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 |
| 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.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.
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. Enterprise suites like Descartes 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
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.