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Software · head to head

Clarksons vs Sea Machines

Clarksons logo

Clarksons

Software

World's leading shipbroker and data provider

From
$3000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sea Machines logo

Sea Machines

Software

Autonomous vessel control systems

From
$50000/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; Sea Machines requires hardware fitted to the vessel; the autonomy systems are retrofits or new build installations rather than a software purchase
  • They diverge on capability: Clarksons covers Market intelligence, Sea Machines covers Autonomous control.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Clarksons and Sea Machines actually diverge.

Attributes where Clarksons and Sea Machines differ
AttributeClarksonsSea Machines
Starting price$3000/month$50000/one-time
Pricing modelsubscriptionone-time
PlatformsWeb, ApiEmbedded, Web, Mobile
Founded18522015

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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
  • Api support

Only in Sea Machines

  • Autonomous control
  • Remote operation
  • Collision avoidance
  • Pattern following
  • Vessel systems
  • Communication networks
  • Shore-based control
  • Embedded support

Both cover

  • Web 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.

Sea Machines

  • Intelligent voyage and transit autonomy for workboatsnot Clarksons
  • Pattern autonomy for survey and repetitive route worknot Clarksons
  • Collision avoidance using the AI-ris computer vision sensornot Clarksons
  • Remote command and control of vessels, including in GPS denied environmentsnot Clarksons
  • Fleet management and telemetry through Fleetviewer and the SMLINK APIsnot 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

Sea Machines

  • Requires hardware fitted to the vessel; the autonomy systems are retrofits or new build installations rather than a software purchase
  • Targeted at vessels from 10 to 300 ft, so it does not address the largest commercial tonnage
  • Pricing is not published and is arranged directly with the vendor
  • The SM300-NG is the class-approved unit, so the cheaper SM300-SP does not carry the same approval

Pricing, plan by plan

Clarksons

$3000/month
  • Shipping Intelligence Network$5000/month
    • Market data
    • Fleet database
    • Research reports

Sea Machines

$50000/one-time
  • SM300$75000/one-time
    • Autonomous control
    • Collision avoidance
    • Remote operation

Which should you pick?

Choose Clarksons if

  • You need market intelligence.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want fleet database.
Clarksons review

Choose Sea Machines if

  • You need autonomous control.
  • You work on Embedded, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want remote operation.
Sea Machines review

Questions people ask

Is Clarksons or Sea Machines better?
Neither clearly leads. Clarksons starts at $3000/month and Sea Machines at $50000/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Clarksons or Sea Machines?
Clarksons starts at $3000/month and Sea Machines at $50000/one-time.
Does Clarksons or Sea Machines run on more platforms?
Clarksons runs on Web, Api. Sea Machines runs on Embedded, Web, Mobile.
What can Clarksons do that Sea Machines cannot?
Clarksons covers Market intelligence, Fleet database, Freight rates, Research reports. Sea Machines covers Autonomous control, Remote operation, Collision avoidance, Pattern following. Both handle Web support.
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