Maritime · head to head
Clarksons vs Spire Global Maritime

Clarksons
Maritime
World's leading shipbroker and data provider
- From
- $3000/month
- Rated
- -

Spire Global Maritime
Maritime
Satellite-powered maritime data and analytics
- From
- $500/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Clarksons no pricing published on website; Spire Global Maritime now part of Kpler rather than Spire, and spire.com/maritime redirects into the Kpler site
- They diverge on capability: Clarksons covers Market intelligence, Spire Global Maritime covers Satellite AIS tracking.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Clarksons and Spire Global Maritime actually diverge.
| Attribute | Clarksons | Spire Global Maritime |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $3000/month | $500/month |
| Platforms | Web, Api | Api, Web |
| Founded | 1852 | 2012 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Clarksons
- Market intelligence
- Fleet database
- Freight rates
- Research reports
- API
- Excel add-in
- Data exports
Only in Spire Global Maritime
- Satellite AIS tracking
- Global coverage
- Predictive analytics
- Dark vessel detection
- REST API
- Streaming API
- AWS S3
- Snowflake
Both cover
- Web support
- Api support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Clarksons
- Maritime brokerage and shipping servicesnot Spire Global Maritime
- Ship finance and leasingnot Spire Global Maritime
- Shipping market researchnot Spire Global Maritime
- Port services and operationsnot Spire Global Maritime
Spire Global Maritime
- Satellite and terrestrial AIS vessel trackingnot Clarksons
- Predicted destinations, ETAs and arrival eventsnot Clarksons
- Historical AIS going back more than ten yearsnot Clarksons
- Vessel particulars and ownership lookupsnot Clarksons
- Sanctions and insurance screening against vessel movementsnot Clarksons
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Clarksons
- No pricing published on website
- Pricing model not disclosed
- Enterprise maritime services requiring custom quotes
- Multiple business lines (broking, finance, research, ports, tech) with different pricing
- Direct sales contact required
Spire Global Maritime
- Now part of Kpler rather than Spire, and spire.com/maritime redirects into the Kpler site
- Pricing is not published
- Sold as a data feed to be consumed through APIs, Snowflake, NMEA streams or FTP, so it needs engineering work before it is useful
Pricing, plan by plan
Clarksons
$3000/month- Shipping Intelligence Network$5000/month
- Market data
- Fleet database
- Research reports
Spire Global Maritime
$500/month- Professional$2000/month
- Low-latency data
- Behavior analytics
- Predictive ETAs
Which should you pick?
Choose Clarksons if
- You need market intelligence.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want fleet database.
Choose Spire Global Maritime if
- You need satellite ais tracking.
- You work on Api, Web.
- You also want global coverage.
Questions people ask
- Is Clarksons or Spire Global Maritime better?
- Neither clearly leads. Clarksons starts at $3000/month and Spire Global Maritime at $500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Clarksons or Spire Global Maritime?
- Clarksons starts at $3000/month and Spire Global Maritime at $500/month.
- Does Clarksons or Spire Global Maritime run on more platforms?
- Clarksons runs on Web, Api. Spire Global Maritime runs on Api, Web.
- What is Clarksons best used for?
- Clarksons is most often used for maritime brokerage and shipping services, ship finance and leasing, shipping market research, port services and operations. Of those, maritime brokerage and shipping services and ship finance and leasing are not what Spire Global Maritime is typically brought in for.
- What can Clarksons do that Spire Global Maritime cannot?
- Clarksons covers Market intelligence, Fleet database, Freight rates, Research reports. Spire Global Maritime covers Satellite AIS tracking, Global coverage, Predictive analytics, Dark vessel detection. Both handle Web support, Api support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Clarksons: How much does Clarksons charge for its services?
Clarksons does not publish pricing on its website. The company operates as a marine and shipping services provider with five business lines. Pricing is customized by service line and must be obtained by contacting Clarksons directly.
SourceSpire Global Maritime: What maritime data does Spire Global provide?
Spire Global maritime services provide satellite-based vessel tracking and monitoring. The platform offers real-time data on ship locations, movements, and maritime activities for commercial and government use.
SourceClarksons: Which Clarksons division should I contact for pricing?
Clarksons has five business divisions: Broking, Financial Services, Research, Port Services, and Technology. Contact their specific department for pricing relevant to your needs.
SourceSpire Global Maritime: How much does Spire Global Maritime cost?
Spire Global does not publish standard pricing for maritime data services. Pricing is determined based on data access level, update frequency, and specific use case. Customers should contact Spire directly for custom quotes.
SourceSpire Global Maritime: What industries use Spire's maritime data?
Spire Global maritime data serves shipping companies, maritime insurance, government agencies, and maritime research organizations. The service supports vessel tracking, compliance monitoring, and maritime intelligence operations.
SourceRelated pages
More on Spire Global Maritime
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