TrimLoad vs Cargo-Planner
Cargo-Planner is a mature load planner with a wide equipment library and a rule system for large teams. TrimLoad is smaller and aimed at the exporter who plans a few containers a week. Here is what each does, with sources.
What Cargo-Planner does well
Where TrimLoad differs
TopicCargo-PlannerTrimLoad
Before you sign up
Cargo-Planner: The free calculators take one cargo line. “+ Add more cargo — plan your full loadlist with a free trial” and Excel drag-and-drop are trial features.Source: cargo-planner.com/
TrimLoad: Free: up to 15 lines, one container or truck, no sign-up — 3D, drag-and-check editing, loading-steps PDF and a share link.
Trial
Cargo-Planner: 10 days, no card — and “You will receive an email when your trial is approved”.Source: cargo-planner.com/
TrimLoad: Free needs no account. Pass and Pro start the moment you pay.
Checking a plan you edited by hand
Cargo-Planner: Their own comparison data (v1.1, 5 Oct 2026) answers “No” for re-checking a hand-edited plan against the rules (row output-rule-check).Source: cargo-planner.com/
TrimLoad: A separate checker measures the plan again after every change you make — door, payload, support, stacking rules — and names each problem.
Lowest plan
Cargo-Planner: Lite: 1 user, “No interactive 3D”, no public URL sharing; Excel export needs Standard.Source: cargo-planner.com/
TrimLoad: Free: up to 15 lines, one container or truck, no sign-up — 3D, drag-and-check editing, loading-steps PDF and a share link.
Reading your packing list
Cargo-Planner: Import reads .xlsx files with L, W and H columns; the docs suggest the template when a file does not parse.Source: cargo-planner.com/
TrimLoad: Paste up to 15 lines on Free. Pass and Pro read .xlsx, .csv and PDF packing lists — merged cells, sizes written as “L×W×H” in one cell, headers that are not on the first row — and show what was read on a confirm card before anything is planned.
Price
Cargo-Planner: Lite $99 a month, or $59 a month billed yearly (1 user). Standard $139 a month, or $99 a month billed yearly (5 users). Enterprise on request.Source: cargo-planner.com/
TrimLoad: Pass $9 for 7 days (one payment, not a subscription) · Pro $29/month or $249/year.
What TrimLoad does not do (and Cargo-Planner does)
- Aircraft, vessels and air ULDs.
- Axle loads and legal limits.
- Cylinders.
- Custom rules.
- A public API.
Every fact here comes from public pages. Prices and features change; each fact carries the day we read it. Something out of date? support@trimload.com