The short answer
Customs broker software comes in two layers: the ABI entry system that files entries with CBP, and the tools brokers run alongside it. For the ABI system, CargoWise, Descartes, NetCHB, Magaya, KlearNow, CustomsCity, CustomsNow and MIC all appear on CBP's ABI software vendor list, some under a company or former product name, and they differ mainly in what they bundle with filing, from freight forwarding and accounting to AI document intake. Around the ABI system, brokers add focused tools for drawback, entry audit and screening; Stable Software is one of them, and it runs alongside the ABI system rather than replacing it.
Disclosure: Stable Software makes one of the products on this list, and it is not an entry-writing system: it runs alongside one. We describe every other vendor from its own public materials and CBP's published ABI vendor list as of October 2026, group them by role rather than ranking them, and have not tested competitors' products. Spot an error? Email hello@stablesoftware.com and we will correct it.
Key takeaways
- Every brokerage needs an ABI system, the software that transmits entries and entry summaries to CBP's ACE. CBP's ABI software vendor list names the companies that have successfully tested with it, and CBP says the list is not an endorsement.
- ABI systems differ in what comes with filing: forwarding, warehousing and accounting (CargoWise, or Magaya with Magaya Supply Chain), a wide logistics and compliance product line (Descartes), AI document intake (KlearNow), or focused web-based filing (NetCHB, CustomsCity, CustomsNow).
- Check the services each vendor is listed for (entry, in-bond, document imaging, drawback, FTZ, ISF) against the filings you make, and confirm the details with the vendor.
- Stable Software does not replace your ABI system. It is the layer brokers run alongside one: white-label DrawbackAI for importer clients, a post-filing entry audit and denied party screening.
Customs broker software compared
| Software | Files entries with CBP | Also covers | Deployment | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stable Software | No, runs alongside your ABI system | White-label drawback, post-filing entry audit, party screening | Web-based | Adding drawback, audit and screening |
| CargoWise | Yes | Forwarding, warehousing, accounting, drawback, customer portal | Cloud | Brokers that also forward freight |
| Descartes | Yes | Reconciliation, FTZ, drawback, accounting, customer portal, screening | Hosted and web-based | A broad logistics and compliance suite |
| NetCHB | Yes | ISF, in-bond, manifest queries, accounting | Cloud, web-based | Filing-focused brokers |
| Magaya Customs Compliance | Yes | ISF, drawback, reconciliation, AES, PGA, AI invoice extraction | Cloud subscription | Brokers, FTZ and CFS operators |
| KlearNow | Yes | ISF, in-bond, AI document intake, client portal, managed service | Cloud | AI document intake |
| CustomsCity | Yes | eManifest, ISF, in-bond, FDA prior notice, AI extraction | Cloud | Published per-transaction pricing |
| CustomsNow | Yes | AMS, AES, PGA data by item, accounting and billing | SaaS, web-based | Per-transaction pricing with accounting |
| MIC Customs Solutions | Yes | AES, ISF, FTZ, drawback, filing in 55+ countries | Hosted or licensed, web-based | Brokers filing for multinationals |
ABI entry systems, and the tools that run alongside them
Stable SoftwareOur product
Drawback, entry audit and screening alongside your ABI systemNot an entry-writing system, and not a replacement for one: Stable Software is the layer brokers run alongside CargoWise, Descartes, Magaya or whichever ABI system files their entries. DrawbackAI by Stable Software lets you offer duty drawback to importer clients under your own brand and filer code, with optimized import-to-export matching and client-facing drawback pages and share links. A post-filing entry audit checks entries you have already filed, from the ACE ES-003 report, and denied party screening covers named U.S. and international lists with nightly rescreening. Flat software license. No contingency, no percentage of the refund.
CargoWise
Brokers that also forward freight and want one operations platformWiseTech Global's cloud logistics platform, which runs forwarding, warehousing, customs and accounting on one database and handles customs declarations in more than 30 countries. For U.S. brokers, CargoWise Customs links directly to ACE, calculates duties, taxes and fees, carries PGA data and files drawback claims in ACE, and CargoWise Neo gives your customers a way to manage declarations and documents. CBP's ABI vendor list marks WiseTech for every service it covers, and WiseTech also owns e2open. See Stable Software vs CargoWise.
Descartes
Brokers that want filing inside a broad logistics and compliance suiteDescartes sells U.S. customs declaration software to customs brokers and self-filing importers, with duty, tax and fee calculation, PGA data checks, electronic document submission and customer dashboards. Its broker products add reconciliation and FTZ entries, drawback, accounting tools, a white-labeled customer portal and denied party screening, and CBP's vendor list carries five Descartes products, including NetCHB. See Stable Software vs Descartes.
NetCHB
Brokers that want a web-based ABI system focused on filingA cloud-based, web ABI system for customs brokers and freight forwarders, covering entries, in-bond, cargo manifest queries and ISF, with an accounting module for billing them. Descartes bought NetCHB in 2022, when it said more than 700 customs brokers used the platform to connect to ABI; CBP lists it as NetCHB by Descartes.
Magaya Customs Compliance
Brokers, FTZ and CFS operators, especially on Magaya Supply ChainMagaya's ABI software, formerly ACELYNK, which Magaya acquired in 2020 and CBP still lists under that name, for customs brokers, FTZ and CFS operators and self-filers. Magaya lists ISF, entry summary, cargo release, in-bond, FTZ, drawback, reconciliation, AES and eManifest filings, a full PGA record set and an AI assistant that extracts invoice data. It runs in the cloud on a subscription, alone or with Magaya Supply Chain for forwarding, warehousing and accounting.
KlearNow
Brokers that want AI document intake built into filingA customs platform built around AI document intake. Its KlearHub software lets brokers run entries, ISF and in-bond in-house, with AI that turns emails, PDFs, spreadsheets and EDI into entry data and a portal where clients see live status; the same intake can instead feed a broker's existing ABI system. KlearNow also offers a managed service run by its own licensed brokers, and it is a licensed customs broker in Canada, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK.
CustomsCity
Brokers that want cloud filing and manifests with published pricingA cloud-based filing platform, listed by CBP as Customs City Global Solutions, for ABI entries, ISF, in-bond, ACE air and ocean eManifest and FDA prior notice, with PGA data for agencies such as FDA, EPA and APHIS and AI that extracts entry data from shipping documents. It publishes per-transaction pricing tiers on its site.
CustomsNow
Brokers that want filing, AMS and billing on per-transaction pricingA web-based ABI and AMS system that Customs Now Inc. pitches to new and experienced brokers. It files informal, consumption, warehouse, anti-dumping, FTZ and government entries, stores PGA data by item, files AES export data and includes accounting and client billing, priced with a one-time license fee plus per-transaction fees.
MIC Customs Solutions
Brokers and importers of record filing for multinationalsA web-based customs suite that importers of record or their brokers use for U.S. ABI entries, AES exports, ISF, FTZ and duty drawback, as a hosted or licensed instance; the same platform files customs declarations in more than 55 countries. See Stable Software vs MIC.
What is the difference between an ABI system and the tools around it?
An ABI system is the brokerage's system of record for entries. It builds entries and entry summaries and transmits them, with related filings such as ISF and in-bond, to CBP's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) through the Automated Broker Interface (ABI), then receives CBP's responses. Entry summaries can only be filed this way, not through the ACE Portal. The ABI system usually also holds client records and, often, billing.
The tools around it use that data for specific jobs: duty drawback for importer clients, auditing entries after they are filed, screening parties, client-facing portals and reconciliation tracking. They read from the ABI system or from ACE reports, and the ABI system stays the system of record. Adding one does not mean replacing the other.
What should brokers check before choosing customs brokerage software?
- Is it on CBP's list for what you file? CBP's ABI Software Vendors List shows which services each vendor has tested: entry, in-bond, document imaging, drawback, FTZ, GBI and ISF. CBP says vendors may not offer every service, so confirm PGA, reconciliation and AES support with the vendor.
- What comes with filing? Some systems bundle forwarding, warehousing and accounting; others focus on filing and billing. Decide whether you want one platform or a filing system plus separate tools.
- How does data get in? Ask about document capture, integrations with your forwarding or transportation system, and imports from client systems.
- Can you get your data out? Audits, drawback, reconciliation and client reporting all need entry data, through exports, an API or ACE reports such as ES-003.
- What do clients see? Check client portals, status updates and document sharing.
- How are security and support handled? Ask for security certifications such as SOC 2, and how support works at filing cutoffs.
- What does it cost to switch? Compare per-transaction, per-user and platform pricing at your volume, plus setup and data migration. Your brokerage may also need its own testing with CBP before filing live on new software.
Where does Stable Software fit?
Stable Software is not an entry-writing system, and it does not replace your ABI system. It is the layer brokers run alongside CargoWise, Descartes, Magaya or whichever ABI system files their entries.
- Duty drawback for your clients. Stable Software makes DrawbackAI, flat-license duty drawback software that U.S. customs brokers white-label for their importer clients and file under their own filer code, with client-facing drawback pages and share links under your brand. Flat software license. No contingency, no percentage of the refund. Your filer code, your POA, your client.
- Post-filing entry audit. The entry audit reads the ACE ES-003 report and checks entries you have already filed for Chapter 99 structure, Section 232 and origin applicability, and duty, MPF and HMF math.
- Denied party screening. Screening against named U.S. and international lists, with nightly rescreening and analyst review.
Stable Software is SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certified and a member of the NCBFAA and ICPA. See Stable Software for customs brokers and drawback software for customs brokers.
Related
Platform modules
Frequently asked questions
What is the best customs broker software in 2026?
Start with the ABI system that files your entries. CargoWise and Magaya suit brokers that also forward freight, Descartes suits brokers that want a wide logistics and compliance product line, NetCHB, CustomsCity and CustomsNow are focused web-based filing systems, KlearNow centers on AI document intake, and MIC suits brokers filing for multinationals. Then add tools around it: Stable Software adds white-label duty drawback for importer clients, a post-filing entry audit and denied party screening, alongside whichever ABI system you use.
What is ABI software?
ABI, the Automated Broker Interface, lets qualified participants file import data electronically with CBP, and it is how entries and entry summaries are transmitted to CBP's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). ABI software builds and transmits those filings for a customs broker or a self-filing importer. CBP publishes a list of ABI software vendors that have successfully tested with it.
How do I know if customs software is certified for ABI?
Check CBP's ABI Software Vendors List, which CBP updates about every two months and which shows the services each vendor has tested: entry, in-bond, document imaging, drawback, FTZ, GBI and ISF. CBP says listing is not an endorsement and that vendors may not offer every service, so confirm the filings you need with the vendor. Your brokerage may also need its own testing with CBP before filing live.
What is the best ABI software for a small customs brokerage?
Look for fast setup, pricing that scales with volume, and responsive support. CustomsNow pitches its ABI system to new and experienced brokers and prices per transaction, CustomsCity publishes per-transaction pricing tiers, NetCHB says it gets brokers live in days, and Descartes says its ABI software scales from small independent brokers to global enterprises. If you also forward freight, CargoWise or Magaya keep filing and freight on one platform. Whichever you choose, Stable Software runs alongside it to add drawback, entry audit and screening.
Does Stable Software replace CargoWise or my ABI system?
No. Stable Software is not an entry-writing system and does not replace CargoWise, Descartes, Magaya or any other ABI system. It runs alongside yours and adds white-label duty drawback for your importer clients, a post-filing audit of the entries you have filed, and denied party screening.
What software do customs brokers run alongside their ABI system?
Common additions are duty drawback software, tools that audit entries after filing, restricted party screening, client portals and reconciliation tracking. Stable Software covers drawback (white-labeled for importer clients, on a flat license), post-filing entry audit and denied party screening.