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Maritime · head to head

FourKites vs MarineTraffic

FourKites logo

FourKites

Maritime

Real-time supply chain visibility

From
$2000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MarineTraffic logo

MarineTraffic

Maritime

Global ship tracking intelligence

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only MarineTraffic has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: FourKites no pricing plans or costs published. FourKites operates an Outcome-as-a-Service model and does not publish standard seat-based pricing; 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: FourKites covers Real-time tracking, MarineTraffic covers Real-time vessel tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FourKites and MarineTraffic actually diverge.

Attributes where FourKites and MarineTraffic differ
AttributeFourKitesMarineTraffic
Starting price$2000/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
Founded20142007

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android, Api), 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 FourKites

  • Real-time tracking
  • Predictive ETAs
  • Exception alerts
  • Yard management
  • TMS platforms
  • ERP systems
  • WMS
  • Api support

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
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

FourKites

  • Automating carrier status inquiries in customer service chat and emailnot MarineTraffic
  • Creating shipments automatically from supplier documents and linking to POsnot MarineTraffic
  • Scheduling dock appointments and rescheduling based on shipment ETAsnot MarineTraffic
  • Resolving shipment inquiry questions automatically without escalationnot MarineTraffic
  • Collecting missing proof-of-delivery documents across multiple channelsnot MarineTraffic

MarineTraffic

  • Real-time vessel trackingnot FourKites
  • Port call and ETA tracking for logisticsnot FourKites
  • Fleet monitoring for shipping and charteringnot FourKites
  • Maritime research and analytics via API feedsnot FourKites
  • Vessel and company database lookupsnot FourKites

Where each one falls short

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

FourKites

  • No pricing plans or costs published. FourKites operates an Outcome-as-a-Service model and does not publish standard seat-based pricing
  • Pricing requires direct contact with sales and personalized consultation

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

FourKites

$2000/month
  • Professional$5000/month
    • Multi-modal tracking
    • Predictive ETAs
    • Analytics

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 FourKites if

  • You need real-time tracking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want predictive etas.
FourKites review

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.
MarineTraffic review

Questions people ask

Is FourKites or MarineTraffic better?
Neither clearly leads. FourKites starts at $2000/month and MarineTraffic at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FourKites or MarineTraffic?
MarineTraffic has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $2000/month for FourKites and Free for MarineTraffic.
Does FourKites or MarineTraffic run on more platforms?
FourKites runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. 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. FourKites starts at $2000/month.
What is FourKites best used for?
FourKites is most often used for automating carrier status inquiries in customer service chat and email, creating shipments automatically from supplier documents and linking to pos, scheduling dock appointments and rescheduling based on shipment etas, resolving shipment inquiry questions automatically without escalation. Of those, automating carrier status inquiries in customer service chat and email and creating shipments automatically from supplier documents and linking to pos are not what MarineTraffic is typically brought in for.
What can FourKites do that MarineTraffic cannot?
FourKites covers Real-time tracking, Predictive ETAs, Exception alerts, Yard management. MarineTraffic covers Real-time vessel tracking, Global AIS coverage, Voyage history, Port call data. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

FourKites: What is FourKites' pricing model?

FourKites operates an Outcome-as-a-Service model rather than traditional seat-based pricing. The company states: 'We do not sell seats. We replace work.'

Source
FourKites: How do I get FourKites pricing?

FourKites does not publish pricing on their website. Customers must contact their sales team through 'Talk to an Outcome Advisor' calls-to-action or contact forms to discuss implementation and pricing.

Source
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