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Maritime · head to head

Baltic Exchange vs Pole Star Global

Baltic Exchange logo

Baltic Exchange

Maritime

Global shipping market benchmarks

From
$500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pole Star Global logo

Pole Star Global

Maritime

Maritime domain awareness and compliance

From
$500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Baltic Exchange no pricing published on website, membership and data services require contacting the organization; Pole Star Global no public pricing information published
  • They diverge on capability: Baltic Exchange covers Freight indices, Pole Star Global covers Real-time vessel tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Baltic Exchange and Pole Star Global actually diverge.

Attributes where Baltic Exchange and Pole Star Global differ
AttributeBaltic ExchangePole Star Global
Founded17441998

Identical on both: starting price ($500/month), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Api), 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 Baltic Exchange

  • Freight indices
  • Market assessments
  • Forward curves
  • Historical data
  • API
  • Data feeds
  • Trading platforms

Only in Pole Star Global

  • Real-time vessel tracking
  • Sanctions screening
  • Compliance monitoring
  • Risk alerts
  • Banking systems
  • Compliance platforms
  • ERP systems

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Api support

What people use each for

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

Baltic Exchange

  • Shipping market freight data and indicesnot Pole Star Global
  • Freight derivatives tradingnot Pole Star Global
  • Vessel investment decision makingnot Pole Star Global
  • Dry bulk and tanker rate assessmentsnot Pole Star Global
  • Container freight market analysisnot Pole Star Global

Pole Star Global

  • Detecting vessels using spoofed AIS to hide their identitynot Baltic Exchange
  • Screening ship movements against sanctions lists for compliancenot Baltic Exchange
  • Optimizing tanker voyage profitability through market rate comparisonnot Baltic Exchange
  • Tracking perishable cargo temperatures during ocean transitnot Baltic Exchange

Where each one falls short

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

Baltic Exchange

  • No pricing published on website, membership and data services require contacting the organization
  • Custom pricing based on organization type and data needs

Pole Star Global

  • No public pricing information published
  • Requires sales engagement through demo request or local office contact
  • Pricing structure and model not described publicly

Pricing, plan by plan

Baltic Exchange

$500/month
  • Data Services$1500/month
    • Freight indices
    • Market assessments
    • Historical data

Pole Star Global

$500/month
  • Professional$1500/month
    • PurpleTRAC platform
    • Sanctions screening
    • Risk assessment

Which should you pick?

Choose Baltic Exchange if

  • You need freight indices.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want market assessments.
Baltic Exchange review

Choose Pole Star Global if

  • You need real-time vessel tracking.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want sanctions screening.
Pole Star Global review

Questions people ask

Is Baltic Exchange or Pole Star Global better?
Neither clearly leads. Baltic Exchange starts at $500/month and Pole Star Global at $500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Baltic Exchange or Pole Star Global?
Baltic Exchange starts at $500/month and Pole Star Global at $500/month.
Does Baltic Exchange or Pole Star Global run on more platforms?
Baltic Exchange runs on Web, Api. Pole Star Global runs on Web, API.
What is Baltic Exchange best used for?
Baltic Exchange is most often used for shipping market freight data and indices, freight derivatives trading, vessel investment decision making, dry bulk and tanker rate assessments. Of those, shipping market freight data and indices and freight derivatives trading are not what Pole Star Global is typically brought in for.
What can Baltic Exchange do that Pole Star Global cannot?
Baltic Exchange covers Freight indices, Market assessments, Forward curves, Historical data. Pole Star Global covers Real-time vessel tracking, Sanctions screening, Compliance monitoring, Risk alerts. Both handle Web support, Api support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Baltic Exchange: How much does Baltic Exchange membership cost?

Baltic Exchange does not publish pricing on their website. Membership and data service pricing is customized and requires direct contact with the organization.

Source
Pole Star Global: How do I obtain Pole Star Global pricing?

Pole Star Global does not publish pricing on their website. Contact the sales team via Request Demo button, Customer Support link, or Find A Local Office contact options on their homepage. Source: https://www.polestarglobal.com

Source
Baltic Exchange: What services does Baltic Exchange provide?

Baltic Exchange provides shipping market data services including daily published indices (200+), freight derivatives trading facilities, member fixtures database, and analytical tools for shipping professionals.

Source
Pole Star Global: Does Pole Star Global offer a free trial?

Pole Star Global does not describe free trials or evaluation programs on their homepage. Request a demo through their website to inquire about trial availability. Source: https://www.polestarglobal.com

Source
Pole Star Global: What payment model does Pole Star Global use?

Pole Star Global does not publicly disclose pricing structure or billing model (per-seat, usage-based, enterprise, etc.). Direct sales consultation required to discuss payment options. Source: https://www.polestarglobal.com

Source
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