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Maritime · head to head

Kpler vs Pole Star Global

Kpler logo

Kpler

Maritime

Commodity market intelligence platform

From
$2500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pole Star Global logo

Pole Star Global

Maritime

Maritime domain awareness and compliance

From
$500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Kpler no self-serve signup; access requires requesting a demo or contacting sales; Pole Star Global no public pricing information published
  • They diverge on capability: Kpler covers Cargo flow tracking, Pole Star Global covers Real-time vessel tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kpler and Pole Star Global actually diverge.

Attributes where Kpler and Pole Star Global differ
AttributeKplerPole Star Global
Starting price$2500/month$500/month
PlatformsWeb, API, iOS, AndroidWeb, API
Founded20141998

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 Kpler

  • Cargo flow tracking
  • Trade analytics
  • Price forecasting
  • Fleet intelligence
  • API
  • Excel add-in
  • Trading platforms

Only in Pole Star Global

  • Real-time vessel tracking
  • Sanctions screening
  • Compliance monitoring
  • Risk alerts
  • Banking systems
  • Compliance platforms
  • ERP systems

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Api support

What people use each for

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

Kpler

  • Global oil and LNG cargo tracking with real-time vessel monitoringnot Pole Star Global
  • Dry bulk commodity intelligence for agricultural and metals marketsnot Pole Star Global
  • Supply chain forecasting with 15-day predictive flow windowsnot Pole Star Global
  • Maritime sanctions and trade compliance risk assessmentnot Pole Star Global
  • Port congestion and terminal-level shipping disruption alertsnot Pole Star Global

Pole Star Global

  • Detecting vessels using spoofed AIS to hide their identitynot Kpler
  • Screening ship movements against sanctions lists for compliancenot Kpler
  • Optimizing tanker voyage profitability through market rate comparisonnot Kpler
  • Tracking perishable cargo temperatures during ocean transitnot Kpler

Where each one falls short

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

Kpler

  • No self-serve signup; access requires requesting a demo or contacting sales
  • No pricing published at any tier on the vendor site
  • Product is split across separately branded terminals (Commodity Terminal, Financial Flows, MarineTraffic), implying separate logins/contracts

Pole Star Global

  • No public pricing information published
  • Requires sales engagement through demo request or local office contact
  • Pricing structure and model not described publicly

Pricing, plan by plan

Kpler

$2500/month
  • Professional$2500/month
    • Real-time cargo tracking
    • Trade flow analytics
    • API access

Pole Star Global

$500/month
  • Professional$1500/month
    • PurpleTRAC platform
    • Sanctions screening
    • Risk assessment

Which should you pick?

Choose Kpler if

  • You need cargo flow tracking.
  • You work on Web, API, iOS, Android.
  • You also want trade analytics.
Kpler review

Choose Pole Star Global if

  • You need real-time vessel tracking.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want sanctions screening.
Pole Star Global review

Questions people ask

Is Kpler or Pole Star Global better?
Neither clearly leads. Kpler starts at $2500/month and Pole Star Global at $500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kpler or Pole Star Global?
Kpler starts at $2500/month and Pole Star Global at $500/month.
Does Kpler or Pole Star Global run on more platforms?
Kpler runs on Web, API, iOS, Android. Pole Star Global runs on Web, API.
What is Kpler best used for?
Kpler is most often used for global oil and lng cargo tracking with real-time vessel monitoring, dry bulk commodity intelligence for agricultural and metals markets, supply chain forecasting with 15-day predictive flow windows, maritime sanctions and trade compliance risk assessment. Of those, global oil and lng cargo tracking with real-time vessel monitoring and dry bulk commodity intelligence for agricultural and metals markets are not what Pole Star Global is typically brought in for.
What can Kpler do that Pole Star Global cannot?
Kpler covers Cargo flow tracking, Trade analytics, Price forecasting, Fleet intelligence. Pole Star Global covers Real-time vessel tracking, Sanctions screening, Compliance monitoring, Risk alerts. Both handle Web support, Api support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kpler: How much does Kpler charge for real-time market data?

Kpler does not publish pricing on its website. The platform is sold through enterprise contracts to traders, logistics firms, and governments.

Source
Pole Star Global: How do I obtain Pole Star Global pricing?

Pole Star Global does not publish pricing on their website. Contact the sales team via Request Demo button, Customer Support link, or Find A Local Office contact options on their homepage. Source: https://www.polestarglobal.com

Source
Kpler: Does Kpler offer a free trial of its platform?

Kpler directs interested users to request a demo on its website. No free trial or freemium tier is mentioned or offered.

Source
Pole Star Global: Does Pole Star Global offer a free trial?

Pole Star Global does not describe free trials or evaluation programs on their homepage. Request a demo through their website to inquire about trial availability. Source: https://www.polestarglobal.com

Source
Kpler: What data retention limits apply to Kpler subscriptions?

Kpler provides historical vessel movement data spanning 5+ years and historical trade data since January 1, 2017, but subscription-tier limits are not published.

Source
Pole Star Global: What payment model does Pole Star Global use?

Pole Star Global does not publicly disclose pricing structure or billing model (per-seat, usage-based, enterprise, etc.). Direct sales consultation required to discuss payment options. Source: https://www.polestarglobal.com

Source
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