistics operations specialists, account managers, and solution architects who help customers implement integrations and workflows.

Shipwell's engineering teams typically work on APIs, tracking algorithms, and data pipelines that power visibility and ETA prediction. Operations and customer-facing roles focus on carrier onboarding, implementation, and ongoing account management to ensure customers realize value.

To explore current openings and the company culture, check Shipwell's careers page for up-to-date listings and application details: https://www.shipwell.com/careers

shipwell affiliate

Shipwell does not widely publicize a standard affiliate program for general partners; however, they maintain channel and partner relationships with carriers, brokers, and integrators. These partnerships often focus on co-selling, referral agreements, and integration partnerships for software vendors and logistics service providers.

If you are a channel partner, systems integrator, or carrier interested in partnership opportunities, contact Shipwell's partnerships team through their corporate contact channels to discuss referral terms, integration support, and co-marketing possibilities: https://www.shipwell.com/partners

Where to find Shipwell reviews

You can find customer reviews and case studies on third-party review sites and Shipwell's own site. For user-generated reviews and ratings, check logistics and software review platforms such as Gartner Peer Insights, G2, and Capterra where customers describe implementation experiences, support responsiveness, and ROI.

Shipwell also publishes case studies and customer testimonials on their website that highlight real-world results in cost savings, reduced manual work, and improved on-time performance. Compare multiple sources to get a balanced view of strengths, common challenges, and implementation timelines.