The short answer
Caspian is an AI-native, contingency duty drawback company founded by ex-Flexport engineers, positioned to 'work alongside your broker' to soften the channel-conflict question that comes with contingency filers. Stable removes that question structurally: it is a flat-license platform that IS your broker's drawback software, filed on your POA. Choose Caspian if you want a contingency partner beside your broker; choose Stable if you want the capability inside your brokerage, with the margin.
Key takeaways
- Caspian is contingency and positions as working 'alongside your broker'; Stable is flat-license and runs inside your brokerage.
- The 'alongside your broker' framing exists to neutralize channel conflict; a flat-license, white-label platform avoids the conflict by design.
- A flat license keeps the recovery margin with your brokerage rather than paying a percentage.
- Caspian was founded by ex-Flexport engineers; Stable is purpose-built for the broker channel and the flat-license model.
Stable vs Caspian at a glance
| Feature | Stable | Caspian |
|---|---|---|
| Business model | Flat license | Contingency |
| Positioning | Your brokerage's own drawback software | Works alongside your broker |
| Who files | Your brokerage, under your POA | Caspian |
| Recovery margin | You keep it | Shared via contingency |
| Channel conflict | Avoided by design (white-label) | Managed through messaging |
| Origin | Broker-channel platform | Founded by ex-Flexport engineers |
| Relationship owner | Your brokerage | Caspian |
| Best-fit customer | Brokers owning drawback in-house | Importers wanting a contingency partner |
Choose Stable if
You want drawback to live inside your brokerage on a flat license, with your team and your POA owning the work and the margin.
Choose Caspian if
You prefer a contingency specialist working next to your broker and are comfortable sharing recovery.
What does 'work alongside your broker' mean?
Caspian's messaging positions it beside, not in place of, the broker, which is a deliberate answer to the channel-conflict objection that contingency filers face. It is a good pitch. But Caspian still files on contingency and holds the recovery relationship; the framing softens the objection rather than removing the underlying structure.
How Stable removes the channel question
Stable is the broker's own software: white-label, run by your team, filed under your POA. There is no third party working "alongside" the broker because the capability is inside the brokerage. The channel conflict does not need to be managed with messaging because it does not arise.
Contingency versus flat license
Caspian prices on contingency, a percentage of what it recovers. Stable is flat-license. As drawback volume grows, the flat-license model keeps materially more of the recovery in-house; contingency drawback arrangements commonly run 15% to 30% of recovery. For a broker, that percentage is margin you could keep.
Does the Flexport lineage matter?
Caspian was founded by ex-Flexport engineers, which is real engineering pedigree, and the same alumni network is producing other entrants in this space. Pedigree aside, the decision still comes down to the model question: a contingency partner beside your broker, or flat-license software that is your broker.
Which should you choose?
Choose Caspian if you want a contingency specialist working next to your existing broker. Choose Stable if you want drawback owned inside your brokerage on a flat license. The DutyCalc alternatives guide compares both against the rest of the market.
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Frequently asked questions
No. It positions as working alongside your existing broker, on contingency. Stable is the broker's own flat-license drawback software.