Best Cargo Ships in Star Citizen

The best cargo ship in Star Citizen is not automatically the ship with the highest SCU number.

For Alpha 4.10, the C2 Hercules is our best overall cargo ship because its 696-SCU internal hold, large front and rear ramps, vehicle compatibility, and relatively straightforward operating profile make it useful across more hauling situations than the more specialized heavy freighters.

At the upper end, the Drake Ironclad is our pick for heavy protected freight with 2,200 SCU, while the MISC Hull C remains the raw-capacity champion at 4,608 SCU. The newly flight-ready Hull B is one of the most interesting dedicated medium haulers at 512 SCU, and the RSI Hermes trades some capacity for speed.

Smaller operators should look at the ARGO RAFT, Constellation Taurus, or C1 Spirit depending on whether they prioritize dedicated freight, combat capability, or everyday flexibility.

These are editorial recommendations based on current cargo capacity, loading workflow, ship access, crew burden, and practical hauling flexibility rather than SCU alone.

Best Cargo Ships in Alpha 4.10

CategoryOur PickCargo CapacityWhy It Stands OutMain Limitation
Best Overall	C2 Hercules	696 SCU	Huge internal bay, two large ramps, vehicle transport	Large footprint and high operating cost
Best Heavy Freighter	Drake Ironclad	2,200 SCU	Very large protected cargo space and heavy logistics focus	Multicrew workload and sheer scale
Highest Cargo Capacity	MISC Hull C	4,608 SCU	Unmatched flight-ready bulk capacity	Specialized spindle and orbital cargo workflow
Best Dedicated Medium Freighter	MISC Hull B	512 SCU	High capacity for its class and efficient external loading	Cargo is exposed and role is highly specialized
Best Fast Medium Hauler	RSI Hermes	288 SCU	High speed, tractor support, useful capacity	Gives up cargo volume versus larger dedicated haulers
Best Value Local Freighter	ARGO RAFT	192 SCU	Straightforward freight layout and affordable progression	Limited versatility outside hauling
Best Armed Multi-Role Hauler	Constellation Taurus	174 SCU	Cargo plus strong pilot-controlled combat capability	Larger multicrew-oriented platform
Best Small Multi-Role Hauler	C1 Spirit	64 SCU	Internal bay, tractor beam, vehicle compatibility	Much lower capacity than dedicated freighters

Cargo capacities above reflect current Alpha 4.10 vehicle data. The current flight-ready cargo roster now includes newer additions such as the Ironclad, Hull B, Hermes, Railen, and Golem OX alongside established haulers such as the C2 and Hull C.

What Actually Makes a Cargo Ship Good?

Cargo capacity matters, but it is only the first number to check.

A 500-SCU cargo ship with an easy loading layout can be more pleasant to operate than a larger ship whose cargo is difficult to reach. An internal bay protects freight and supports vehicles, while an external cargo grid can make loading faster but leaves the cargo more exposed.

Container size also changes the workload. Moving twenty large containers is a very different job from manually arranging hundreds of small boxes.

Then there is destination access. A ship designed around station-to-station bulk freight does not compete with a surface-capable ramp hauler in exactly the same way. The Hull C illustrates this better than any other current ship: its 4,608 SCU is extraordinary, but its telescoping spindle and dedicated loading workflow place it in a different operational category from the C2. CIG's Hull design material has long separated the smaller Hull A/B, which can operate loaded at planetary destinations, from the larger Hull models built around orbital freight handling.

Crew burden matters too. Filling a cargo hold is only useful if you can load it, fly it, protect it, and unload it without turning every contract into a logistics project larger than the cargo itself.

C2 Hercules — Best Overall Cargo Ship

The Crusader C2 Hercules remains our best all-round cargo recommendation in Alpha 4.10.

Its two cargo grids provide 696 SCU, split into 480 and 216 SCU sections. Unlike an external-spindle freighter, that capacity sits inside an enormous enclosed hold accessed through large ramps at both ends of the ship.

That layout is the reason the C2 continues to matter even though several newer ships beat it on raw capacity.

Cargo can move straight through the ship rather than entering and leaving from a single narrow opening. Large ground vehicles can use the same space, including heavy vehicles such as the Nova, Ballista, and Spartan.

For commodity trading, hauling contracts, vehicle transport, mining support, or organization logistics, the C2 can change jobs without changing ships.

Its two-person current crew listing also keeps the staffing requirement relatively modest for a ship of this scale. One player can handle the core flight role, although manually processing hundreds of SCU becomes far more efficient when another player or cargo equipment helps with loading.

The downside is everything that comes with a 94-meter heavy transport. It needs space, landing takes more attention than a medium freighter, and a large cargo hold can encourage pilots to commit far more aUEC to a single run than they would in a smaller ship.

The C2 wins this ranking because it combines large-scale capacity with unusually flexible physical access. The Ironclad and Hull C move more freight, but both require accepting a more specialized logistics profile.

Drake Ironclad — Best Heavy Freighter

The Drake Ironclad changed the upper end of the cargo market when it became flyable in Alpha 4.8.

Current Alpha 4.10 vehicle data gives the standard Ironclad 2,200 SCU of cargo capacity, more than three times the C2's 696 SCU. Its main cargo area occupies most of the hull and uses both a main ramp and a retracting roof to provide access from multiple directions.

Unlike the Hull C's exposed cargo spindle, the Ironclad is built around getting a very large payload inside a heavily logistics-focused Drake platform. It also includes secure storage, a rear garage, numerous weapon stations, and the detachable Command Module.

This makes the Ironclad particularly attractive to groups moving valuable freight through less comfortable territory.

The capacity is large enough that loading efficiency becomes part of the ownership decision. Filling 2,200 SCU manually is not a small chore, and the ship has substantially more crew infrastructure than a C2 or medium hauler. Current live-derived data has also exposed malformed top-level crew fields for the Ironclad, so it is safer to describe it as a crew-intensive heavy freighter rather than publish a misleading crew range from that field.

For a player or organization that genuinely wants heavy logistics, the Ironclad is more practical as a general freight platform than simply jumping from a C2 to the Hull C.

It is not our overall pick because many cargo pilots do not need 2,200 SCU badly enough to justify the additional ship, loading, and crew workload.

MISC Hull C — Best for Maximum Cargo Capacity

If one number decides the purchase, the MISC Hull C wins.

Its telescoping cargo spindle carries 4,608 SCU, equal to 144 32-SCU containers at maximum load. CIG describes it as an enterprise-level cargo hauler and currently lists accommodation around a four-person crew.

Nothing else in the normal flight-ready freight category approaches that raw capacity. Even the Ironclad's 2,200 SCU is less than half of a fully loaded Hull C.

But the Hull C is not a larger C2.

Its cargo attaches externally to the spindle, and the ship uses dedicated loading areas rather than simply dropping a rear ramp at any cargo location. The system was introduced around specialized cargo-transfer zones, with the ship extending its spindle before cargo is placed onto the grids.

That makes the Hull C strongest on the routes its logistics model was designed to serve: moving enormous freight volumes between locations capable of supporting that workflow.

A C2 can land, open the bay, accept vehicles, take mixed cargo, and operate as a general logistics platform. The Hull C gives up that flexibility to push freight scale much further.

Buy the Hull C when bulk shipping itself is the objective. It is a poor choice if what you really want is a large everyday cargo ship.

MISC Hull B — Best Dedicated Medium Freighter

The arrival of the MISC Hull B created a much more serious middle step between conventional medium haulers and the heavy-freight end of the game.

The Hull B carries 512 SCU, enough for as many as sixteen 32-SCU containers under its current design. Unlike the Hull C, it can also land while fully loaded.

That combination is its real advantage.

Five hundred twelve SCU is close enough to a C2 to handle substantial hauling work, but the Hull B stays focused almost entirely on moving freight. Its retractable spindle exposes the cargo for straightforward access rather than forcing containers through a long internal corridor.

CIG's April 2026 Q&A describes the ship as a progression option for players moving into larger hauling contracts and specifically emphasizes quick loading and unloading over cargo protection.

That also explains the main weakness. External cargo is not the same as an enclosed Hercules or Ironclad bay, and the Hull B offers little reason to own it if you want vehicle transport, combat versatility, or a large general-purpose interior.

For dedicated hauling, that lack of distraction is a strength rather than a flaw.

The Hull B is arguably the most important current cargo ship for a player who has outgrown 100–200 SCU freighters but does not yet want heavy-ship logistics.

RSI Hermes — Best Fast Medium Cargo Ship

The RSI Hermes takes a different approach to freight.

It carries 288 SCU, well below the Hull B, but current Alpha 4.10 data lists a 1,200 m/s maximum speed and a crew profile of two to three. Its design also includes a rail-mounted tractor beam for cargo handling.

CIG describes the ship as a blockade runner: a hauler built to move meaningful cargo quickly through routes where a slower industrial freighter may be less comfortable.

That makes the Hermes interesting because cargo efficiency is not always equivalent to cargo per trip.

If a contract or trade loop rewards shorter turnaround times, or if the pilot values mobility and defensive escape options over maximizing SCU, 288 SCU aboard a fast ship can be more useful than 500+ SCU aboard a slower specialist.

The obvious cost is volume. A Hull B carries almost twice as much cargo, while the C2 carries more than twice as much.

Choose the Hermes when speed is part of the hauling strategy, not simply because you want the largest medium freight hold.

ARGO RAFT — Best Value Local Freighter

The ARGO RAFT occupies a useful position below the new generation of 250–500 SCU ships.

Current Alpha 4.10 data lists 192 SCU, a rear cargo tractor station, and an in-game purchase price starting around 3.37 million aUEC in Stanton. It can also be rented in Lorville, which makes it much easier to try before committing to a permanent purchase.

The RAFT is cargo first. Its payload sits externally beneath the ship, keeping the freight area accessible without dedicating most of the interior to a cargo corridor.

CIG's original design rationale emphasized rapid handling of standardized freight rather than competing with multi-role ships such as the Freelancer MAX.

There is a current source discrepancy around exact maximum box sizing: some current references continue to describe 32-SCU container support while the live-derived cargo-grid record reports a smaller maximum box size. Because of that conflict, the safer Alpha 4.10 conclusion is simply that the RAFT remains a 192-SCU externally loaded dedicated hauler rather than treating one container-size figure as settled.

Its biggest limitation is specialization. A Taurus or C1 can remain useful when the session turns into combat or vehicle work. The RAFT earns its place when you bought the ship to haul freight and intend to keep doing exactly that.

Constellation Taurus — Best Armed Multi-Role Cargo Ship

The RSI Constellation Taurus is a good answer for players who want cargo capacity without giving up much pilot-controlled combat capability.

It carries 174 SCU, split between a 168-SCU main grid and a smaller 6-SCU section. Current Alpha 4.10 data also gives the pilot a strong forward weapon package and twenty-four missiles, with additional turret capability for crew.

That makes the Taurus a very different purchase from the RAFT or Hull B.

A dedicated freighter spends more of its design budget on moving boxes. The Taurus remains useful when the route becomes dangerous, when the player wants to run combat missions between cargo jobs, or when the cargo bay needs to share the ship with broader day-to-day gameplay.

The compromise is cargo efficiency.

At 174 SCU, it carries less than the RAFT, Hermes, Starlancer MAX, Hull B, or any heavy hauler on this list. It is also a larger multicrew-oriented ship, even though a single pilot retains substantial control over the weapons and flight systems.

For a pure cargo career, move toward the Hull B. For a cargo-capable combat daily driver, the Taurus has a stronger case.

C1 Spirit — Best Small Multi-Role Hauler

The Crusader C1 Spirit is the easiest ship here to recommend when 64 SCU is enough.

Its two internal cargo grids provide 64 SCU total, accessed through the rear ramp. The bay can also accommodate smaller ground vehicles, and the ship includes a rear cargo tractor beam for handling freight.

That internal layout is important.

At this scale, the C1 competes with ships such as the Hull A and Golem OX, both of which also carry 64 SCU. The difference is that the C1 gives the player a conventional enclosed hold that can serve cargo, vehicle, and mission-equipment duties rather than committing the entire ship to exposed freight.

It is therefore not the most efficient 64-SCU freighter. It is the most flexible one in this selection.

The Hull A is cleaner if you want a single-operator dedicated freight ship. CIG explicitly designed it as the solo entry point into the Hull series, with 64 SCU and the ability to land while loaded.

The newer Golem OX also carries 64 SCU on a much smaller hull and includes an integrated tractor beam. Current design material allows crates up to 32 SCU, making it particularly interesting for compact freight work.

The C1 wins the multi-role category because its cargo space remains useful even when the cargo contract ends.

Other Cargo Ships Worth Considering

Several current cargo ships miss the category wins above without being bad choices.

The Starlancer MAX carries 224 SCU, split between a 128-SCU main cargo section and 96 SCU aft. It also provides ground-vehicle space, living facilities, weapons, and a long-range multi-role layout. It makes more sense than the Hermes when comfort and broader expedition-style utility matter more than speed.

The Freelancer MAX remains a compact 120-SCU medium freighter. It sits below the newer Hull B, RAFT, Hermes, and Starlancer MAX on capacity, but its smaller 38-meter hull keeps it relevant for players who do not want to jump immediately into a much larger ship.

The Gatac Railen is now flight ready with 640 SCU on external grids. That puts it surprisingly close to the C2 on capacity, but its Xi'an external-cargo arrangement and larger multicrew profile make it a more specialized recommendation than the C2's conventional enclosed bay.

The Drake Caterpillar still carries 576 SCU and offers a distinctive modular freight layout, but current alternatives now surround it from both sides: the Hull B offers a cleaner dedicated freight proposition below it, while the C2 and Railen provide more capacity above it.

Internal Cargo vs External Cargo

This is one of the most important decisions in cargo ship ownership.

Internal cargo ships such as the C1, Taurus, C2, and Ironclad place freight inside the hull. That usually gives the player better protection and lets the same space support vehicles or unusual loads.

The downside is access. Cargo has to move through a ramp, door, elevator, or roof opening, and badly shaped interiors can slow loading.

External freighters such as the Hull series and RAFT reduce that barrier by placing the cargo directly onto exposed grids or spindles.

That can make freight handling faster, but the ship becomes less flexible. You are buying a logistics machine rather than a large room that happens to have a cargo grid.

Neither design is universally better.

If your goal is repeating predictable cargo routes, a Hull B is extremely attractive. If you want one large ship that can switch between freight, vehicles, and organization logistics, the C2 is much easier to justify.

Which Cargo Ship Should You Buy?

For most players building a cargo fleet, progression should follow the size of contracts you actually run rather than the maximum SCU you can afford.

A practical path looks like this:

• Starting small: Hull A, Golem OX, or C1 Spirit.

• Regular local freight: ARGO RAFT or Freelancer MAX.

• Cargo plus combat: Constellation Taurus.

• Fast medium hauling: RSI Hermes.

• Dedicated medium-heavy freight: Hull B.

• Large flexible logistics: C2 Hercules.

• Heavy protected freight: Drake Ironclad.

• Maximum bulk capacity: MISC Hull C.

The jump from a 64-SCU ship to a Hull C is not simply a capacity upgrade. It changes what locations make sense, how long loading takes, how much cargo value is exposed in one trip, and how many people or tools become useful around the ship.

A larger hold only earns more when you have enough cargo to fill it and a route that rewards moving that volume.

For pledge-side fleet planning rather than aUEC progression, you can also compare current Star Citizen ship upgrade options after deciding which cargo class actually fits your hauling style.

FAQ

What is the best cargo ship in Star Citizen right now?

For Alpha 4.10, the C2 Hercules is our best overall cargo ship. Its 696-SCU enclosed hold, front and rear loading ramps, and ability to transport large ground vehicles make it more flexible than higher-capacity specialist freighters.

What Star Citizen ship has the most cargo capacity?

Among normal flight-ready cargo ships, the MISC Hull C has the largest dedicated freight capacity at 4,608 SCU. The Drake Ironclad follows at 2,200 SCU.

Is the Ironclad better than the C2 for cargo?

The Ironclad carries far more cargo at 2,200 SCU versus the C2's 696 SCU, but it also operates at a much larger logistics and crew scale. The C2 is easier to recommend for mixed freight, vehicles, and smaller operations; the Ironclad is better when heavy freight is the actual objective.

Is the Hull B better than the C2?

For dedicated freight efficiency, the Hull B has a strong case. It carries 512 SCU, can land while loaded, and uses an externally accessible cargo spindle. The C2 carries more at 696 SCU and has a much more flexible internal bay, so it remains better for players who also transport vehicles or mixed loads.

What is the best solo cargo ship?

The Hull A is one of the cleanest dedicated solo freight options at 64 SCU. The C1 Spirit offers the same nominal capacity with a more flexible internal bay, while larger ships such as the Taurus and C2 remain usable by one player but create progressively greater loading and operating workloads.

What is the best medium cargo ship?

For pure freight, our pick is the Hull B at 512 SCU. For speed, choose the Hermes. For combat flexibility, the Constellation Taurus is stronger, while the Starlancer MAX provides a more spacious long-range multi-role platform.

Is the Hull C worth it for cargo hauling?

Yes, if you specifically want bulk freight. Its 4,608-SCU capacity is unmatched among conventional flight-ready cargo ships, but the Hull C is much more specialized than a C2 or Ironclad and should not be treated as a general-purpose surface hauler.

Final Verdict

The C2 Hercules remains our best overall cargo ship in Alpha 4.10 because 696 SCU is already enough for serious hauling while its enclosed, drive-through hold stays useful for vehicles and general logistics.

Players who need more scale now have much stronger alternatives. The Ironclad moves 2,200 SCU inside a heavy freight platform and is the better choice for large crew-supported logistics. The Hull C goes further still with 4,608 SCU, but only makes sense when bulk freight is important enough to accept its specialized spindle workflow.

The most interesting ship for players climbing toward that level may actually be the Hull B. Its 512-SCU capacity is substantial without immediately pushing the owner into heavy-freighter territory.

Below that, the Hermes, RAFT, Taurus, and C1 Spirit each solve a different problem: speed, dedicated local freight, combat flexibility, or everyday multi-role use.

Buy around the cargo operation you intend to run, not the largest SCU number on the ship page.