CargoWise alternative
A CargoWise alternative for freight document generation
Not a full TMS switch — just a fast, flat-rate way to generate the documents you're currently paying CargoWise per transaction to produce.
Why forwarders are looking for a CargoWise alternative
In December 2025, CargoWise rolled out "Value Packs" — a pricing model that charges per eligible logistics transaction instead of a flat rate. It's a documented change, not a rumor, and the response from forwarders has been largely negative — especially among smaller teams whose transaction volume doesn't match enterprise-scale contracts built for much larger operations.
If your team is mostly using CargoWise to produce commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading and certificates of origin — and now paying a per-transaction fee for the privilege — that's the specific cost SmallForwarder is built to remove.
The honest answer: what SmallForwarder is (and isn't)
SmallForwarder is nota CargoWise replacement. It doesn't do bookings, carrier EDI, container tracking or freight accounting. It does one thing: you fill in shipper, consignee and cargo details once, and get a Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading and Certificate of Origin as ready-to-send PDFs in under 30 seconds.
For an independent forwarder or a small team whose CargoWise usage is mostly documentation, that's often the whole job. For a larger operation running bookings and tracking through CargoWise too, SmallForwarder handles the document piece — nothing else.
CargoWise vs SmallForwarder
| CargoWise | SmallForwarder | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Full TMS — bookings, tracking, EDI, accounting, documents | Document generation only |
| Pricing model | Enterprise contract; Value Packs bill per transaction (since Dec 2025) | Flat $49/mo founding rate (then $79/mo), unlimited generation |
| Onboarding | Weeks, dedicated implementation | Minutes, no training needed |
| Best for | Operations that need an end-to-end logistics platform | Independent forwarders who mainly need fast, professional documents |
Who this makes sense for
- — You're an independent forwarder or small team, and document generation is most of what you use CargoWise for.
- — You're watching transaction fees climb under Value Packs and want to cut the cost of the document workflow specifically, even if you keep CargoWise for everything else.
- — You never needed the full TMS in the first place and were paying for it anyway.
Who should stay on CargoWise
If your team relies on CargoWise for bookings, carrier integrations, tracking or accounting, SmallForwarder won't replace that — it only handles the documents.
Questions
Is SmallForwarder a CargoWise replacement?
No — and we'd rather tell you that upfront than waste your time. CargoWise is a full TMS: bookings, tracking, carrier EDI, accounting. SmallForwarder does one thing — it generates your commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin in under 30 seconds. If document generation is the only part of CargoWise you actually use, or the part now costing you the most under per-transaction billing, this replaces that piece.
Why are people searching for a CargoWise alternative right now?
In December 2025, CargoWise (WiseTech) moved most customers from its prior pricing model to "Value Packs" — billing per eligible logistics transaction instead of a flat rate. It's publicly documented, and the reaction from forwarders (including in CargoWise's own user communities) has been largely negative, especially for smaller teams whose transaction volume doesn't match enterprise-scale contracts.
How much does SmallForwarder cost compared to CargoWise?
SmallForwarder is a flat $49/month for founding members (then $79/month) — unlimited document generation, no per-transaction charges, no implementation fees. CargoWise pricing is enterprise-scale and typically requires a sales conversation; under Value Packs, cost now scales with how many transactions you run through the platform.
See it on your own shipment details
Try SmallForwarder free — no CargoWise account to cancel, no implementation call.