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Maritime · head to head

Kpler vs VesselFinder

Kpler logo

Kpler

Maritime

Commodity market intelligence platform

From
$2500/month
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: Kpler no self-serve signup; access requires requesting a demo or contacting sales; 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: Kpler covers Cargo flow tracking, VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kpler and VesselFinder actually diverge.

Attributes where Kpler and VesselFinder differ
AttributeKplerVesselFinder
Starting price$2500/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, API, iOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20142011

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 Kpler

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

Only in VesselFinder

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

Both cover

  • Web 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 VesselFinder
  • Dry bulk commodity intelligence for agricultural and metals marketsnot VesselFinder
  • Supply chain forecasting with 15-day predictive flow windowsnot VesselFinder
  • Maritime sanctions and trade compliance risk assessmentnot VesselFinder
  • Port congestion and terminal-level shipping disruption alertsnot VesselFinder

VesselFinder

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

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

Kpler

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

VesselFinder

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

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 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 Kpler or VesselFinder better?
Neither clearly leads. Kpler starts at $2500/month and VesselFinder at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kpler or VesselFinder?
VesselFinder has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $2500/month for Kpler and Free for VesselFinder.
Does Kpler or VesselFinder run on more platforms?
Kpler runs on Web, API, iOS, Android. 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. Kpler starts at $2500/month.
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 VesselFinder is typically brought in for.
What can Kpler do that VesselFinder cannot?
Kpler covers Cargo flow tracking, Trade analytics, Price forecasting, Fleet intelligence. VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking, Vessel database, Port information, Weather overlay. Both handle Web 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
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
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
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
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
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
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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