Softwr

Maps & Navigation · head to head

HERE Technologies vs ORBCOMM

HERE Technologies logo

HERE Technologies

Maps & Navigation

Location data and technology company that provides mapping and location services to businesses globally

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ORBCOMM logo

ORBCOMM

Maritime & Shipping

IoT solutions for maritime asset tracking

From
$25/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only HERE Technologies has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: HERE Technologies pricing is complex and unpredictable, with additional fees for common functionalities creating surprise costs at scale; ORBCOMM satellite latency of approximately 600 milliseconds limits real-time applications
  • They diverge on capability: HERE Technologies covers Core Functionality, ORBCOMM covers Satellite tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HERE Technologies and ORBCOMM actually diverge.

Attributes where HERE Technologies and ORBCOMM differ
AttributeHERE TechnologiesORBCOMM
Starting priceFree$25/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Cross-platformSatellite, Web
CategoryMaps & NavigationMaritime & Shipping
Founded19851995

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 HERE Technologies

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

Only in ORBCOMM

  • Satellite tracking
  • Container monitoring
  • Cold chain monitoring
  • Fleet telematics
  • TMS systems
  • ERP platforms
  • Warehouse management
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

HERE Technologies

  • Map data for automated and assisted drivingnot ORBCOMM
  • Connected driving, including hazard alerts and road surface analysisnot ORBCOMM
  • Supply chain planning and logistics digital twinsnot ORBCOMM
  • Geocoding, search and map rendering through hosted location servicesnot ORBCOMM
  • Fleet tour planning and routing across 200 countriesnot ORBCOMM

ORBCOMM

No use cases recorded yet. See the ORBCOMM review.

Where each one falls short

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

HERE Technologies

  • Pricing is complex and unpredictable, with additional fees for common functionalities creating surprise costs at scale
  • Lack of transparency in cost projections makes budgeting and forecasting difficult
  • Requires separate API keys and subscriptions for different feature categories, complicating integration
  • Customer support quality and responsiveness is inconsistent compared to competitors like Google Maps

ORBCOMM

  • Satellite latency of approximately 600 milliseconds limits real-time applications
  • Higher cost per message compared to terrestrial cellular IoT solutions
  • Coverage remains near-global rather than fully global in all remote regions

Pricing, plan by plan

HERE Technologies

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the HERE Technologies review.

ORBCOMM

$25/month
  • Fleet Manager$99/month
    • Real-time tracking
    • Geofencing
    • Reporting

Which should you pick?

Choose HERE Technologies if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Cross-platform.
  • You also want user interface.
HERE Technologies review

Choose ORBCOMM if

  • You need satellite tracking.
  • You work on Satellite, Web.
  • You also want container monitoring.
ORBCOMM review

Questions people ask

Is HERE Technologies or ORBCOMM better?
Neither clearly leads. HERE Technologies starts at Free and ORBCOMM at $25/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HERE Technologies or ORBCOMM?
HERE Technologies has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for HERE Technologies and $25/month for ORBCOMM.
Does HERE Technologies or ORBCOMM run on more platforms?
HERE Technologies runs on Web, iOS, Android, Cross-platform. ORBCOMM runs on Satellite, Web.
Can I use HERE Technologies for free?
Yes. HERE Technologies has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ORBCOMM starts at $25/month.
What is HERE Technologies best used for?
HERE Technologies is most often used for map data for automated and assisted driving, connected driving, including hazard alerts and road surface analysis, supply chain planning and logistics digital twins, geocoding, search and map rendering through hosted location services. Of those, map data for automated and assisted driving and connected driving, including hazard alerts and road surface analysis are not what ORBCOMM is typically brought in for.
What can HERE Technologies do that ORBCOMM cannot?
HERE Technologies covers Core Functionality, User Interface. ORBCOMM covers Satellite tracking, Container monitoring, Cold chain monitoring, Fleet telematics.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

HERE Technologies: What does HERE Technologies provide?

HERE Technologies provides a comprehensive location platform including digital maps, routing and navigation APIs, geocoding, search, traffic, positioning, and telematics services for automotive, logistics, and enterprise applications.

Source
ORBCOMM: What is ORBCOMM's satellite coverage?

ORBCOMM's OGx service provides nearly global coverage across over 160 countries using a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites for two-way messaging and IoT data services.

Source
HERE Technologies: Does HERE offer a free tier?

Yes. HERE provides a free tier with 30,000 map requests per month, 5,000 routing transactions, and 30,000 geocoding transactions. Usage beyond these limits is charged on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Source
ORBCOMM: How does satellite IoT compare to cellular connectivity?

ORBCOMM satellite offers immunity from cellular blind spots, network outages, congestion, and weather-related disruptions. However, satellite connectivity introduces approximately 600 milliseconds of round-trip latency.

Source
HERE Technologies: What SDKs and APIs does HERE offer?

HERE provides REST APIs for maps, routing, geocoding, and search, plus SDKs for Android, iOS, Flutter, and JavaScript. The HERE SDK enables turn-by-turn navigation and location services for mobile and web applications.

Source
ORBCOMM: What can ORBCOMM monitor in containers?

ORBCOMM's CT 1010 device provides sensor-based monitoring for container fire detection, unauthorized access alerts, damage detection, and asset visibility, with real-time satellite-based tracking.

Source
HERE Technologies: Is HERE's pricing transparent?

No. HERE uses a complex transaction-based pricing model with separate costs for different API categories. The pricing structure lacks transparency, making it difficult for customers to forecast costs at scale.

Source
HERE Technologies: How has HERE's pricing changed?

HERE moved to a simplified transaction-based pricing model with free monthly allowances for common APIs. Users pay per transaction beyond the free tier, though the structure has been criticized for complexity and lack of cost transparency.

Source
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Related pages

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