What is HTS classification?

HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) classification is the process of assigning a 10-digit code to imported goods that determines their duty rate, regulatory requirements, and admissibility into the United States. Every product entering the US requires an HTS code, and 42% of CBP penalties stem from misclassification.

How does AI-powered tariff classification work?

AI-powered tariff classification uses machine learning to analyze product descriptions, cross-reference the full HTS schedule (6,500+ pages), search 200,000+ CBP binding rulings, and apply GRI (General Rules of Interpretation) classification rules. TariffLens reduces classification time from 30 minutes to 30 seconds while providing cited sources and audit-ready documentation.

What is reasonable care in customs compliance?

Reasonable care is the legal standard under 19 USC 1484 that requires importers and customs brokers to use reasonable care in classifying goods, determining duty rates, and providing accurate information to CBP. TariffLens helps demonstrate reasonable care by providing GRI reasoning, cited CBP rulings, and timestamped audit trails for every classification.

How can I prepare for a CBP focused assessment?

To prepare for a CBP focused assessment, you need documented evidence of reasonable care for every classification. This includes the GRI rule applied, supporting CBP binding rulings, alternative codes considered, and timestamped records. TariffLens automatically generates this documentation for every classification, building the audit trail CBP expects to see.

Licensed customs broker + free tariff simulator · comparison

TariffLens vs Flexport

Flexport is a licensed US customs broker and logistics platform with a genuinely good free Tariff Simulator and a done-for-you classification service. TariffLens is self-serve software: 10-digit HTS with GRI reasoning, cited CBP rulings, and the full real-time 2026 US duty stack, live in minutes, no broker engagement.

Last updated July 2026 · Independent comparison by TariffLens

The short version

Flexport is a licensed US customs broker, freight forwarder, and logistics platform. Two pieces are relevant here: its free public Tariff Simulator (tariffs.flexport.com), a genuinely capable duty calculator with plain-English HTS search that computes MFN plus Section 301, Section 232 (with steel/aluminum content math), IEEPA, and MPF/HMF, and flags AD/CVD and FTA eligibility; and a done-for-you classification service where Flexport's brokers classify your catalog (up to 20,000 SKUs/month) and the codes follow your goods in the Flexport Platform. TariffLens is self-serve software for the US importer and customs-broker job: every result is a full 10-digit HTSUS code with the GRI reasoning chain, cited CBP binding rulings from a 200,000+ corpus, and a real-time US duty calculation across Section 301/201/232/122, IEEPA/reciprocal tariffs, UFLPA, and AD/CVD. Flexport's free simulator is a duty calculator with HTS search rather than a reasoned classifier, it cites no CBP rulings, and its real classification is a broker service rather than self-serve software. If you want a full-service broker plus freight, Flexport is compelling; if you want to classify defensibly and compute the true duty yourself, in minutes, TariffLens is.

Choose Flexport when you want a licensed broker and freight partner to handle classification and filing as a service, or a free quick duty estimate. Choose TariffLens when you want to classify defensibly and compute the full US duty stack yourself, self-serve, with cited CBP rulings.

Side by side

TariffLens vs Flexport, line by line.

	TariffLens	Flexport
What it is	Self-serve classification and duty software you run yourself.	A licensed customs broker and logistics platform, plus a free public duty calculator.
Classification	Reasoned 10-digit classification with the GRI chain, cited rulings, alternatives, and confidence, on every result, self-serve.	The free simulator searches HTS language and suggests codes (a lookup, not a reasoned classifier); real classification is a done-for-you broker service (up to 20,000 SKUs/month).
CBP ruling citations	Inline citations from 200,000+ CBP binding rulings on every classification.	No CBP CROSS ruling citations on the simulator or classification service. Not published.
US duty stack (301/232/IEEPA/AD-CVD)	Real-time landed math: Section 301/201/232/122, IEEPA and reciprocal tariffs, UFLPA, and AD/CVD, computed together.	The simulator computes MFN plus Section 301, Section 232 (with metal-content math), IEEPA, and MPF/HMF, and flags AD/CVD and FTA eligibility; reciprocal tariffs are not documented as a named line item and AD/CVD is a flag, not a computed rate.
Licensed customs brokerage	Not a broker. TariffLens is software; it does not file entries or act as your broker.	A licensed US customs broker that files entries and offers tariff engineering, first sale, and drawback.
Freight and logistics	Not offered.	Full freight forwarding and logistics on the same platform as customs.
Deployment	Self-serve software, live in minutes, no broker engagement.	Free public simulator (5 free searches, then signup); classification and filing are broker services.
Pricing	Self-serve, sign up and start.	Tariff Simulator free (metered to 5 searches before signup); brokerage, classification, and platform pricing not published.

Where TariffLens wins

TariffLens is purpose-built, self-serve software for US HTS classification and tariff analysis. It reasons through the General Rules of Interpretation on every classification, grounded in the complete HTSUS and 200,000+ CBP binding rulings, and returns a defensible artifact: a 10-digit HTS code, the full GRI chain, cited rulings, alternatives considered, a confidence score, and a real-time US duty calculation, without engaging a broker.

Full 10-digit US HTSUS code with GRI step-by-step reasoning on every result, a reasoned classification rather than a calculator with HTS search.
200,000+ CBP binding rulings cited inline, so every classification is grounded in CBP precedent and defensible in a CF-28.
Real-time US duty stack per origin: Section 301/201/232/122, IEEPA and reciprocal tariffs as computed measures, UFLPA, and AD/CVD.
Self-serve with RESTful API, CSV bulk upload, and audit-ready exports, live in minutes with no broker engagement or platform onboarding.
Confidence scoring routes high-confidence results to auto-accept and low-confidence items to human review.

Where Flexport wins

Flexport is a licensed US customs broker, freight forwarder, and logistics-technology platform. Its free Tariff Simulator (tariffs.flexport.com) lets anyone paste a 10-digit HTS code or search by product name and returns a US duty estimate; separately, Flexport's brokers offer a done-for-you product-classification service that assesses a client's catalog and recommends codes, integrated into the Flexport Platform and shipment workflow. The simulator is a public duty calculator; the classification and filing are broker services, delivered with a disclaimer that using the free tool does not make Flexport your customs broker.

A real licensed US customs broker with end-to-end freight, brokerage, and logistics, so classification, filing, and shipping live on one platform, a full-service scope TariffLens does not offer.
A genuinely US-duty-aware free Tariff Simulator that separates MFN, Section 301, Section 232 (with declared metal-content math), IEEPA, and MPF/HMF, and flags AD/CVD and FTA eligibility.
Plain-English HTS search plus side-by-side country-of-origin what-if comparisons for sourcing decisions.
High-volume managed classification (up to 20,000 SKUs/month) plus broker services like tariff engineering, first sale, duty drawback, and binding-ruling requests.
Transparent data-source disclosure for the simulator (HTSUS, USTR Federal Register notices, Commerce Department announcements, and CBP guidance).

Where it can fall short

No CBP CROSS ruling citations on the simulator or the classification service, so results are not backed by cited precedent.
The self-serve tool is a duty calculator with HTS search, not a reasoned classifier; it suggests codes but does not produce a defensible GRI classification rationale. Real classification is a broker service, not self-serve software.
Reciprocal tariffs are not documented as a named line item in the simulator’s published coverage, and AD/CVD is a flag rather than a computed rate.
Managed classification requires engaging Flexport and effectively operating in its platform; that service is quote-based.
The simulator’s "completely free" copy conflicts with a live 5-free-searches wall that then prompts account signup.

The differences that matter

What actually separates them.

A good free calculator vs. a reasoned classifier

Flexport’s free Tariff Simulator is genuinely useful: it searches HTS language from a product name, returns a 10-digit code, and computes a real US duty estimate, MFN plus Section 301, Section 232 with metal-content math, IEEPA, and MPF/HMF, while flagging AD/CVD and FTA eligibility, with transparent data sources. What it does not do is reason through the GRI or cite the CBP rulings that establish precedent; it suggests a code and prices it. TariffLens produces the reasoning chain, the cited rulings, the alternatives, and the confidence, so the classification is an artifact you can defend rather than a fast estimate.

Classification: a broker service vs. self-serve software

At Flexport, real product classification is a done-for-you broker service: its team assesses your catalog and recommends codes, at up to 20,000 SKUs per month, and the codes then follow your goods in the Flexport Platform. That is a strength if you want to outsource the work to a licensed broker. TariffLens is the opposite model: self-serve software that classifies in seconds with a defensible rationale, so your own team stays in control, with no engagement, onboarding, or platform lock-in. Which is better depends on whether you want to own classification or hand it off.

Where Flexport genuinely wins

Flexport is a licensed US customs broker with full freight and logistics on one platform, and it offers tariff engineering, first sale, duty drawback, and binding-ruling requests. TariffLens is software: it does not file entries, act as your broker, or move freight. If you want a single partner to classify, file, and ship, Flexport’s scope is a real advantage TariffLens does not match. TariffLens is the better fit when you want a faster, auditable, self-serve classification and duty tool that your team (or your broker) runs directly.

The "free" asterisk

Flexport markets the Tariff Simulator as free, and it is a strong free tool, but the live experience meters you to 5 searches before prompting an account signup for unlimited use. That is worth knowing if you plan to run a batch. TariffLens is self-serve with free classifications to start and paid plans thereafter; neither tool lists a broker on the pricing page, because the model is different: Flexport monetizes brokerage and freight, TariffLens monetizes the software.

Which should you choose?

Choose Flexport if…

You want a licensed customs broker and freight partner to classify, file, and ship as one service.
You want your catalog classified for you at volume (up to 20,000 SKUs/month) rather than doing it yourself.
You need broker services like tariff engineering, first sale, duty drawback, or binding-ruling requests.
You just want a free, quick duty estimate with plain-English HTS search and are fine with a signup wall after a few searches.

Choose TariffLens if…

You want to classify defensibly yourself: GRI reasoning plus cited CBP binding rulings on every result, not a code suggestion.
You need the full US duty stack computed, including reciprocal tariffs as a measure and AD/CVD, not flagged.
You want self-serve software live in minutes with API and CSV, without engaging a broker or onboarding to a platform.
You are a customs broker or compliance team that wants a faster, auditable classification tool, not to outsource classification.

FAQ

TariffLens vs Flexport, answered.

Is TariffLens or Flexport better for US HTS classification?

It depends on the model. TariffLens is self-serve software that returns a reasoned 10-digit classification with GRI reasoning and cited CBP rulings on every result. Flexport’s free simulator suggests a code via HTS search (a lookup, not a reasoned classifier), and its real classification is a done-for-you broker service. Choose TariffLens to classify defensibly yourself; choose Flexport to hand classification and filing to a licensed broker.

Is the Flexport Tariff Simulator free?

It is marketed as free and is a capable US duty calculator (MFN plus Section 301, Section 232 with metal-content math, IEEPA, and MPF/HMF, with AD/CVD and FTA flags). In practice the live tool meters you to 5 free searches before prompting an account signup for unlimited use. TariffLens is self-serve with free classifications to start.

Does Flexport cite CBP rulings?

No. Neither the Tariff Simulator nor Flexport’s classification service cites CBP CROSS binding rulings on results. TariffLens cites specific CBP binding rulings from a corpus of 200,000+ on every classification, which is what makes a code defensible in a CF-28.

Does the Flexport simulator compute Section 301, 232, IEEPA, and AD/CVD?

The simulator computes MFN plus Section 301, Section 232 (with declared metal-content math), IEEPA, and MPF/HMF, and it flags AD/CVD and FTA eligibility; reciprocal tariffs are not documented as a named line item and AD/CVD is a flag rather than a computed rate. TariffLens computes the full stack, including reciprocal tariffs as a measure and AD/CVD, per origin.

Is TariffLens a good Flexport alternative?

For the classification and duty job, yes, if you want self-serve software: TariffLens gives cited rulings, GRI reasoning, 10-digit codes, and the full 2026 US duty stack in minutes, with no broker engagement. Flexport is the better fit if you want a licensed broker and freight partner to classify, file, and ship for you. They are different models, and many teams use software like TariffLens alongside a broker.

See your own products classified in 30 seconds.

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Sources

Flexport is a trademark of its respective owner. Comparisons reflect publicly available information as of July 2026 and TariffLens's own assessment; they are not endorsed by Flexport. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.

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