Both platforms exist to spare you from emailing forwarders one at a time. They take opposite routes to that goal, and neither is better in the abstract. They suit different shipments.
Comparison based on publicly available information as of August 2026. Freightos is an independent company and its product changes; check their site for current details before deciding.
The short answer
Freightos is an instant-rate marketplace: search a lane, see priced options immediately, book online. CargoLinked is a request-and-quote marketplace: describe the shipment, and forwarders who serve that lane compete for it. Instant rates win on speed for standard cargo on well-served lanes. Competing quotes win on unusual cargo, thinner lanes, and anywhere you want a provider relationship rather than a transaction.
How each works
| Freightos | CargoLinked | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Instant rates from participating forwarders, bookable online | You post a request; forwarders quote it |
| Speed to a number | Immediate | Hours to a day or two |
| Rate source | Pre-loaded lane rates | Quoted for your actual shipment |
| Best for | Standard cargo, major lanes | Non-standard cargo, thinner lanes, project work |
| Provider discovery | Whoever has rates on that lane | A directory of providers in 194 countries |
| Contract | Through the platform's booking flow | Directly with the forwarder |
The real trade-off
An instant rate is pre-computed, which is exactly what makes it fast and exactly what limits it. Pre-loaded rates exist where volume justifies maintaining them, which means major lanes and standard cargo. Step outside that (out-of-gauge, hazardous, temperature-controlled, a lane between two secondary countries, a shipment with awkward timing) and instant coverage thins out or the rate carries caveats you discover later.
A quoted price takes longer because a human priced your shipment. That is slower, and it is also why it holds up. The general version of this trade-off is in calculators vs real quotes and instant freight quotes explained.
Where Freightos fits better
- You ship standard cargo on a major lane and want a number in seconds.
- You are budgeting and need an indicative figure before committing.
- You prefer one booking flow over managing forwarder relationships.
Where CargoLinked fits better
- Your cargo or lane is not standard, so pre-loaded rates do not exist or do not fit.
- You want the forwarder relationship: a named contact who knows your business, not a transaction.
- You want provider discovery as well as pricing: browsing forwarders by country and service in the directory.
- You want competitive tension on a specific shipment, with quotes structured for comparison.
- You are a forwarder looking for demand rather than a shipper looking for rates.
Using both
They are not mutually exclusive, and plenty of importers use both: an instant rate to sanity-check the budget, then a posted request to see what forwarders will actually do on the specific shipment. The gap between the two numbers is itself informative. A large one usually means the instant rate omits something, and how to compare freight quotes shows where to look.
Two honest caveats about us
- We are not instant. If you need a number in the next thirty seconds, we are the wrong tool.
- Our listings are self-published. Directory profiles go live without prior review; the optional Verified badge applies only to listings that submitted documents. Do your own due diligence. See how to choose a freight forwarder.
Wider context: freight booking platforms compared and how CargoLinked works. Ready to test it? Post a freight request.
