Software · head to head
Clarksons vs Container xChange
Clarksons
Software
World's leading shipbroker and data provider
- From
- $3000/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Container xChange has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Clarksons uK government contract award notice on find-tender.service.gov.uk shows a Clarkson Research Services Limited data subscription contract valued at 6,500 GBP excluding VAT (7,800 GBP including VAT) for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026; Container xChange leasing plans require a 12 month commitment
- They diverge on capability: Clarksons covers Market intelligence, Container xChange covers Container trading.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Clarksons and Container xChange actually diverge.
| Attribute | Clarksons | Container xChange |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $3000/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | transaction |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Founded | 1852 | 2017 |
Identical on both: platforms (Web, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Clarksons
- Market intelligence
- Fleet database
- Freight rates
- Research reports
- API
- Excel add-in
- Data exports
Only in Container xChange
- Container trading
- Leasing marketplace
- Tracking
- Payment processing
- TMS platforms
- Container depots
- Shipping lines
Both cover
- Web support
- Api support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Clarksons
No use cases recorded yet. See the Clarksons review.
Container xChange
- Buying and selling shipping containers through an online marketplacenot Clarksons
- One way SOC container leasing between depot locationsnot Clarksons
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Clarksons
- UK government contract award notice on find-tender.service.gov.uk shows a Clarkson Research Services Limited data subscription contract valued at 6,500 GBP excluding VAT (7,800 GBP including VAT) for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026
Container xChange
- Leasing plans require a 12 month commitment
- Leasing Basic at $399 a month caps at 10 containers, and Leasing Premium at $649 a month caps at 100
- The Professional Trading Buyer plan is $399 a month and billed annually
- Listing as a container owner or wholesaler is $899 a month
- The fulfilment service is commission based with no published rate, and is limited to the USA and Canada
Pricing, plan by plan
Clarksons
$3000/month- Shipping Intelligence Network$5000/month
- Market data
- Fleet database
- Research reports
Container xChange
Free- Professional$199/month
- Trading platform
- Tracking
- Analytics
Which should you pick?
Choose Clarksons if
- You need market intelligence.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want fleet database.
Choose Container xChange if
- You need container trading.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want leasing marketplace.
Questions people ask
- Is Clarksons or Container xChange better?
- Neither clearly leads. Clarksons starts at $3000/month and Container xChange at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Clarksons or Container xChange?
- Container xChange has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $3000/month for Clarksons and Free for Container xChange.
- Does Clarksons or Container xChange run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Container xChange for free?
- Yes. Container xChange has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Clarksons starts at $3000/month.
- What can Clarksons do that Container xChange cannot?
- Clarksons covers Market intelligence, Fleet database, Freight rates, Research reports. Container xChange covers Container trading, Leasing marketplace, Tracking, Payment processing. Both handle Web support, Api support.