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Logistics · head to head

AfterShip vs MarineTraffic

AfterShip logo

AfterShip

Logistics

Shipment tracking and logistics platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MarineTraffic logo

MarineTraffic

Maritime

Global ship tracking intelligence

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: AfterShip paid tracking tiers as captured 16 November 2024 were priced at $9, $99, and $199 per month with per-extra-shipment overage fees of $0.08 (lower tiers) or $0.12 (Premium plan); MarineTraffic specific numeric prices for the Basic/Essential tiers are not published on a directly accessible page (plans pages are bot-protected)
  • They diverge on capability: AfterShip covers Shipment tracking, MarineTraffic covers Real-time vessel tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AfterShip and MarineTraffic actually diverge.

Attributes where AfterShip and MarineTraffic differ
AttributeAfterShipMarineTraffic
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb, iOS, Android, API
CategoryLogisticsMaritime
Founded20112007

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AfterShip

  • Shipment tracking
  • Multi-carrier
  • Returns management
  • Analytics
  • Shopify
  • WooCommerce
  • Email
  • Encryption

Only in MarineTraffic

  • Real-time vessel tracking
  • Global AIS coverage
  • Voyage history
  • Port call data
  • ETA predictions
  • REST API
  • Google Earth
  • GIS systems

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AfterShip

  • Shippingnot MarineTraffic
  • Returns trackingnot MarineTraffic

MarineTraffic

  • Real-time vessel trackingnot AfterShip
  • Port call and ETA tracking for logisticsnot AfterShip
  • Fleet monitoring for shipping and charteringnot AfterShip
  • Maritime research and analytics via API feedsnot AfterShip
  • Vessel and company database lookupsnot AfterShip

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AfterShip

  • Paid tracking tiers as captured 16 November 2024 were priced at $9, $99, and $199 per month with per-extra-shipment overage fees of $0.08 (lower tiers) or $0.12 (Premium plan)

MarineTraffic

  • Specific numeric prices for the Basic/Essential tiers are not published on a directly accessible page (plans pages are bot-protected)
  • Enterprise tier is sales-assisted, quote-only
  • API access is credit-consumption based with cost varying by AIS data source and detail level, making cost opaque
  • Commercial API access now routes through parent company Kpler via demo request

Pricing, plan by plan

AfterShip

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic tracking
    • Limited shipments
  • Professional$99/month
    • Advanced features
    • Unlimited shipments

MarineTraffic

Free
  • Basic$undefined/mo
    • Free vessel tracking account
  • Essential$undefined/mo
    • Expanded tracking features
  • Enterprise$undefined/mo
    • Quote-only, sales-assisted

Which should you pick?

Choose AfterShip if

  • You need shipment tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want multi-carrier.
AfterShip review

Choose MarineTraffic if

  • You need real-time vessel tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
  • You also want global ais coverage.
MarineTraffic review

Questions people ask

Is AfterShip or MarineTraffic better?
Neither clearly leads. AfterShip starts at Free and MarineTraffic at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AfterShip or MarineTraffic?
AfterShip starts at Free and MarineTraffic at Free.
Does AfterShip or MarineTraffic run on more platforms?
AfterShip runs on Web, Mobile. MarineTraffic runs on Web, iOS, Android, API.
Can I use AfterShip for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is AfterShip best used for?
AfterShip is most often used for shipping, returns tracking. Of those, shipping and returns tracking are not what MarineTraffic is typically brought in for.
What can AfterShip do that MarineTraffic cannot?
AfterShip covers Shipment tracking, Multi-carrier, Returns management, Analytics. MarineTraffic covers Real-time vessel tracking, Global AIS coverage, Voyage history, Port call data. Both handle Web support.
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