The short answer
The best DutyCalc alternative depends on how you want to run drawback. If you want licensed software you operate in-house with a better matching engine, Stable is the closest modern replacement. If you would rather outsource on contingency, AI-native filers like Pax AI, Zollback, and Caspian are the new options. If you want a full-service specialist to run it for you, Charter Brokerage, Comstock & Holt, J.M. Rodgers, and Alliance Drawback Services are the established firms, while Descartes covers duty recovery inside a broad enterprise suite.
Key takeaways
- DutyCalc is licensed drawback software; the alternatives split into software you run, contingency filers, and full-service specialists.
- Stable is the closest like-for-like: licensed software you run in-house, with global-optimization matching instead of first-fit.
- Contingency filers (Pax AI, Zollback, Caspian) take a percentage and often file under their own brokerage.
- Specialists (Charter, Comstock & Holt, J.M. Rodgers, Alliance) run drawback as a service, usually importer-direct.
DutyCalc alternatives compared
| Provider | Model | Pricing | Who files |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stable | Software you run (broker white-label) | Flat license | Your brokerage (your POA) |
| Pax AI | AI-native filer | Contingency | Pax AI (own brokerage) |
| Zollback | AI-native filer | Contingency | Zollback (own brokerage) |
| Caspian | AI-native, alongside your broker | Contingency | Caspian |
| Charter Brokerage | Full-service specialist | Service fee | Charter (importer-direct) |
| Comstock & Holt | Specialist plus own software | Service fee | Comstock & Holt |
| J.M. Rodgers | Specialist brokerage | Service fee | J.M. Rodgers |
| Alliance (Apollo) | Specialist plus software | Service and software | Alliance |
| Descartes | Enterprise GTM suite | Enterprise license | Enterprise or importer |
| MIC | Global customs suite | Enterprise license | Enterprise or importer |
| SAP GTS | ERP-native (SAP) compliance | Enterprise license | Enterprise or importer |
| Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE | Enterprise GTM suite | Enterprise license | Enterprise or importer |
| e2open | Supply-chain + GTM suite | Enterprise license | Enterprise or importer |
| CargoWise | Logistics ops platform | Platform license | Broker (runs alongside) |
| Flexport | Drawback within freight | Bundled | Flexport |
The top DutyCalc alternatives
1.StableOur pick
Flat-license drawback software for the broker channelLicensed drawback software you run in-house, with a global-optimization matching engine, optimized MPF capture, its own ABI filing, and broker white-label under your POA. The modern replacement for DutyCalc's first-fit matching. See Stable vs DutyCalc.
2.Pax AI
Contingency, outsourced (runs its own brokerage)AI-native duty recovery priced on contingency, operating its own ABI-certified brokerage and expanding toward a full trade control tower. You outsource; Pax files under its own POA. See Stable vs Pax AI.
3.Zollback
Contingency, forwarder referral channelAI-native contingency drawback that launched in 2026 pitching global optimization over first-in-first-out, with a forwarder revenue-share referral program. See Stable vs Zollback.
4.Caspian
Contingency, works alongside your brokerAI-native contingency drawback from ex-Flexport engineers, positioned to work alongside your existing broker rather than replace it. See Stable vs Caspian.
5.Charter Brokerage
Full-service specialist, importer-directA full-service drawback specialist (part of Berkshire Hathaway) that runs recovery for large importers directly. It does not sell to brokerages, so it competes for the importer relationship, not the software seat. See Stable vs Charter Brokerage.
6.Comstock & Holt
Legacy specialist with proprietary softwareOne of the oldest U.S. drawback specialists, running its own software and carrying deep credibility with drawback authorities. A full-service, importer-direct option. See Stable vs Comstock & Holt.
7.J.M. Rodgers
Established specialist brokerageA long-tenured specialist drawback brokerage that appears in most buyer's guides. It competes for the importer relationship as a service, not the software seat. See Stable vs J.M. Rodgers.
8.Alliance Drawback Services
Specialist with productized software (Apollo)A drawback specialist with a cloud optimization product (Apollo), the most software-forward of the legacy specialists. A service-plus-software option. See Stable vs Alliance Drawback Services.
9.Descartes
Enterprise GTM with duty recoveryAn enterprise global trade suite that recovers duty via MSR Customs and automates parts of brokerage and drawback. Broad rather than drawback-focused. See Stable vs Descartes.
10.MIC
Global multi-country customs suiteMIC Customs Solutions is a global customs and trade compliance suite for multinationals filing across many countries; US drawback is one module in a very broad product. See Stable vs MIC.
11.SAP GTS
ERP-native trade compliance for SAP shopsSAP Global Trade Services embeds screening, customs, and preference in the SAP ERP stack; drawback is a small part and its value assumes an SAP footprint. See Stable vs SAP GTS.
12.Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE
Enterprise GTM suite (ex-Integration Point)ONESOURCE Global Trade is a broad enterprise suite spanning classification, screening, FTA, FTZ, and drawback; recovery is one module among many. See Stable vs ONESOURCE.
13.e2open
GTM inside a connected supply-chain suitee2open is a broad connected supply-chain platform whose global trade management came largely from Amber Road; drawback is one capability within it. See Stable vs e2open.
14.CargoWise
Forwarding and brokerage operations backboneCargoWise (WiseTech) is the operations platform many brokers run for forwarding, customs entry, and accounting; Stable adds dedicated drawback recovery alongside it rather than replacing it. See Stable vs CargoWise.
15.Flexport
Drawback bundled into freightA freight platform that offers drawback as a feature within the freight relationship, aimed at mid-market importers who already run their shipping through it. See Stable vs Flexport.
Why look for a DutyCalc alternative?
DutyCalc is established, but teams look elsewhere for a few reasons: a legacy interface, first-fit matching that under-recovers, MPF over-allocation, or simply a desire for a modern platform or a different model (outsourced contingency, or full service). The goal is not a "better" tool in the abstract, but the model and the engine that fit how you want to run drawback.
The three ways to run drawback
There are really three models here. Software you run in-house (Stable, and DutyCalc itself, plus Alliance's Apollo) keeps the work and the margin with you. Contingency AI filers (Pax AI, Zollback, Caspian) take a percentage and, in most cases, file under their own brokerage. Full-service specialists (Charter, Comstock & Holt, J.M. Rodgers) run drawback for you, importer-direct. Broad enterprise suites (Descartes, MIC, SAP GTS, Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE, e2open), operations platforms like CargoWise, and freight platforms like Flexport add recovery as one feature among many. Pick by whether you want to own the work and the margin, or hand them off.
Where Stable fits
Stable is the like-for-like modern replacement for DutyCalc: licensed software you run in-house, with a global-optimization matching engine, optimized MPF capture, its own ABI filing, and broker white-label under your POA. You keep the margin instead of paying a contingency cut, and you own the client instead of referring it out. See the full Stable vs DutyCalc comparison.
Related
Platform modules
Comparisons
- Stable vs DutyCalc
- Stable vs Pax AI
- Stable vs Zollback
- Stable vs Caspian
- Stable vs Descartes
- Stable vs MIC
- Stable vs SAP GTS
- Stable vs ONESOURCE
- Stable vs e2open
- Stable vs CargoWise
- Stable vs Charter Brokerage
- Stable vs Comstock & Holt
- Stable vs J.M. Rodgers
- Stable vs Alliance Drawback Services
- Stable vs Flexport
Frequently asked questions
For a modern like-for-like (licensed software you run), Stable, with optimized matching in place of DutyCalc first-fit. For outsourcing, contingency filers like Pax AI, Zollback, or Caspian. For full service, specialists like Charter Brokerage or Comstock & Holt.