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Maritime · head to head

Kongsberg Vessel Insight vs VesselFinder

Kongsberg Vessel Insight logo

Kongsberg Vessel Insight

Maritime

Vessel data infrastructure and satellite connectivity sold as a per-vessel subscription

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VesselFinder logo

VesselFinder

Maritime

Free AIS vessel tracking web site

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only VesselFinder has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Kongsberg Vessel Insight vessel Insight is infrastructure, not insight; the applications that produce operational value are separate purchases, so the subscription buys a capability that shows a superintendent nothing on its own.; VesselFinder aPI access is billed in credits, and a satellite AIS position costs 10 credits against 1 for a terrestrial position
  • They diverge on capability: Kongsberg Vessel Insight covers Onboard data collection unit, VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kongsberg Vessel Insight and VesselFinder actually diverge.

Attributes where Kongsberg Vessel Insight and VesselFinder differ
AttributeKongsberg Vessel InsightVesselFinder
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, CloudWeb, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: 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 Kongsberg Vessel Insight

  • Onboard data collection unit
  • Bundled satellite transfer
  • Standardised vessel data model
  • Kognifai marketplace
  • Fleet dashboards
  • Kongsberg equipment integration

Only in VesselFinder

  • Real-time tracking
  • Vessel database
  • Port information
  • Weather overlay
  • API access
  • Mobile apps
  • Web support
  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

Kongsberg Vessel Insight

  • A shipowner with a mixed fleet who wants one normalised data feed instead of a different data extract per engine makernot VesselFinder
  • An owner who has stalled on digitalisation because nobody will own the satellite bandwidth costnot VesselFinder
  • A manager wanting to run several third-party performance and emissions applications from one onboard installation rather than one box per vendornot VesselFinder
  • A fleet already running Kongsberg automation where the onboard integration is straightforward rather than a bespoke engineering jobnot VesselFinder

VesselFinder

  • Tracking vessel positions and voyages from AIS datanot Kongsberg Vessel Insight
  • Pulling ship positions and particulars into a logistics or chartering system over an APInot Kongsberg Vessel Insight

Where each one falls short

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

Kongsberg Vessel Insight

  • Vessel Insight is infrastructure, not insight; the applications that produce operational value are separate purchases, so the subscription buys a capability that shows a superintendent nothing on its own.
  • Pricing is per vessel per year and unpublished, which for a large fleet is a substantial committed annual cost with no benchmark available before entering a sales process.
  • Onboard installation has to fit a vessel's trading pattern, so a fleet rollout is measured in port calls and dry dockings rather than in weeks, and the subscription usually starts before the whole fleet is producing data.
  • The vessel data model is Kongsberg's, so migrating to a different data platform later means re-instrumenting every ship, not renegotiating a software contract.
  • Integration is easiest with Kongsberg equipment; on vessels with other makers' automation the collection scope and the engineering effort both increase, and what you can actually collect varies ship by ship.

VesselFinder

  • API access is billed in credits, and a satellite AIS position costs 10 credits against 1 for a terrestrial position
  • Credits expire 12 months after purchase
  • Credit packs start at 330 EUR for 10,000 credits, excluding VAT
  • Tracking a vessel outside terrestrial AIS range multiplies the cost of every position tenfold, so open ocean coverage is the expensive case rather than the standard one

Pricing, plan by plan

Kongsberg Vessel Insight

On request
  • Vessel Insight$undefined/year
    • Subscription per vessel per year
    • Onboard collection hardware included in the subscription
    • Satellite data transfer cost included

VesselFinder

Free
  • Basic$4.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Extended history
    • Fleet monitoring

Which should you pick?

Choose Kongsberg Vessel Insight if

  • You need onboard data collection unit.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want bundled satellite transfer.
Kongsberg Vessel Insight review

Choose VesselFinder if

  • You need real-time tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want vessel database.
VesselFinder review

Questions people ask

Is Kongsberg Vessel Insight or VesselFinder better?
Neither clearly leads. Kongsberg Vessel Insight starts at On request and VesselFinder at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kongsberg Vessel Insight or VesselFinder?
VesselFinder has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Kongsberg Vessel Insight and Free for VesselFinder.
Does Kongsberg Vessel Insight or VesselFinder run on more platforms?
Kongsberg Vessel Insight runs on Web, Cloud. VesselFinder runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use VesselFinder for free?
Yes. VesselFinder has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kongsberg Vessel Insight starts at On request.
What is Kongsberg Vessel Insight best used for?
Kongsberg Vessel Insight is most often used for a shipowner with a mixed fleet who wants one normalised data feed instead of a different data extract per engine maker, an owner who has stalled on digitalisation because nobody will own the satellite bandwidth cost, a manager wanting to run several third-party performance and emissions applications from one onboard installation rather than one box per vendor, a fleet already running kongsberg automation where the onboard integration is straightforward rather than a bespoke engineering job. Of those, a shipowner with a mixed fleet who wants one normalised data feed instead of a different data extract per engine maker and an owner who has stalled on digitalisation because nobody will own the satellite bandwidth cost are not what VesselFinder is typically brought in for.
What can Kongsberg Vessel Insight do that VesselFinder cannot?
Kongsberg Vessel Insight covers Onboard data collection unit, Bundled satellite transfer, Standardised vessel data model, Kognifai marketplace. VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking, Vessel database, Port information, Weather overlay.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kongsberg Vessel Insight: Does Vessel Insight include the satellite cost?

Yes. The subscription bundles onboard hardware and data transfer, which is the main reason owners choose it over building their own collection.

VesselFinder: What are the main pricing tiers for VesselFinder?

VesselFinder offers four tiers: Free (no cost), Basic (4 dollars per month), Premium (34 dollars per month), and Satellite (139 dollars per month).

Source
Kongsberg Vessel Insight: Do I get performance analytics with it?

No. Analytics and reporting applications are bought separately from Kongsberg or from third parties on the Kognifai marketplace.

VesselFinder: What does the Free plan include?

The Free plan provides terrestrial coverage, 1-day track history, a 10-ship fleet capacity, and 100 route planner uses.

Source
Kongsberg Vessel Insight: Does it only work with Kongsberg equipment?

No, but integration is deepest there. On other makers' automation the collectable signal set and the installation effort both vary.

VesselFinder: What tracking capabilities come with the Satellite plan?

The Satellite plan includes both satellite and terrestrial coverage, 90-day track history, 2,000-ship fleet capacity, terminal and berth data, proximity event alerts, and ETA prediction.

Source
Kongsberg Vessel Insight: How is it priced?

Per vessel per year, quoted. Nothing is published, and installation timing depends on vessel availability.

VesselFinder: Do subscriptions automatically renew?

No, subscriptions do not renew automatically. Users receive reminder notifications one week before expiration.

Source
VesselFinder: Do the listed prices include VAT?

No, the prices displayed do not include VAT. Payment options include bank transfers and credit or debit cards processed online.

Source
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