7 Best Tariff Analysis Tools & Import Duty Calculators in 2026
We tested 7 tariff analysis tools across accuracy, AI features, and pricing. See which import duty calculator is best for your business.
Every U.S. importer needs reliable tariff data — but with trade policy changing faster than ever, finding the right tool can mean the difference between accurate landed cost projections and costly surprises at the border.
We tested and compared 7 tariff analysis tools across five criteria: data accuracy, ease of use, AI capabilities, pricing, and how quickly each platform reflects policy changes like Section 301 updates and reciprocal tariffs.
Here's what we found.
Quick Comparison: Best Tariff Analysis Tools at a Glance
| Tool | Best For | AI Features | HS Code Lookup | Landed Cost Calculator | Pricing | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TariffCenter.AI | SMBs wanting AI chat + analysis | Yes — conversational AI | Yes (10-digit HTS) | Yes | Free / $49-$599/mo | 9.5/10 |
| Flexport Tariff Simulator | Quick duty estimates | No | Yes (basic) | Yes | Free | 8.0/10 |
| SimplyDuty | Multi-country importers | No | Yes (100+ countries) | Yes | Free tier / paid plans | 7.5/10 |
| Zonos Classify | E-commerce at scale | Yes — bulk classification | Yes (AI-powered) | Yes | Custom pricing | 7.5/10 |
| USITC HTS Database | Official rate verification | No | Yes (official source) | No | Free | 7.0/10 |
| DHL MyGTS | DHL shippers | No | Yes | Yes | Free | 6.5/10 |
| CalcTariffs | Consumer/personal imports | No | Limited | Basic | Free | 6.0/10 |
How We Evaluated Each Tool
Before diving into individual reviews, here's what we tested for:
- Data accuracy: Does the tool reflect current tariff rates, including Section 301, Section 232, and reciprocal tariffs?
- HS code lookup quality: Can you search by product description? How specific are the results (6-digit vs. 10-digit)?
- AI capabilities: Can the tool answer follow-up questions, explain tariff logic, or handle ambiguous products?
- Landed cost calculation: Does it account for duties, fees, shipping, and insurance — or just the base tariff rate?
- Update frequency: How quickly does the tool reflect policy changes (executive orders, Federal Register updates)?
1. TariffCenter.AI — Best Overall for SMBs
TariffCenter.AI is an AI-powered tariff intelligence platform built specifically for small and medium businesses importing goods into the United States. Unlike traditional tariff lookup tools that give you a static database search, TariffCenter.AI provides a conversational AI assistant that can look up HS codes, calculate landed costs, explain tariff policy, and analyze how trade changes affect your specific products.
What Makes It Different
Most tariff tools answer one question at a time: "What's the duty rate for this HS code?" TariffCenter.AI lets you have a conversation. You can ask "What's the total landed cost for $50,000 of cotton t-shirts from Vietnam, including Section 301 tariffs?" and get a detailed breakdown with the applicable tariff layers, freight estimates, and a cost-per-unit calculation.
The platform combines:
- Real HTS data from the U.S. International Trade Commission
- Policy intelligence covering Section 301, Section 232, reciprocal tariffs, and trade agreement preferences
- AI analysis powered by Claude that can interpret ambiguous product descriptions and suggest the most likely HS code classifications
Key Features
- Conversational AI chat for tariff questions
- 10-digit HTS code lookup with product search
- Landed cost calculator with multi-layer tariff stacking
- Policy alerts for tariff changes affecting your products
- Tariff comparison across source countries
- Bulk HS code classification via CSV upload
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly Price | Queries/Month | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10 | Trying it out |
| Starter | $49 | 100 | Occasional importers |
| Pro | $199 | 500 | Regular importers |
| Business | $599 | 2,000 | High-volume operations |
Annual plans save approximately 22%.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- AI can answer complex, multi-part tariff questions in plain English
- Accounts for tariff stacking (base rate + Section 301 + reciprocal)
- Purpose-built for U.S. import duties
- Free tier available with no credit card required
- Data sourced from official USITC and Federal Register
Cons:
- U.S.-focused (not ideal for EU or APAC import duties)
- AI responses are informational, not legal advice — you still need a customs broker for formal entries
- Newer platform (launched 2026)
Our verdict: If you're a U.S. importer who wants more than a basic rate lookup — especially if you need to understand how multiple tariff layers interact — TariffCenter.AI is the most capable tool available for SMBs.
2. Flexport Tariff Simulator — Best Free Calculator
Flexport's Tariff Simulator is a well-designed free tool from one of the largest digital freight forwarders. It lets you enter an HS code or product description, select a country of origin, and get an estimated duty rate with a breakdown of applicable tariff programs.
Key Features
- Clean, fast interface for duty rate lookups
- Supports product description search (not just HS codes)
- Shows base duty rate plus additional tariffs (Section 301, etc.)
- Estimates total landed cost including freight and customs fees
- Free with no account required
Pricing
Completely free. No account needed.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- No signup required — instant access
- Backed by Flexport's trade data infrastructure
- Clean UI that's easy for beginners
- Includes Section 301 and reciprocal tariff rates
Cons:
- No AI — can't answer follow-up questions or explain tariff logic
- Limited to basic rate lookup (no alerts, no bulk classification)
- Designed partly as a lead generation tool for Flexport's freight services
- No conversation history or saved searches
Our verdict: Excellent for a quick duty estimate. If you just need to check a rate before making a sourcing decision, Flexport's simulator gets the job done fast and free. But it won't help you analyze complex scenarios or understand why a rate applies.
3. SimplyDuty — Best for Multi-Country Importers
SimplyDuty has been in the customs duty calculation space since 2013, making it one of the more established tools. Its strength is breadth: it covers 100+ destination countries, not just the U.S., making it valuable for businesses importing into multiple markets.
Key Features
- Import duty calculator for 100+ countries
- HS code finder with product description search
- Supports origin-destination pair calculations
- API available for e-commerce integrations
- Trade agreement preference checking
Pricing
Free tier with limited lookups. Paid plans start around $20/month for higher volumes and API access. Enterprise pricing available.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Covers far more countries than U.S.-only tools
- Established platform with years of tariff data
- API available for integration into existing systems
- Good for businesses selling internationally
Cons:
- U.S. tariff data may lag behind specialized tools on policy changes
- No AI conversational features
- Interface feels dated compared to newer tools
- Section 301 and reciprocal tariff stacking not always clearly broken out
Our verdict: If you import into the EU, UK, Canada, and the U.S. all at once, SimplyDuty's multi-country coverage is hard to beat. For U.S.-only importers, more specialized tools offer deeper analysis.
4. Zonos Classify — Best for E-Commerce at Scale
Zonos is an enterprise-grade platform focused on cross-border e-commerce. Its Classify product uses AI to assign HS codes to product catalogs at scale — processing up to 50,000 items per hour from minimal product data (sometimes just a product name).
Key Features
- AI-powered bulk HS code classification
- Processes up to 50,000 SKUs per hour
- Works with just a product name (no manual code selection)
- Integrates with major e-commerce platforms
- Handles 6- and 10-digit classification
Pricing
Custom pricing based on volume. Designed for mid-market and enterprise e-commerce businesses. Not publicly listed — you'll need to contact sales.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent for bulk classification of large product catalogs
- AI accuracy improves with more product data
- Strong e-commerce integrations (Shopify, Magento, etc.)
- Good for landed cost at checkout
Cons:
- Pricing not transparent (sales-driven)
- Overkill for businesses with fewer than 100 SKUs
- Focused on classification, not tariff policy analysis
- No conversational Q&A about tariff strategy
Our verdict: If you're an e-commerce business with thousands of SKUs that need HS codes assigned automatically, Zonos is the leader. It's not designed for the importer who wants to understand tariffs — it's designed to automate classification.
5. USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule — Best Official Source
The U.S. International Trade Commission's HTS database at hts.usitc.gov is the authoritative, government-maintained source for U.S. tariff classifications and duty rates. Every other tool on this list ultimately sources its data from here.
Key Features
- Official U.S. tariff schedule — the legal authority
- Complete 10-digit HTS code database
- Searchable by keyword, chapter, or code
- Includes General Notes, Section Notes, and Chapter Notes
- Shows MFN rates, special rates (FTA preferences), and column 2 rates
Pricing
Free. Maintained by the U.S. government.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The definitive legal source — this is what CBP uses
- Always current (updated regularly)
- Completely free
- Shows all rate columns including preferential FTA rates
Cons:
- Interface is technical and intimidating for non-experts
- No landed cost calculation
- Doesn't show Section 301 or reciprocal tariff additions alongside base rates
- No AI, no search by product description — you need to know what you're looking for
- Results are in legal/regulatory language, not plain English
Our verdict: You should always verify critical classifications here — it's the source of truth. But it's a reference database, not an analysis tool. Using it without tariff expertise is like reading case law without being a lawyer.
6. DHL MyGTS (Global Trade Services) — Best for DHL Shippers
DHL's free Global Trade Services tool helps businesses estimate duties and taxes for international shipments. It's designed to complement DHL's shipping services but works as a standalone duty calculator.
Key Features
- Duty and tax calculator for international shipments
- HS code finder with product description search
- Covers most major trade lanes
- Shows estimated total cost at destination
- Free to use, no DHL account required
Pricing
Free. Part of DHL's value-added services for shippers.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Free and accessible
- Integrates well if you already ship with DHL
- Covers international routes (not just U.S. imports)
- Simple interface suitable for beginners
Cons:
- Data depth is limited compared to specialized tariff tools
- No AI features
- May not reflect the latest U.S. tariff policy changes (Section 301 updates, etc.)
- Optimized for DHL's trade lanes — less reliable for routes DHL doesn't serve heavily
- No bulk lookup or API
Our verdict: A convenient free option if you're already in the DHL ecosystem. For serious tariff analysis, you'll need a dedicated tool.
7. CalcTariffs — Best for Personal/Consumer Imports
CalcTariffs targets individual consumers and small sellers importing goods from platforms like Temu, Shein, and AliExpress. It provides quick duty estimates for common consumer product categories.
Key Features
- Quick duty estimate for consumer products
- Pre-built categories (phones, clothing, electronics)
- Shows de minimis threshold information
- Mobile-friendly interface
- Free to use
Pricing
Free. Ad-supported.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Extremely simple — no HS code knowledge needed
- Good for personal shoppers and small sellers
- Explains de minimis rules clearly
- Fast mobile experience
Cons:
- Too simplified for business importers
- Limited product categories
- No HS code lookup or classification
- No landed cost calculation for commercial shipments
- May not reflect accurate commercial duty rates
Our verdict: Fine for checking whether your personal AliExpress order will trigger import duties. Not suitable for business use.
Which Tariff Analysis Tool Should You Choose?
Your choice depends on your specific needs:
- I need quick, one-off duty estimates — Flexport Tariff Simulator (free, fast)
- I import into multiple countries — SimplyDuty (100+ country coverage)
- I have thousands of SKUs to classify — Zonos Classify (bulk AI classification)
- I need to verify an HS code officially — USITC HTS Database (the legal source)
- I want to understand tariff strategy and get AI-powered analysis — TariffCenter.AI
For most small and medium importers, the combination of TariffCenter.AI for analysis and strategy plus the USITC HTS Database for official verification covers everything you need.
Disclaimer: Tariff rates and trade policies change frequently. All rates and features described in this article reflect information available as of February 2026. Always verify current rates with U.S. Customs and Border Protection or a licensed customs broker before making import decisions.