Comparison
A 3DBinPacking alternative with a free tier, not a trial clock
3DBinPacking is a capable packing engine with a mature API, and if you are running tens of thousands of calls a month it is priced for that. What it does not have is a free tier — after fourteen days, the cheapest plan is $39 a month. This page is for people who want to keep using a load planner after the trial ends without starting a subscription.
Preview your cargo free. Unlock full custom results with a $9 pack — no subscription.
Side by side
| Feature | 3DPACK.ING | 3DBinPacking |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 10 previews/month; full custom results from $9 | None — 14-day trial only |
| Entry price | Free previews; full results from $9; Pro $29/mo | From $39/mo (Extra Small, 1,000 calculations) |
| Card required to try | Not required | Not required |
| Plain-English input | Yes | No |
| Interactive 3D plan | Full custom plan with a $9 pack | Yes |
| Cheaper at high API volume | Dedicated API plans from $49/mo for 1,000 calls | Yes — 1,000 calculations at $39/mo, rising to 2,000,000 at $2,999/mo |
| Excel import/export | Import for previews; export with paid access | Yes |
| One-off credits | 25 calculations for $9, never expire | No |
Rows where they win are marked as such. Every figure here comes from each product’s own published pages and is checkable in two clicks.
Why people look
The trial ends. Fourteen days is enough to evaluate a tool and not enough to use one occasionally — and load planning is an occasional job for most people who do it. Someone quoting two containers a month is not going to hold a $39 subscription for it, so they stop using the tool rather than buy it.
The second reason is the way the work starts. 3DBinPacking wants structured input: dimensions, quantities and constraints, as fields. That is right for a system calling an API and slow for a person with an email in front of them that says “24 pallets, 120×100×150, about 400 kilos each, can’t be tipped”. Typing that sentence is our whole input method.
The third is the shape of the first visit. Their calculator sits behind a signup, and every call to action on the page is to start a free trial. You cannot see it work before you give them an address.
Where 3DBinPacking is the better choice
If you are integrating packing into your own software, compare the API products directly. Our dedicated API plans are $49/month for 1,000 calls, $199 for 10,000, and $499 for 50,000. Web Pro and Business subscriptions are separate offers. Evaluate both APIs with representative shipments and your expected monthly volume.
Moving over
There is nothing to install. Open the planner and paste, type or import your load from Excel to create a preview. Full custom results and exports require paid access, starting with a $9 pack.
- Nothing to install
- Excel import for previews
- Share a plan as a link
Try it here, without signing in
The planner below is the real one. Describe a load or edit the example, and you get the same 3D plan the paid tiers produce.
Questions
Is 3DPACK.ING actually free, or free for a while?
Examples and custom previews are free, with ten previews a month for new accounts. Full custom results unlock with a $9 pack of 25 calculations, or a subscription. Existing accounts retain their previous free allowance.
Can I import the spreadsheet I already use?
Yes. Excel import is available for previews. Exporting to Excel and printing a full report require paid access, through a credit pack with remaining credits or a subscription. You can save a printed report as a PDF in your browser.
Do you have an API like theirs?
Yes. One endpoint that takes a plain-English description and returns the containers and a link to the 3D result. See the API docs.
What is the catch on the free tier?
Custom calculations show a covered preview with camera controls paused. Exploring the 3D plan, fit assessment, container counts, leftovers and exports unlock with paid access. The $9 pack covers up to 500 boxes per calculation.
Comparing something else?
- packVol alternativeWindows desktop software — but it works offline, and we do not
- EasyCargo alternativeTen-day trial, registration first — but a deeper product with a longer track record
- CargoWiz alternativeWindows software, 30-day trial — but it keeps working offline
- Cargo Optimizer alternativeInstalled on desktop and mobile — and unlimited containers per load
- Cargo-Planner alternativeBroader equipment library than ours, including air ULDs and out-of-gauge cargo
See your own load
Paste a box list and the first plan takes about a minute.
Open the plannerCompared on 15 August 2026 against publicly published pricing and product pages. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it.