Software · head to head
Drewry vs MarineTraffic
The short version
- Only MarineTraffic has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Drewry the World Container Index is described as free but still requires an account to read, and full access depends on subscription rights; MarineTraffic specific numeric prices for the Basic/Essential tiers are not published on a directly accessible page (plans pages are bot-protected)
- They diverge on capability: Drewry covers Market research, MarineTraffic covers Real-time vessel tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Drewry and MarineTraffic actually diverge.
| Attribute | Drewry | MarineTraffic |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $1000/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Web, iOS, Android, API |
| Founded | 1970 | 2007 |
Identical on both: 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 Drewry
- Market research
- Forecasting
- Benchmarking
- Advisory services
- Data exports
- Custom reports
Only in MarineTraffic
- Real-time vessel tracking
- Global AIS coverage
- Voyage history
- Port call data
- ETA predictions
- REST API
- Google Earth
- GIS systems
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Drewry
- Tracking container freight rate movements through the weekly World Container Indexnot MarineTraffic
- Supporting shipping and supply chain research with published rate assessmentsnot MarineTraffic
MarineTraffic
- Real-time vessel trackingnot Drewry
- Port call and ETA tracking for logisticsnot Drewry
- Fleet monitoring for shipping and charteringnot Drewry
- Maritime research and analytics via API feedsnot Drewry
- Vessel and company database lookupsnot Drewry
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Drewry
- The World Container Index is described as free but still requires an account to read, and full access depends on subscription rights
- No subscription price is published anywhere on the index pages
- The container index publishes weekly, so it is not a source for daily rate movement
MarineTraffic
- Specific numeric prices for the Basic/Essential tiers are not published on a directly accessible page (plans pages are bot-protected)
- Enterprise tier is sales-assisted, quote-only
- API access is credit-consumption based with cost varying by AIS data source and detail level, making cost opaque
- Commercial API access now routes through parent company Kpler via demo request
Pricing, plan by plan
Drewry
$1000/month- Research Subscription$3000/month
- Market reports
- Forecasts
- Data access
MarineTraffic
Free- Basic$undefined/mo
- Free vessel tracking account
- Essential$undefined/mo
- Expanded tracking features
- Enterprise$undefined/mo
- Quote-only, sales-assisted
Which should you pick?
Choose MarineTraffic if
- You need real-time vessel tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
- You also want global ais coverage.
Questions people ask
- Is Drewry or MarineTraffic better?
- Neither clearly leads. Drewry starts at $1000/month and MarineTraffic at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Drewry or MarineTraffic?
- MarineTraffic has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1000/month for Drewry and Free for MarineTraffic.
- Does Drewry or MarineTraffic run on more platforms?
- Drewry runs on Web. MarineTraffic runs on Web, iOS, Android, API.
- Can I use MarineTraffic for free?
- Yes. MarineTraffic has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Drewry starts at $1000/month.
- What is Drewry best used for?
- Drewry is most often used for tracking container freight rate movements through the weekly world container index, supporting shipping and supply chain research with published rate assessments. Of those, tracking container freight rate movements through the weekly world container index and supporting shipping and supply chain research with published rate assessments are not what MarineTraffic is typically brought in for.
- What can Drewry do that MarineTraffic cannot?
- Drewry covers Market research, Forecasting, Benchmarking, Advisory services. MarineTraffic covers Real-time vessel tracking, Global AIS coverage, Voyage history, Port call data. Both handle Web support.