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Maritime · head to head

Container xChange vs Harbour Assist

Container xChange logo

Container xChange

Maritime

Container logistics marketplace

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Harbour Assist logo

Harbour Assist

Maritime

Marina, harbour and boatyard management software for United Kingdom and European operators

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Container xChange has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Container xChange leasing plans require a 12 month commitment; Harbour Assist no pricing is published, and the mandatory setup and data migration fee means the first-year cost is materially above the recurring subscription, which is easy to miss when budgeting.
  • They diverge on capability: Container xChange covers Container trading, Harbour Assist covers Berth and mooring management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Container xChange and Harbour Assist actually diverge.

Attributes where Container xChange and Harbour Assist differ
AttributeContainer xChangeHarbour Assist
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, iOS, Android
Founded2017Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Container xChange

  • Container trading
  • Leasing marketplace
  • Tracking
  • Payment processing
  • TMS platforms
  • Container depots
  • Shipping lines
  • Web support

Only in Harbour Assist

  • Berth and mooring management
  • Contracts and licences
  • Recurring invoicing
  • Customer portal
  • Boatyard work orders
  • Team tasking
  • Online reservations
  • Reporting

What people use each for

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

Container xChange

  • Buying and selling shipping containers through an online marketplacenot Harbour Assist
  • One way SOC container leasing between depot locationsnot Harbour Assist

Harbour Assist

  • A trust port managing several hundred moorings with annual licence renewals and arrears chasingnot Container xChange
  • A sailing club combining membership, berthing and bar accounts under one customer recordnot Container xChange
  • A boatyard scheduling lifts and winter storage alongside berth contractsnot Container xChange
  • A harbour office cutting phone traffic by moving invoice payment and service requests to a customer portalnot Container xChange

Where each one falls short

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

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

Harbour Assist

  • No pricing is published, and the mandatory setup and data migration fee means the first-year cost is materially above the recurring subscription, which is easy to miss when budgeting.
  • The vendor explicitly does not discount, so a small harbour has no negotiating room even when the entry point is a stretch for its budget.
  • Ownership by ClearCourse, a private-equity-backed consolidator of vertical software, brings the pricing and roadmap risks that come with that model, and buyers should ask about uplift terms before committing.
  • It is built for United Kingdom and Irish harbour practice, so an operator elsewhere gets a system full of concepts that do not match local regulation.
  • There is no marketplace or booking demand attached, so unlike Dockwa it fills no berths for you; visitor income still depends on your own marketing.

Pricing, plan by plan

Container xChange

Free
  • Online Broker App & Broker Support (Container Retailers)Free
    • Browse 29,000+ containers
    • Real-time inventory access
    • Self-serve platform
  • Professional Trading Buyer (Container Retailers)$399/month
    • Unlimited container purchases
    • Zero transaction costs
    • Access to 2,500+ locations
  • International Trading Marketplace (Owners/Wholesalers)$899/month
    • Unlimited listings and sales
    • Access to 1,000+ buyers
    • Self-serve management
  • Leasing Basic (Container Leasing)$399/month
    • SOC container one-way leasing
    • Market price visibility
    • Company profiles

Harbour Assist

On request
  • Harbour Assist$undefined/month
    • Quoted by size and complexity of the operation
    • Directory listings place the entry point near GBP 400 per month
    • Mandatory setup and installation fee covering customisation, data migration and training

Which should you pick?

Choose Container xChange if

  • You need container trading.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want leasing marketplace.
Container xChange review

Choose Harbour Assist if

  • You need berth and mooring management.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want contracts and licences.
Harbour Assist review

Questions people ask

Is Container xChange or Harbour Assist better?
Neither clearly leads. Container xChange starts at Free and Harbour Assist at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Container xChange or Harbour Assist?
Container xChange has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Container xChange and On request for Harbour Assist.
Does Container xChange or Harbour Assist run on more platforms?
Container xChange runs on Web, Api. Harbour Assist runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Container xChange for free?
Yes. Container xChange has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Harbour Assist starts at On request.
What is Container xChange best used for?
Container xChange is most often used for buying and selling shipping containers through an online marketplace, one way soc container leasing between depot locations. Of those, buying and selling shipping containers through an online marketplace and one way soc container leasing between depot locations are not what Harbour Assist is typically brought in for.
What can Container xChange do that Harbour Assist cannot?
Container xChange covers Container trading, Leasing marketplace, Tracking, Payment processing. Harbour Assist covers Berth and mooring management, Contracts and licences, Recurring invoicing, Customer portal.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Container xChange: Does container-xchange offer a free plan?

Yes, xChange offers a free Online Broker App tier available in the USA and Canada. The free tier includes browsing 29,000+ containers, real-time inventory, self-serve platform access, and expert broker assistance without transaction costs.

Source
Harbour Assist: How much does Harbour Assist cost?

It is quoted by size and complexity. Directory listings put the entry point near 400 pounds a month, and every client also pays a setup fee for customisation, migration and training.

Container xChange: What is the lowest paid plan cost on container-xchange?

The lowest-cost paid plan is Professional Trading Buyer at $399 per month (paid annually) for container retailers, providing unlimited purchases with zero transaction costs and access to 2,500+ locations.

Source
Harbour Assist: Does it bring visitor bookings?

No. It takes online visitor reservations through your own website but has no consumer marketplace, so demand generation remains your responsibility.

Container xChange: What container limits do leasing plans include?

Leasing Basic supports up to 10 containers at $399/month, while Leasing Premium supports up to 100 containers at $649/month, both billed annually with monthly commitment.

Source
Harbour Assist: Who owns it?

ClearCourse, a private-equity-backed group that acquires vertical software businesses in the United Kingdom.

Harbour Assist: Does it handle swinging moorings and drying berths?

Yes, and that is one of the reasons British harbours choose it over marina software designed around American pontoon dockage.

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