Best HTS classification software

Best HTS Classification Software

Compare HTS classification software for US importers, brokers, and trade teams that need tariff-rate context, rulings research, and audit-ready review workflows.

Checked Published by US Tariff Rates, one of the products compared

How this comparison was made

HTS classification software moves users from product facts to likely US tariff codes, then shows the duty and compliance consequences of that choice. This page compares classification software on published pricing, API access, the US duty layers each states it covers, and its stated limits.

  • Every statement about another product restates that product's own public page as read on October 8, 2026, and links it. Where a vendor does not publish a fact, the table says so.
  • Statements about US Tariff Rates come from its published plans and API documentation, linked the same way.
  • Limits: we did not buy or test the paid tiers of other products; prices and features change after the check date; we publish US Tariff Rates, so weigh our own row accordingly.

What each option is compared on

Searches by product description and known HTS code.
Shows the US duty stack after a likely classification is selected.
Keeps users close to official HTS text, chapter notes, and CBP rulings.
Makes room for broker or trade-counsel review before high-value entries.

Side-by-side facts

As published by each product on October 8, 2026. Each cell links the page it was read from.

ProductPublished priceFree accessAPIUS duty layers statedCoverage
US Tariff Rates

US import tariff lookup, landed-cost calculator and REST API for HTS codes. Each duty program is returned as its own layer rather than one combined rate.

Free $0.00; Pro $49.00 a month or $399.00 a year; Team $199.00 a month or $1,590.00 a year; Enterprise quoted. sourceFree plan: 50 API requests a month, 10 rows per bulk lookup, 5 watchlist alerts. sourcePublic REST documentation and an OpenAPI 3.1 file. Hosted MCP server at mcp.ustariffrates.com, authenticated with the same API key. sourceLookup responses return a rate_stack of per-program duty layers (for example, base_mfn, section_122, section_232 and section_301), plus total_additional_pct and total_estimated. sourceUS imports only (US HTS). source
GingerControl

US import tariff calculator and AI HTS classifier app.

Self-serve classification credit packs: $10 for 10, $45 for 50, $80 for 100 (stated on its comparison page; /pricing redirects to its FAQ). Larger plans quoted. sourceNo free tier stated; the site says the app is available to try. sourceREST API with a Swagger UI at api.gingercontrol.com/docs; batches of up to 200 products per request, per the vendor. sourceStates MFN rates plus Section 301, 232, 122 and Chapter 99 surcharges in one view. sourceUS import duties from 200+ origin countries. source
Gaia Dynamics

AI tools for HTS classification and tariff calculation for customs brokers and importers.

Billed yearly: Free $0; Starter $99 a month; Pro $379 a month; Advanced $1,399 a month; Enterprise custom. Credit-based. sourceFree plan (30 credits a year) and a 14-day trial without a card. sourceAPI documentation is granted on request. sourceStates trade remedy duties under Sections 201, 232 and 301; Chapter 99 not named. sourceNo country count stated; HS lookup is for goods imported into the United States. source
Avalara Cross-Border

AvaTax Cross-Border calculates duties, import taxes and landed cost; separate tariff code classification products.

Not published for cross-border or classification products. sourceNot stated for cross-border (the developer site's 90-day trial is for AvaTax). sourcePublic developer pages, including a Trade and Tariff Library queried over REST. sourceSection 301/232 or Chapter 99 itemization not stated on the pages checked. sourceMulti-country cross-border transactions. source
Descartes CustomsInfo

Global trade research, HTS classification and landed cost tools from Descartes.

Not published. source14-day trial on request; credentials issued within 24 to 48 hours. sourceAPI stated; no public API documentation found. sourceSection 301/232 or Chapter 99 itemization not stated on the pages checked. sourceMulti-country: 190+ countries on customsinfo.com, 175+ on descartes.com. source
Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE Global Trade

Global trade management suite: classification, trade content, screening, FTA, FTZ and export.

Not published; demo on request. sourceNo free tier stated. sourceContent APIs stated for HS and ECN data; product-specific public documentation not found. sourceSection 301/232 or Chapter 99 itemization not stated on the pages checked. sourceTariff schedules for over 220 countries and territories. source
SAP Global Trade Services

SAP module whose customs connection communicates with customs authorities' systems; integrates with other SAP products (SAP Help Portal, 2025).

Not found: the product page was unavailable when checked. sourceUnknown: the product page was unavailable when checked. sourceNot verified. sourceNot stated in the 2025 user guide. sourceThe help portal tracks legal changes in different countries; no country count stated. source
e2open Global Trade

Global trade management applications backed by e2open's Global Knowledge regulatory database.

Not published. sourceNo free tier or trial stated. sourceNo public API documentation found. sourceSection 301/232 or Chapter 99 itemization not stated on the pages checked. sourceCustoms schedules across 230+ countries and territories. source
USITC HTS search and HTS REST API

The official online Harmonized Tariff Schedule, maintained by the USITC Office of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements.

No fee stated; search and API answered without login or key. sourcePublic, no account. sourceREST API at hts.usitc.gov/reststop answered without a key: /search returns JSON; /exportList returns JSON or CSV. sourcePublishes Chapter 99 headings (for example 9903.88.15) as separate HTS entries; does not compute a combined duty for a product. sourceUS only. source
CBP CROSS

Searchable database of published CBP rulings.

No fee stated; public search without login. sourcePublic, no account. sourceNo published API documentation. sourceNot applicable: searches ruling text; no duty calculation. sourceUS only; published rulings. source

Options by job

US Tariff Rates classification workflow

Use when: You need US HTS candidates with their duty stack, bulk lookup and an API.

Review classification workflow

Documented

  • Plain-English product search tied to HTS codes and duty-rate context.
  • Connects classification to Section 301, Section 232, Section 122, MPF, HMF, AD/CVD screening, bulk lookup, and alerts.
  • Free plan includes 50 API requests a month.

Limits

  • Not a substitute for professional review on complex goods.
  • Not a full global trade management or ERP suite.
  • Not a binding classification ruling; only CBP issues those.
  • AD/CVD results (risk_layers) are screening context with the underlying orders, not entry liability. source

GingerControl

Use when: You want AI classification billed per classification credit.

Open source

Documented

  • States MFN plus Section 301, 232, 122 and Chapter 99 surcharges in one view.
  • Swagger API documentation at api.gingercontrol.com/docs.

Limits

  • Prices appear on its comparison page; /pricing redirects to its FAQ.
  • States results must be reviewed by a licensed customs broker before use in entry documents. source

Gaia Dynamics

Use when: You want AI classification with published monthly tiers and a free plan.

Open source

Documented

  • Free plan and a 14-day trial without a card.
  • States Section 201, 232 and 301 duties.

Limits

  • API documentation is granted on request.

Avalara, Descartes CustomsInfo, Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE, SAP GTS, and E2open

Use when: You need multi-country trade management, tax or ERP integration.

Documented

  • Multi-country content: 175+ to 230+ countries as stated by each vendor.
  • Enterprise procurement and integration with ERP systems.

Limits

  • None of these publishes a price for these products.
  • None of the pages checked states US Chapter 99 itemization.

USITC HTS search and CBP CROSS

Use when: You need official HTS text and prior CBP ruling verification.

Open source

Documented

  • Primary sources for tariff language and classification precedent.
  • Used to review edge cases, legal notes, and similar-product rulings.

Limits

  • No duty calculation, watchlists or landed cost.
  • Users interpret the sources and connect them to cost decisions.
  • The search site renders in the browser with JavaScript. source
  • Covers published rulings only. source

Official sources to verify

Use these primary sources when a tariff decision needs legal, operational, or audit review.

FAQ

What is the best HTS classification software for US imports?

It depends on scope. For US HTS candidates with their duty stack, bulk lookup and an API, US Tariff Rates, GingerControl and Gaia Dynamics each publish their US duty coverage and pricing; the table above lists the differences. For multi-country trade management, Descartes, ONESOURCE and e2open state coverage of 175 or more countries and publish no prices on the pages checked; SAP GTS's product page was unavailable when checked.

Can HTS classification software replace a customs broker?

No. Software can narrow likely codes and expose duty consequences, but complex or high-value classifications should be reviewed by a licensed customs broker or trade professional.

Why can free HTS searches be misleading?

A free code lookup can miss Chapter 99, Section 301, Section 232, Section 122, MPF, HMF, country/program rates, effective dates, and trade-remedy risk. Those layers can change the practical landed cost.

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