Altana
Sovos
Avalara
ONESOURCE
ComplyAdvantage
What is Descartes?
Founded in 1981, Descartes is a public logistics software group serving 10,000+ customers in 160+ countries. Its trade-compliance portfolio covers denied-party screening, export controls, customs classification, filings and trade data.
Descartes is a public logistics technology company whose compliance products sit inside a broader cloud platform and global logistics network. The trade-compliance portfolio includes Visual Compliance for denied-party and sanctions screening, CustomsInfo for tariff and regulatory content, and tools for customs filings, export licensing and global trade intelligence. Teams can use browser workflows, batch screening, automated rescreening, APIs and integrations that place checks inside ERP, CRM and order processes rather than relying only on manual searches.
The breadth suits companies that want screening, classification, export controls and customs operations from one vendor, with content covering OFAC, BIS, State Department, EU, UN and other government lists. Visual Compliance supports ownership research, the OFAC 50% rule, audit history, workflow resolution and AI Assist for reducing false positives. Descartes is not a lightweight general-purpose GRC product: implementation, data scope and integration work vary by module, and the wider suite also includes transportation, routing, freight and e-commerce products outside this profile.
Descartes sells primarily to manufacturers, retailers, distributors, logistics providers, freight forwarders and other organizations moving goods internationally. The company reports 10,000+ customers worldwide, 2,500+ employees in its investor FAQ, and more than 67,500 Visual Compliance subscribers across 100+ countries. Pricing is quote-led and depends on users, transaction or screening volume, watchlists, modules and integrations; Descartes publishes a low-end denied-party-screening benchmark of about $2,000 per year, while enterprise deployments can reach $100,000 annually.
Key features
Denied-party screening
Screen customers, suppliers, employees, banks and partners against updated global sanctions and restricted-party lists, including OFAC, BIS, EU and UN sources.
Continuous rescreening
Automate recurring checks and alerts when watchlists or screened-party data changes, rather than repeating one-off searches.
Export license management
Support export-control workflows with licensing information, transaction checks and configurable review processes.
Product classification
Use CustomsInfo content for HS and tariff classification, customs rulings, regulations and related global trade research.
Audit and case resolution
Record screening history, notes, decisions and supporting evidence in workflows designed for investigation and audit readiness.
Customs compliance
Connect customs and security filings, trade data and regulatory processes across countries and transportation workflows.
Enterprise integrations
Embed screening in Salesforce, SAP GTS, SAP ERP/S4HANA, CRM, ERP, e-commerce and custom systems through APIs and web services.
Descartes pricing
Descartes does not publish standard module tiers. Denied-party-screening guidance indicates pricing can start around $2,000 per year for minimal needs, while larger integrated deployments range from $10,000 to $100,000 annually; pricing depends on users, volume, lists, integrations and features.
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Online screening | Custom | Browser-based party searches, watchlists and screening results |
| Batch screening | Custom | Bulk contact screening, configurable lists and review workflows |
| Integrated screening | Custom | API or web-service screening embedded in ERP, CRM, e-commerce and custom systems |
| Enterprise trade compliance | Custom | Screening, rescreening, ownership research, audit workflows, classification and broader customs or export-control modules |
Free trial: No public free trial is advertised; request a demo or quote.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Combines Visual Compliance screening with CustomsInfo classification and broader customs capabilities.
- Supports online, batch, continuous and integrated screening workflows.
- Provides broad government-list coverage plus ownership research and OFAC 50% rule support.
- Has documented integrations with SAP, Salesforce, CRM, ERP, e-commerce and custom systems.
Cons
- Pricing is quote-based and varies by volume, modules and integration scope.
- The broad logistics portfolio requires buyers to define the compliance modules they need.
- Complex global deployments can require integration, data-mapping and workflow implementation work.
- It is designed for trade and logistics compliance rather than general corporate GRC, privacy or SOC 2 compliance.
Who is Descartes best for?
- Global manufacturers that need screening and export controls tied to order workflows.
- Freight forwarders and logistics providers managing customs and regulatory filings across countries.
- Enterprises standardizing party screening across CRM, ERP, SAP GTS and visitor-management systems.
- Trade teams that need classification, watchlist content and audit evidence from one vendor.
Coverage
Integrations
Notable customers
Frequently asked questions
How much does Descartes cost?
+
Descartes uses quote-based annual subscriptions rather than public standard tiers. Denied-party-screening guidance indicates small deployments can start around $2,000 per year, while larger integrated programs may run from $10,000 to $100,000 annually.
How long does implementation take and how does screening work?
+
Implementation depends on systems, screening volume and workflow design. Descartes says Salesforce integration can be completed in as little as one business day, while an Adafruit API rollout took about two weeks including testing and staging; screening can run online, in batches, continuously or at transaction points.
How does Descartes compare with ComplyAdvantage?
+
ComplyAdvantage is primarily a sanctions, AML and financial-crime data platform. Descartes is a stronger fit when sanctions screening must sit alongside export licensing, customs classification, filings and logistics processes, while ComplyAdvantage may suit buyers seeking a more focused financial-crime screening platform.
What integrations does Descartes support?
+
Documented integrations include Salesforce, SAP GTS, SAP ERP and SAP S/4HANA, plus CRM, ERP, e-commerce, visitor-management and custom systems. Web services and APIs allow customers to place checks in order, onboarding and transaction workflows.
Who is Descartes for?
+
It targets manufacturers, retailers, distributors, freight forwarders, carriers, brokers and other international-trade organizations. The company reports more than 10,000 customers in 160+ countries, while Visual Compliance serves more than 67,500 subscribers in over 100 countries.
How accurate and secure are its screening results?
+
Descartes updates denied-party content and supports configurable lists, ownership research, audit trails and AI Assist intended to reduce false positives. Buyers should configure match rules and maintain human review for potential hits, particularly in high-volume or complex ownership cases.
Sources
Facts and pricing verified on October 19, 2026. Vendors change pricing often, so confirm with Descartes before buying. How we research
