Honest Comparison

ARK TMS vs Aljex (Descartes)

Comparing two freight broker TMS solutions. Here's an unbiased look at features, pricing, and which software is best for your brokerage.

ARK TMS

$199/user/month
No setup fees • No contracts • No hidden costs
Modern, intuitive interface
Get started in under 10 minutes
Built for small-medium brokers
All integrations included

Aljex (Descartes)

$499-$2,375/month (Essential, Professional, Enterprise)
Setup: None for Essential, implementation fees for Professional/Enterprise
Monthly subscriptions
Unlimited shipments on all plans
MacroPoint integration included
MyCarrierPortal integration included
No setup fees on Essential plan

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

See how ARK TMS stacks up against Aljex (Descartes)

FeatureARK TMSAljex (Descartes)
Monthly Pricing (per user)
$199
$499-$2,375/month (Essential, Professional, Enterprise)
Setup/Implementation Fees
$0
None for Essential, implementation fees for Professional/Enterprise
Contract Required
No
Month-to-month
Monthly subscriptions
Setup Time
Under 10 minutes
Days to weeks
Split-Screen Load Board
QuickBooks Integration
Included
May cost extra
Real-Time Tracking
Mobile-Responsive
Limited
Best For
Small-medium brokers
Small to mid-sized brokers needing strong tracking and MacroPoint integration

What ARK TMS Does Better

Transparent Pricing

$199/user. No setup fees. No hidden costs. No contracts. Cancel anytime.

Lightning-Fast Setup

Get started in under 10 minutes. Not weeks. Start booking loads today, not next quarter.

Built for Small Brokers

Designed specifically for small-medium brokers. Not an enterprise solution dumbed down.

Modern Interface

Beautiful, intuitive design that your team will actually enjoy using. Split-screen efficiency.

What Aljex (Descartes) Does Better

Unlimited shipments on all plans

MacroPoint integration included

MyCarrierPortal integration included

No setup fees on Essential plan

40+ integrated partners

Long-established company (34+ years)

Discounts for new brokerage authorities (<12 months)

Cloud-based, no on-site IT needed

However: Higher entry price than ARK ($499 vs $199 per user)

Real Cost Comparison

ARK TMS (5 users)

Monthly Cost:$995
Setup Fee:$0
Training:Included
Contract:None
Year 1 Total:$11,940

Aljex (Descartes) (5 users)

Monthly Cost:$2495+
Setup Fee:None for Essential, implementation fees for Professional/Enterprise
Training:Extra cost
Contract:Monthly subscriptions
Year 1 Total:$29,940+

Save $23,000+ in Year 1 by choosing ARK TMS

Ready to Switch to ARK TMS?

Join hundreds of freight brokers who made the switch from expensive, complex TMS software to ARK. Get started in minutes, not months.

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No credit card required • Cancel anytime • Free data migration assistance