ACE eManifest Cost: What Does ACE Filing Actually Cost?

Short answer: CBP charges zero. The cost you pay is for software or brokerage — not for the filing itself.

The honest breakdown

Cross-border carriers ask "how much does ACE eManifest cost?" all the time, and the core distinction is that CBP does not charge a filing fee. The entire cost you pay is for the software (or broker, or service) you choose to file through. There is no government-side per-manifest fee.

That means the real cost question is: "what's the cheapest way to file ACE that still fits my volume and operations?" The answer depends on how many manifests you file per month and whether you want extras like preflight validation, lead-sheet generation, or mobile-friendly workflow access.

Three ways to file, three cost profiles

Filing path Per-manifest cost Best for
CBP ACE Secure Data Portal (free) $0 — no fee from CBP Very low volume, occasional manual filer
BorderPro early access Published Free plan: up to 5 prepared shipments/month; agency transmission pending Teams testing preparation and validation
Customs broker (bundled service) Per-entry fee, includes cargo entry + other services Carriers who want filing bundled with broker advisory

BorderPro's planned tiers and limits are published on the pricing page. Production CBP transmission will not be offered until certification is complete.

What drives ACE filing costs up

See the ACE eManifest service page for the early-access workflow and official CBP resources, and use the cost calculator for a working estimate against your volume.

FAQ

What is the CBP fee for an ACE eManifest?

Zero. CBP does not charge carriers a per-filing fee. Any cost you pay is for software, brokerage, or service — not for the filing itself going to CBP.

What's the cheapest way to file ACE eManifests?

For low volume, CBP's portal is a free filing option. Compare approved third-party providers and brokers for your volume and support needs. BorderPro's production CBP transmission is pending certification, so it is not currently a filing alternative.

Why isn't third-party ACE filing software free?

Third-party software pricing can cover engineering, hosting, certification, support, and workflow tools such as preflight validation, saved profiles, batch preparation, lead sheets, webhooks, mobile-friendly access, and audit trails.

How do I compare self-filing ACE with a broker service?

Request a written quote and compare the filing, cargo-entry, correction, support, and trade-compliance services included. Add your expected shipment volume and internal operator time. BorderPro is not currently a production filing option while certification remains pending.

Join BorderPro early access

Test ACE data preparation and validation while production CBP transmission completes certification.

Join early access