Maritime & Shipping · head to head
MarineTraffic vs ChartCo
ChartCo
Maritime & Shipping
Integrated maritime compliance platform
- From
- $300/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only MarineTraffic has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: MarineTraffic specific numeric prices for the Basic/Essential tiers are not published on a directly accessible page (plans pages are bot-protected); ChartCo requires specialized maritime knowledge to fully utilize features
- They diverge on capability: MarineTraffic covers Real-time vessel tracking, ChartCo covers Chart management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which MarineTraffic and ChartCo actually diverge.
| Attribute | MarineTraffic | ChartCo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $300/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, API | Web, Desktop |
| Category | Maritime & Shipping | Unknown |
| Founded | 2007 | 1998 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in MarineTraffic
- Real-time vessel tracking
- Global AIS coverage
- Voyage history
- Port call data
- ETA predictions
- REST API
- Google Earth
- GIS systems
Only in ChartCo
- Chart management
- Publication updates
- Compliance tracking
- Fleet administration
- ECDIS
- Fleet management systems
- Procurement
- Windows support
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
MarineTraffic
- Real-time vessel trackingnot ChartCo
- Port call and ETA tracking for logisticsnot ChartCo
- Fleet monitoring for shipping and charteringnot ChartCo
- Maritime research and analytics via API feedsnot ChartCo
- Vessel and company database lookupsnot ChartCo
ChartCo
No use cases recorded yet. See the ChartCo review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
MarineTraffic
- Specific numeric prices for the Basic/Essential tiers are not published on a directly accessible page (plans pages are bot-protected)
- Enterprise tier is sales-assisted, quote-only
- API access is credit-consumption based with cost varying by AIS data source and detail level, making cost opaque
- Commercial API access now routes through parent company Kpler via demo request
ChartCo
- Requires specialized maritime knowledge to fully utilize features
- High cost for maritime-specific software
Pricing, plan by plan
MarineTraffic
Free- Basic$undefined/mo
- Free vessel tracking account
- Essential$undefined/mo
- Expanded tracking features
- Enterprise$undefined/mo
- Quote-only, sales-assisted
ChartCo
$300/month- OneOcean$600/month
- Chart management
- Publications
- Compliance tracking
Which should you pick?
Choose MarineTraffic if
- You need real-time vessel tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
- You also want global ais coverage.
Choose ChartCo if
- You need chart management.
- You work on Web, Desktop.
- You also want publication updates.
Questions people ask
- Is MarineTraffic or ChartCo better?
- Neither clearly leads. MarineTraffic starts at Free and ChartCo at $300/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, MarineTraffic or ChartCo?
- MarineTraffic has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for MarineTraffic and $300/month for ChartCo.
- Does MarineTraffic or ChartCo run on more platforms?
- MarineTraffic runs on Web, iOS, Android, API. ChartCo runs on Web, Desktop.
- Can I use MarineTraffic for free?
- Yes. MarineTraffic has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ChartCo starts at $300/month.
- What is MarineTraffic best used for?
- MarineTraffic is most often used for real-time vessel tracking, port call and eta tracking for logistics, fleet monitoring for shipping and chartering, maritime research and analytics via api feeds. Of those, real-time vessel tracking and port call and eta tracking for logistics are not what ChartCo is typically brought in for.
- What can MarineTraffic do that ChartCo cannot?
- MarineTraffic covers Real-time vessel tracking, Global AIS coverage, Voyage history, Port call data. ChartCo covers Chart management, Publication updates, Compliance tracking, Fleet administration. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
ChartCo: What does ChartCo OneOcean provide?
ChartCo OneOcean is an integrated maritime software platform that combines electronic navigational charts, publications, weather data, and compliance tools for voyage planning and maritime safety.
ChartCo: How many vessels use ChartCo PassageManager?
ChartCo's PassageManager software is used by approximately 6,500 vessels worldwide for passage planning and navigational chart management.
ChartCo: Does ChartCo help with environmental compliance?
Yes, ChartCo OneOcean includes EnviroManager for compliance with MARPOL and regional environmental regulations, helping crews manage waste and minimize discharge risks.