Comparison
SimplyDuty alternative for US importers, HTS code lookup and duty
SimplyDuty is a pay-per-use duty calculator and HS code lookup that charges by the calculation. It is handy for a one-off number, but the per-lookup model and the lack of a written rationale make it a poor fit when you classify products regularly and need to defend the code. Try the TariffWise classifier on the right.
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Customs declaration · AI classifier
FORM TW-01
The short answer
The best SimplyDuty alternative depends on how often you classify. SimplyDuty is a lightweight, pay-per-use tool: 5 free calculations a day after you register, then £0.10 per API call or prepaid monthly plans from £9.99 for 100 calls, aimed at ecommerce sellers and individual buyers who want a quick duty figure. If you classify products regularly and need a defensible HS/HTS code with a written reason, not just a number, a focused classifier like TariffWise fits better. You describe the product in plain English and get the code, the US duty rate and the rationale behind it, so a human can check it before filing.
TariffWise vs SimplyDuty for classification
A capability comparison focused on getting and defending a code. Both are self-serve tools; the difference is the model and what you get back with each result. Confirm current details with each vendor before you buy.
| TariffWise | SimplyDuty | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Importers who classify regularly | Quick one-off duty figures |
| Product input | Plain-English description | Product lookup and HS search |
| Written rationale per code | Yes, on every result | No, returns a code and rate |
| Duty + landed cost view | Yes, on one screen | Duty and tax calculation |
| Batch classification | Bulk CSV on Growth and Business | File-upload classifier on paid plans |
| API | Yes, on Business and Enterprise | Yes, priced per call |
| Best fit | Teams needing a defensible code | Sellers wanting a fast estimate |
| Pricing model | From $59 a month for 100 classifications | £0.10 per call, or plans from £9.99 for 100 calls |
Note: SimplyDuty publishes 5 free calculations a day for registered users, pay-per-use at £0.10 per classification call and £0.10 per duty calculation call, and prepaid monthly plans of £9.99 for 100 calls, £49.99 for 500, £99.99 for 1,000 and £499.99 for 5,000. Source: simplyduty.com/pricing. Confirm current terms with SimplyDuty before you buy.
When to pick each one
Pick TariffWise when
- You classify products often, not just once.
- You need a written reason for each code to defend it.
- You want the duty and landed cost with the code, in one place.
- You would rather describe a product than hunt through a code tree.
Pick SimplyDuty when
- You need a single quick duty estimate and nothing more.
- You already know the HS code and just want the rate.
- You want a pay-as-you-go API for a light integration.
- You are an individual buyer checking one parcel.
Why people look for a SimplyDuty alternative
SimplyDuty is genuinely useful for what it is: a fast, cheap way to get a duty number when you already have a code, or to check a single parcel. The friction shows up at volume. When you classify dozens or hundreds of products, a per-calculation charge adds up, and the tool hands back a code and a rate without explaining why that code fits. For a customs entry, the reasoning matters as much as the number, because CBP can ask you to justify the classification and a bare code from a calculator does not help you there. The other gap is the input: you still have to find the right HS heading yourself, which is the hard part of the job.
What a focused classifier does instead
TariffWise starts from a plain-English product description and does the heading work for you, then returns the HS/HTS code with a written rationale plus the import duty and landed cost. There is no per-lookup meter running while you work, and the reasoning is there so a person can sanity-check the code before it goes on an entry. If you only ever need one number and already know the code, SimplyDuty is fine and cheap. If classification is a recurring part of the job, the rationale and the flat model matter. For the wider field, see our roundup of the best HS code classification software.
What SimplyDuty costs at your volume, next to TariffWise
Per-call pricing is cheap for a handful of lookups and adds up once a catalog is involved, because classifying a product and pricing its duty are billed as two separate calls. The table uses SimplyDuty's published prepaid plans, in pounds as SimplyDuty lists them, against TariffWise plans where one classification already includes the duty and landed cost estimate.
| Products a month | SimplyDuty calls needed | SimplyDuty plan | TariffWise plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 100 (classify + duty) | Basic, £9.99 | Starter, $59 |
| 250 | 500 | Start-up, £49.99 | Growth, $199 |
| 500 | 1,000 | Professional, £99.99 | Growth, $199 |
| 2,500 | 5,000 | Enterprise, £499.99 | Business, $499 |
Read that honestly: on price per lookup, SimplyDuty is cheaper at every volume, and it covers more than 100 destination countries where TariffWise is built for US imports. What the extra money buys is different output. TariffWise returns a 10-digit HTSUS number with the reasoning written out, saved history your team can audit, bulk CSV runs and seats. If you only need a quick duty figure on a parcel, SimplyDuty is the better deal. If you are the importer of record and a code has to survive a CBP request for information, the rationale is the product. See the TariffWise pricing page for the full plans, or what HTS classification costs through a broker for comparison.
SimplyDuty alternative questions, answered
What is a good alternative to SimplyDuty?
If you classify products regularly and need a defensible code, a focused classifier like TariffWise is a strong alternative: it turns a plain-English description into an HS/HTS code with a written rationale, plus the duty and landed cost, without charging per lookup. SimplyDuty remains a fine choice for a single quick estimate when you already know the code.
Is SimplyDuty free?
Only for light use. Registering gives you 5 free calculations a day, which covers checking a parcel or two. Past that SimplyDuty charges £0.10 per API call on pay-per-use, or you prepay a monthly plan starting at £9.99 for 100 calls. Regular classification work on a catalog lands on a paid plan.
Does SimplyDuty give HS codes?
Yes. SimplyDuty includes an HS code lookup and, on paid tiers, a file-upload classifier that returns 10-digit codes in batches. It gives you the code and the rate. What it does not include is a written rationale explaining why a code fits, which is what you lean on when a classification is questioned.
Why not just use a free duty calculator?
A free calculator is fine for a rough one-off figure. The risk is that it returns a rate for whatever code you feed it, so a wrong code produces a confident wrong number, and there is no reasoning to catch the mistake. For entries where accuracy and defensibility matter, a classifier that explains the code is safer than a bare calculator.
How much does SimplyDuty cost per calculation?
SimplyDuty charges £0.10 per call on pay-per-use, and classification and duty calculation are separate calls. Prepaid monthly plans work out to roughly the same 10 pence per included call: £9.99 for 100, £49.99 for 500, £99.99 for 1,000 and £499.99 for 5,000. Classifying a product and pricing its duty is therefore two calls, about 20 pence.
Classify regularly and need the reason behind each code? Try it on your own product.
Related: best HS code classification software, Zonos alternative, Avalara alternative.