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Maritime · head to head

Bearing AI vs Q88

Bearing AI logo

Bearing AI

Maritime

Machine learning vessel performance models for voyage and commercial decisions, embedded in partner platforms

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Q88 logo

Q88

Maritime

Tanker vessel information platform

From
$200/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bearing AI bearing increasingly reaches customers embedded in partner platforms such as StormGeo, so the contract, support path and commercial relationship may be with the partner rather than with Bearing.; Q88 the Internet Archive's capture of Q88 LLC's corporate homepage on 19 February 2016 stated Q88.com had 75% of the world-wide tanker industry onboard and served over 1,000 clients across four named products (Q88.com, Q88Dry.com, Milbros.com, Q88VMS.com), with no price figure published for any; this is a 2016 capture and figures are dated.
  • They diverge on capability: Bearing AI covers Vessel-specific consumption models, Q88 covers Vessel questionnaires.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bearing AI and Q88 actually diverge.

Attributes where Bearing AI and Q88 differ
AttributeBearing AIQ88
Starting priceOn request$200/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, Cloud, APIWeb, Api
FoundedUnknown2001

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Bearing AI

  • Vessel-specific consumption models
  • Speed optimisation
  • Emissions forecasting
  • Voyage evaluation
  • AIS-derived data
  • Weather-aware routing inputs
  • Fleet benchmarking
  • Partner platform embedding

Only in Q88

  • Vessel questionnaires
  • Vetting support
  • Documentation management
  • Compliance tracking
  • Oil major systems
  • Chartering platforms
  • Fleet management
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Bearing AI

  • A chartering desk evaluating fixtures against learned consumption rather than a delivery-era speed and consumption tablenot Q88
  • Projecting a vessel CII rating for a planned trading pattern before committing to itnot Q88
  • Identifying which sister ship in a series is underperforming because of hull condition rather than routingnot Q88
  • Feeding realistic consumption predictions into an existing voyage optimisation platform through an APInot Q88

Q88

No use cases recorded yet. See the Q88 review.

Where each one falls short

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

Bearing AI

  • Bearing increasingly reaches customers embedded in partner platforms such as StormGeo, so the contract, support path and commercial relationship may be with the partner rather than with Bearing.
  • Model accuracy depends on the volume and honesty of historical voyage data, and fleets with sparse or inaccurate noon reporting get materially weaker vessel-specific models.
  • It is a modelling layer rather than a voyage management system of record, so it must be bought alongside a platform that handles the operational workflow.
  • As a venture-funded specialist with a small headcount, its long-term independence is uncertain, and a modelling layer inside someone else product is a fragile position if a partnership lapses.
  • Nothing is published on pricing or fleet size thresholds, so small owners cannot tell whether they are a viable customer without entering a sales process.

Q88

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Q88 LLC's corporate homepage on 19 February 2016 stated Q88.com had 75% of the world-wide tanker industry onboard and served over 1,000 clients across four named products (Q88.com, Q88Dry.com, Milbros.com, Q88VMS.com), with no price figure published for any; this is a 2016 capture and figures are dated.

Pricing, plan by plan

Bearing AI

On request
  • Bearing AI$undefined/year
    • Priced per vessel per year on annual agreements
    • Often purchased indirectly as a component of a partner voyage optimisation service
    • Model onboarding requires historical voyage data supplied by the customer

Q88

$200/month
  • Vessel Manager$500/month
    • Q88 questionnaires
    • Vessel profiles
    • Documentation

Which should you pick?

Choose Bearing AI if

  • You need vessel-specific consumption models.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, API.
  • You also want speed optimisation.
Bearing AI review

Choose Q88 if

  • You need vessel questionnaires.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want vetting support.
Q88 review

Questions people ask

Is Bearing AI or Q88 better?
Neither clearly leads. Bearing AI starts at On request and Q88 at $200/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bearing AI or Q88?
Bearing AI starts at On request and Q88 at $200/month.
Does Bearing AI or Q88 run on more platforms?
Bearing AI runs on Web, Cloud, API. Q88 runs on Web, Api.
What is Bearing AI best used for?
Bearing AI is most often used for a chartering desk evaluating fixtures against learned consumption rather than a delivery-era speed and consumption table, projecting a vessel cii rating for a planned trading pattern before committing to it, identifying which sister ship in a series is underperforming because of hull condition rather than routing, feeding realistic consumption predictions into an existing voyage optimisation platform through an api. Of those, a chartering desk evaluating fixtures against learned consumption rather than a delivery-era speed and consumption table and projecting a vessel cii rating for a planned trading pattern before committing to it are not what Q88 is typically brought in for.
What can Bearing AI do that Q88 cannot?
Bearing AI covers Vessel-specific consumption models, Speed optimisation, Emissions forecasting, Voyage evaluation. Q88 covers Vessel questionnaires, Vetting support, Documentation management, Compliance tracking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bearing AI: Can I buy Bearing AI directly?

Yes, but a growing share of its distribution is through partners such as StormGeo, where the models are embedded in that vendor voyage optimisation service.

Bearing AI: Does it replace a voyage management system?

No. It is a performance modelling layer that feeds commercial and operational decisions made in another system.

Bearing AI: What data does it need?

Historical voyage data, noon reports and AIS positions, plus weather history. Data quality drives model quality directly.

Bearing AI: Does it cover CII?

Yes, it projects CII ratings from the learned vessel model rather than from nominal consumption figures.

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