cargo.one

cargo.one is a freight-sales and procurement platform for forwarders that need air and ocean operations in one place. It suits established logistics businesses more than individuals, with AI-assisted quoting, rate control, booking, and customer-service workflows. The strongest case is a multimodal forwarder that can meet its registration requirements; smaller teams should check which Starter capabilities they can actually use.

Overview

Founded in 2017 and based in Berlin, cargo.one presents an AI-powered operating system for logistics businesses. Its quoting workflow covers air, ocean, and multimodal shipments and accepts text, PDF, and WhatsApp inputs. That combination is practical for teams receiving rates and requests in inconsistent formats, while the freight-forwarder eligibility rule makes it unsuitable for consumer shipping or casual experimentation.

The platform connects commercial rate information with quoting and booking rather than treating them as separate tools. Registration requires an official company email and information identifying the applicant as a freight forwarder. cargo.one can request proof of that status and refuse an application.

Key features

Air, ocean, and multimodal operations

Air freight includes rate management and e-booking, with 76 integrated airlines and more than 300 airlines represented overall. The integrated figure is the more useful measure for teams judging where booking can happen directly. Ocean capabilities include centralized rates, ocean-liner integrations, automatic account synchronization, AI contract extraction, and schedules.

Rates, AI, and portals

Rate management brings buy and sell rates, consol and internal products, charge codes, routing rules, and zones into one system. Rate comparison, contract management, accessorial rules, and mixed rate-input methods are all supported. Embedded AI workflows span rate management, procurement, quoting, booking, and customer support, with co-pilot, supervised, and autonomous operating modes. Those modes give organizations a way to choose how much human control to retain, rather than forcing every process into full automation.

The customer portal is a branded sales and booking destination for agents and shippers, offering round-the-clock self-service and dynamic pricing. API endpoints cover market-rate indexes, internal buy and sell rates, live bookable rates, shipment tracking, and other workflows. Integrations include CargoWise, Cargospot, and Descartes, with specialized endpoints and two-way TMS synchronization. Support is offered through in-product messaging and support channels, including [email protected].

Pricing

cargo.one Starter

Starter costs nothing. It includes basic platform features but is limited to certain Export Agent functionalities. This is a sensible way for an eligible forwarder to begin with a narrow export-focused scope; it is not a full substitute for the broader agent and quoting workflows.

cargo.one pro

Pro uses custom pricing, with fees disclosed during signup. Recurring charges may be paid monthly or for a 12-month period. It includes Export Agent and Import Agent features, while Quoting Export Agent features are subject to onboarding. Choose it when both import and export operations matter and the organization can complete the onboarding process.

cargo.one Enterprise

Enterprise also uses custom pricing, with the same monthly or 12-month recurring-payment options. It includes standard Export Agent and Import Agent capabilities plus additional features; Quoting Export Agent functions remain subject to onboarding. This tier is aimed at larger or more integrated operations that need the extra feature set, but the signup-stage fee disclosure makes budgeting impossible from the plan page alone.

Platforms

cargo.one is delivered as a browser-usable SaaS service and exposes APIs. The terms do not guarantee apps for particular operating systems or devices, so teams should plan around web access and their existing systems rather than expect a dedicated desktop or mobile application.

Who it's for

Global freight forwarders can use tailored API and integration solutions, while small and medium-sized forwarders are offered off-the-shelf options. Airlines are also addressed as a customer group. The product is a poor fit for consumers, non-forwarder businesses, or organizations unwilling to provide company and eligibility information during registration.

Pros and cons

Pro: Air, ocean, and multimodal quoting share one operating model, including text, PDF, and WhatsApp inputs.

Pro: Rate, contract, accessorial, routing, and zone controls connect commercial data to quoting and booking.

Pro: APIs and bi-directional TMS integrations support organizations that need cargo.one alongside CargoWise, Cargospot, or Descartes.

Con: Starter is restricted to selected Export Agent functions, so broader operations require a paid tier.

Con: Pro and Enterprise fees are disclosed only during signup, complicating upfront comparisons.

Con: Registration is limited to freight forwarders and may require proof of status.

Alternatives

For a free freight-management product with a five-user monthly allowance and 100 GB of annual storage, consider Freightek Rate Management. Loadar is the better alternative when a free shipper plan with tenders, ERP integration, visibility, and audit trails is the priority. Choose Freightify if a seven-day rate-search trial and Android or iOS access matter. Infor Public Sector is a paid, broad-platform option with self-hosted and Windows support. Freightos suits buyers seeking an ocean plan priced at $119 a month when billed annually. Magaya Rate Management offers subscription licensing with demo-based pricing. Shipthis costs $89 per user per month and includes all modules, with some add-ons billed separately. Upply Contract Management provides free registration for carriers and forwarders and annual, usage-based pricing for shippers. The broader Freight Rate Management Software list is useful for comparing this category.

Verdict

Choose cargo.one if you are an eligible freight forwarder that wants air and ocean rates, quoting, booking, APIs, and customer self-service tied together, with adjustable AI automation. Look elsewhere if you need transparent paid pricing before signup, unrestricted registration, or guaranteed native apps for a particular device.