Maritime & Shipping · head to head
MarineTraffic vs Freightos
The short version
- 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); Freightos no pricing, fees or commissions are published anywhere on the pricing page
- They diverge on capability: MarineTraffic covers Real-time vessel tracking, Freightos covers Instant quotes.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which MarineTraffic and Freightos actually diverge.
| Attribute | MarineTraffic | Freightos |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, API | Web, Api |
| Founded | 2007 | 2012 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maritime & Shipping).
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 Freightos
- Instant quotes
- Online booking
- Shipment tracking
- Rate comparison
- ERP systems
- E-commerce platforms
- TMS
- Api 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 Freightos
- Port call and ETA tracking for logisticsnot Freightos
- Fleet monitoring for shipping and charteringnot Freightos
- Maritime research and analytics via API feedsnot Freightos
- Vessel and company database lookupsnot Freightos
Freightos
- Comparing freight quotes from multiple forwarders in one placenot MarineTraffic
- Booking international freight online rather than by email quotenot MarineTraffic
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
Freightos
- No pricing, fees or commissions are published anywhere on the pricing page
- Rates and costs are only visible after signing up to the platform
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
Freightos
Free- Enterprise$500/month
- Bulk pricing
- API access
- Custom integrations
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 Freightos if
- You need instant quotes.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want online booking.
Questions people ask
- Is MarineTraffic or Freightos better?
- Neither clearly leads. MarineTraffic starts at Free and Freightos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, MarineTraffic or Freightos?
- MarineTraffic starts at Free and Freightos at Free.
- Does MarineTraffic or Freightos run on more platforms?
- MarineTraffic runs on Web, iOS, Android, API. Freightos runs on Web, Api.
- Can I use MarineTraffic for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 Freightos is typically brought in for.
- What can MarineTraffic do that Freightos cannot?
- MarineTraffic covers Real-time vessel tracking, Global AIS coverage, Voyage history, Port call data. Freightos covers Instant quotes, Online booking, Shipment tracking, Rate comparison. Both handle Web support.