Softwr

Maritime · head to head

Drewry vs Terminal49

Drewry logo

Drewry

Maritime

Maritime research and consulting

From
$1000/month
Rated
-
Terminal49 logo

Terminal49

Maritime

Container tracking for freight forwarders

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Terminal49 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; Terminal49 aPI access and webhooks start at the Essential plan
  • They diverge on capability: Drewry covers Market research, Terminal49 covers Automated tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Drewry and Terminal49 actually diverge.

Attributes where Drewry and Terminal49 differ
AttributeDrewryTerminal49
Starting price$1000/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Api
Founded19702019

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Drewry

  • Market research
  • Forecasting
  • Benchmarking
  • Advisory services
  • Data exports
  • Custom reports

Only in Terminal49

  • Automated tracking
  • Terminal appointments
  • Demurrage alerts
  • Customer portals
  • TMS platforms
  • Carrier websites
  • Terminal systems
  • Api support

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 Terminal49
  • Supporting shipping and supply chain research with published rate assessmentsnot Terminal49

Terminal49

  • Tracking ocean containers and shipments across carriers and terminalsnot Drewry
  • Feeding container milestones into an internal system over an APInot 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

Terminal49

  • API access and webhooks start at the Essential plan
  • The free plan is limited to 3 users and 50 document credits
  • The Lite and Complete plans require an annual contract
  • No plan above the free tier publishes a price, so every paid tier requires contacting sales

Pricing, plan by plan

Drewry

$1000/month
  • Research Subscription$3000/month
    • Market reports
    • Forecasts
    • Data access

Terminal49

Free
  • Pro$299/month
    • Unlimited tracking
    • Terminal data
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose Drewry if

  • You need market research.
  • You also want forecasting.

Choose Terminal49 if

  • You need automated tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want terminal appointments.

Questions people ask

Is Drewry or Terminal49 better?
Neither clearly leads. Drewry starts at $1000/month and Terminal49 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Drewry or Terminal49?
Terminal49 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1000/month for Drewry and Free for Terminal49.
Does Drewry or Terminal49 run on more platforms?
Drewry runs on Web. Terminal49 runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Terminal49 for free?
Yes. Terminal49 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 Terminal49 is typically brought in for.
What can Drewry do that Terminal49 cannot?
Drewry covers Market research, Forecasting, Benchmarking, Advisory services. Terminal49 covers Automated tracking, Terminal appointments, Demurrage alerts, Customer portals. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Drewry: How much do Drewry subscriptions cost?

Drewry offers annual subscriptions for various services including Container Freight Rate Insight, Benchmarking Club, and forecasters. Specific pricing is not published and requires contacting Drewry directly.

Source
Terminal49: Is there a free plan available?

Yes, Terminal49 offers a Free Forever plan with no commitment required. It includes up to 3 users, basic shipment tracking, and 50 document credits.

Source
Drewry: Are Drewry services free?

Drewry offers free content to registered and logged-in users including the World Container Index, market trackers, and indices. Premium services require paid annual subscriptions.

Source
Terminal49: What plans require payment?

Terminal49 offers four tiers: Free (free forever), Lite (annual contract), Essential (annual or pay-as-you-go), and Complete (annual contract). Lite, Essential, and Complete require direct contact with sales for pricing.

Source
Terminal49: What features are in the Essential plan?

Essential (Most Popular) includes unlimited users, full shipment & container dashboards, API access & webhooks, intermodal rail tracking, container assignments, and team collaboration features. It offers both annual contract and pay-as-you-go billing options.

Source
Share

Related pages

Other head to heads