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Maritime · head to head

Alphaliner vs VesselFinder

Alphaliner logo

Alphaliner

Maritime

Container shipping data and analysis

From
$800/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VesselFinder logo

VesselFinder

Maritime

Free AIS vessel tracking web site

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only VesselFinder has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Alphaliner now delivered through AXSMarine rather than independently, and alphaliner.com redirects there; VesselFinder aPI access is billed in credits, and a satellite AIS position costs 10 credits against 1 for a terrestrial position
  • They diverge on capability: Alphaliner covers Fleet database, VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Alphaliner and VesselFinder actually diverge.

Attributes where Alphaliner and VesselFinder differ
AttributeAlphalinerVesselFinder
Starting price$800/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19982011

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maritime).

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 Alphaliner

  • Fleet database
  • Charter rate tracking
  • Capacity analysis
  • Market reports
  • Data exports
  • Excel reports

Only in VesselFinder

  • Real-time tracking
  • Vessel database
  • Port information
  • Weather overlay
  • API access
  • Mobile apps
  • Ios support
  • Android support

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Alphaliner

  • Tracking liner services and containership deploymentsnot VesselFinder
  • Port and terminal call analyticsnot VesselFinder
  • Fleet monitoring with technical and commercial vessel datanot VesselFinder
  • Suez and Panama canal traffic analysisnot VesselFinder
  • Feeding shipping data into internal systems through the API hubnot VesselFinder

VesselFinder

  • Tracking vessel positions and voyages from AIS datanot Alphaliner
  • Pulling ship positions and particulars into a logistics or chartering system over an APInot Alphaliner

Where each one falls short

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

Alphaliner

  • Now delivered through AXSMarine rather than independently, and alphaliner.com redirects there
  • Neither the subscription model nor any price is published
  • A market intelligence data service for shipping professionals rather than an operational tool

VesselFinder

  • API access is billed in credits, and a satellite AIS position costs 10 credits against 1 for a terrestrial position
  • Credits expire 12 months after purchase
  • Credit packs start at 330 EUR for 10,000 credits, excluding VAT
  • Tracking a vessel outside terrestrial AIS range multiplies the cost of every position tenfold, so open ocean coverage is the expensive case rather than the standard one

Pricing, plan by plan

Alphaliner

$800/month
  • Professional$1500/month
    • Fleet database
    • Charter rates
    • Weekly reports

VesselFinder

Free
  • Basic$4.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Extended history
    • Fleet monitoring

Which should you pick?

Choose Alphaliner if

  • You need fleet database.
  • You also want charter rate tracking.
Alphaliner review

Choose VesselFinder if

  • You need real-time tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want vessel database.
VesselFinder review

Questions people ask

Is Alphaliner or VesselFinder better?
Neither clearly leads. Alphaliner starts at $800/month and VesselFinder at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Alphaliner or VesselFinder?
VesselFinder has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $800/month for Alphaliner and Free for VesselFinder.
Does Alphaliner or VesselFinder run on more platforms?
Alphaliner runs on Web. VesselFinder runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use VesselFinder for free?
Yes. VesselFinder has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Alphaliner starts at $800/month.
What is Alphaliner best used for?
Alphaliner is most often used for tracking liner services and containership deployments, port and terminal call analytics, fleet monitoring with technical and commercial vessel data, suez and panama canal traffic analysis. Of those, tracking liner services and containership deployments and port and terminal call analytics are not what VesselFinder is typically brought in for.
What can Alphaliner do that VesselFinder cannot?
Alphaliner covers Fleet database, Charter rate tracking, Capacity analysis, Market reports. VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking, Vessel database, Port information, Weather overlay. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Alphaliner: How much does Alphaliner cost?

Alphaliner does not publish pricing information on its website. Customers must book a demo or contact the sales team directly to receive a price quote tailored to their shipping and logistics needs.

Source
VesselFinder: What are the main pricing tiers for VesselFinder?

VesselFinder offers four tiers: Free (no cost), Basic (4 dollars per month), Premium (34 dollars per month), and Satellite (139 dollars per month).

Source
Alphaliner: Does Alphaliner offer a free trial or demo?

Alphaliner offers a demo booking option to evaluate the platform. Interested users can schedule a demonstration with the Alphaliner team to explore features including service tracking, port analytics, fleet monitoring, and API integration before purchasing.

Source
VesselFinder: What does the Free plan include?

The Free plan provides terrestrial coverage, 1-day track history, a 10-ship fleet capacity, and 100 route planner uses.

Source
VesselFinder: What tracking capabilities come with the Satellite plan?

The Satellite plan includes both satellite and terrestrial coverage, 90-day track history, 2,000-ship fleet capacity, terminal and berth data, proximity event alerts, and ETA prediction.

Source
VesselFinder: Do subscriptions automatically renew?

No, subscriptions do not renew automatically. Users receive reminder notifications one week before expiration.

Source
VesselFinder: Do the listed prices include VAT?

No, the prices displayed do not include VAT. Payment options include bank transfers and credit or debit cards processed online.

Source
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