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Maritime · head to head

FourKites vs Spire Global Maritime

FourKites logo

FourKites

Maritime

Real-time supply chain visibility

From
$2000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spire Global Maritime logo

Spire Global Maritime

Maritime

Satellite-powered maritime data and analytics

From
$500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; Spire Global Maritime now part of Kpler rather than Spire, and spire.com/maritime redirects into the Kpler site
  • They diverge on capability: FourKites covers Real-time tracking, 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 FourKites and Spire Global Maritime actually diverge.

Attributes where FourKites and Spire Global Maritime differ
AttributeFourKitesSpire Global Maritime
Starting price$2000/month$500/month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, ApiApi, Web
Founded20142012

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 FourKites

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

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.

FourKites

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

Spire Global Maritime

  • Satellite and terrestrial AIS vessel trackingnot FourKites
  • Predicted destinations, ETAs and arrival eventsnot FourKites
  • Historical AIS going back more than ten yearsnot FourKites
  • Vessel particulars and ownership lookupsnot FourKites
  • Sanctions and insurance screening against vessel movementsnot 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

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

FourKites

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

Spire Global Maritime

$500/month
  • Professional$2000/month
    • Low-latency data
    • Behavior analytics
    • Predictive ETAs

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 Spire Global Maritime if

  • You need satellite ais tracking.
  • You work on Api, Web.
  • You also want global coverage.
Spire Global Maritime review

Questions people ask

Is FourKites or Spire Global Maritime better?
Neither clearly leads. FourKites starts at $2000/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, FourKites or Spire Global Maritime?
FourKites starts at $2000/month and Spire Global Maritime at $500/month.
Does FourKites or Spire Global Maritime run on more platforms?
FourKites runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. Spire Global Maritime runs on Api, Web.
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 Spire Global Maritime is typically brought in for.
What can FourKites do that Spire Global Maritime cannot?
FourKites covers Real-time tracking, Predictive ETAs, Exception alerts, Yard management. 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

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
Spire 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.

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
Spire 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.

Source
Spire 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.

Source
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